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Jane Corwin

ALBANY — Assemblywoman Jane Corwin called the state budget process "disappointing," specifically the fact that the reform provisions that were tied to to the fiscal plan were not unveiled to the public until Tuesday, the day of the vote.

The Republican from Clarence said the "three men in a room" mentality of policy and fiscal planning must come to an end. She added, however, that there were positives in the on-time budget plan.


The Assemblywoman issued a statement this morning, which follows in its entirety:

It is disappointing (and, quite frankly, disconcerting) that the State Budget’s provisions to reform state government were unveiled to the public and voted on the same day as the budget is due. It speaks loudly to the broken process that continues to be in need of reform. The “three men in a room” mentality must come to an end; yet the ethics reforms in this budget do not address that concern or address the majority of the 17 ethics reforms my colleagues in the Assembly Minority and I introduced earlier this year.

Also troubling is the fact that this very same budget ties together in a single bill the vitally important issue of education aid with creation of a new executive and legislative pay raise commission. While the governor and others are questioning the effectiveness and efficiency of professionals in other fields, like teaching, it is unthinkable to consider pay raises for part-time legislators.

The extension of the Brownfield Cleanup Program is positive news, both for our environment as well as for the renewed economic development in Western New York. However, the budget does very little more to restore the economic vitality of our communities, and fails to do anything to reduce property taxes or make New York more affordable for families or seniors.

Despite these very real concerns, the budget increases education aid and allows for a constitutional amendment to revoke pensions from public officials convicted of felonies – two measures that I have long advocated for and fully support.

RELATED LINKS:

• Unshackle Upstate calls state budget 'positive'
• Groups say budget 'sorely lacking in ethics'
• Cuomo issues budget statement
• Ortt says budget delivers for WNY

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