Republican takes issue with Cuomo fiscal plan
KINGSTON, N.Y. Retiring state Sen. James Seward says some of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget for New York’s next fiscal year is a “slap in the face” to upstate residents.
Seward, R-Milford, said the budget, unveiled Tuesday by the Democratic governor, is a disservice to the more rural areas of New York.
“While there are elements of the governor’s budget worth exploring — tax cuts for small businesses, funds to expand rural broadband and cell phone cov- erage, help for our EMS departments and farmers, and lower prescription drug prices — I have a number of concerns with the overall proposal,” Seward said in a prepared statement.
“We need to focus on parity when it comes to infrastructure, school aid and community needs,” the senator said. “Case in point: The governor’s proposal includes $51 billion for New York City transportation needs and only $11.9 billion for upstate roads and bridges. That’s a slap in the face.”
Seward also was critical of how the state is handling Medicaid, which Cuomo said needs to be reined in to help close New York’s $6 billion budget gap.
“There are major details to examine when to it comes to the governor’s plan for Medicaid,” the senator said. “We cannot push more costs on local governments or enact new fees that will further burden taxpayers.”
Seward also said that the governor “failed to offer any solutions to the socalled bail reforms, which must be repealed immediately and reworked to keep the public safe.”
The state’s bail reform law, which took effect Jan. 1, allows suspects in misdemeanor and nonviolent felony cases to remain free while awaiting trial. The change has come under withering criticism from New York Republicans, and Democrats in the state Legislature majority have agreed some revisions are needed.
Of Cuomo’s budget in general, Seward said: “As the ranking Republican of the Senate Finance Committee, I look forward to drilling down into the details of the governor’s proposal ... and emerging with a final budget that is fiscally sound, will help grow our upstate economy, and meet the everyday needs of New Yorkers.”
Seward — whose 51st Senate District includes the Ulster County towns of Hardenburgh, Olive, Rochester and Shandaken — announced last fall that he’s fighting bladder cancer for the second time, and he said Monday that he will not seek and 18th two-year term in the Senate this fall.
The Mid-Hudson Valley’s longest-serving Democrat in the state Legislature, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill of Kingston, said of Cuomo’s proposed fiscal plan: “Given the unprecedented $6.1 billion budget deficit, the agenda set forth must effectively address significant gaps while maintaining a balanced budget and important programs . ...
“As always,” Cahill added, “the substance of each of the proffers will be better understood when we in the Legislature have an opportunity to analyze the specifics of the governor’s document.”
Cahill represents the state’s 103rd Assembly District, which includes the city of Kingston and a total of 14 towns in Ulster and Dutchess counties. He has been in the Assembly for 23 non-consecutive years.