N.Y. Gov. Hochul announces budget deal that includes tax cuts,mask crime law
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday night that her team had reached an agreement for the upcoming annual state budget.
State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, a Democrat representing the North Shore and part of South Brooklyn, said she was encouraged by what she’s seen so far in budget negotiations.
“While budget negotiations are still ongoing, I’m encouraged by the pieces of common-sense legislation that are included thus far, and hope that the final budget includes meaningful investments into New York state and the people who call it home,” she said.
“One of the current budget aspects includes the proposal to restrict cell phone use during the school day. As a mom, I understand why parents want their kids to have phones for travel—but they don’t belong in classrooms, lunchrooms, or at recess. Our kids should be able to focus on learning and socializing without the distraction of a cell phone getting in the way. I’m also thrilled to see part of my legislation included to overhaul our broken discovery laws. The current mandates have made it nearly impossible for law enforcement to do their jobs. My bill addresses these flaws and will make sure dangerous criminals and repeat offenders can be properly prosecuted, and I’m proud to see it reflected in the budget. These changes will help keep our communities safer and help our students stay more focused in school—both wins in my book," she added.
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