MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 2:53 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE HOUSE WILL COME

TO ORDER.

IN THE ABSENCE OF CLERGY, LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF

SILENCE.

(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE

OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY LED VISITORS AND

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF SUNDAY, MARCH 14TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO

DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF SUNDAY, MARCH 14TH

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AND ASK THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. I WELCOME OUR COLLEAGUES BACK TO THE CHAMBERS, AS WELL AS

THOSE WHO ARE WITH US REMOTELY. HAPPY MONDAY. IT IS A HAPPY DAY; IT

MAY BE A LITTLE CHILLY, BUT THE SUN IS SHINING. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR

COLLEAGUES TODAY A QUOTE, MR. SPEAKER, TODAY THAT COMES FROM MARIE

CURIE. MARIE CURIE WAS A POLISH NATURALIZED-FRENCH PHYSICIST AND

CHEMIST WHO CONDUCTED A LOT OF THE PIONEERING RESEARCH FOR

RADIOACTIVITY. HER WORDS FOR US TODAY IS: NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE

FEARED, IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD. NOW IS THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND

MORE SO THAT WE MAY FEAR LESS. AGAIN, THE WORDS OF MARIE CURIE.

MR. SPEAKER, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ON THEIR DESK THE

MAIN CALENDAR AND AN A-CALENDAR. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO MOVE THAT

A-CALENDAR, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON A MOTION BY MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES, THE A-CALENDAR IS ADVANCED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU. AFTER ANY

INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR HOUSEKEEPING, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE MAIN

CALENDAR, TAKING UP RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3. OUR PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY,

HOWEVER, WILL BE TAKEN UP WITH THE ASSEMBLY'S BUDGET RESOLUTION

WHICH IS ON CALENDAR A. PRIOR TO GOING TO THE MAIN CALENDAR ON PAGE

3, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD BE PLEASED IF YOU WOULD WELCOME OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

CHAIRWOMAN, HELENE WEINSTEIN, WHO IS IN THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE

ROOM PREPARED TO DEAL WITH OUR BUDGET RESOLUTION, AND BRIAN HAAK,

WHO YOU KNOW SITS RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE IN THE ROSTRUM.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY HAPPY TO

HAVE BOTH OF THEM BACK HERE TODAY. THE CLERK WILL READ, PAGE 3 --

THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

(APPLAUSE)

CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND, MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES?

THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 106, MS.

WALSH.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

ANDREW M. CUOMO TO PROCLAIM APRIL 9, 2021 AS YELLOW RIBBON DAY

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL

THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

PAGE 3 ON THE A-CALENDAR, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 107, MR.

HEASTIE. ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION IN RESPONSE TO THE 2021-2022

EXECUTIVE BUDGET SUBMISSION.

MR. GOODELL: EXPLANATION, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: AN EXPLANATION IS

REQUESTED, MS. WEINSTEIN.

MS. WEINSTEIN: VERY PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

PRESENT THE ASSEMBLY'S ONE-HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL, THE ASSEMBLY

STATE FISCAL YEAR 2021-'22 BUDGET PROPOSAL OF $208.3 BILLION. ARE --

THE COVID -- WE ALL KNOW, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS NOT JUST A

HEALTH CRISIS, IT'S ALSO RESULTED IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND IN ORDER TO

HELP OUR COMMUNITIES RECOVER AND RESTART NEW YORK'S ECONOMY, THE

ASSEMBLY'S PLAN WOULD MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH CARE,

HOUSING, EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND

INCLUDES FUNDING FOR CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AND RESTORES $3.7

BILLION OF EXECUTIVE BUDGET CUTS. OUR PROPOSAL INCLUDES INCREASED

REVENUES THAT TOTAL NEARLY $7 BILLION IN 2021-'22, AND EARLIER THIS WEEK,

AS WE ALL KNOW, CONGRESS PASSED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WHICH

INCLUDED $23.8 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP NEW YORK STATE AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, REBUILD

THE ECONOMY AND GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

THE ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE THE TOP

INCOME TAX RATE FROM 8.82 PERCENT FOR SINGLE FILERS EARNING $1 MILLION

AND COUPLES EARNING MORE THAN $2 MILLION TO 9.85 PERCENT. IT WOULD

ALSO ESTABLISH TWO NEW BRACKETS AS FOLLOWS: 10.85 PERCENT FOR

TAXPAYERS BETWEEN $5 MILLION AND $25 MILLION, AND 11.5 PERCENT FOR

TAXPAYERS OVER $25 MILLION. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD GENERATE A TOTAL OF

$4.3 BILLION. A NEW 1 PERCENT SURCHARGE ON CAPITAL GAINS FOR TAXPAYERS

EARNING MORE THAN $1 MILLION PER YEAR WOULD GENERATE $700 ADDITIONAL

MILLION DOLLARS. A NEW 18 PERCENT SURCHARGE WOULD BE APPLIED TO

CORPORATE FRANCHISE TAXPAYERS, CORPORATE UTILITY TAXPAYERS, AND

INSURANCE TAXPAYERS GENERATING $1 BILLION. TO ENSURE THAT BUSINESSES

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WITH LARGE CAPITAL RESOURCES BUT RELATIVELY LOW TAXABLE INCOME PAY THEIR

FAIR AMOUNT OF CORPORATE TAX, THE ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL WOULD REINSTATE

THE MINIMUM BUSINESS TAX ON CORPORATE CAPITAL THAT WILL GENERATE $150

MILLION.

OWNERS OF HIGH-VALUE SECOND HOMES IN NEW YORK

CITY WILL BE SUBJECT TO A PROGRESSIVE STATE TAX GENERATING $300 MILLION,

AND AN ADDITIONAL $171 MILLION WILL BE GENERATED FROM A RECORDING TAX

ON MEZZANINE DEBT AND PREFERRED EQUITY INVESTMENTS. FINALLY, THE TOP

RATE OF THE STATE'S ESTATE TAX WILL INCREASE FROM 16 PERCENT TO 20

PERCENT, RESULTING IN AN ADDITIONAL $130 MILLION.

THE ASSEMBLY'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS DESIGNED TO HELP

GET NEW YORKERS BACK TO WORK. IT WOULD INCLUDE $1 MILLION FOR A NEW

SMALL BUSINESS REOPENING AND RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP SMALL

BUSINESSES THAT HAVE STRUGGLED TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN OVER THE LAST

YEAR. IT WOULD ALSO SET ASIDE $500 MILLION OF THE FUND FOR COMPANIES

THAT FALL INTO PRIORITY CATEGORIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE RENT RELIEF AND

INVESTMENTS IN THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET. THE PANDEMIC AND THE RESULTING

ECONOMIC CRISIS HAVE FORCED NEW YORKERS TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY,

MAKING IT HARD FOR THEM TO PAY THEIR RENT AND MORTGAGES. THE

ASSEMBLY BUDGET INCLUDES $3.125 BILLION IN COMBINED FEDERAL AND

STATE DOLLARS TO PROVIDE RENT RELIEF FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS, INCLUDING

$400 MILLION FOR PROSPECTIVE RENT, $200 MILLION TO REDUCE

HOMELESSNESS, AND $100 MILLION TO SUPPLEMENT THE $575 MILLION

FEDERAL MORTGAGE RELIEF THAT WAS IN THE MOST RECENT FEDERAL STIMULUS

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, FOR A TOTAL OF $675 MILLION FOR MORTGAGE RELIEF.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

OUR SPENDING PLAN PROPOSES $2.1 BILLION TO CREATE A

FUND FOR NEW YORKERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT,

FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS DURING THIS

PANDEMIC. WE PROVIDE $935 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDING FOR HOUSING

AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING $750 MILLION FOR NEW YORK CITY

NYCHA HOUSING, AND ALSO $100 MILLION FOR STATE- AND

CITY-SUPERVISED MITCHELL-LAMA HOUSING.

INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS FROM FOUNDATION AID TO

FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN

EVER AFTER OUR STUDENTS HAVE HAD TWO SCHOOL YEARS DISRUPTED BY

COVID-19. OUR PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASES FOUNDATION AID BY $1.4

BILLION AND FULLY PHASES FOUNDATION AID IN OVER THREE YEARS. AS PART OF

THIS INCREASE, THE PLAN WOULD PROVIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVE AT LEAST

60 PERCENT OF THE FOUNDATION AID FOR THIS COMING BUDGET FISCAL YEAR

2021-'22, AND FOUNDATION AID WOULD BE FUNDED FOR A TOTAL OF $19.8

BILLION.

WITH SO MANY NEW YORKERS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS

MEET, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO ENSURE THAT TUITION COSTS DO NOT

PUT HIGHER EDUCATION OUT OF REACH FOR NEW YORK'S STUDENTS. THIS

BUDGET REJECTS PROPOSED TUITION INCREASES FOR SUNY AND CUNY,

PROVIDES $23 MILLION TO SUNY, $26.3 MILLION TO CUNY TO BEGIN TO

PAY OFF THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE TAP GAP, AND INCLUDES

ALMOST $180 MILLION FOR OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. WE ALSO INCREASE THE

TAP FUNDING AWARD BY $1,000, BRINGING IT FROM $5,165 TO $6,165.

AND MANY COMMUNITY AND SUNY COLLEGES WOULD RECEIVE $33 MILLION,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AND CUNY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOULD RECEIVE $10 MILLION IN

ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO KEEP COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING LEVEL WITH

ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021.

THE ASSEMBLY PLAN ALSO DIRECTS $1.8 BILLION IN FEDERAL

FUNDING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, INCLUDING $500 MILLION TO

SUPPORT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY AND

ACCESS TO SUBSIDIES, AND THE PLAN INCLUDES $59.8 MILLION FOR LOCAL

ASSISTANCE FOR PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES CRITICAL TO THE WELL-BEING

OF NEW YORK'S CHILDREN.

THIS ASSEMBLY BUDGET WOULD ALSO FUND -- CREATE A $32

MILLION FUND TO SUPPORT CRISIS SERVICES, PROBLEM GAMBLING, AND

CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE OUTPATIENT AND TREATMENT SUPPORT SERVICES. OUR

PLAN PROVIDES $94.2 MILLION FOR THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO CREATE NEW SERVICE SLOTS AND EXPAND --

THE EXPANSION OF HOUSING SUPPORT.

