"Last year, I said Governor Cuomo's first State of the State Address would give New York a much-needed opportunity to hit the 'reset button' and we did exactly that by delivering an on-time State Budget that reduced government spending, successfully closing a $10 billion budget deficit, passing a property tax cap and enacting a statewide energy plan. Our Conference had long advanced each of these policies and we were glad the Governor embraced them.
One year later, the state of our state is stronger and New York is beginning to head in the right direction. The Governor's speech today is an opportunity for us to build on the accomplishments from 2011 and keep New York moving forward. However, the mission of transforming New York and fixing our state government is far from finished - in fact, we have only just begun. We need more jobs and less government for a better New York. This session, this year, we need to continue working together and finish the people's business:
Rebuild New York's economy, jumpstart economic development and focus on growing private sector jobs;
Deliver on the still unfulfilled promise of unfunded mandate relief for local governments and school districts;
Reform and redesign New York's Medicaid program that is the nation's costliest;
Institute a State spending cap;
Deliver tax relief and cut bureaucratic red tape for job creators;
Ensure low-wealth, high-need school districts have the support they need;
Hold the line: no new taxes, fees, surcharges or borrowing;
Restructure and redesign government by consolidating State Agencies and delivering high-quality customer service to all taxpayers;
Enact comprehensive pension reform; and
Demand a new culture in Albany of transparency, openness and accountability.
If we can fulfill these goals, not only will we see another historic Legislative Session, more importantly, we will have taken a major step toward delivering a smaller, smarter, less intrusive state government worthy of the New Yorkers we serve. Let's get to work."