“The budget proposal presented today by the Assembly Majority (E.179) was a political ‘wish list’ aimed more toward garnering votes, rather than benefiting New Yorkers. That said, some of the measures I have called for are, at this point, included in the proposal, such as $2 billion for clean water infrastructure projects, a $2 billion increase for school aid compared to last year, an increase in TAP aid, a restoration of the original STAR Program to help homeowners and an increase in CHIPS funding to improve our local roads and bridges. Over the coming weeks, I will fight to see these included in the final budget.

“While some truly good measures were included, several harmful measures are also in the details of this proposal. For example, there are no measures to legalize ridesharing, no repeal of the SAFE Act for upstate, a $6 million cut in funding for local agriculture aid from last year, free college tuition and top-of-the-line health insurance for illegal immigrants and more than $7 billion in tax increases for the state. The budget is always a mixed-bag, and we must take the good with the bad, but I cannot and will not accept this proposal for this year’s budget and I will fight against these measures, every step of the way.”