Funke Provides Local Reaction to SOS

FUNKE REACTS TO LOCAL IMPACT OF GOVERNOR’S STATE OF THE STATE & BUDGET PROPOSALS

After delivering the Republican Response, Senator tackles issues impacting SD55

Senator Rich Funke today delivered the official Republican Response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s joint 2015 State of the State and Budget message. In addition to representing his colleagues in the New York State Senate Majority Conference through the state-wide Response, Funke also offered reaction on the local impact of several of the Governor’s proposals.

“It was an honor to deliver the Response and I was proud to highlight how the Senate will work together to create jobs, protect taxpayers, and make Albany work better for all New Yorkers,” said Funke. “This job is about the people of the 55th District, so my first responsibility is to determine the local impact of the proposals shared today. Where we agree, I look forward to working with the Governor. Where he and I disagree, I will always put Monroe and Ontario counties first.”

Funke offered reaction to the following issues:

Infrastructure Investment

“The state of our local infrastructure is a critical priority in Monroe and Ontario counties and added investment will promote safety, create jobs, and boost our economy. I believe the State’s settlement surplus needs to be invested in vital infrastructure improvements before being applied to Downstate pet projects, like providing $1.3 Billion to the Thruway Authority to help cap tolls on the multi-billion dollar Tappan Zee Bridge. Incredibly, the Governor pledged $50 million to the State Fair without mentioning a single cent for road and bridge improvements in our area.”

Property Tax Circuit Breaker

“High property taxes hurt all New Yorkers, but especially those of us Upstate where our property taxes compared to home values are some of the worst in the nation. This is a good first step and I thank the Governor for proposing a circuit breaker. However, it’s not enough to target some people in and some people out of tax relief. I will work in the State budget process to ensure that all residents of the 55th Senate district receive the tax relief they need and deserve.”

Two-Tiered Minimum Wage Increase

“I’ve heard serious concerns from local employers who create jobs and drive our economy about the unintended consequences of another minimum wage increase. With the final escalation of New York’s last minimum wage legislation only taking effect at $9 per hour in 2016, we still don’t know the full impact of the State’s current approach. We should be maximizing opportunity for local workers, not minimizing it, and that means focusing on creating good paying local jobs first.”

Dream Act

“We are a nation, state, and region built by immigrants and I appreciate the many contributions that those who do come here legally make in our diverse community every day. The fact remains that families across Monroe and Ontario counties are struggling to afford the high cost of higher education to make college a reality for their kids. We must target tuition aid to those families who are working hard to play by the rules.

Safe Act

"We did not hear anything from Governor Cuomo today on the SAFE Act, which is unfortunate because of the massive financial burden it places on local law enforcement agencies across our State. For over 40 years, I built a career in our community under the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment, and I believe our Second Amendment rights are just as important. That’s why one of my first official acts was to sign-on to S 1193, a bill to fully repeal the SAFE Act.”

Rochester Anti-Poverty Commission

“The challenges posed by poverty, especially for children, are pervasive and should be a concern for every resident in our area and across our State. That said, the children who live with these challenges every day won’t be content with yet another commission to study this issue, and neither will I. I look forward to working with public and private sector partners to develop a real solution that improves outcomes for children and families across our community.”

“The Governor laid out an ambitious agenda today, including significant changes to New York’s struggling education system and a plan that will seriously impact policing and law enforcement in our State,” said Funke. “In the days to come, we will be pouring through the Governor’s proposals and budget documents to determine exactly how these plans will impact the residents and families who call the 55th District home.”

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