Senator Bill Larkin Responds To Governor Cuomo's State Of The State Address

Senator Bill Larkin (R-39^th District) responded to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address today by highlighting plans that he and his colleagues in the Republican lead Senate have already acted upon and will address as the legislative session continues. 

Senator Larkin recently helped pass two important reforms designed to improve the way state government operates. The reforms include a cap on state spending and term limits for legislative leadership posts and committee chairs. 

“New Yorkers deserve the most open, accountable and responsive government possible,” said Senator Larkin. “That’s why it was important for the State Senate to take the lead and pass these common sense government reforms during the first week of the 2016 legislative session.”

Senator Larkin noted that term limits on leadership positions was actually adopted as an internal rule for the State Senate last year. Unfortunately, the New York City dominated State Assembly failed to institute a similar rule. Now, the Senate Majority is taking the next step by approving legislation that would make term limits on leadership positions the law of the land in both houses.

The Senate also passed a key fiscal reform, a state spending cap, which is similar to the two percent spending cap that applies to school districts and local governments.

“Over the last 5 years, the Senate has passed on-time budgets and kept state spending growth below two percent,” said Senator Larkin. “Now we are taking the next step to make a state spending cap the law of the land.  By controlling spending, we can begin to tackle the state’s high taxes and make the Hudson Valley a more affordable place to live.”

Another issue that has been catastrophic to local school districts over the past several years is the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA).  The Senate also voted this week to eliminate the GEA completely.

 “I was proud to vote this week to finally put an end to the Gap Elimination Adjustment,” stated Larkin.  “This initiative was put in place years ago by the New York City Democrat controlled Senate and has been catastrophic to our local school districts.  It has hurt the quality of education for our students and ripped resources out of the hands of hard working teachers and administrators.  The Governor and the Assembly must join the Senate in putting an end to the Gap Elimination Adjustment this year, our teachers and our students are depending on it.”

Senator Larkin also discussed areas where he believes he can work with Governor Cuomo.

“The Governor spoke today on a variety of topics and I look forward to working with him on some very important issues,” said Senator Bill Larkin. “In the Governor’s newly released executive budget proposal there are some items I can get behind.  I support an on-time state budget, a budget with no new taxes and fees, and a budget that stays under 2% in spending.  I believe that if we spend less we should tax less and when the Governor’s initiatives are in line with this principle there will be plenty of room for us to work together.”