IN THE HEALTH AREA, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE COVID-19

PANDEMIC HAS PUT INCREDIBLE STRESS ON OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND

DEMONSTRATED JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE QUALITY,

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. SO OUR ASSEMBLY PLAN WOULD MAKE $376

MILLION IN RESTORATIONS TO THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, INCLUDING $73.9

MILLION FOR HOSPITALS AND $74.25 MILLION FOR MANAGED LONG-TERM CARE.

AND WE ALSO INCLUDE $393 MILLION IN RESTORATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

PROGRAMS THAT WERE ELIMINATED FROM THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET.

IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREA, OUR PLAN

PROVIDES $400 MILLION FOR THE EPF FUND, WHICH INCLUDES $100 MILLION

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

IN ANTICIPATED FEDERAL FUNDING. WE ALSO INCLUDE $500 MILLION FOR CLEAN

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND BEFORE I CONCLUDE, THERE'S ONE THING

I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THAT, THE ASSEMBLY'S PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD

PROVIDE $35.41 MILLION FOR THE AGRICULTURAL AID TO LOCALITIES, $8 MILLION

INCREASE ABOVE THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET, AND WE ALSO INCLUDE

AN ADDITIONAL $25 MILLION FOR NOURISH NEW YORK, BRINGING A TOTAL

FUNDING TO $85 MILLION SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. WE ALSO WOULD

CREATE AN "I LOVE NEW YORK RESTAURANTS," A PROGRAM BASED ON THE

WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN MODEL OF PROVIDING FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED, AT

$25 MILLION.

MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S A LOT IN THIS BUDGET THAT'S REALLY

GREAT FOR MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NEW YORKERS THROUGHOUT

THE STATE. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY MEMBER'S QUESTIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RA.

MR. RA: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD

CHAIRWOMAN WEINSTEIN YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES; YES.

MR. RA: THANK YOU. THAT WAS A VERY THOROUGH

EXPLANATION AND YOU GOT INTO A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT I WANT TO ASK SOME

QUESTIONS ABOUT, BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T START BY SAYING I'M -- I'M

HAPPY WE ARE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS TOGETHER, BECAUSE

OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T HAVE A ONE-HOUSE LAST YEAR AND YOU WERE

RECOVERING FROM COVID YOURSELF WHEN WE DID THE ENACTED BUDGET, SO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THE MAJORITY LEADER DID A GREAT JOB IN YOUR STEAD, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY

OUR FIRST BUDGET DEBATE TOGETHER SINCE THE TIME I BECAME RANKER, SO I'M

HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE HERE AND JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY IN THE

BACK AND THAT YOU'RE DOING WELL.

WE -- IN THIS BUDGET AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW,

WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AS A STATE, OUR ECONOMY,

THE REBOUND OF OUR ECONOMY AND WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT DAYS -- RECENTLY

WE HAD OUR REVENUE FORECASTING CONFERENCE, WE'VE REESTIMATED OUR

REVENUES, PROJECTED THEM UPWARD SINCE THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL

AND NOW WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE $12.6 BILLION COMING FROM THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT. SO JUST IN TERMS OF THAT GENERAL QUESTION, AND THE

MAJORITY'S APPROACH TO THIS BUDGET AND PUTTING IN THE NUMBER OF NEW

TAXES, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHAT THE IMPACT IS FINANCIALLY

GOING FORWARD, HOW WE WOULD BE UTILIZING THE FEDERAL MONEY AS

OPPOSED TO THE REVENUE AT THE -- AT THE STATE LEVEL FROM -- FROM THE NEW

TAXES?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SURE. AS YOU HEARD, I WENT

THROUGH JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF SOME OF THE NEW FUNDING THAT WE ARE

ADDING TO THIS BUDGET ABOVE THE EXECUTIVE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. SO THE

-- WE FEEL THAT WHILE THE FEDERAL MONEY IS -- WAS NEEDED, IS NEEDED AND

WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD, THE REVENUE CONSENSUS, AS -- AS YOU NOTED,

DID ADD $1 BILLION THIS YEAR, THIS FISCAL YEAR, $1.6 NEXT -- THIS COMING

FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE JUST FEEL THAT IN ORDER TO

FUND SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, TO TRY AND ELIMINATE SOME OF THE

DISPARITIES THAT THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED AND TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

PROGRAMS THAT OUR MAJORITY FEELS NEED TO BE ENACTED IN ORDER TO HELP

NEW YORKERS, WE NEED THESE ADDITIONAL REVENUES. SO AS I MENTIONED,

IT'S $6.7 BILLION IN NEW REVENUE PROPOSALS, WHICH WOULD GROW TO $8.1

BILLION IN THE OUT-YEAR. WE THINK THAT THESE ARE PROPOSALS THAT WILL HELP

MOVE OUR STATE FORWARD, MOVE OUR RESIDENTS FORWARD, AND THAT THEY ARE

NECESSARY TO NOT JUST FILL THE GAP, BUT TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR

OUR CONSTITUENTS.

MR. RA: YES. SO, YOU KNOW, WITH REGARD TO THE

FEDERAL MONEY, ONE OF THE CONCERNS MANY HAVE RAISED IS, YOU KNOW,

THE FEDERAL MONEY WILL OBVIOUSLY BE VERY HELPFUL, BUT THAT IT'S NOT

FOREVER. I MEAN, PERHAPS THERE WILL BE FURTHER STIMULUS DONE, BUT I -- I

SEE THAT WITHIN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, BASICALLY IT'S, I GUESS, A LITTLE OVER

$3 BILLION IN FEDERAL AID THAT IS BEING ALLOCATED FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER DETAIL AS TO HOW THE REST OF THAT AID MIGHT BE

UTILIZED AND -- AND OVERALL, HOW WE WOULD UTILIZE IT TO MAKE SURE WE

DON'T HIT A CLIFF OR A DEFICIT INTO THE FUTURE FROM -- FROM THAT MONEY NOT

BEING A RECURRING SOURCE OF REVENUE?

(PAUSE)

MS. WEINSTEIN: SORRY, MR. RA, I WAS JUST LOOKING

FOR SOME INFORMATION. SO, YOU KNOW, FIRST I'D SAY THAT WITH THE -- THE

FEDERAL MONEY, THAT THE FIRST MAJOR EXPENSE IS THE $3.7 BILLION IN

RESTORATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED LOCAL AID REDUCTIONS AND

WITHHOLDINGS. THEN IN THE ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE

EXECUTIVE BUDGET THAT I KNOW IS ON LINE AND THAT YOU HAVE AT YOUR

DESK, ON PAGE 6 THERE'S A LONG LIST OF HOW WE'RE SPENDING -- HOW WE'RE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ALLOCATING APPROXIMATELY $4 BILLION OF -- TO THE SPECIAL FEDERAL

EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION. AND THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE BALANCE

WILL BE THERE SUBJECT TO DISBURSEMENTS AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE

BUDGET, BUT THEY'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY LINED OUT YET.

MR. RA: OKAY. SO IN TERMS OF THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE

OF THE CONCERNS THAT I THINK WE HAD AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE HAD OVER

THE LAST YEAR WAS THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS THAT HE HAD IN TERMS OF

MOVING MONEY AROUND. YOU KNOW, WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY

POWERS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DISCRETION GIVEN WITHIN THE BUDGET TO

WITHHOLD FUNDS AND WE SAW, YOU KNOW, WITHHOLDING LARGELY TO AID TO

LOCALITIES RECIPIENTS. IS THERE ANY EXTENSION OF THAT ABILITY FOR THE

EXECUTIVE IN THIS PROPOSAL?

MS. WEINSTEIN: NO, THERE ISN'T AND JUST, YOU

KNOW, TO COMPLEMENT WHAT I MENTIONED AND BASED ON YOUR QUESTION,

THE MONEY THAT -- THE OTHER FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE DO GET THAT WILL BE

IN THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION MONEY CANNOT BE SPENT

WITHOUT THE CONSENT, THE APPROVAL OF THE SPEAKER, THE MAJORITY LEADER

IN THE SENATE AND THE RESPECTIVE -- THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS HERE

AND THE FINANCE CHAIR IN THE SENATE. BUT WE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY

LANGUAGE IN THE PREAMBLE OF THE -- OF ANY OF THE STATE OPS, AID TO

LOCALITIES, CAPITAL DEBT SERVICE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE AUTHORITY FOR THE

DIVISION OF BUDGET TO WITHHOLD FUNDS.

MR. RA: OKAY. THANK YOU. SO ANOTHER AREA I

WANTED TO JUST GET INTO, YOU KNOW, WE SEE ECONOMIC SITUATIONS, AND

OBVIOUSLY WE WERE IN A SITUATION LAST YEAR THAT REALLY, WE DIDN'T SEE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

COMING TO THE EXTENT IT HAPPENED. I CAN RECALL THE REVENUE CONSENSUS

CONFERENCE LAST YEAR AND WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT, BUT COULD'VE NEVER

PREDICTED WHAT WE HAD. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STARTS TO COME UP

WHEN YOU GET INTO A DIFFICULT SITUATION IS HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THE

FUTURE AND PUT MONEY AWAY SO THAT YOU CAN HELP WEATHER THAT TYPE OF

CRISIS. ARE THERE BEING -- ARE THERE ANY SURPLUSES OR ANY OF THESE

REVENUES BEING UTILIZED TO MAKE ANY DEPOSITS TO OUR RESERVE FUNDS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES. SO FOR THE 2021 FISCAL

YEAR, THERE WOULD BE $9.86 BILLION IN RESERVE, WHICH WOULD BE AN

INCREASE OF $2.6 BILLION OVER THE EXECUTIVE, AND FOR THE 2022 FISCAL

YEAR, $8.869 BILLION, WHICH WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF $3.1 BILLION OVER

THE EXECUTIVE.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND THEN GOING BACK TO

WITHHOLDINGS, SO WE KNOW THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL HAS TALKED

ABOUT BASICALLY MAKING A PARTIAL RESTORATION OF THE MONEY THAT WAS

WITHHELD SO IT BECOMES A 5 PERCENT CUT, WHICH HAS THE IMPACT ON A LOT

OF THOSE RECIPIENTS OF BECOMING A NEW -- A NEW FUNDING FOR -- FOR THEM.

