Dean G. Skelos' News items

The new Senate websites that were unveiled with great fanfare today, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop and will cost millions more to maintain.

Senator Smith has hired a new staff with a public payroll of at least a half a million dollars a year to give individual Senators and the public little more than they had with the previous Senate web sites that were designed and maintained by an outside vendor for $60,000 a year.

CONTACT: John McArdle, Mark Hansen (518) 455-2264        FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, May 5, 2009

    I am stunned by Governor Paterson’s latest comments defending the secrecy shrouding the MTA discussions.  He defends the indefensible by claiming that a little transparency and sunlight might prompt Democrat lawmakers to vote against the agreement. Obviously the Governor believes a little information is a dangerous thing.  

The New York Senate Republican Conference today introduced an amendment that would to keep three minimum security prisons in Upstate New York operating. Under the budget agreement announced by Governor Paterson, Speaker Silver, and Senator Smith, Camp Gabriels in Franklin County, Mt. McGregor in Saratoga County, and Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County would be closed without the required twelve month notice required by law.

The closure of the prisons would result in the loss of over 300 jobs in Upstate New York. Senate Democrats voted to defeat the amendment.

Typical family will pay $2,400 more in taxes under Democrat-only Budget

Senate Democrats today opposed a Republican-sponsored amendment that would have eliminated dozens of new taxes and fees included in the State budget that will force an average middle class family to pay more than $2,350 in additional taxes this year.

Members of the Senate Republican Conference today proposed an amendment to the higher education budget legislation being advanced by the Senate Democrats that would help improve the quality and affordability of higher education by ensuring that money from tuition increases go directly to SUNY, increasing the tuition tax credit, and creating a prepaid college plan for SUNY and CUNY. Senate Democrats voted to defeat the amendment.

In an effort to stop Senate Democrats from pushing through the largest tax and spending hikes in state history, Senate Republicans today put forward budget amendments that would eliminate tax increases, restore rebate checks for property taxpayers and help businesses create new jobs. They also outlined spending cuts and alternative sources of revenues that show how taxes can be cut and the budget remain balanced.

Members of the New York State Republican Conference today proposed an amendment to budget legislation being advanced on the Senate floor that would restore $1.45 billion in property tax relief for New York’s middle class homeowners. Senate Democrats voted to defeat the amendment.

The budget plan being advanced by the Governor and legislative leaders completely eliminates the STAR property tax rebate checks, placing and additional burden on homeowners struggling with rising property taxes across the state.

Comprehensive Recovery Plan Would Help Small Businesses, Manufacturers; Create Jobs for Workers Dealing with Worst Economy since the Great Depression

Even though New Yorkers are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Senate Democrats today refused to include a comprehensive jobs plan offered by Republicans in the State Budget that would create new jobs and revitalize Upstate communities which have been hit hard by recent job losses.

Amendment would have rolled back new Democrat health insurance tax, new assessments that will lead to higher premiums

Senate Democrats today rejected a Republican-sponsored amendment that would have reduced skyrocketing health care costs in New York, ensuring that affordable health coverage will continue to remain out of reach for many small businesses, New Yorkers and their families.