Funke Reacts to Passage of the 2015-16 State Budget
April 1, 2015
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wbAY7fjV_fY
Senator Rich Funke today reacted to the passage of the 2015-16 New York State Budget, his first as State Senator the 55th Senate District.
“After three months and many calls, letters, and visits reflecting our region’s top priorities, I’m proud to announce I helped pass the 2015-16 State Budget. Through it all, I never forgot why you sent me to Albany in the first place – to put your interests first. With provisions to create jobs, control taxes, enhance education, clean-up Albany, and invest in our community, I believe this Budget does just that,” said Funke. “The root of any good budget is compromise. This is not a perfect budget and there are some parts I don’t like. Yet on the whole, this Budget does something that Albany hasn’t for a long time – deliver for Monroe and Ontario counties.”
On taxes and spending, Funke said:
“This budget holds the line on spending, rejects new tax hikes, and better protects those who pay the bills. In fact, this Budget holds spending below two percent growth. Local governments and schools have to live by that standard under the Tax Cap each year, and I’m proud we’ve forced Albany to do the same.”
On job creation and economic development, Funke said:
“Over and over again, you’ve told me that I should take-up one cause in Albany above all else – to help bring new, good-paying jobs to Monroe and Ontario counties. This budget will invest $1.5 billion in Upstate’s economy and infrastructure, a large portion of which should come home to our region. Listen, we are going to have to compete for it, but Rochester has led this State before and I know our world-class employers and entrepreneurs are ready, willing, and able to do it again.”
“The Budget will also launch a brand-new high-tech internship program I proposed to help New Yorkers compete in some of the world’s fastest growing fields. Our community is an emerging leader in the optics, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech sectors and this new program will help ready our local workforce to fill the good-paying, skills-based jobs of tomorrow.”
On education, Funke said:
“I’m proud this Budget increases school aid by $1.4 billion and ends the Gap Elimination Adjustment by next year. We also rejected the Governor’s unfair teacher evaluation proposals, putting the issue in the hands of the State Education Department. I believe in high standards for students and teachers, and I know the vast majority are making the grade every day. For the schools that aren’t, we intend to get them the help they need.”
On ethics reform, Funke said:
“This Budget includes new reforms to increase disclosure of outside income for legislators, something I strongly support, and will also strip pensions from those who are convicted of abusing their office for personal gain. There’s a long way to go, but this is a good step toward restoring trust in State government.”
On local impacts, Funke said:
“More than anything else, I went to Albany to deliver our area’s fair share and I’m proud this Budget reflects many of the priorities I pushed hard for since day one. It adds $2.3 million to support affordable childcare in Monroe County, delivers $2 million in aid directly to the City of Rochester, restores $100,000 that had been cut from the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, and includes several other items I went to bat for in the negotiations.”
“After three months and many calls, letters, and visits reflecting our region’s top priorities, I’m proud to announce I helped pass the 2015-16 State Budget. Through it all, I never forgot why you sent me to Albany in the first place – to put your interests first. With provisions to create jobs, control taxes, enhance education, clean-up Albany, and invest in our community, I believe this Budget does just that,” said Funke. “The root of any good budget is compromise. This is not a perfect budget and there are some parts I don’t like. Yet on the whole, this Budget does something that Albany hasn’t for a long time – deliver for Monroe and Ontario counties.”
On taxes and spending, Funke said:
“This budget holds the line on spending, rejects new tax hikes, and better protects those who pay the bills. In fact, this Budget holds spending below two percent growth. Local governments and schools have to live by that standard under the Tax Cap each year, and I’m proud we’ve forced Albany to do the same.”
On job creation and economic development, Funke said:
“Over and over again, you’ve told me that I should take-up one cause in Albany above all else – to help bring new, good-paying jobs to Monroe and Ontario counties. This budget will invest $1.5 billion in Upstate’s economy and infrastructure, a large portion of which should come home to our region. Listen, we are going to have to compete for it, but Rochester has led this State before and I know our world-class employers and entrepreneurs are ready, willing, and able to do it again.”
“The Budget will also launch a brand-new high-tech internship program I proposed to help New Yorkers compete in some of the world’s fastest growing fields. Our community is an emerging leader in the optics, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech sectors and this new program will help ready our local workforce to fill the good-paying, skills-based jobs of tomorrow.”
On education, Funke said:
“I’m proud this Budget increases school aid by $1.4 billion and ends the Gap Elimination Adjustment by next year. We also rejected the Governor’s unfair teacher evaluation proposals, putting the issue in the hands of the State Education Department. I believe in high standards for students and teachers, and I know the vast majority are making the grade every day. For the schools that aren’t, we intend to get them the help they need.”
On ethics reform, Funke said:
“This Budget includes new reforms to increase disclosure of outside income for legislators, something I strongly support, and will also strip pensions from those who are convicted of abusing their office for personal gain. There’s a long way to go, but this is a good step toward restoring trust in State government.”
On local impacts, Funke said:
“More than anything else, I went to Albany to deliver our area’s fair share and I’m proud this Budget reflects many of the priorities I pushed hard for since day one. It adds $2.3 million to support affordable childcare in Monroe County, delivers $2 million in aid directly to the City of Rochester, restores $100,000 that had been cut from the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, and includes several other items I went to bat for in the negotiations.”
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