Senate Democrats Vote Down Amendment To Provide Funding Authority For Construction Industry For Third Week In A Row
April 27, 2010
(New York, N.Y.)-For the third week in a row, Senate Democrats voted down a Republican-sponsored amendment that would have allowed projects important to the State’s job creation efforts to move forward in spite of the late state budget.
The amendment offered today and defeated by Democrats in a party line vote would have provided funding authority for all capital construction projects, including monies for road and bridge contractors who haven’t been paid since last month for their work.
The amendment does not include any new spending.
Since the Governor made a unilateral decision to suspend payments until a new budget is in place, contractors have announced layoffs and even shut down important transportation-related projects around the State.
Meanwhile, important economic development ventures at the State University at New York (SUNY) campuses have also been put on hold, as well as a host of environmental conservation, water and sewer projects across the State.
“Democrats should open up the budget process, do their jobs and get a budget in place. But, in the meantime, they should join us in forcing the Governor to release these monies. Every day that passes without a budget and without a resolution to this matter, it becomes more difficult for workers, for businesses and for taxpayers to see a way out of this budget crisis. For the third week in a row, we’ve given Senate Democrats an opportunity to move these projects forward and they have flat out refused,” Senate Republican Leader Dean G. Skelos said.
“It is unconscionable that these capital construction projects are being prevented from moving forward. These projects are critical to our efforts to keep New Yorkers working during these challenging economic times and to ensure our road and bridge system remains safe and functions efficiently. We are not asking for additional monies to support these projects. The funding for these improvements is already in place and it must be released. Playing games with the state budget and the people’s tax dollars must come to an end. The public is demanding action and I am calling on my Senate colleagues across the aisle to join us in moving these projects forward and getting a budget that is good for the people passed.” Senator Joe Robach said.
Despite the Governor’s actions, the funding for these projects has already been appropriated and the amendment would allow for them to be funded through September 15, 2010. April 1, the deadline for approval of a new state budget, was also the beginning of the construction industry’s peak work season, especially Upstate.
Senate Republicans first sounded the alarm about the Governor’s shortsighted decision to omit this funding from their initial budget extender, which was approved on March 29. In addition, Senator Skelos wrote a letter to the Governor on April 5, calling for the road and bridge investments to be included in any subsequent extender legislation.
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Politics
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One Response to “Senate Democrats Vote Down Amendment To Provide Funding Authority For Construction Industry For Third Week In A Row”
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I am a civil engineer working for a consultant on a NYSDOT contract. The contractors on these contracts have been shutting down since there is NO work being let through from Albany, Thus my employment as a construction Inspector is coming closer to an end without any work. I have a family and a career that needs me working any I just do not feel that the Legislature and Governor understands the issue at hand. If they did, then why are they leaving work on Wed. and off on Thur. and Fri. Why aren’t they getting a pay cut or put on Furlough like the rest of the state.
- Posted by: Kyle Schechner