Cuomo: ‘This Is a New York That Is Working’

Governor Praises Ritchie for Two Years of Progress that Changed Albany 

Governor Andrew Cuomo has written a letter to Senator Patty Ritchie on the success of the just-completed legislative session, hailing unprecedented, bipartisan efforts that have resulted in sweeping tax cuts, new jobs and an improving economy as proof that “This is a New York that is working.”

“Working together, we have continued an array of important achievements over the past 18 months that have changed the face of government in our state and helped build a renewed sense of optimism among our people,” the Governor wrote, specifically listing tax cuts, Medicaid mandate relief and job creation initiatives that are kick-starting the state’s economy.

The accomplishments of the past two years marked a sea change from prior sessions, when Albany was branded the nation’s “most-dysfunctional” Legislature, and have included: 

·         Enactment of a tough Property Tax Cap that is saving homeowners in the 48^th Senate District more than $36 million in school taxes this year alone;

·         Passage of the Middle Class Tax Cut that slashed New York’s income tax rates to their lowest in 58 years;

·         Elimination of the state sales tax on most clothing purchases, saving families hundreds of dollars annually;

·         Over $100 million in mandate relief, including a clampdown on runaway Medicaid costs;

·         Job creation programs, such as creation of Regional Economic Development Councils that have helped make New York the fastest job-growing state in the US, including 4,000 new jobs in Central and Northern New York since 2010.

“New York is growing and improving because we put politics aside and are working together to get results, and create jobs for New Yorkers,” said Senator Ritchie, who has welcomed the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy on their numerous visits to Central and Northern New York.

“I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership, and for the attention he’s paid to the most pressing issues facing the hardworking taxpayers of our communities—the need for more jobs and a stronger economy—and I look forward to continuing to work with him to keep moving New York in the right direction.”

CLICK HERE to read a copy of Governor Cuomo's letter.