Butler Column: Accountability Lost on Governor’s Budget

Assemblyman Marc Butler (R,C,I,Ref-Newport) says New York's budget process is once again three men in a room and he's concerned that the issues important to upstate are being ignored.

In a legislative column (below), Butler says the state's spending plan is being negotiated by those in power from New York City and downstate, while the rest of the legislature is being left in the dark as to what is being agreed upon.

As an example, Butler believes that rather than focusing on what is important, Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders are looking to score political points with the inclusion of the DREAM Act, which would give free college tuition to illegals, he says, but does nothing to help middle class families who play by the rules.

The state budget is due by April 1.

Below is the complete column from Butler:

With the budget being due in only a few short days, much of the state Capitol is left in the dark as to what is being agreed upon during negotiations. The budget, as in years past, is being negotiated behind closed doors by three men, all from downstate New York.

Rural Upstate New York, with its smaller cities, villages and towns, has been facing significant difficulties over the years. In fact, a bipartisan coalition of nine legislators, including myself, recently united to better advocate for the interests of the Mohawk Valley at the state Capitol. I also work closely with my North Country colleagues to fight for the issues that impact that region as well. Across the board, we see that our region is often ignored by those in power from New York City and downstate.

Sadly, upstate New York isn’t getting the care and attention it needs from the state. According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, the job growth rate in upstate New York is 2.7 percent, lagging significantly behind New York City at 13 percent, and the rest of the nation at 11 percent. We’ve seen upstate infrastructure go ignored while the governor commits billions to the Tappen Zee Bridge rebuild, a project which still does not have a real financial plan. We’ve seen transportation funds funneled to downstate subways, airports and train stations. Where is our fair share?

As I have stated before, I am all for investment, but with accountability and fairness attached.

I am concerned that the governor, with his new budget plan and insistence on private negotiations, is setting the state up for problems. The Citizens’ Union has identified nearly $14 billion worth of discretionary funds the governor is carving out for himself in the budget. In addition, there have been ethics investigations with his Buffalo Billion initiatives and other so-called economic development programs.

This year’s budget, as many are correctly seeing, may be susceptible to corruption if accountability measures are not included.

There are so many needs across the state which requires our attention— clean drinking water, improvements to our infrastructure, school aid, college affordability, and tax relief for families and small businesses. These are the things that I am fighting for the most for the residents of my district.

I am concerned that the governor and the two legislative leaders this year are losing focus on what is important for ALL people of our state in order to score political points. For instance, the inclusion of the DREAM Act as part of the budget, a scheme to give free college tuition to illegals, does nothing to help middle-class families who play by the rules.

Even in these final days of the budget negotiations, I am working to instill reason, promote accountability and secure Upstate New York its fair share.

I welcome your input on this or any other legislative issue. Please contact me at 315-866-1632 or butlerm@nyassembly.gov.