Politics

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Governor’s Budget Does Not Go Far Enough to Reduce Spending

January 26, 2010 Contributor
Last week, Governor Paterson released his proposed budget. It’s the first step in the beginning of the budget process and is the foundation from which lawmakers negotiate before its passage in April. In short, in his budget the Governor proposes to slow the growth of state spending but also proposes approximately $1 billion in new taxes and fees. In this column, I highlight some of the more substantive aspects of his proposal.

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Aubertine

Ethics, Elections Reform a Start; Budget Moves to Front Burner

January 18, 2010 Contributor
Everyone certainly recognizes the problems that exist and the need for tough ethics and election laws to address these issues and restore the people’s faith in our government. These changes will tighten up the laws that govern the relationships between lobbyists and elected officials as “consultants,” while also providing a long overdue means of enforcing violations in election law.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

A Review of the Governor’s State of the State Address

January 11, 2010 Contributor
The Governor’s State of the State address this week primarily focused on the seriousness of the state’s fiscal situation. The speech was more subdued and void of the usual ‘rah, rah’ tone Governors have taken in years past. Instead, his speech focused on the economy, and specifically how vital it is for New York to keep a balanced budget.

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Aubertine

In Albany, We Need to Cut Spending, Pass Reforms, Work Together

January 11, 2010 Contributor
Last week, the governor delivered his State of the State address in which he hit on some key points that align with what I hope we can achieve this year. Most pressing is the need to rebuild our economy to create jobs, cut spending, reject new taxes or fees, and find ways to meaningfully address rising property taxes.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Looking Back at 2009 Provides Multiple Reasons for Change in 2010

January 6, 2010 Contributor
This year proved to have its many challenges and disappointments. Perhaps the year’s greatest disappointment, however, was the budget that passed in the spring of 2009. It contained $8.2 billion in taxes and fee increases and increased government spending by 10 percent. As a result, the average family of four will pay an extra $2,362 in higher taxes and fees this year.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

To a Healthier New Year

December 20, 2009 Contributor
New York was recently named as one of the most prepared states in the nation in the event of a health emergency. We were one of eight states to achieve this distinction, according to national organizations that annually compare state public health policies and performance. We have people in the public and private health sectors collaborating effectively to provide a safe state and establish our state as an example for others. It takes many hours of planning and hard work to earn this type of designation.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Ethics Reform Bill Would Establish More Guidelines for Public Officials

December 17, 2009 Contributor
This spring the Assembly passed stronger ethics legislation that would improve oversight for public officials and create a more open government. As the ranking member of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance as well as a member of the Legislative Ethics Committee, I strongly support this legislation and sponsor the bill. Though the Assembly passed this bill, it has since stalled in the Senate. Former Senate leader Joe Bruno’s conviction should provide the Senate with the catalyst to pass this bill.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Budget Plan Stops Short of Real Change

December 7, 2009 Contributor
A four-week special session came to a frustrating close this week after Albany failed to pass a Deficit Reduction Plan that structurally solved any of the state’s financial troubles. It’s true that the legislature, after majority-party political infighting that wasted time and taxpayer dollars, managed to close a substantial portion of the budget gap. However, this deficit reduction plan fell well short of any meaningful reform. Therefore, the majorities ensured that problems we’re facing today will continue to carryover next year and into the future.

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