SO WHAT CHANGES ARE MADE, IF ANY, TO ADDRESS THE 5 PERCENT REDUCTIONS

TO THE AID TO LOCALITIES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR '21 AND PROPOSED BY THE

EXECUTIVE FOR -- FOR '22?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YEAH. SO -- SO WE DO RESTORE

THOSE AND WE ELIMINATED -- WE DO ELIMINATE THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST TO

WITHHOLD THE 5 PERCENT GOING FORWARD FOR THIS -- THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE

DISCUSSING TODAY.

MR. RA: AND THEN I WANTED TO JUST GET ON THE RECORD,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AS WELL, WE WENT THROUGH THIS IN COMMITTEE, BUT IF -- IF YOU COULD JUST

GIVE -- YOU GAVE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS IN THE -- IN THE EXPLANATION,

BUT JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET SPENDS COMPARED TO

THE GOVERNOR AND COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S ENACTED BUDGET ON AN ALL

FUNDS BASIS, AND THEN I'LL ASK THE SAME QUESTION FOR THE STATE OPERATING

FUNDS AND GENERAL FUND BASIS.

MS. WEINSTEIN: SURE. SO FOR THE ASSEMBLY

PROPOSAL FOR '21-'22, THE GENERAL FUND IS $91.632-, WHICH IS $8.749

BILLION OVER -- OVER THE GOVERNOR. STATE OPERATING FUNDS, WE'RE AT

$113.328 BILLION, WHICH IS $8.8323- OVER THE GOVERNOR. FOR THE STATE

FUNDS, WE'RE AT $128.806 BILLION, WHICH IS $8.43- OVER THE GOVERNOR,

AND THEN THE TOTAL ALL FUNDS, WE'RE WERE AT $208.311-, WHICH IS

$12.288- OVER THE -- OVER THE GOVERNOR. DO YOU WANT THE PERCENTAGES

OF WHAT THAT IS OR DO THE NUMBERS WORK FOR YOU?

MR. RA: IF YOU HAVE THE PERCENTAGES I'D BE

INTERESTED BECAUSE, CLEARLY, THIS IS A LARGER INCREASE THAN WE'VE SEEN

UNDER, YOU KNOW, THE SPENDING CAP. SO IN PARTICULARLY, WITH REGARD TO

STATE OPERATING FUNDS, WHAT THE PERCENTAGES WOULD BE YEAR OVER YEAR.

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO THE STATE OPERATING FUNDS IS

-- THE GOVERNOR WAS AT 105.005-, WE'RE AT 113.328- AS I MENTIONED, SO

THAT'S THE CHANGE OF $8.323 BILLION, AND THAT'S A 7.9 PERCENT INCREASE

OVER THE GOVERNOR.

MR. RA: AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO GET INTO

WITH MY REMAINING TIME WAS DEBT. SO HOW MUCH DEBT OUTSTANDING

DOES YOUR BUDGET ACCOUNT FOR IN FINANCIAL YEAR 2022?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MS. WEINSTEIN: THE -- I'M SORRY, MR. RA. COULD

YOU SAY -- I WAS GIVING YOU THE '21-'22 NUMBERS.

MR. RA: YES, JUST WITH REGARD TO DEBT, WHAT IS THE

ACCOUNTED FOR IN THIS BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR?

MS. WEINSTEIN: THE NEW EXECUTIVE -- WELL, THE

ASSEMBLY'S CAPITAL OBLIGATIONS TOTAL $16.21-, WHICH IS $1.4 BILLION OVER

THE EXECUTIVE'S CAPITAL OBLIGATIONS. THE BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS THE $750

MILLION I MENTIONED FOR HOUSING AND $500 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION.

MR. RA: OKAY. AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT

I THINK WE -- I DO APPRECIATE THIS IS REMOVING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL

TO ELIMINATE DEBT ISSUANCE FROM THE DEBT CAP AND THE OVERSIGHT THAT

COMES WITH THE DEBT REFORM ACT, BUT CAN WE ALSO, FOR THE RECORD, JUST

CLARIFY FOR GOING INTO THE FUTURE HOW MUCH WOULD BE AVAILABLE UNDER

THE DEBT CAP FOR 2022 AND IN WHAT YEAR WE WOULD GET CLOSEST TO THAT

CAP INTO THE FUTURE, AND HOW MUCH?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SURE. SO FOR THE 2022 FISCAL

YEAR, WE HAVE $7.884 BILLION. FOR THE '23 FISCAL YEAR, $4.325 BILLION;

IN '24, $1.838 BILLION; IN 2025, $329 MILLION, AND THEN WE START TO BE

BELOW THE DEBT CAP, NOT HAVE ANY OF THEM AFTER THAT.

MR. RA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRWOMAN.

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW JUST WHEN WE REFER TO

THE DEBT CAP, YOU KNOW, SO WE DO NOT INCLUDE THE EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSAL

TO SUSPEND THE DEBT REFORM ACT FOR THE 2022 ISSUANCES, SO WE ONLY

EXEMPT SOME SPECIFIC -- WE ONLY EXEMPT SOME SPECIFIC ISSUANCES.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. HEVESI.

MR. HEVESI: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S AN

HONOR TO BE HERE, AND WELCOME TO SOME OF MY NEW MEMBERS. AND I'M

SO EXCITED TO BE BACK HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. PARTICULARLY, I'VE GOT TO

SAY, I HAVEN'T SEEN WAYNE JACKSON IN A LONG TIME. BRIAN HAAK, IT'S A

PLEASURE TO SEE YOU GUYS. I WISH EVERYBODY HERE WELL. EVERYBODY

EXCEPT FOR BRIAN COYNE.

(LAUGHTER)

SO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE, MY FRIENDS, SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK A

LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH OUR KIDS AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS

PARTICULAR BUDGET. AND WHILE I START TALKING ABOUT IN GENERALITIES WHAT

HAPPENED IN NEW YORK STATE OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I WOULD ASK

EVERY MEMBER, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, JUST TAKE A SECOND AND THINK HOW

ARE YOUR KIDS DOING? NOT YOUR PERSONAL KIDS, THE KIDS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

HOW ARE THEY DOING NOW? I BET IT'S BEEN A REALLY ROUGH RUN AND WHAT

YOU'RE THINKING OF ARE NOT GOOD THINGS. I WILL TELL YOU GENERALLY IN NEW

YORK STATE WE NOW HAVE 325,000 CHILDREN WHO HAVE GOTTEN NEAR OR

BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL THAT WERE NOT THERE A YEAR AGO. I WILL ALSO TELL

YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 4,000 KIDS WHOSE PARENTS HAVE DIED. THAT IS

-- HAVING YOUR PARENTS DIE IS ONE OF THE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

AND TRAUMA THAT I'M GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THOSE 4,000 KIDS, WE ESTIMATE THAT ABOUT 23 PERCENT

OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE HEADING INTO FOSTER CARE, WHICH IS EXACTLY

WHERE YOU DON'T WANT THEM BECAUSE FOSTER CARE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

TYPE OF CARE.

SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF THE TRAUMA

INDICATORS THAT ARE SCARING ME DURING COVID. SO NUMBER ONE - YOU

WOULD THINK THIS IS A GOOD STATISTIC, BUT IT'S NOT - WE'RE GETTING LESS

REPORTS INTO THE CHILD ABUSE HOTLINES. FOR MY FRIENDS ON LONG ISLAND, I

WAS ABLE TO SAMPLE, I BELIEVE YOUR NUMBERS OF CALLS ARE DOWN 21

PERCENT. DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. THE EXPERTS ARE TELLING US THAT

MEANS THAT CHILD ABUSE HAS GONE INTO THE SHADOWS, WHICH IS EXACTLY

WHERE YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO BE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE KIDS ARE NOT AT

SCHOOL, THEY'RE NOT AT THEIR ORGANIZED SPORTS, THEY'RE NOT AT THEIR

MANDATED REPORTERS. SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAVE GOTTEN INCREASED

CALLS -- I'M SORRY, WE HAVE GOTTEN INCREASED CALLS -- EXCUSE ME, THE CALLS

TO THE HOTLINES HAVE INCREASED, BUT THE STORIES ARE GETTING WORSE.

THEY'RE MORE INTENSE, THEY'RE MORE DIFFICULT. PLUS, ALSO I WILL TELL YOU

THAT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINES ARE INCREASING CALLS TO THERE AS WELL.

THAT'S ANOTHER DANGER. AND LET ME TAKE A SECOND TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY

THAT'S BAD.

SO FIRST, WHEN I TALK ABOUT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, MY

FRIENDS, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT EMOTIONS, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO

SEPARATE THE TWO FOR THIS CONVERSATION. BUT JUST SO WE ARE ABSOLUTELY

CLEAR, WHEN I SAY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ADVERSE CHILDHOOD

EXPERIENCES, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL

ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, WITNESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - THAT'S WHY THE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NUMBER IS PARTICULARLY UPSETTING - THE MENTAL ILLNESS

OF A FAMILY MEMBER, DIVORCE, INCARCERATION OF A PARENT, AND THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

PREMATURE DEATH OF A PARENT WHICH JUST HAPPENED TO 4,000 OF OUR KIDS.

NOW, EMOTIONALLY, WE'RE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE

REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICTS AND THAT MAKES US FEEL BAD FOR OUR KIDS. BUT

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE THE EMOTIONS

OUT OF IT BECAUSE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED

TO OUR KIDS. THE SCIENCE TELLS US THAT THOSE KIDS WHO'VE BEEN

REPEATEDLY TRAUMATIZED -- BY THE WAY, AT ANY TIME, BUT CERTAINLY

EXPONENTIALLY MORE THROUGH COVID -- ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE

DIFFICULTY IN LIFE, AND THERE'S A SCIENTIFIC REASON FOR IT AND I'D LIKE TO

TAKE YOU THROUGH IT.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE

AND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IT'S BECAUSE YOUR BODY REACTS TO CERTAIN

SITUATIONS WHERE THERE'S INCREASED STRESS. IT BECOMES TOXIC. SO FOR

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR -- I'VE SAID THIS ON THE FLOOR BEFORE,

BUT WE HAVE A BUNCH OF NEW COLLEAGUES. I'M GOING TO GO INTO IT A LITTLE

BIT, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND. IF YOU IMAGINE YOU'RE WALKING

THROUGH THE WOODS ONE DAY. IT'S GREAT DAY, THERE'S NO COVID,

EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL. BUT AROUND A TREE YOU SEE ABOUT FIVE FEET

AWAY A BEAR WHO IS SNARLING AND LOOKING AT YOU. NOW STOP RIGHT THERE.

