Yet again, the archaic budget process conducted in Albany in secret by four leaders behind closed doors and budget bills being passed during the middle of the night in darkness, left no time for public disclosure or real review and, shamefully, without a larger outlook on how the components of this budget will impact the people of this state.

My priority has always been representing the people of Western New York who desperately need tax relief, and for Albany to stop spending and forcing unfunded mandates and regulations on businesses and localities.

I am very disappointed this secretive process has resulted in a budget that maxes out our state’s debt limit, overspends and does nothing substantial to reduce the tax burden that is forcing citizens and employers out of state.

Furthermore, the budget neglects to provide any procurement and contractual reforms of the hidden billions of taxpayer-funded dollars being spent on “economic development” programs. It is completely unacceptable that the budget did not provide real checks and concrete measures to increase transparency and openness on how your tax monies are being spent.