Recently my colleagues in the State Legislature and I went back to Albany for an emergency economic session called by the Governor. At this session we were able to agree on more than $400 million worth of cuts to the current 2008-09 State Budget. I would like to commend Governor Paterson for calling us back to address the fiscal challenges facing New York, including an estimated $6.4 billion deficit for the next fiscal year.

The Senate, the Assembly and the Governor have now agreed to cut $427 million from the 2008-09 Budget. We have also agreed to cut $649 million in 2009-10.

I am aware that many are concerned about how these cuts will affect Central New York. I am very pleased to report that the Legislature was able to reduce the budget without making mid-year education cuts, harmful cuts to hospitals, TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) cuts, reductions in promised AIM (Aid and Incentives for Municipalities) funding, or cost shifts that would force our local governments to raise taxes.

I believe that we acted in a fiscally responsible manner and made the cuts necessary to address our State’s critical financial situation. The cuts we made are modest and spread out, so they should not significantly affect one program or another.

In recent weeks, the Senate also passed two other key pieces of legislation for our State and Central New York. We passed a bill to enact a Constitutional Spending Cap. Under the cap, year-to-year State spending increases would be limited to 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or four percent, whichever is less. We also passed a bill to enact the Governor’s Property Tax Cap, which would cap school property tax levy growth at four percent, or 120 percent of the inflation rate, whichever is less.

My Senate Majority colleagues and I have responded to the taxpayers’ needs by passing these caps, which would help us to avoid financial situations like the one we are in right now. Unfortunately, the Assembly has not done the same.

I am pleased that we came back to Albany early to make critical cuts and pass other important pieces of legislation. I can assure you that in the next few weeks my Senate Majority colleagues and I will continue to work with the Governor and the Assembly to the address the upcoming 2009-10 State Budget. I am committed to looking for new ways to control State spending, while protecting vital services that New Yorkers rely on.