Today, Governor David Paterson delivered a strong message of reform in his State of the State address. I believe the governor did a good job in detailing the challenges facing New York and the proof will be in how the Legislature responds.
The governor’s call for sweeping fiscal, ethics and campaign finance reforms echo the frustration and disappointment numerous New Yorker’s share with the gridlock in Albany and the state’s current fiscal crisis. Many of these reforms are necessary to fight corruption and change the culture in Albany.
I am already on record as supporting many of the proposals in the Reform Albany Act, such as public financing of elections and limits on campaign contributions. While the package does not call for an independent redistricting commission, which I have long advocated for, I will work to see that it is part of the discussions in order to make elections more competitive.
I appreciate the governor’s emphasis that the old way of business is unsustainable and we need to control spending. The unprecedented budget deficits we face present an opportunity for New York State to rein in spending through agency consolidation, reducing the state’s use of private consultants for routine activities, eliminating unnecessary layers of administrative bureaucracy and putting an end to the backroom deals that have corrupted the legislative and budget process.
The governor’s proposal to replace the existing Empire Zone Program with the Excelsior Program, coupled with the New Technology Seed Fund and Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, clearly shows that he listened to the concerns of local business and higher education leaders when he visited the Southern Tier in the fall to discuss his job creation plan. However, I am disappointed that there was so little attention given to health care and agriculture in his speech, both of which are key economic drivers in Upstate and will be absolutely critical to getting our economy back on track.
