Issues: Budget

State Senator John A. DeFrancisco announced that his bill (S3297) passed the New York Senate. The bill would improve access to information across the State.

Access to information is vital to creating an environment conducive to learning and innovation. Under this legislation, the New York State Library would be authorized to coordinate the purchase of electronic databases and other information resources for state agencies, library systems, and other governmental entities.

“More Central New Yorkers are using their local libraries to research employment opportunities and learn new skills. This bill would allow libraries to lower their overheard, stretch their resources, and offer patrons more for less,” said Senator DeFrancisco.

ONEONTA, 02/02/12 -- State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) has been named to two key senate budget sub-committees which will review the governor’s budget proposal and offer recommendations for modifications.  Senator Seward will serve on the health sub-committee and the education sub-committee.

Regarding his health subcommittee assignment Senator Seward said:

“A number of important issues are included under the health heading – a state takeover of Medicaid, creation of a health insurance exchange, and funding for vital public health programs,” said Senator Seward.  “Ensuring the public’s needs are met while keeping state spending in check will be a primary focus.”

Reviewing Transportation, Environment, Agriculture, Housing
On-Time Budget Eyed for Second Straight Year
State Senator Patty Ritchie has been named to a special Senate budget subcommittee assigned to review the Governor’s proposed budget.

Local Governments Need Relief From MTA Payroll Tax

If you’ll indulge me, I’d ask you to imagine a very complex flow chart, one with a jumble of miniscule numbers and overlapping arrows pointing in every direction that are nearly impossible to decipher. That’s what government bureaucracies tend to create. But in my years of public service, I happen to have gotten pretty good at analyzing these labyrinths, tracing their complexities back to their respective centers. What’s more, I can now almost always predict what you’ll find there: an overburdened taxpayer that doesn’t know what hit him.

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced an agreement on a joint legislative budget schedule that, for the first time, sets deadlines that lead to an early adoption of a state budget.   “This schedule sets out a plan to adopt a new budget more than a week before the April 1st deadline,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said. “This is another example of how the Senate, Assembly and Governor are working together to make state government function and planning for another early budget.”