YOUR BODY'S PHYSICAL REACTION IS TO FLOOD YOUR BODY WITH ADRENALINE

AND OTHER STRESS HORMONES. PERFECTLY REASONABLE REACTION, MAKES

SENSE. HAPPENS TO ALL OF US. IT'S YOUR FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT. IF YOU HAVE TO

FIGHT THAT BEAR, YOU HAVE THE ADRENALINE TO DO IT. IF YOU HAVE TO RUN

AWAY FROM THAT BEAR, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE YOU

HAVE THE ADRENALINE PUMPING. THE PROBLEM IS ADRENALINE'S NOT THE ONLY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

CHEMICAL THAT GETS RUSHED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM PUSHES CORTISOL

INTO YOUR BODY, AND THAT CORTISOL, WHAT IT DOES IS IT, FOR YOUNG KIDS,

ANYBODY UP TO 18, IT CHANGES THE FUNCTIONING AND STRUCTURE OF YOUR

PREFRONTAL CORTEX. AND I WILL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT (INAUDIBLE), IMAGINE THE

BEAR THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE'S NOT JUST A BEAR. IMAGINE THAT BEAR

IS YOUR DAD WHO LOST HIS JOB DURING COVID, WHO LIKES TO WAIL ON SOME

OF YOUR KIDS -- HIS KIDS IN REGULAR TIMES. BUT NOW NEW YORK STATE SAID

TO HIM, GO HOME AND STAY IN A CONFINED SPACE WITH YOUR KID AND YOUR

WIFE. THAT KIND OF REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT MECHANISM

IN YOUR BODY AND YOUR BODY REACTING AND RUSHING THOSE CORTISOL

HORMONES INTO YOUR SYSTEM CHANGES THE FUNCTIONING AND STRUCTURE OF

THE CHILD'S BRAIN. IT'S PHYSICAL. IT'S SCIENTIFIC. GO ASK ANY OF YOUR

DOCTORS ABOUT THIS IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO VERIFY. SO NOW WHY IS THAT A

PROBLEM? WHEN YOU FLOOD THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX -- AND GUYS, I AM THE

LAST GUY WHO SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT SCIENCE. WHEN IT COMES TIME TO

DO 6TH GRADE HOMEWORK WITH MY KID AND TALK ABOUT SCIENCE, I SAY,

WAIT, YOUR MOM WILL BE HOME IN 15 MINUTES. WE'VE GOT TO HOLD AND

WAIT FOR HER. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS THE PART OF

THE BRAIN THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING ATTENTION. SO IF YOU HAVE KIDS

AND YOU'RE WONDERING, HEY, THEY'VE BEEN TRAUMATIZED. WHY ARE THEY

NOT PAYING ATTENTION? BECAUSE THEY CANNOT. WHAT ELSE DOES THE

PREFRONTAL CORTEX DEAL WITH? PLANNING. NOW, YOU HAVE KIDS WHO HAVE

DEFICIENCIES WHO HAVE TROUBLE PLANNING. THE OTHER THINGS; MAINTAINING

SHORT-TERM MEMORIES. IMAGINE THAT. IMAGINE TRYING TO FUNCTION IN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

SOCIETY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR SHORT-TERM MEMORIES.

HOW ABOUT THIS: THE ABILITY TO SELF-MONITOR. WHAT AM I DOING NOW?

OR -- AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR ME, I BELIEVE -- IS THE

ABILITY TO SELF-REGULATE. YOU WONDER WHY KIDS ARE ACTING OUT? YOU

WONDER WHY THEY'RE SCREAMING? YOU WONDER WHY THEY'RE REACTING?

THEY'VE BEEN TRAUMATIZED, AND THEY ARE PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE BECAUSE

OF THAT TRAUMA TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO FUNCTION IN

SOCIETY.

OKAY. SO, NOW I'M GOING TO STOP. I'M GOING TO

REMIND YOU THAT THESE KIDS HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. ANY TRAUMA THAT

HAPPENS TO KID -- THESE KIDS ARE NOT THE KIDS' FAULT. BUT I'M GOING TO

WORK BACK AND ASK YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS ONE QUESTION WITH A SERIES

OF POTENTIAL ANSWERS, AND STAY WITH ME. SO MY QUESTION TO ALL OF MY

COLLEAGUES IS, ARE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES A CAUSE OF RISING RATES

OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DO YOU BELIEVE? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND TRAUMA ARE PART OF THE RISING RATES

OF SUICIDE? HOW ABOUT OF HOMELESSNESS? HOW ABOUT OBESITY? ARE

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THE CAUSES OF

ASTHMA OR CANCER? ARE THEY THE ONE CAUSE? ABSOLUTELY NOT. ARE THEY

A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR? YES, IN ALL OF THEM. LET ME KEEP GOING. ARE

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO HEART DISEASE, TO

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE? THE ANSWER IS YES.

THE DOCTORS TELL US SO. HOW ABOUT ARE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

PART OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA? NOW, WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? IF YOU

WATCH TV SHOWS ABOUT TRUE CRIME AND IF YOU'VE EVER WATCHED THESE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THINGS OR LISTENED TO THE PODCASTS YOU'LL HEAR THEM SAY, YEAH, A GUY

COMMITTED A TERRIBLE CRIME. HE WAS A SEXUAL ABUSER AND HE'S HURT TONS

OF KIDS. BUT IT TURNS OUT, WOW, HE HAD CHILD ABUSE IN HIS BACKGROUND.

IT WAS NORMALIZED. HIS MOM OR HIS DAD DID IT TO HIM, SO HE'S PASSING IT

DOWN TO GENERATIONS. SO ASK YOURSELF: WHEN THE KIDS ARE TRAUMATIZED

HOW MUCH FALLOUT DOES THAT HAVE? HOW MANY GENERATIONS GET HURT BY

IT? HOW ABOUT GENERATIONAL POVERTY? HOW ABOUT INCARCERATION AND

RECIDIVISM? NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEW AND DON'T KNOW ME, THE

FIRST THING I DID WHEN I CAME HERE WAS PASS TOUGHER LAWS THAT INCREASED

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I'M NOT SOFT ON CRIME,

BUT IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA IS NOT A FACTOR I WOULD

ARGUE THAT YOU'RE WRONG. AND THEN THE LAST THING: HOW ABOUT THESE

KIDS FINISHING IN SCHOOL? BECAUSE REMEMBER WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU.

YOU HAVE KIDS THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING ATTENTION. THE TEACHERS

MAY THINK, HEY, WHY ISN'T THE KID PAYING ATTENTION? THE KID WAS

TRAUMATIZED. HOW ABOUT KIDS WHO CAN'T PLAN? WELL, JOHNNY DOESN'T

PREPARE -- COME TO SCHOOL PREPARED. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? HE'S

BEEN TRAUMATIZED. HOW ABOUT HE CAN'T DO THE MATH PROBLEM. WELL,

HE'S GOT A SHORT-TERM MEMORY ISSUE. HE'S TRAUMATIZED. I COULD KEEP

GOING ON. SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING, MY FRIENDS, IS -- AND THIS IS THE

WAY I THINK ABOUT THINGS -- IF WE, IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR

AND STATE GOVERNMENT, ARE ALL PART OF A BASKETBALL TEAM, THE PLAYER ON

THE OTHER TEAM IS KILLING US, IT'S CHILDHOOD TRAUMA. WE CAN'T STOP IT.

WE'VE NEVER GOT CONTROL OF IT. WE'VE GOT TO SWITCH HOW WE'RE PLAYING.

MAN-TO-MAN DEFENSE. IF YOU WANT TO TALK BASKETBALL, YOU'VE GOT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BOXING, WHATEVER IT IS. BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THE ENEMY BECAUSE

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE. WE'RE LOSING THIS GAME. WE'RE LOSING OUR KIDS.

WE'RE LOSING -- I'LL GET INTO THE TAXPAYER CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF US, TOO

-- IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A HANDLE ON CHILDHOOD

TRAUMA. AND I DIDN'T COME HERE TO LOSE, AND I KNOW ALL OF MY

COLLEAGUES DIDN'T COME HERE TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES TO LOSE THIS GAME

EITHER.

SO NOW WE GET TO THE BUDGET. AND I'M SORRY FOR GOING

ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONFLICTS. LET'S GET TO THE BUDGET. SO, THE

GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET, WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR IS HERE COMES THE

CALVARY. WE'RE THE CALVARY. ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE IN TROUBLE. HERE IT

COMES. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE -- LOOK, I LOVE THE OLD MOVIES, THE

GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, SOME OF THE OTHER ONES. SOME OF MY

FAVORITES. I SEE MY FRIEND NODDING THERE. SO, I WAS HOPING WE WERE

GOING TO RIDE OVER THE -- OVER THE SUNSET, WE COULD DO IT AT THE

(INAUDIBLE), HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SHOT. AND WE'LL COME IN AND OUR LEADER

WILL SAY, OKAY, LET'S TRIAGE. YOU GO BUILD THE INFIRMARY. YOU GET THEM

FOOD. YOU GO HELP THEM DO THIS. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE RODE UP AS A CALVARY AND OUR LEADER, THE

GOVERNOR -- AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ANYTHING PERSONAL WITH HIM

BECAUSE HE'S DONE WHAT HE'S DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I'LL

EXPLAIN THAT IN A SECOND. WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE IS HE GOT OFF HIS

HORSE, HE WALKS OUT IN FRONT - AND LET'S PLAY THE SCENE A LITTLE BIT - HE'S

WALKING OVER UP TO YOUR DISTRICTS. KIDS ARE HURTING. YOU KNOW, YOU

CAN REALLY PLAY WITH THIS SCENE. THERE'S AN ELDERLY LADY WHO COMES OUT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AND SAYS, SIR, CAN YOU HELP US? THE CALVARY IS HERE, CAN YOU HELP US?

AND OUR LEADER JUST WALKED OVER AND SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH

ALL AROUND. LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE HAD IT TOUGH, TOO. BUT, NO, WE

DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE GOING TO

TAKE FIVE PERCENT OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAD FROM LAST YEAR SO WE CAN

SPREAD IT AROUND. THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE TO THIS

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA EXPLOSION THAT WE JUST HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF

YEARS. OKAY? JUST TO GET THE SENSE. THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED. AND AS A

MATTER OF FACT, THEY'RE TAKING MORE FUNDS OUT FROM OUR KIDS. AND I WILL

EXPLAIN THAT. NOW, WHAT ARE THE FUNDS THAT THEY'RE TAKING OUT?

