NYS GOP Chairman Ed Cox: Albany Democrats Perpetuate Budget Dysfunction

 
Albany, NY….April 6, 2010 – “Albany Democrats are refusing to take New York State’s fiscal crisis seriously.  The April 1 deadline for the passage of our state budget has come and gone.  Without a budget, jobs and important economic investments are being threatened.  In an effort to look like he’s taking action to solve the budget crisis, Governor Paterson has decided to suspend payments for ongoing state-funded capital construction projects until a new state budget is enacted.  This accomplishes nothing and needlessly places thousands of construction industry jobs at risk. 
 
Democratic leaders Sheldon Silver and John Sampson prefer to work in secret on a budget proposal loaded with more spending, massive borrowing and tax hikes.  Despite calls for transparency, Albany Democrats refuse to put forward any type of schedule detailing how or when the budget negotiations will take place.   
 
Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb has put forth a plan for an open budget negotiation process that facilitates public involvement.  As part of his plan, Leader Kolb proposes having a televised public forum where New Yorkers can learn exactly where the Governor and each Legislative Conference in the Assembly and Senate stands on the critical issues involved in solving the state budget crisis.
 
Republican calls for transparency have been repeatedly ignored.  Despite Albany Democrats having promised to reform Albany and create a more transparent government, their secretive, back-room budget deals aimed at lining the pockets of their favorite interest groups prove that nothing has changed. 
 
Democratic Leaders in the Senate and Assembly want nothing more than to maintain the same dysfunctional status quo.  The forgotten taxpayers of New York State want and deserve better.  A Republican-led government in Albany will give it to them.” 
 
Bazzo 04/07/10