The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver

Joint Press Conference Regarding Budget Reform

State Capitol, 2nd Floor Blue Room, Albany, NY
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Thank you, Governor, for providing the leadership to build the consensus for reform that will move this State forward.

New Yorkers have to be excited by a Governor who is hard at work and partnering to advance budget reform.

To the members of the media, let me tell you how much better things are now.

Twice in just 16 days, the Governor, Senator Bruno and I have stood together here in The Blue Room smiling and agreeing on government reform.

That's a major change for the better.

As for the issue of the day, the Assembly, with the leadership of our distinguished Ways and Means Chair, Assemblyman Denny Farrell; the members of the Assembly's Budget Reform Conference Committee represented here by Assembly Members Alexander Grannis, RoAnn Destito, and Susan John; along with our colleagues in the Senate, have done much of the reform you're seeing today.

We are the driving force behind the employment of joint conference committees which contributed significantly to the last two on-time budgets.

In 2004, we passed comprehensive budget reform legislation.

Last year, both Houses of the Legislature passed a bill to ensure expanded public disclosure, enhanced accountability, and on-time budgets.

These would have been the first major changes to the budget process in more than seventy years had the previous administration not vetoed the bill.

So clearly, we need to move the budget process into the 21st Century.

With this agreement, I believe we are doing exactly that.

Far more important, we are restoring the historic balance of power between the executive and legislative branches as we forge a fiscal plan for this State.

Where we once dealt with vetoes and veto overrides, we are now embracing consensus and mutual respect.

That was the promise made to us by Governor Spitzer, and that is the promise being kept here today.

Speaking for the Assembly, we will continue to engage each other in joint conference committees.

We will produce an expedited, more transparent, more easily understood budget process that will result in an sound, fiscally prudent, fair and equitable on-time budget.

That said, we thank you, Governor, for your leadership.

We look forward to the historic, first budget that you will present on January 31st.

And we look forward to working with the you to address the many challenges facing this State.