New York is at a crossroads, where the state government has an opportunity to turn away from its infamous history of dysfunction, corruption and taxpayer abuse. While we have seen glimpses of hope that New York was indeed turning the corner to a better path, I am sad to say, in some respects, we are continuing down the same path.
I have said many times that the budget is one of the most important policy decisions lawmakers have to make each legislative session. The way we structure state spending can propel our communities toward recovery or ensnare it in restrictive taxes and spending. Our budget policies layout our state’s priorities and lay out its vision going forward.
I am troubled that this budget shows how out of touch New York’s priorities are with the needs of the average New Yorker. Our hardworking families and job creators have been feeling the squeeze from taxes and the high cost of doing business, yet Albany’s leaders opted to extend numerous taxes and fees that were set to expire. This year’s budget highlighted the disparity between upstate and downstate, failing to bridge the gap that divides them and meet both regions’ needs. It drew a line between the needs of our most vulnerable and special interests, supporting professional sports teams and Hollywood productions at the expense of our schools and developmentally disabled.
While I would certainly agree that getting New Yorkers back to work is among my top priorities, we also have a commitment to care for our most vulnerable. The program cuts being endured by those with developmental disabilities to the benefit of special interests in this year’s budget are heartbreaking and unconscionable. When I joined my colleagues in the Minority Conference and offered an amendment to restore funding to these programs, the Assembly Majority claimed it would have put the budget out of balance. My colleagues and I disagreed and provided a responsible plan to restore funding while keeping the budget balanced.
During our budget debate, I personally appealed to our majority colleagues to re-direct some $26.4 million in legislative pork funding to cover a dramatic shortfall in funding for programs for the developmentally disabled rather than spend this taxpayer money on favored projects in their home districts.
Due to the actions taken by Albany, our programs for the developmentally disabled are facing $180 million in funding cuts, seriously impacting providers like Lexington in Fulton County, and ARCs in Herkimer, St. Lawrence and other upstate counties. In the end, we were able to restore only $60 million of that amount. But if the majority had opted to put the more than $26.4 million set aside for the two legislative majorities as “bullet aid,” since the federal government gives us a one-to-one dollar match we could have easily added more than $50 million for our developmentally disabled citizens…without having to raise one dime in additional revenue!
My plea was met with silence.
Instead of supporting those who need our help the most, Albany’s old ways crept in and millions worth of pork barrel spending was given to downstate pet projects. This budget was balanced on the backs of hardworking taxpayers and our most vulnerable. Rewarding pet projects over the responsible New Yorkers that make our state great is disheartening and shameful.
While there were things in the budget worth commending, we cannot claim this budget as a great victory when so many egregious errors were made. How can Albany and downstate politicians hail their actions, when all they’ve shown is a disconnect from basic decency and accountability? Albany needs to embrace humility and true reform and conduct the business of the people, not the business of special interests and legislative perks.
We can be fiscally responsible, invest in our economy and remain compassionate. Real, open and honest discussions needed to occur on how to make each dollar work harder for each New Yorker. The closed-door negotiations this budget was crafted on are not working for the average New Yorker, and Albany must reform and better serve all our communities.
All is not lost, however. A dedicated group of my colleagues is joining me in not giving up on doing what’s right and restoring programs that serve our most vulnerable. We are energized, committed and plan on using the remainder of the legislative session to correct this wrong and make Albany work for you, the taxpayer, and not the other way around.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with ideas, questions or concerns on this topic or any other legislative matter. I can be reached at either my Herkimer office at 315-866-1632, Johnstown office at 518-762-6486 or by e-mail at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us. I hope to see you soon.