PARTICULARLY FOR MY UPSTATE COLLEAGUES, THEY'RE TAKING FIVE PERCENT OF

THE FOLLOWING: CHILD WELFARE SERVICES, FOSTER CARE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

SERVICES, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND CHILDREN SERVICES PROGRAMS. SO NOW

YOUR COUNTIES -- AND BY THE WAY, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF THIS IN THE

LEGISLATURE AND THIS IS DISGRACEFUL -- WE ARE ALWAYS -- NEW YORK STATE,

I BELIEVE, IS THE ENEMY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE

STATE IS THE ENEMY. ANY CHANCE WE GET TO STICK IT TO THE CITY OR STICK IT

TO YOUR COUNTIES, THAT'S WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN DOING.

THAT'S WHO THEY ARE. SO YOUR COUNTIES NOW HAVE THE CHOICE TO SAY,

HEY, DO WE FIGHT AGAINST THIS, OR IF WE GET CUT BY FIVE PERCENT DO WE

HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND THAT? NOT ONE OF YOUR COUNTIES HAS THE MONEY

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT'S THE FIRST PORTION OF GOVERNOR CUOMO'S

RESPONSE TO THE TRAUMA EXPLOSION WE JUST HAD.

THE SECOND ONE - AND THIS ONE REALLY GALLS ME - IT'S

ANOTHER PROGRAM CALLED COPS, COMMUNITY OPTIONAL PREVENTATIVE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

SERVICES PROGRAM. AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES FROM ROCHESTER, LET'S BE

PROUD OF THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM RUN OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF

ROCHESTER. IT IS A PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAM. IT'S HOW YOU HELP KIDS

AND HELP FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER BEFORE THEY GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE CHILD

WELFARE SYSTEM, BEFORE THEY GET A JUVENILE DELINQUENT CASE. THIS IS

HOW YOU PREVENT PROBLEMS. THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL? WE'RE GOING TO

CONSOLIDATE THAT PROGRAM WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO

WITH IT FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. COMBINE THEM TOGETHER, CONSOLIDATE

AND THEN CUT BOTH BY 20, 20 PERCENT. THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S

PROPOSAL. AND WHAT WOULD THAT DO? FIRST, THAT WOULD KILL THAT

PROGRAM. AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING TO THOSE PEOPLE IN

ROCHESTER AND HERE WAS THEIR MESSAGE AND I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU

RIGHT NOW IN ONE SENTENCE. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND TRYING

TO HELP FAMILIES SAY THE FOLLOWING: STRESSED FAMILIES ARE FALLING APART,

AND THESE PARENTS ARE FIGHTING TO HANG ON. FIGHTING TO HANG ON TO

THEIR KIDS, FIGHTING TO HANG ON TO THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO WORK. AND

WHAT'S OUR RESPONSE? EH, WE'RE JUST GOING TO THROW THEM IN WITH A

PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND WE'RE GOING TO CUT IT BY 20. IT'S

AN OUTRAGE. WE ALSO ARE CUTTING -- "WE" -- THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING TO

CUT RAISE THE AGE BEDS. WE HAD A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT FOR RAISE

THE AGE. I DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF THAT, BUT THAT WAS A

MONUMENTAL WIN FOR NEW YORK STATE. THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO CUT IT.

SO YOU GET THE IDEA OF WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS ON DEALING WITH KIDS.

WE'RE LUCKY, THOUGH, THAT IN THIS BILL, IN THE ASSEMBLY ONE-HOUSE, IN

THE ASSEMBLY ONE-HOUSE, WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE ALL OF THOSE CUTS TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MAKE SURE YOUR COUNTIES ARE NOT HURT AND YOUR COUNTIES ARE WHOLE.

I WILL DIGRESS FOR TWO SECONDS TO SAY THIS IS NOT A NEW

THING FROM THE GOVERNOR. THREE YEARS AGO HE CUT $60 MILLION FROM

FOSTER CARE WITH NO FINANCIAL JUSTIFICATION. AND THEN TWO YEARS AGO HE

TRIED TO CUT THE BEST PROGRAM I BELIEVE I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE STATE,

WHICH IS THE UNCAPPED REIMBURSEMENT FOR UPSTATE COUNTIES FOR

PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM - AND I'M GOING TO BE

VERY QUICK ABOUT THIS - THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE ALMOST

SINGLE-HANDEDLY FOR DROPPING THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN FOSTER CARE FROM

40,000 IN THE '80S TO 8,000 TODAY. AND IT HAS SAVED MORE KIDS FROM

ABUSE THAN I CAN COUNT. BUT THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO GET RID OF THAT.

TWO YEARS AGO WE FOUGHT HIM. THEN LAST YEAR WE HAD TO FIGHT HIM

WHEN HE TRIED TO STRIP MONEY FROM PINS KIDS, PERSONS IN NEED OF

SUPERVISION. THESE ARE THE KIDS WHO ARE REALLY ACTING UP, THEIR PARENTS

CAN'T CONTROL THEM. BUT THEY HAVEN'T CROSSED THE LINE IN GETTING IN

TROUBLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. BUT HE'S GOING TO CUT THAT. SO

THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE FOR KIDS ISSUES.

NOW I WILL TELL YOU WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST.

(BUZZER SOUNDING)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YOU WILL DO THAT

LATER.

MR. HEVESI: I'LL COME BACK, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. BARRON.

MR. BARRON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I INTENDED

TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH DURING AN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

EMERGENCY TIME. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FEDERAL MONEY, ONE-SHOT DEAL,

$23 BILLION, $40 BILLION. IT'S ONE SHOT. IT MIGHT LAST TWO YEARS. AND

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES AND HOW THEY RESPOND TO THEIR

PANDEMIC, CANADA IS GIVING THEIR PEOPLE $2,000 PER MONTH FOR THE FIRST

FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AND THEN THEY REVISIT IT AFTERWARDS. WHEN YOU LOOK

LIKE -- AT THE STATE OF HAWAII, THEY RAISING THE MONEY ON THE RICH BY 17

PERCENT FOR THEIR MILLIONAIRES. WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR ON THE ROPES.

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT TO GET ALL WE CAN.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN THIS BUDGET, HALF OF IT IS NOT EVEN GOING TO

MAKE IT TO THE END. SO THE $7 BILLION THAT WAS RAISED AROUND THE

REVENUE, $3- MORE BILLION LOOKING AT THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMIC

SITUATION, MAKING THAT $10- AND THE $20-, $30-, $40 BILLION FROM THE

FEDS, THIS IS A ONE-STOP DEAL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DO GOOD

THIS YEAR. THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD IN IT. THERE'S $700 MILLION FOR

NYCHA. NYCHA NEEDS $30-, $40 BILLION. THERE'S MONEY IN IT FOR

OUR CHILDREN. THE SCHOOL AID IS $1.4 BILLION. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

WE DID $1.4 BILLION TWO YEARS IN A ROW, THREE YEARS IN A ROW. WHEN IT

WAS A REPUBLICAN SENATE WE DID $1.4 BILLION IN OUR ONE-HOUSE BILL AND

IT WAS KNOCKED DOWN TO $600 MILLION. NEXT, WE GOT THE DEMOCRATIC

SENATE AND THE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY, $600 MILLION, NO CHANGE. LAST

YEAR WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC SENATE AND A DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY AND WE

WOUND UP CUTTING $2.5 BILLION FROM MEDICAID, $400 MILLION FROM OUR

HOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE OWE NEW YORK STATE BETTER THAN

THIS. WE OWE NEW YORK STATE BETTER THAN THIS. TOOK THE $400 MILLION

OUT OF NYCHA THAT WE HAD IN THERE, ROLLED BACK THE NO CASH BAIL SO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MORE PEOPLE WENT TO JAIL AND CAUGHT THE CORONAVIRUS. SO NOW WE COME

WITH ALL OF THESE GOOD THINGS IN HERE AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, A

LOT OF GOOD STUFF. BUT WE OWE THIS STATE MORE. I TALKED TO SOME OF THE

MOST CLOSEST PEOPLE AROUND ME AND TOLD THEM I WAS VOTING NO. I WANT

TO MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT. EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HAPPY AND

DANCING ABOUT THIS BUDGET, BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE NO, I TOLD THEM. I SAID

BECAUSE I KNOW THIS PROCESS AND THEY KNOW THIS PROCESS. ONE PENNY

FROM THIS -- IF ONE PENNY FROM THIS IS TAKEN AWAY, WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH

ALREADY, WHEN WE GET TO THE END, EVERYBODY HERE IN THE DEMOCRATIC

CAUCUS SHOULD TO BE VOTING NO IF A DIME, A PENNY IS TAKEN BACK FROM

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON AND APPROVING TODAY. SO IF WE WANT

SOMETHING TO REALLY SURVIVE, THEN WE HAD TO DO $20 MILLION, $30

MILLION IN REVENUE. THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HURT ANYBODY. WE NEED TO

RESTRUCTURE, REVISIT THE PIT SURCHARGE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET DOUBLE-DIGIT

OUT OF THAT. WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ENOUGH BEFORE THE

PANDEMIC. AND OUR COMMUNITIES, WE WERE SUFFERING FROM

DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT, MASS INCARCERATION, MISSED EDUCATION,

INADEQUATE HEALTHCARE, POLICE RUNNING AMUCK, KILLING AND BEATING US

UP. THIS WAS BEFORE ANY PANDEMIC. AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND

WE NEEDED MORE BECAUSE WE WERE DYING MORE AND AFFECTED MORE, THIS

GOVERNOR, THIS STATE, SENT A SHIP TO THE WHITE COMMUNITY WITH 1,000

BEDS IN IT THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN USE. THIS GOVERNOR NOW GETS WITH

SOME BLACK PREACHERS AND IS GOING NOW TO THE JAVITS CENTER FOR

VACCINATIONS. THIS GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT -- TURNED CENTRAL PARK INTO

A MEDICAL FACILITY IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BUDGET, PART OF ME WANTS TO SAY, NO, CHARLES. DON'T DO IT. DON'T GIVE

IN. STAND ALONE, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE THIS DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. WE

SHOULD HAVE $20 BILLION. IF WE WOULD'VE HAD $20 BILLION FOR REVENUE

AND HAD THAT COMING EVERY YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE A SURPLUS EVERY YEAR.

