“Today’s first State of the State address from Governor Paterson
addressed some serious deficiencies in our state’s financial health with
the sense of urgency only a $15 billion budget deficit can inspire,”
said Assemblyman David Townsend (R,WF-Sylvan Beach), “but I wonder if this soaring and, at times, inspiring language can be directed toward the hard budget work we have in front of us. My constituents in Central New York have spoken: the time for talk is over. We must end the politics as usual that gave us bloated budgets and hemorrhaging opulations and return a dose of fiscal sanity to New York State. The approaching budget-negotiation process provides us with that
opportunity. Will the governor roll up his sleeves and get to work?

I voted against a state budget in 2008 that spent wildly and overtaxed our middle class. The latest executive budget from Governor Paterson
includes over $4 billion in new taxes and fees. New taxes on New York’s families will do little to recover lost revenue if people continue to
leave the state. Only by responsibly reducing spending in budget-sapping areas and cutting special-interests handouts can we avoid an economic abyss. In this new legislative session, it will be action, not words, which matter most.”