Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Horicon) joined members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences for a press conference addressing the current state of the budget today on the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol. After five extenders and weeks of closed-door discussions, Albany Majority has failed to provide a budget that works for New Yorkers.

“It is disappointing and embarrassing that we are over three weeks delayed and do not have a budget. At this stage, there is no reason for budget details to remain hidden. We will demand all budget bills age properly and that messages of necessity are not used. The budget process is once again shrouded in mystery to all and at a standstill,” said Simpson.

 “I am gravely concerned that core fundamental problems plaguing our state are not being addressed, like growing affordability issues, protecting crime victims’ rights and making critical bail reform changes or ensuring necessary Medicaid disbursements are made to local county governments and nursing homes to better serve our most vulnerable populations.I am fearful that we will once again be scrambling to understand the details of a policy-laden budget, its final version negotiated in secret and voted on in the darkest hours of the night. This is not what the people of New York want, and this is not what they deserve,” Simpson concluded.