Gov. David Paterson’s executive budget proposal dominated the discussion Friday morning as federal, state and county elected officials attended the annual legislative breakfast sponsored by the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce.
The forum at the Knights Inn of Little Falls was moderated by Chamber Executive Director John Scarano and gave audience members an opportunity to listen to and ask panel members questions.
This year’s panelists were U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri, state Senator James L. Seward, state Assemblyman Marc Butler and Herkimer County Legislature Chairman Raymond Smith.
“It’s astonishing that here it is March 5 and very little discussion on a new state budget has taken place,” said Seward, R,C,I - Oneonta. “The budget deadline is less than a month away and, to date, very little has been accomplished concerning the budget. We need to get down to business, and we need to get down to business now, with a complete review of the governor’s proposal and set to work amending the plan for final approval so we can pass an on-time state budget.”
Seward said the budget serves as the foundation for much of the work that is done in Albany, and impacts institutions across the state. “Without an on-time state budget, schools cannot move forward with their own spending plans, access to hospitals and nursing homes could be placed in jeopardy and local government services may be put on hold,” he said.
The senator also called for a return to an open, bipartisan review of the budget.
“The conference committee approach, which I helped establish in law through the budget reform act, was ditched last year resulting in one of the most secretive budget processes in our state’s history,” he said. “We cannot afford a repeat performance this year.”
Seward said that this year’s budget needs to keep taxes in check by reducing state spending. He added that the budget must also provide businesses with an effective job growth plan.
“We need job creation and job retention here in New York,” he said. “We need to restore employer confidence so they will continue to invest in our state and put people back to work.”
“I believe the consensus in Albany is that the people have been taxed to the hilt and that spending cuts, and not new taxes and fees, are the answer,” said Butler, R,C,I - Newport. “We realize that the savings must come from the spending side of the budget and not from raising taxes.”
Butler said that solutions to the state’s fiscal crisis lie in implementing a spending cap, reducing Medicaid fraud and abuse, streamlining state government by consolidating administrative agencies with overlapping functions and banning unfunded mandates passed on to local municipalities.
“At a time when everyone is enduring difficult financial times and being asked to tighten their belts, the legislature must do the same,” he said. “In these extraordinary times, the governor’s budget does not go far enough to reduce the tax burden placed on New Yorkers, or help the thousands of people out of work find jobs. The governor’s proposal is far too dependent on New York taxpayers to pull our state out of this fiscal crisis, and that is where the decision-making process must come in.”
Speaking of the proposal to close 41 state parks and 14 state historic sites, including Herkimer Home, Butler said that such talks would be “dead on arrival.”
“We are already at work on a bill to prevent these closures from happening,” he said.
“Government does not create jobs, it creates the environment for people in business to create jobs,” said Arcuri, D - Utica. “We need to put a divider between government and the private sector, so that government can do what it does best and businesses can do what they do best.”
Arcuri spoke of his vote for the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, legislation that would create new small business and construction jobs this year, spur private sector hiring, help rebuild the upstate economy and provide funding for infrastructure improvements to local highways and schools.
“Focusing on the upstate economy and putting people back to work is my top priority,” he said. “Bipartisan legislation like the Jobs Bill fulfills the role I think the federal government should have in our economic recovery — namely, creating the environment necessary, through tax incentives and infrastructure improvements, for small businesses to grow and be able to hire new employees without the government standing in their way.”
Speaking of the $3.5 million he helped secure in a 2009 funding bill for Remington Arms to upgrade the U.S. Army’s fleet of 3,000 M24 sniper rifles, Arcuri said a regulation reform effort is under way so that the suppressers that are used in unison with the rifles can be manufactured in New York state.
“State regulations say that the suppressers can not be manufactured in New York,” said Arcuri. “Currently, the suppressers are manufactured elsewhere and are transported here so they can be fitted to the rifle. If that regulation were to change, a potential 100 jobs could be created. Reform like that makes sense and is something that needs to be done to benefit our businesses.”
Smith gave a reason for those in attendance Friday to leave with a smile on their face.
“With the people and infrastructure we have, and our financial solvency, the county is poised to make great strides as we collectively rebound from this latest economic downturn,” he said. “The sky is not falling and the sun will come up tomorrow over Herkimer County.”
