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Senator Bruno explains that public Budget Conference Committees are the best way to get the budget process moving. |
Democrat Leaders Still Refusing to Talk 17 Weeks After Gov Proposed Plan
Wednesday, May 16, 2001
State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today convened a third meeting of the Joint Legislative Budget General Conference Committee -- and there was still no sign of Senate and Assembly Democrats, despite their repeated public pronouncements that they are ready to begin work on the overdue state budget.
More than 17 weeks after Governor Pataki unveiled his budget plan for the state Fiscal Year beginning April 1, the Assembly Speaker continues to refuse to negotiate a budget plan for the state. Nonetheless, the Speaker, in at least three statewide mailings, pledged his readiness to begin budget talks and challenged the Senate to join in Conference Committees.
"I convened this third Conference Committee in yet another attempt to move the process forward so that we can fulfill our obligation to enact a budget that serves the needs of the people of this state," said Senator Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "Despite their public pronouncements, it is clear that the Assembly still is unwilling to join in this process. The Speaker has refused all of my invitations to participate, even though many of his fellow Democrats have expressed their frustration at the lack of progress on a budget."
"The Constitution makes clear our obligation to act. The Senate is ready. Where is the Speaker?" Said Senator Bruno.
Senator Bruno invited comments from Democrats and Republicans who attended the Budget General Conference Committee Meeting to elicit additional suggestions on advancing the budget process.
And he pointed to growing evidence of a slowing national economy, including warnings from up to 34 states that dwindling Wall Street profits are creating huge new holes in their budgets, as further proof of the need to carefully examine spending and revenue projections for New York State.
"In just the past few weeks, states around the country are reporting a precipitous drop in revenue fueled by stock market activity, yet the Speaker refuses to publicly discuss his plan to deal with a similar possible drop-off in New York, or even to defend his $8 billion spending increase in this volatile economic environment," said Senator Bruno.
"The Budget Conference Committee is the best place to air those discussions so that the public can witness -- in full light of day -- the serious issues that we face in adopting a budget that preserves valuable government services, provides tax cuts to protect our economy and stimulate new growth, and prepares our state for an uncertain economy in the future," Senator Bruno said.
During last week�s Budget General Conference Committee, Senator Bruno cited rising gas prices -- and the absence of a plan from Senate or Assembly Democrats to provide consumers any relief -- as lending urgency to the need for budget negotiations to begin.
In the first General Budget Conference Committee meeting, Senate Republicans attempted to show broad differences in the Senate and Assembly budget plans.
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