NEW YORK STATE – On Tuesday, officials from around the state responded Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2018-19 executive budget proposal.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22): “Once again, Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget Proposal is a disaster for New York citizens. The Governor’s tax-and-spend regime shows a complete lack of respect for the taxpayers of our state. Cuomo is continuing his addiction to spending by hiking taxes to fund more failed cronyism policies and corporate welfare schemes. Meanwhile, Cuomo’s budget plan refuses to cut spending to address our state’s dangerously high debt—the second highest in the nation. Cuomo’s bloated budget proposal will continue to drive people and jobs out of our state in record numbers. New York leads the nation in outmigration of its citizens.

“Instead of providing tax and regulatory relief to struggling families, the Governor’s budget will punish small businesses, our most important job creators. Small businesses create nearly 70 percent of new jobs.

“The solution is simple. The Governor and the Legislature should cut wasteful spending, reduce tax rates, prioritize programs that New Yorkers rely on and stop using hard-earned taxpayer money for personal political advancement. It’s time for the Governor to put New York citizens ahead of his political ambitions for a change, or our economy and the well-being of our communities will be in serious jeopardy.”

State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I/Ref – Oneonta): “As we confront the serious fiscal challenges before us this year, we need to focus on two key fundamentals – new job opportunities and affordability for families and businesses. Those priorities are first on my mind as I closely review the details of the governor’s budget proposal.”

“To contend with the state’s budget deficit we must cap state spending, cut taxes, and generate economic growth. We can grow our way out of this hole, but it will take fiscal discipline and policies that will help boost our state’s business climate.

“A good budget is one that controls spending, cuts taxes, creates jobs, and promotes key principles like affordability, opportunity, and security.

“A state spending cap and a permanent tax cap are first steps. From there we need to end burdensome regulations on job creators, fund infrastructure improvements, and stop spending on failing economic programs.

“When I hear the governor talk about raising taxes, new surcharges, and deferring credits that businesses expect, I cringe. Those steps will not help grow our economy and will only have further negative effects that will make New York State even less competitive. We need to make a commitment not to raise taxes, and in fact, I will be proposing tax cuts – for families, senior citizens, and businesses.

“Now the real work begins. We will delve into the governor’s proposal and conduct a line by line review along with public budget hearings, as we work toward an agreed upon, fiscally sound budget prior to April 1.”

Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch (R-Bainbridge): “This year, as in years past, the governor has proposed a very costly budget, littered with social programs and overspending. With the state facing a potential $4.4 billion deficit and the governor planning to refocus taxes on the already over-taxed businesses in New York, it appears our unfriendly business climate is not going to change anytime soon.

"We need to be focusing on balancing our budget, cutting spending and making New York more affordable for its residents and businesses. New York already faces some of the highest taxes in the country, if we do not address this deficit and work to cut some of our spending, our taxes will only go up. ”