IT REALLY SHOULD BE $30 BILLION. AND THESE FOLK WON'T BE HURT. PEOPLE --

9 PERCENT, 8 PERCENT, 10 PERCENT, THEY MAKING MILLIONS, THEY WILL NOT BE

HURT. THEY SAID, WELL, CHARLES, IF YOU DO THAT THEY'LL LEAVE. IF YOU DO

THE STOCK TRANSFER TAX, THEY'LL SHUT DOWN WALL STREET AND LEAVE. YOU

KNOW WHO'S LEAVING? THE WORKING CLASS. YOU KNOW WHO'S LEAVING

THIS STATE? POOR PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE

HERE ANYMORE. AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES BETWEEN GENTRIFICATION AND SO

MANY OTHER THINGS, OUR FOLK ARE LEAVING. OH, BUT THE MILLIONAIRES WILL

LEAVE. WE'RE LEAVING. THE WORKING CLASS IS LEAVING. SO I SPOKE TO

PEOPLE AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO VOTE NO. I CAN'T DO THIS. I SPOKE

TO MY CHIEF-OF-STAFF, MY WIFE, AND THE COLLECTIVE AROUND ME. THEY

SAID, CHARLES, VOTE FOR IT AND FIGHT FOR MORE. I SAID, YES, BUT YOU KNOW

MORE NEVER COMES. THAT'S A GOOD RAP. THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGY. BUT IT

NEVER, EVER HAPPENS. MORE DOESN'T COME. MATTER OF FACT, LESS OCCURS

WHEN YOU DON'T DO ENOUGH NOW. BUT I'M A MAN WHO DEALS WITH THE

COLLECTIVE. AND I DEAL WITH THE WISDOM OF A COLLECTIVE. PERSONALLY, I

WANTED TO VOTE NO. BUT WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND ME -- AND I HAVE WISE

PEOPLE AROUND ME. EVEN SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE SAID VOTE FOR IT AND

KEEP FIGHTING FOR MORE. WITH A HEAVY HEART AND SOME REAL DOUBT IN MY

MIND, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW MY COLLECTIVE. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THEIR

ADVICE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO YOU, IF THERE'S ONE DIME TAKEN AWAY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AFTER THIS IS PASSED, WE SHOULD COLLECTIVELY STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF

THE STATE AND DO TWO THINGS: LET'S VOTE NO ON THE FINAL BUDGET. IF THEY

PLAY THAT GAME WITH YOU, VOTE NO ON THE FINAL BUDGET. I'M GOING TO

FOLLOW MY COLLECTIVE TODAY. AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE IN A

COLLECTIVE AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO IT, YOU GOT TO GO WITH IT.

SO I'LL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TODAY, BUT I WILL BE

GUARANTEEING YOU, IF A DIME IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THIS WE ALL SHOULD BE

VOTING NO. WE ALL SHOULD BE VOTING NO AT THE END, AND WE SHOULD ALL

FIGHT FOR THEM TO REDO THE PIT SURCHARGE AND LET'S GET SOME

DOUBLE-DIGIT REVENUE DONE. DOUBLE-DIGIT REVENUE DONE SO THAT WE CAN

REALLY GIVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE WHAT THEY REALLY, TRULY DESERVE. SO,

THIS AIN'T EASY FOR ME. BECAUSE THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT SAID THE TRUTH

BEING IN THIS GREEDY, RACIST, CAPITALIST TWO-PARTY SYSTEM WHERE A $208

BILLION BUDGET AND WE ONLY HAVE $200 MILLION FOR THE HOMELESS AND,

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS HERE AND THERE, THIS IS JUST NOT

RIGHT. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. BUT I'M -- I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE COLLECTIVE

THAT I WORK WITH AND I'LL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE WITH DEEP, HEAVY

CRITICISM AND RESERVATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. WALCZYK.

MR. WALCZYK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, HAPPY TO YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

YIELDS.

MR. WALCZYK: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

I APPRECIATE THE START OF THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS BUDGET. WE

KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT I'VE GOT

SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR. BUT, ONE, YOU REJECTED

THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN IN THIS RESOLUTION -- YOU REJECTED HIS BUDGETARY

PLAN TO ALLOW SUNY TO INCREASE TUITION. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF -- OF TUITION AT OUR SUNY INSTITUTIONS, AND

WHY WAS THAT REJECTED?

MS. WEINSTEIN: FIRST OF ALL, MR. WALCZYK, BEFORE

I RESPOND I JUST WANTED TO LET MEMBERS KNOW THAT I CHANGED COMPUTERS

SO I DIDN'T TURN MY HAIR GREEN. SOMEHOW THE LIGHTING HAS -- HAS

CHANGED.

(LAUGHTER)

SO, BUT, YOU KNOW --

MR. WALCZYK: YOU'RE LOOKING GREAT, MADAM

CHAIR.

(LAUGHTER)

MS. WEINSTEIN: THANK YOU. TO GET TO YOUR

QUESTION, WE SUBSTITUTE -- WE REJECT THE GOVERNOR'S TUITION INCREASE OF

$200 PER YEAR, BUT WE PUT IN THE MONEY INTO THE BUDGET TO MAKE UP FOR

THAT -- THAT REJECTION OF THAT. WE ALSO PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT

OF INCREASED FUNDING IN OTHER AREAS OF -- OF HIGHER ED. MANY OF THE

OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS WE'VE ADDED MONEY, AND WE'VE ALSO ADDED A LOT

OF CAPITAL FOR HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE STATE INCLUDING THE --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

INCLUDING SUNY, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, AS WELL AS THE

SUNY COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHERE EVEN THOUGH

THEY HAVE HAD SOME LOSS OF ENROLLMENT, WE MAINTAIN THE MAINTENANCE

OF EFFORT FOR THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD AND 98 PERCENT -- WE WILL FUND

THEM AT 98 PERCENT REGARDLESS -- MAINTAIN THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT

REGARDLESS OF THEIR ENROLLMENTS.

MR. WALCZYK: WELL, MADAM CHAIR, AS SOMEONE

WHO REPRESENTS TWO SUNYS AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TWO

PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, I APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

HERE ALONG WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S CUT TO BUNDY --

BUNDY AID. YOU'VE ALSO INCREASED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TAP, SORT

OF -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN THIS CALL FOR A LONG TIME OF ELIMINATING THE

TAP GAP. DOES THIS ELIMINATE THE TAP GAP? AND I'M READING THAT

YOU'VE INCREASED THE MAXIMUM TAP AWARD BY $1,000. HAVE YOU ALSO

EXPANDED THE ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD FOR TAP OR IS THAT MAINTAINED AT

$80,000 PER FAMILY?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE HAVE NOT EXPANDED THE

ELIGIBILITY FOR TAP. AND YOU'RE CORRECT IN SAYING WE -- AS I MENTIONED

EARLIER, WE INCREASED TAP -- THE MAXIMUM TAP AWARD BY $1,000 AND

WE EFFECTIVELY WITH THIS BUDGET, BETWEEN THESE ACTIONS, WE ARE

EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING THE TAP GAP THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR SO

MANY YEARS THAT'S HURT SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE -- AND THE

INSTITUTIONS THEY ATTEND.

MR. WALCZYK: ONE THING, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I

HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE RANKER ON

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

HIGHER EDUCATION. ONE THING THAT CAME OUT THROUGHOUT MANY BUDGET

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION WAS THE TAP GAP, OBVIOUSLY,

AND AS WELL AS THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM. THERE'S SORT OF A SCHOOL OF

THOUGHT - AND HOPEFULLY THIS GOT BACK TO YOU BEFORE PUTTING THIS

RESOLUTION TOGETHER - THAT WE'D BE MUCH BETTER OFF EXPANDING TAP,

WHICH YOU PROPOSE TO DO HERE, AND ELIMINATING THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM

ALL TOGETHER. IS THERE A PROPOSAL WITHIN YOUR ONE-HOUSE RESOLUTION TO

ELIMINATE THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM AND EXPAND TAP?

MS. WEINSTEIN: NO. THERE -- WE -- WE DON'T

ELIMINATE THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE NOTED, WE -- BY

INCREASING THE TAP AWARD AND THE OTHER EFFORTS WE -- WE MAKE IN

HIGHER EDUCATION, WE ARE -- WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO KEEP THESE

INSTITUTIONS WHOLE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDENTS APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF

STAFFING, AT LEAST TO -- YOU KNOW, FOR NOW. YOU KNOW, ALSO -- YOU

KNOW, I SHOULD NOTE THAT AS PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THERE ARE

FUNDS THAT WILL BE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE SUNY -- I KNOW YOU TALKED

ABOUT SUNY, BUT ALSO THE CUNY INSTITUTIONS. THAT MONEY WILL GO

DIRECTLY TO THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO ALSO TO DEAL WITH COVID-RELATED

EXPENSES THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED.

MR. WALCZYK: WELL, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE

HAVEN'T TAKEN THIS OPPORTUNITY. I THINK THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM IS

SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS A PET PROJECT FOR THE GOVERNOR, VERY

TARGETED AT ONE SPECIFIC GROUP. THE ENTIRE HIGHER EDUCATION

COMMUNITY, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, MUCH MORE SUPPORTS FUNDING THE TAP

PROGRAM AND INCREASING ELIGIBILITY THERE FOR NEW YORK FAMILIES RATHER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THAN HAVING A DUPLICATIVE, CONFUSING, LATE-TO-REACT AND TOUGH TO

NAVIGATE PROGRAM LIKE THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM. SO HOPEFULLY THAT

CARRIES FORWARD TO THE TABLE AS YOU'RE NEGOTIATING THE FINAL DAYS OF THIS

BUDGET. I'D JUST PASS THAT ALONG.

ON DOWNTOWN -- IN SWITCHING GEARS, ON DOWNTOWN

REVITALIZATION, DOES THIS RESOLUTION CONTINUE - AM I READING IT RIGHT -

THIS CONTINUES THE $100 MILLION TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR TO PICK WINNERS

AND LOSERS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE FOR HIS DOWNTOWN

REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, IT -- IT DOES CONTINUE THE

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROGRAM, THOUGH AS I BELIEVE YOU KNOW AND

I'VE ACTUALLY -- AM A MEMBER OF THE (INAUDIBLE) BOARD, THOSE

RECOMMENDATIONS COME FROM THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COUNCILS, AND IT'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO MAKES THAT DECISION OF

WHERE TO FUND THOSE PROGRAMS. AND MANY OF THEM I'VE WITNESSED

MYSELF HAVE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR STATE.

