“Today, the governor delivered his proposal for the 2018-19 state budget to the New York State Legislature. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly to bolster the proposed funding to public education, affirm the framework laid out in the budget proposal to combat sexual harassment in the workplace and fund additional measures that will prioritize workforce development across New York.

“As a steadfast advocate for public education, I know that there is no better investment New York can make than in our children's education. We cannot continue to put pressure on school districts to deliver a sound education unless the state provides our schools with the resources to do so. Delivering appropriate levels of state funding to local schools will allow them to stay within the tax cap without cutting essential programs and services.

“In his State of the State address, the governor assured us that combating sexual harassment in workplace would be a top priority this year, and I am delighted to see anti-harassment measures included in his proposed state budget. No one should be subjected to sexual assault or harassment at work, and we need to do everything we can to protect victims from such conduct. We absolutely must end the practice of using taxpayer dollars to fund secret settlements. I look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen workplace protections.

“Since I took office, I have made it a priority to work with labor unions and the Western New York business community to address our region’s shrinking workforce. The governor’s proposal for a one-stop shop to connect employers with workers will go a long way toward tackling the impending workforce shortage here in Western New York and across the state. I’m also interested in discussing with my colleagues how we can ensure that the proposed creation of the Office of Workforce Development delivers on its promise to enhance workforce development in New York.”