Rockland Writes: Senator Bill Weber Declares New York State's Budget a Failure

The New York State Senate has passed the state budget bills, albeit one month late, and I voted against all of them. As a lawmaker, it's my responsibility to ensure that the budget is in the best interests of my constituents. Unfortunately, this budget is a failure. Period. 

The majority running the Senate has largely ignored the concerns of New Yorkers. This budget fails to address our state's most pressing issues, opting for reckless and unnecessary spending that will only make living here more expensive. The governor used messages of necessity to rush the process, giving my colleagues and me limited time to review everything, which is concerning. 

The budget included changes to the bail reform law, but they were far less than what was necessary to protect our communities. It will allow the governor to claim a win, but in the end, the law-abiding citizens of this state will be negatively impacted. 

Additionally, the plan to electrify everything is not practical or affordable. The budget has banned gas hookups in new buildings. They really are coming for your gas stoves and furnaces! This will further increase the cost of living in New York. 

The MTA is getting more money straight from the ATM it calls Rockland County, but it is not being reformed, and it not being audited. This will only further enable the MTA's inefficiencies and poor management, a long-standing issue in the state. 

Nothing has been done to address the unaffordability of living in New York. To add insult to injury, a last-minute addition to withhold Medicaid funding from the counties will likely raise property taxes between 7% and 14% as early as next year. This is unacceptable and will only make living in New York even more unaffordable. 

It's disappointing that the Senate majority failed to address the most pressing issues facing our state, opting for reckless and unnecessary spending that will only make living here more expensive.  The Governor, New York State Senate, and Assembly have a responsibility to their constituents to pass budgets that address issues facing our state. We must ensure that budgets are transparent and provide adequate time for lawmakers to review and deliberate their provisions. Rushing the budget process at the final hour after a month of stalling through messages of necessity undermines the democratic process and weakens the trust between the government and the people it serves. We must do better for the people of New York!