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Many local lawmakers disappointed after 2012 State of the State address

By HILARY LANE

Story Created: Jan 4, 2012 at 5:39 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2012 at 7:20 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Many Mohawk Valley lawmakers who were in Albany for Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2012 State of the State address said they are disappointed in the way Governor Cuomo glazed over one of the biggest problems facing local communities - unfunded mandates like Medicaid and pension.

"It wasn't enough about mandate relief," said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente. "Not only for local government, but local tax payers."

"With the school districts you are seeing so many unfunded mandates hurting local budgets," said Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.

In his speech on Wednesday, Governor Cuomo says he wants to set up mandate relief commissions that will travel around the state listening to concerns and ideas from the public and elected officials, but some local representatives, such as Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney, say there needs to be less talk and more action.

"Do we really need a commission for everything? We know how to solve the problems," Assemblywoman Tenney said.

Tenney and other representatives say they are looking forward to Governor Cuomo's budget address later this year, where they are hoping for more detailed information on how the governor plans to relieve local governments of the unfunded mandates

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