STATEMENT BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH L. BRUNO

Senator Bruno Comments on State of the State

Wednesday, January 3, 2001

In his State of the State address Governor Pataki outlined an ambitious agenda to build on the tremendous achievements of the past six years to reduce taxes and create new jobs. As a result of our efforts, New York State is more economically competitive now than at any time in recent history, but we must continue doing what works.

I congratulate the Governor for proposing new tax cuts to reduce the burden of property taxes and provide additional incentives for business and job growth. In the next several weeks the Senate Majority will propose an aggressive tax cut package that will dovetail with the tax cuts proposed by Governor Pataki.

The Governor's new proposal on reforming school aid sounds promising. School districts need maximum flexibility to use state dollars where they think they are most needed. Streamlining school aid formulas can accomplish this and assure that local school districts, not the state bureaucracy, make decisions on how education dollars are spent.

The Governor's new proposals for high tech and biomedical research will nicely complement the Senate Majority's Gen*NY*sis plan to encourage job creation in the field of biotechnology and biomedical research. There is tremendous opportunity for job creation in these areas and I was pleased to hear the Governor embrace the need to make New York State more competitive for biotechnology development.

Other critical issues that we must address this session include reforming the state budget process to ensure an on-time budget and enhancing health care coverage. I look forward to working with Governor Pataki and Speaker Silver to make this a very successful and productive session.


####

[BIOGRAPHY] [DISTRICT MAP] [PHOTO GALLERY] [LEGISLATION] [CONSTITUENT SERVICES] [YOUR OPINION COUNTS] [GUESTBOOK] [PRIVACY POLICY] [SENATE INSIDER] [CONTACT INFO] [HOME/NEWS]