Statement from NYS Senator Daphne Jordan on Senate Democrats One-House Budget

_{I voted to protect taxpayers by opposing the Senate Democrat’s one-house budget that demonstrated the degree to which they are totally out-of-touch with the needs, concerns, and true priorities of hardworking, law-abiding New Yorkers.} 

_{The spending blueprint put forth by the Senate Democrats was about advancing partisan politics, not ensuring good government. The Senate Democrats’ one-house budget spends too much – and that increased spending will be paid for by taxpayers – and failed to include common-sense solutions needed to address New York’s critical economic, affordability, and public safety challenges.} 

_{In terms of their wrong spending priorities, the Senate Democratic one-house budget contained:} 

• Massive amounts of new pork barrel 'discretionary' spending; 
• $10 million for inmates to access free college tuition; 
• Hundreds of millions in health care funding for non-U.S. citizens, at a time when many hardworking, law-abiding New Yorkers are struggling to deal with rising health care costs; 
• $200 million to help those who have broken the law get licenses to sell legalized marijuana; and 
• A devastating new 'all-electric' Efficiency Standard that will cause severe damage to the construction industry and bring new building starts to a halt.  

_{Instead of smartly using the state’s record-breaking surplus to deliver real tax relief to overburdened New York families and struggling small businesses, Senate Democrats engaged in a reckless spending free-for-all, handing out taxpayer money to their favored political constituencies because it’s an election year. At a time when most American families and small businesses are tightening their belts to deal with rising energy prices and inflation’s crushing impact, the Senate Democrats opted for a wild spending binge. The only reason New York isn’t in the red is because of the provision of federal funding which were one-time monies. How can our state possibly sustain this reckless spending going forward? It can’t.} 

 _{Senate Democrats added $9.1 billion to the Governor’s original budget proposal and blew through the 2% spending cap that the state has followed for the past decade. Over the past two years, spending has increased by $42.9 billion, an increase of more than 23 percent, to $229 billion – that’s larger than the combined budgets of Florida and Texas. This Majority’s unrestrained spending binge will put NY on a collision course with fiscal disaster and already overburdened taxpayers will ultimately pay the price in the form of higher taxes, lost jobs, and fewer economic opportunities.} 

_{At a time of record-high gas prices and serious pain at the pump, Senate Democrats also dropped the ball on providing gas tax relief. Their weak proposal only provided relief from a portion of state taxes on gasoline, while my Senate Republican colleagues and I continue pushing for the suspension of ALL state taxes on gasoline. Incredibly, Senate Democrats have still not withdrawn their outrageous legislative proposal to increase gas taxes by 55 cents per gallon.} 

_{The proposal advanced completely failed to fix the Senate Democrats’ disastrous 'bail reform' statute and would enact a so-called 'clean slate' law to seal the records of dangerous criminals. In fact, the budget reflects a clear continuation of their pro-criminal agenda that puts the interests of convicted criminals above those of crime victims, law enforcement, and law-abiding citizens.} 

_{All told, the one-house budget put forth by Senate Democrats was wrong, reckless, unsustainable, and fiscally irresponsible. I proudly stood up for, and stood with, overtaxed, overburdened taxpayers and small businesses and voted against the Senate Democratic plan.}