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Assemblyman Blankenbush happy to see mandate relief in Cuomo's budget; unions wary of plan

Posted 1/18/12

A local state assemblyman is pleased with the mandate relief proposals in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget plan, described yesterday in Albany. Manufacturers and business groups were happy to see a …

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Assemblyman Blankenbush happy to see mandate relief in Cuomo's budget; unions wary of plan

Posted

A local state assemblyman is pleased with the mandate relief proposals in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget plan, described yesterday in Albany.

Manufacturers and business groups were happy to see a budget with no new taxes.

But unions representing state workers say they are concerned the budget continues to undercut the value of their members.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, a Republican representing the 122nd Assembly District, and 48th District Sen, Patty Ritchie are also pleased about a plan for the state to assume more of the cost of Medicaid.

Blankenbush says he is "happy unfunded mandate relief is included" in Cuomo's budget released yesterday.

He cited the budget's focus on "shifting Medicaid administrative costs back to the state, reducing future public pension costs and reforming several other programs."

However, he warned, "we need to work for more unfunded mandate relief before we pass the final budget."

Ritchie said she is pleased that the plan “protects the jobs at local prisons in my district, and by the governor’s attempt to address the inequity in existing school aid formulas that hurt our rural, local schools. The budget also maintains funding that I fought hard to restore last year for agricultural research, marketing and education programs that are essential to farmers’ success and growth.

“The governor’s Medicaid takeover proposal is a welcome opening step to providing more relief for local taxpayers, and helping to ensure the success of our new tax cap to help reduce the cost of government,” Ritchie said.

Heather Briccetti, President and CEO, The Business Council of New York State, said, “The governor's budget that closes a $2 billon spending-gap with no new taxes or fees sends a clear signal to business leaders that the state is prepared to control the cost of government and continue to rebuild our private-sector economy.”

Manufacturers Association of Central New York President Randy Wolken said, “Manufacturers will be especially pleased to hear that the Governor has proposed no

new taxes or fees in this year’s state budget and offered to cut spending.”

New York State Bar Association President Vincent E. Doyle III said the association “will issue a report this week that demonstrates that, while the court system remains functioning, last year's budget cuts caused real harm to our system of justice."

New York State Public Employees Federation President Ken Brynien said that the plan “ignores the fact that state workers have done their share to address the state's fiscal problems. Since 2008, the state's workforce has been reduced by 16,000 jobs. And he says he is concerned about the new lower level of pension support. While the overall size of the state workforce remains relatively unchanged in the budget, many state agencies remain severely short-staffed.”

Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue said, “Too many necessary services in every part of the state are deteriorating because people are working short staffed and at risk without adequate equipment, training and backup.

"CSEA has no hesitation in saying that the proposal for a new public employee pension tier is an assault on the middle class and a cheap shot at public employees. It will provide no short-term savings and will mean people will have to work longer, pay more and gain less benefit. Simply put, the Tier VI provisions would be onerous on working people and undermine middle class security and the governor ought to be more concerned about that,” Donohue said.