![Senator Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/4_3_small/public/62-2019-bio.jpg?itok=ZjptOPnn)
STATEMENT: Senator Ortt Reacts to State Budget Agreement
April 1, 2016
-
ISSUE:
- State budget
![](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/general-budget_web.png?itok=W5cLYk1t)
Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I – North Tonawanda) today issued the following statement regarding the New York State 2016-2017 Budget agreement.
“While there were certain elements of this budget that I did not support, I ultimately voted for a budget that I believe will help Western New York. We were able to reject the Governor’s proposed $15 an hour minimum wage increase, because it would have been devastating to our small businesses, family farms, and non-profits. We delivered a record $25 billion in education funding and eliminated the anti-Upstate Gap Elimination Adjustment – two major victories that will help our children, schools, and local taxpayers. We also delivered an unprecedented $4.2 billion middle class tax cut to help families keep more of their hard earned money than ever before. Finally, we ensured Upstate infrastructure received the same treatment – and funding – as downstate. We secured $27 billion for roads and bridges, because these investments are long overdue, create jobs, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life. Keeping within the two percent spending cap, I believe we passed a fiscally-responsible budget that will help our local schools, families, businesses, and seniors.”
Share this Article or Press Release
Newsroom
Go to Newsroom![(From L-R: Patrick Guidice, Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1049; Grant Loomis, Vice President of Government Affairs & Economic Development, Buffalo Niagara Partnership; Donna DeCarolis, President, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation; Gavin Donohue, President & CEO, Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc.; Senator Ed Rath; Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt)](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/press-release/main-image/67277843753-1abd27e8-e9e6-4250-8f45-7ac2cd84d315.jpeg?itok=cKHUfbxG)
![NYS Senate Seal](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/new-sen-seal-web-image_8.jpg?itok=-qrg0xiA)