Statement from New York State Senator Rich Funke

"The Governor got it right in a number of ways as he laid out his agenda and proposed budget for 2016. Sustained investment in Upstate revitalization will aid our region's continued transition to a new economy fueled by new jobs. Every penny we provide in new tax cuts for small businesses is a penny those employers can reinvest in growing jobs and opportunity right here in Rochester. More infrastructure funding will help fix our crumbling roads and bridges and a new five-year capital plan will finally put Upstate in parity with Downstate transportation spending.

Despite some solid hits, the Governor did take his share of swings and misses. Subsidizing college for convicts isn't reform, it's an insult to every student and parent who has ever sacrificed to pay for a higher education. If we're looking for real criminal justice reform, let's start with the Parole system, which has failed our community too often, leaving too many victims in its wake. We also don't yet know fully how the Governor would pay for much of his agenda, which is a red flag for all of us who already shoulder some of the highest taxes in the nation.

We can all agree with the Governor that pensions should be stripped from corrupt public officials, but we didn't hear anything about term limits for state lawmakers, a solution that would do much to help clean-up Albany. And we didn't hear enough on how to address either the broken Common Core or the failed SAFE Act. You can bet I'll be focusing on those efforts and more in 2016."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCmaTDsT2TM