Democrat Budget Delay Jeopardizes Jobs And Economic Development
April 6, 2010
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(New York, N.Y.)-The Democrats’ complete and total disregard for the state budget deadline is now jeopardizing thousands of jobs and threatening to put a halt to the only economic development taking place in New York, Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said today.
“Senate and Assembly Democrats have shown absolutely no concern for blowing past the April 1st budget deadline, and now jobs and important economic investments are being threatened,” Senator Skelos said. “That is a direct consequence of the Democrats’ lack of action on a new budget.”
“The sham budget conference committee meeting last week failed to give the Democrats the political cover they hoped for,” Senator Skelos said. “Rather than negotiate through public conference committees, it’s clear that Speaker Silver and Senator Sampson would rather work in secret and spring a new budget loaded with more spending, massive borrowing and tax hikes.”
Senator Skelos sent a letter to Governor Paterson opposing his decision to suspend payments for ongoing state-funded capital construction projects until a new state budget is enacted because of the negative impact it will have on jobs and the economy.
In his letter, Senator Skelos wrote: “I am concerned that your state budget-related decision may needlessly harm the construction industry and lead to further job losses, especially at a time when infrastructure investments are a critical ingredient in improving the state’s economy… I don’t believe that it is prudent to use the state’s highway and bridge program, especially in regard to ongoing capital projects, along with jobs of thousands of construction industry employees, as a bargaining chip in state budget negotiations.”
Senator Skelos pointed out that since April 2008, the state has lost nearly 322,000 jobs. In February 2010, the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 8.8 percent. The construction industry has been one of the hardest hit areas, as New York lost 33,400 construction jobs between February 2009 and February 2010, according to the state’s labor department.
“While I feel very strongly that we should not hold up major construction projects and jeopardize thousands of jobs, the real answer is to get to work and get a budget done as soon as possible so these projects can go forward,” Senator Skelos said. “What we really need, and what the public is demanding, are public budget negotiations to arrive at a responsible solution to the deficit that reduces spending, does not increase taxes and fees and does not saddle taxpayers with billions of dollars in new debt.”
Senator Skelos criticized the General Budget Conference Committee meeting last week as being “just for show,” and called on the Democrats in the Senate and Assembly to immediately schedule public conference committee meetings.
“Instead of talking about holding up payments to contractors, school districts or anyone else, we should be talking about a new budget that reduces spending, reduces taxes, provides property tax relief and creates jobs. That’s the real answer. But in the meantime, the Governor should not be jeopardizing road construction projects and jobs.”
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Politics
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