MR. WALCZYK: YES, MA'AM. THE -- THE GOVERNOR

ALSO REQUESTED IN HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL THE LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE

RECREATIONAL MARIHUANA. I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THIS RESOLUTION. IS IT

INCLUDED?

MS. WEINSTEIN: NO, IT -- NO, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE --

WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS AND BELIEVE THAT IT -- IT'S

SOMETHING WE WILL DEAL WITH OFF BUDGET. AND WE -- THE MAJORITY

LEADER, CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES, HAS A WONDERFUL PROPOSAL THAT THE

ASSEMBLY IS SUPPORTIVE OF AND WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE TO -- TO COME

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

TO SOME RESOLUTION OF THAT. BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARY THAT WE DO IT NOW

SINCE THE FUNDING IS NOT PART OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. I'M -- I'M SURPRISED. I

THINK A LOT OF THE PITCH FOR LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE RECREATIONAL

MARIHUANA WAS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAD TO

TAX MARIHUANA AND -- AND THAT THERE WAS A LARGE REVENUE COMPONENT.

SO I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE PULLING IT OUT OF THE BUDGET

CONVERSATION ALL TOGETHER, BUT APPRECIATE YOU COMMITTING TO HAVING THAT

IN AN OPEN DISCUSSION, AND MAYBE AT A FURTHER DATE WE'LL -- WE'LL

READDRESS IT.

THE GOVERNOR HAD $4 MILLION FOR AGRI-TOURISM, AND I

COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GREAT WISH LIST WHERE

THERE'S INCREASES IN FUNDING ABOVE AND BEYOND MANY THINGS THAT THE

GOVERNOR PUT FORWARD ALMOST ACROSS THE BOARD IN THIS BUDGET. WHY ARE

-- WHY ARE YOU REJECTING $4 MILLION FOR AGRI-TOURISM IN NEW YORK

STATE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU'RE CORRECT THAT WE ARE -- WE

-- WE HAVE SHIFTED THE MONEY FOR OTHER PRIORITIES LIKE I HAD NOTED JUST A

FEW IN MY OPENING REMARKS OF SOME -- WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR

AGRICULTURE. THERE'S A LONG LIST OF OTHER THINGS THAT -- THAT WE HAVE --

MR. WALCZYK: YEAH, CHAIR -- CHAIRWOMAN, I'M

SORRY, I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT ON THAT. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT

-- VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR AGRI-TOURISM, NOT THE -- THE WHOLE ELIMINATION

OF THE $4 MILLION THERE. I THINK IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS WE'RE

TALKING ABOUT A RELATIVELY SMALL INVESTMENT.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

I JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK COMPARE. A PENN STATION

REBUILD IS -- IS FUNDED IN THIS AS A LARGE MEGA TRANSPORTATION PROJECT.

HOW MUCH DOES THAT PROJECT COST? HOW MUCH ARE WE FUNDING IT FOR IN

THIS BUDGET YEAR?

MS. WEINSTEIN: THAT'S $1.3 BILLION.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. AND -- AND JUST FOR A QUICK

COMPARISON, HOW -- HOW MUCH ARE WE FUNDING THE CONSOLIDATED

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT GOES TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

FOR BRIDGES AND ROADS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: LET ME GET THE INFORMATION ON THE

CHIPS PROGRAM. WE ARE RESTORING -- I KNOW THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE

RESTORING WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID. WE'VE ALSO ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL

MONEY, SO LET ME JUST LOOK FOR ONE SECOND TO GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.

(PAUSE)

SO WE ARE $365 MILLION ON TOP OF THE GOVERNOR'S

RECOMMENDATION FOR CHIPS FUNDING.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. I HAD -- I HAD ONE -- AND, I

MEAN, THIS ISN'T MY FIRST BUDGET, IT'S MY THIRD. BUT THIS IS A GIANT

DOCUMENT AND I ALWAYS FIND MYSELF FINDING NEW TERMS EVERY TIME I DIG

IN. WHAT IS AN ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES FUND, AND WHAT DOES THE

GOVERNOR DO WITH $1.5 BILLION THAT SITS IN IT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: FOR -- FOR THE MOMENT IT'S JUST IN

THE -- IN THE FUND BALANCE. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE USED.

MR. WALCZYK: YEAH, IF YOU COULD -- AND,

CHAIRWOMAN, IF YOU COULD JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT EXACTLY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

IS THAT THE MONEY AND WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? HAS IT BEEN UTILIZED IN THE

PAST? WHAT DOES IT DO?

MS. WEINSTEIN: IT'S REALLY -- IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY

APPROPRIATIONS -- I MEAN, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATED, IT'S JUST PART OF THE FUND

BALANCE THAT HAS JUST BEEN SEPARATELY IDENTIFIED. IT'S JUST SITTING THERE IN

THE FUND BALANCE.

MR. WALCZYK: OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

MR. WALCZYK.

MR. WALCZYK: FOR THE GOOD OF THE BODY, MR.

SPEAKER, CALIFORNIA HAS A POPULATION OF 39 MILLION PEOPLE. THEIR

BUDGET IS $196 BILLION ANNUALLY. THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO NEW

YORK STATE, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF 19 MILLION FOR PURPOSES OF

COMPARISON, WE'RE PROPOSING A $208 BILLION BUDGET. THAT -- I MEAN,

THAT'S TIME FOR THIS BODY AND THE SENATE, OUR COUNTERPARTS, AND THE

GOVERNOR TO ALL TAKE A REALLY HARD LOOK IN OUR GOVERNMENTAL MIRROR AND

SAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG? I MEAN, IN

-- IN 2015 -- AND I -- I HEAR THESE ARGUMENTS, RIGHT? LOOK, I DON'T

REPRESENT -- AND MAYBE YOU DO IF YOU'RE IN LOWER MANHATTAN -- I DON'T

REMEMBER BILLIONAIRES, I DON'T THINK. AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, I'D -- I'D LOVE

IF THEY GIVE ME A CALL. I'D LOVE TO SAY HELLO. IT WOULD BE REALLY

INTERESTING TO MEET ANY. BUT I DON'T THINK IN THE FRONT YARD OF AMERICA

I REPRESENT ANY BILLIONAIRES. I MIGHT REPRESENT A FEW MILLIONAIRES. AND

I HEAR THE ARGUMENTS IN HERE, OH, WE NEED TO TAX THE MILLIONAIRES AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BILLIONAIRES. BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT LOOK AT THE POPULATION THAT'S HAPPENED

IN -- IN NEW YORK STATE WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE WON'T LEAVE. BECAUSE IN

2015 OUR POPULATION WAS 19,657,000. THEN IN 2020 WE'RE AT

19,336,000. BABIES WERE BORN IN THIS STATE. WE'VE LOST 321,000 NEW

YORKERS. AND FOR MY UPSTATE COLLEAGUES, THAT IS THE CITY OF ROCHESTER

AND THE CITY OF SYRACUSE COMPLETELY EMPTIED OUT. JUST IMAGINE THOSE

TWO CITIES EMPTIED OUT BECAUSE THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT THESE BUDGETS

CONTINUE TO DO. THEY EMPTY OUT SYRACUSE AND ROCHESTER AND BUFFALO

AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. THIS IS A $6.8 BILLION INCREASE OVER THE

GOVERNOR'S IRRESPONSIBLE BUDGET? I MEAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE -- ON

THE WISH LIST, BUT IT'S TIME FOR THE ADULTS TO GET TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY

GOVERN. CAPITAL GAINS SURCHARGE, HIGH-INCOME EARNERS TAX, BUSINESS

TAX SURCHARGES, TAX ON MANUFACTURERS, INCREASE IN MORTGAGE RECORDING

TAX, ESTATE TAX INCREASE. SURE, TAX THEM INTO OBLIVION AND KEEP TELLING

ME THAT NEW YORKERS AREN'T GOING TO MOVE OUT. KEEP TELLING ME THAT

HIGH-INCOME EARNERS THAT PAY THE MOST IN TAXES IN THIS STATE AREN'T

GOING TO LEAVE. THEY'VE ALREADY LEFT. THEY'RE LEAVING IN DROVES.

MR. SPEAKER, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL, I'LL VOTE NO.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. SCHMITT.

MR. SCHMITT: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD

THE CHAIRWOMAN YIELD FOR A FEW QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SURE, I WILL BE HAPPY TO YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

YIELDS.

MR. SCHMITT: THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN. I WANT TO

START WITH THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION. AND MY

UNDERSTANDING IS THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET INCLUDES $7 MILLION IN NEW

FUNDING AND ELIMINATES $1 MILLION IN REAPPROPRIATED FUNDING. IS -- IS

THAT A CORRECT READING OF THE DOCUMENT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE DON'T ELIMINATE THE -- WE

DON'T ELIMINATE THE OLD MONEY. THAT $1 MILLION IS SITTING IN THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THEY WERE NOT SPENDING IT, SO WE ADD THE $7

MILLION NOW FOR THE REDISTRICTING -- INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING

COMMITTEE [SIC].

MR. SCHMITT: NOW, IS IT CORRECT THAT THIS PROPOSAL

ALSO CHANGES THAT FUNDING FROM THE AID TO LOCALITIES BUDGET TO THE

STATE OPERATIONS BUDGET?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES.

MR. SCHMITT: NOW, I BELIEVE AN ISSUE HERE WITH

THE PREVIOUS $1 MILLION IS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION HAD THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE SUNY RESEARCH FOUNDATION CREATE A

CONTRACT TO ADMINISTER THE FUNDING FOR THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING

COMMISSION. MEMBERS OF THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

HAVE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT CONTRACT. THE

CONTRACT WOULD GIVE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE COMMISSION'S BUDGET TO

THE SUNY RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR USE NOT RELATED TO THE

COMMISSION, AND IT ALSO GAVE SUNY RESEARCH TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE

COMMISSION'S HIRING DECISIONS, WHICH IN MY OPINION VIOLATES THE STATE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

CONSTITUTION. THERE IS NOW A PENDING LAWSUIT ON THIS MATTER. I'M JUST

CHECKING, DOES THIS CORRECT THAT AND ENSURE THAT THE FUNDING WOULD BE

DISBURSED AND THE COMMISSION WOULD BE TREATED THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY INSTEAD OF THIS CURRENT PLAN?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE DO NOT MAKE SOME OF THE

CHANGES THAT YOU OUTLINED. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE IN A BETTER -- THIS IS A

BETTER INDEPENDENT POSITION GOING FORWARD THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN

PRIOR REDISTRICTING.

