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Call for Change Comes as State Democrats Skip Fifth Meeting on Late Budget
Wednesday, May 30, 2001
State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and members of the Senate�s Republican Majority today renewed their call for comprehensive legal reforms aimed at ending the stalemates that repeatedly have delayed enactment of a state budget.
The Senate Majority�s comprehensive seven-point budget reform plan -- already passed in the Senate -- would guarantee an on-time budget by removing key stumbling blocks to budget enactment and providing for a "default" budget to automatically take effect when the state misses the budget deadline.
The Republicans� call came as Senator Bruno attempted for the fifth time in as many weeks to convene a Joint Budget Conference Committee to begin publicly hammering out details on the overdue state budget. Once again, Democrats boycotted the meeting.
"The lack of a state budget and the Assembly and Senate Democrats� refusal even to meet to publicly discuss a budget shows clearly that we need reform," said Senator Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "It is past time for the Democrats to come to the table to negotiate a budget and to support meaningful reform to end late budgets for all time."
Senator Bruno chided Assembly Democrats for failing to act on any comprehensive budget reform, even though Speaker Silver announced creation of an Assembly Budget Reform Task Force nearly two years ago. That Task Force has never issued any recommendations.
The Senate has passed budget reform plans repeatedly since 1995. Its comprehensive budget reform plan includes:
1. ENHANCED FAST START -- requires commencement by Nov. 15 of three-way discussions to study "big ticket" expenditures for Medicaid, public assistance and school aid.
2. EARLY BUDGET SUBMISSION -- requires earlier submission of the Executive Budget -- by Jan. 15 in most years -- and shortens the amendment period to 15 days.
3. CONSENSUS REVENUE FORECASTS -- requires three-way agreement on revenues by March 1. If no agreement, the Comptroller will issue a binding forecast.
4. BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEES -- locks into law the conference committee process.
5. NEW START OF FISCAL YEAR -- to May 1. New York currently has the briefest budget time frame of any major state.
6. DEFAULT BUDGET -- locks in current year spending after May 1.
7. STRUCTURAL REFORMS -- requires three-year projections of fiscal impact; enhanced "rainy day" reserves.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved its budget reform package on Jan. 11.
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