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Gov. David Paterson’s executive budget proposal dominated the discussion Friday morning as federal, state and county elected officials attended the annual legislative breakfast sponsored by the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce.
The forum at the Knights Inn of Little Falls was moderated by Chamber Executive Director John Scarano and gave audience members an opportunity to listen to and ask panel members questions.
This year’s panelists were U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri, state Senator James L. Seward, state Assemblyman Marc Butler and Herkimer County Legislature Chairman Raymond Smith.
“It’s astonishing that here it is March 5 and very little discussion on a new state budget has taken place,” said Seward, R,C,I - Oneonta. “The budget deadline is less than a month away and, to date, very little has been accomplished concerning the budget. We need to get down to business, and we need to get down to business now, with a complete review of the governor’s proposal and set to work amending the plan for final approval so we can pass an on-time state budget.”
Seward said the budget serves as the foundation for much of the work that is done in Albany, and impacts institutions across the state. “Without an on-time state budget, schools cannot move forward with their own spending plans, access to hospitals and nursing homes could be placed in jeopardy and local government services may be put on hold,” he said.
The senator also called for a return to an open, bipartisan review of the budget.
“The conference committee approach, which I helped establish in law through the budget reform act, was ditched last year resulting in one of the most secretive budget processes in our state’s history,” he said. “We cannot afford a repeat performance this year.”
Seward said that this year’s budget needs to keep taxes in check by reducing state spending. He added that the budget must also provide businesses with an effective job growth plan.
“We need job creation and job retention here in New York,” he said. “We need to restore employer confidence so they will continue to invest in our state and put people back to work.”
“I believe the consensus in Albany is that the people have been taxed to the hilt and that spending cuts, and not new taxes and fees, are the answer,” said Butler, R,C,I - Newport. “We realize that the savings must come from the spending side of the budget and not from raising taxes.”
Butler said that solutions to the state’s fiscal crisis lie in implementing a spending cap, reducing Medicaid fraud and abuse, streamlining state government by consolidating administrative agencies with overlapping functions and banning unfunded mandates passed on to local municipalities.
“At a time when everyone is enduring difficult financial times and being asked to tighten their belts, the legislature must do the same,” he said. “In these extraordinary times, the governor’s budget does not go far enough to reduce the tax burden placed on New Yorkers, or help the thousands of people out of work find jobs. The governor’s proposal is far too dependent on New York taxpayers to pull our state out of this fiscal crisis, and that is where the decision-making process must come in.”
Speaking of the proposal to close 41 state parks and 14 state historic sites, including Herkimer Home, Butler said that such talks would be “dead on arrival.”
“We are already at work on a bill to prevent these closures from happening,” he said.
“Government does not create jobs, it creates the environment for people in business to create jobs,” said Arcuri, D - Utica. “We need to put a divider between government and the private sector, so that government can do what it does best and businesses can do what they do best.”
Arcuri spoke of his vote for the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, legislation that would create new small business and construction jobs this year, spur private sector hiring, help rebuild the upstate economy and provide funding for infrastructure improvements to local highways and schools.
“Focusing on the upstate economy and putting people back to work is my top priority,” he said. “Bipartisan legislation like the Jobs Bill fulfills the role I think the federal government should have in our economic recovery — namely, creating the environment necessary, through tax incentives and infrastructure improvements, for small businesses to grow and be able to hire new employees without the government standing in their way.”
Speaking of the $3.5 million he helped secure in a 2009 funding bill for Remington Arms to upgrade the U.S. Army’s fleet of 3,000 M24 sniper rifles, Arcuri said a regulation reform effort is under way so that the suppressers that are used in unison with the rifles can be manufactured in New York state.
“State regulations say that the suppressers can not be manufactured in New York,” said Arcuri. “Currently, the suppressers are manufactured elsewhere and are transported here so they can be fitted to the rifle. If that regulation were to change, a potential 100 jobs could be created. Reform like that makes sense and is something that needs to be done to benefit our businesses.”
Smith gave a reason for those in attendance Friday to leave with a smile on their face.
“With the people and infrastructure we have, and our financial solvency, the county is poised to make great strides as we collectively rebound from this latest economic downturn,” he said. “The sky is not falling and the sun will come up tomorrow over Herkimer County.”
