SENATOR BRUNO RESPONDS TO THE GOVERNOR�S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

Senator Bruno addresses the Capitol Press Corps in response to the Governor’s State of the State address.

Wednesday, January 9, 2002

Governor Pataki�s State of the State address was an inspirational call for all New Yorkers to rise to meet challenges that none of us could have imagined just four months ago. The Governor has provided remarkable leadership that has helped us begin to recover from the September 11th attacks and will carry New York forward in the new year as we deal with many critical needs and very limited resources.

Providing the essential services that New Yorkers expect and deserve from state government with the limited resources we have is going to require a careful balancing act. I am confident that the tremendous spirit of unity and cooperation that we�ve experienced since that day will continue and will help us address important issues facing our state, particularly in the areas of economic development, health care and education.

Fortunately, we have built up $5 billion in reserves to help us get through tough times. We must ensure that New York continues to provide important services, especially in the areas of education, health care, mental health and transportation.

During the 2002 session the Senate Majority�s top priority will be stimulating our economy and creating new jobs. We must build on our record of making NYS more economically competitive. Some economic experts are predicting that the economic recovery will begin perhaps as soon as the 2nd quarter of this year.

We can manage state resources during this austere time and put New York in the best position to capitalize on the recovery and create new jobs. We can do that by expanding the Senate�s Gen*NY*sis biotechnology economic development plan and promoting the expansion of Empire Zones that will help the state�s economy grow.

Health care and education will also be major Senate priorities. We need to invest in our health care system and work force to ensure that hospitals, nursing homes and home care providers have the resources necessary to provide the best possible care.

After three years of record increases in school aid, the Legislature increased aid to education by more than $600 million last year. Education has always been, and will continue to be a priority for the Senate Majority. We must make sure that school districts are not negatively impacted by the state�s fiscal situation because the cost of providing education is increasing.

Despite the current economic downturn and the obstacles that we face in this post 9/11 era, I am optimistic that the 2002 Legislative Session will be a successful one -- addressing the needs of our state by attracting new industry, creating more jobs, and improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

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