Years of spending beyond our means and the current economic crisis and financial meltdown have contributed to a record deficit that demands tough decisions. Yet, the Deficit Reduction Package, pushed through by the Assembly yesterday, is a clear example that the path of least resistance is the road most often taken in Albany.

While other states have enacted tax relief and incentives in an effort to grow the private sector economy, Albany reverted back to its bad habits to force through massive tax increases, surcharges on health insurance, accounting gimmicks and one-shot revenues that will only delay unnecessarily New York’s economic recovery.