“The governor’s budget proposal includes some solid economic initiatives and a clear understanding of the need to revitalize the Upstate economy. The governor’s proposal to establish a $1 billion dollar revitalization fund for upstate New York is a long-overdue initiative to help revitalize our economy. And I am pleased to see that the governor’s budget would provide $10 million to help finance the Connective Corridor project in Syracuse and that he has proposed a 9 percent ($6.1 million) increase in Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding for the City of Syracuse.

Improving the economy goes hand in hand with providing quality educational opportunities for our children. Investing in our children’s education needs to be a top priority if New York is to move ahead. I will work to ensure that our schools are well funded in order to improve the education they are able to provide our kids and to keep property taxes in check.

On the higher education front, the governor has proposed a significant investment in SUNY and community colleges including a 5-year, $9.3 billion capital plan. We must ensure that we keep a college education within reach for hardworking New Yorkers and I am happy to see the governor has proposed no tuition hikes.

There is an opportunity in linking the state’s vast SUNY system with cutting-edge, high-tech development. An Innovation Fund for groundbreaking research will help. By establishing New York as a magnet for visionary research, we advance both economically and culturally. We can succeed by partnering education with business opportunities. By promoting research and development we can also secure our role as a leader in global markets.

I’m confident that by working together we will build on our successes of the past to grow our economy, relieve working families from a crushing tax burden, make sure our children can compete in a world-class economy and ensure quality healthcare is available to all. We can make this legislative session one of accomplishments and results for working families.”