Remarks by Speaker Sheldon Silver

Passage Of The Budget

Assembly Chamber, Albany, NY
Thursday, March 31, 2005

My colleagues, let me restate a sentiment that I have made to you in this Chamber many times over the years. I am grateful and I am proud to be Speaker of the New York State Assembly, never more so than I am today.

A promise was made.

A promise of reform and of a better government for the people we serve; a promise that echoed from both sides of the aisle.

Today, and throughout this session, we have kept that promise.

The budget we completed could not have occurred without your willingness to sacrifice; without your willingness to compromise. It was tough, I know. And yes, there are some issues still to be resolved.

We will maintain our fair and compassionate leadership on the issues that are most important to New Yorkers: education, health care, jobs, better government, safe streets, and a safe environment.

What we have accomplished today we accomplished as one Legislature driven by the spirit of bipartisanship to achieve one goal: government at its finest.

• I commend the distinguished Chair of our Ways and Means Committee, my good friend, Denny Farrell;

• All of our conference committee chairs and members;

• Our colleagues in the Senate, particularly Senator Bruno and Senator Paterson;

• As well as our own distinguished Minority Leader, Charlie Nesbitt.

Charlie, now it's time for us to walk out and unplug that clock.

Now it's time for the Governor to join the Assembly and the Senate in making the right choices and to ratify the first budget negotiated in open and public conference committees by both houses and by both sides of the aisle, and passed entirely in the light of day without messages of necessity; a budget that is good, fair and on time for the first time in 20 years!

With the shouts for reform still echoing through the cities, towns and villages of this great state, I have no doubt the right choices will be made.

I thank each and every Member of this House for your hard work, your faith, and your guidance.

Majority Leader Paul Tokasz, Chairman Denny Farrell, your leadership is key to everything we do in this House. Thank You.

Additionally, let me thank all of our dedicated staffs from both sides of the aisle for the incredible job they have done under incredible pressure, during incredible hours.

Specifically, let me thank Dean Fuleihan, Dan Conviser, Bill Collins, Judy Rapfogel, Karen McCann, Roman Hedges, the Bill Drafting Commission led by Randy Bluth, as well as Minority staff members Kim Galvin and Becky D'Agati.

Congratulations on a job well done.

Relish this moment and get some rest. There is still a lot of work ahead of us.