MR. SCHMITT: SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THE CURRENT

DISPUTED PLAN THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE SUNY

RESEARCH FOUNDATION? IT WOULD NOT CORRECT IT TO MAKE IT A -- FUNDED AS

AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY OR COMMISSION?

MS. WEINSTEIN: THIS -- THIS DOES NOT RELATE TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S FUNDING. THIS IS GOING TO BE INDEPENDENT, AND

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE SEPARATE $7 MILLION BECAUSE THE $1 MILLION

WASN'T BEING -- BEING SPENT AND WAS JUST BASICALLY SITTING AT THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

MR. SCHMITT: SO THE CURRENT -- I'M SORRY, I'M JUST

TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND AND WE HAVE IT ON THE RECORD. SO THIS

PROPOSAL WOULD ENSURE THAT THE CURRENT DISPUTED METHOD THAT THE

GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT FORWARD WHERE THE $1 MILLION IS

LOCKED UP, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ANYMORE. THIS NEW $7

MILLION WOULD BE ADMINISTERED IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WHAT THE

GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED THAT'S LOCKED UP SO --

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. SCHMITT: BUT IT DOESN'T THEORETICALLY SOLVE THE

PROBLEM THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING.

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, BUT THIS DOES NOT RELATE TO

THAT CONTRACT THAT YOU DESCRIBED. IT DOES NOT RELATE TO THE $1 MILLION

DEPARTMENT OF STATE FUNDS.

MR. SCHMITT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO THIS WOULD BE A -- A NEW

PROCESS.

MR. SCHMITT: THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO THE PROPOSAL REGARDING

HUNTING. AS ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE

SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS, WE HAVE SUPPORTED -- ALL THE CO-CHAIRS AND

MEMBERS HAVE SUPPORTED A PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE HUNTING AGE TO ALLOW

MORE YOUNGER NEW YORKERS TO PARTICIPATE IN BIG GAME HUNTING WITH

THE SUPERVISION OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT OR PARENT. I SEE THAT THIS

ONE-HOUSE PROPOSAL REJECTS THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE

HUNTING AGE TO 12 AND EXPAND THE USE OF CROSSBOWS ACROSS THE STATE,

WHICH IS WIDELY SUPPORTED BY SPORTSMEN'S GROUPS IN A BIPARTISAN

FASHION. COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT, AND IS IT

SOMETHING YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE UP AS A STANDALONE OR -- OR WHERE THAT

STANDS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE DO -- YOU'RE CORRECT THAT WE

REJECTED THAT PROPOSAL BY THE GOVERNOR. I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THESE

YOUNGER ADULTS, CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO USE CROSSBOWS BUT DURING THE

REGULAR HUNTING SEASON, NOT DURING THE SEASON WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BOW AND ARROWS.

MR. SCHMITT: WELL, IT'S -- JUST TO CLARIFY, IT IS

ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES. ONE WOULD BE TO ALLOW 12-YEAR-OLDS TO

PARTICIPATE IN BIG GAME HUNTING. SO, WHITE-TAILED DEER, FOR AN EXAMPLE,

THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS WITH THE

SUPERVISION OF AN ADULT. NEW YORK IS THE ONLY STATE THAT DOES NOT

ALLOW THAT. IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT'S BEEN EXCLUDED?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR

HAD THIS -- THE EXECUTIVE PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET. WE FEEL THAT WE CAN

DEAL WITH THIS OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- WE'LL HAVE

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RESPECTIVE CHAIRS AND IF THE MEMBERS AGREE THAT IT

IS SOMETHING TO GO FORWARD WITH WE CAN DO THAT POST-BUDGET.

MR. SCHMITT: AND -- AND THE SECOND ISSUE, THE

EXPANSION OF CROSSBOWS. WOULD THAT -- I'M ASSUMING IS THAT THE SAME

-- THE SAME STANDARD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES. YES.

MR. SCHMITT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OBVIOUSLY, OTHER COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO PROBABLY ASK

SOME MORE IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS ABOUT EDUCATION FUNDING AND -- AND

SOME OF THOSE OTHER ITEMS. BUT A PARTICULAR CONCERN TO MANY OF MY

CONSTITUENTS, AND -- AND I'M SURE -- I KNOW FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE IS

UPDATED REOPENING GUIDANCE SO THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE THE

ABILITY TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE IN-PERSON EDUCATION. THE HORRORS OF

COVID-19 HAVE IMPACTED US ALL, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO GET OUR

STUDENTS BACK TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF IN-PERSON EDUCATION. I'M SURE YOU

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

REMEMBER FROM THE BUDGET HEARING, THE COMMISSIONER HAD PROMISED

SOME UPDATED GUIDANCE. WE ARE NOW MULTIPLE WEEKS PAST WHEN HE

SAID IT WAS LIKELY TO COME OUT. HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATION DURING

THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS THUS FAR REGARDING AN UPDATED TIMELINE FOR

SOME OF THAT GUIDANCE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE'RE NOT -- WE'VE NOT HAD

DISCUSSIONS, BUT I RECALL WE HAD A CONVERSATION THE COMMISSIONER

(INAUDIBLE) DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD AT OUR HEARING THAT THEY ARE -- WE

HAVEN'T HAD DISCUSSIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO FEEL BETWEEN THE

FEDERAL FUNDING AND THEN OUR FUNDING THAT WE ARE ADDING TO

FOUNDATION AID AND THE PLAN THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS

RECEIVE AT LEAST 60 PERCENT OF THEIR FOUNDATION AID FUNDING FOR '21-'22

THAT THAT COMBINED WILL HELP MOVE THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THOSE

SCHOOLS TO REOPENING MUCH QUICKER THAN -- MAYBE NOT AS QUICKLY AS WE

ALL WOULD LIKE, BUT IN A MUCH QUICKER PROCESS.

MR. SCHMITT: THANK YOU.

I NOTICED THE SMALL BUSINESS REOPENING AND RELIEF

GRANT PROGRAM. I THINK THAT HELPING OUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IS

CERTAINLY A BIPARTISAN EFFORT. ONE BILLION DOLLARS IS A GREAT NUMBER. I

HAD THROWN OUT A -- A $1.5 BILLION NUMBER. I THINK THIS IS, AGAIN,

SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND. WOULD YOU JUST BE ABLE TO

EXPLAIN, IS THIS -- IS IT PURELY GRANTS, GRANTS AND LOANS? MAYBE JUST A

QUICK 15, 20 SECONDS OF WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD EXPECT.

MS. WEINSTEIN: LET ME UNMUTE MYSELF. SO, THE --

THE $1 BILLION IS FOR, AS YOU STATED, FOR A NEW SMALL BUSINESS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

REOPENING AND RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM AND WOULD HELP SMALL BUSINESSES

IMPACTED BY COVID-19 GET BACK TO BUSINESS. SO IT PROVIDES FUNDING

FOR ESSENTIAL BUSINESS COSTS SUCH AS PAYROLL, RENT, INSURANCE, PPE,

LICENSE FEES. BUSINESSES LIKE MINORITY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS,

MICRO-BUSINESS, VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS AND BUSINESSES IN

SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED INDUSTRIES WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY ACCESS TO THIS --

TO THIS FUND. WE DO ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS TO HELP SMALL

BUSINESSES IN THE BUDGET BUT THAT'S -- THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SMALL

BUSINESS REOPENING.

MR. SCHMITT: NOW FOR THAT RELIEF PROGRAM, IS

THERE ANY -- IF THEY RECEIVED ANY FEDERAL ASSISTANCE WOULD THEY BE

BARRED FROM APPLYING OR WOULD THAT NOT APPLY?

MS. WEINSTEIN: NO, THEY -- IT DOES NOT -- IT -- IT

DOES NOT DEDUCT THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THEY MAY HAVE RECEIVED.

MR. SCHMITT: ALSO, I -- I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, AND

I KNOW I'VE HEARD SOME CONCERNS WITH BUSINESSES THAT HAD OPENED UP

RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC OR DURING THE PANDEMIC, I HAD A LOCAL

RESTAURANT THAT OPENED UP BASICALLY AROUND THE SAME TIME AND THEN THEY

HAD TO CLOSE AND THEY DON'T HAVE HISTORICAL SALES, REALLY, TO BENEFIT FROM

SOME OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS. SO WOULD THESE NEW, PARTICULARLY

RESTAURANTS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE HISTORICAL OPERATION HISTORY, BE

EXCLUDED OR DO THEY STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS

PROPOSAL?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE DON'T -- WE DON'T EXCLUSIVELY

PROHIBIT THOSE BUSINESSES. WE DO WANT THE EDC TO DEVELOP RULES AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

REGULATIONS REGARDING THIS FUNDING, SO THEY COULD ADDRESS IT BUT IT'S NOT

OUR INTENTION TO PENALIZE SOMEONE FOR OPENING A BUSINESS RIGHT BEFORE

THE PANDEMIC. WE ALSO PROVIDE OTHER AID, PARTICULARLY TO RESTAURANTS,

HERE IN OUR PROPOSAL AS WELL AS A PROGRAM, THE CREDIT PROGRAM AS WELL

AS -- I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR AREA, BUT AS WELL AS NEW YORK CITY, A GRANT

PROGRAM FOR -- A CREDIT FOR RESTAURANTS, A $50 MILLION PROGRAM TO HELP

RESTAURANTS.

MR. SCHMITT: ALL RIGHT. SWITCHING HERE TO

ANOTHER TOPIC, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AS RANKER OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

COMMITTEE. ONE AREA OF CONCERN I SEE IS THIS DOCUMENT REJECTS THE

EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSAL REGARDING EXTENDING FOR TWO YEARS THE ABILITY FOR

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF CONTRACTS. FEDERAL, STATE OR

OTHER LOCAL CONTRACTS FOR -- PARTICULARLY FOR PROCURING WHATEVER THEY

MAY NEED TO PROCURE FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THIS HAS BEEN A

SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO FOR THE -- FOR IT NOT TO BE

INCLUDED IS A GRAVE CONCERN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS. CAN YOU

PLEASE EXPLAIN, IS THIS POSSIBLY GOING TO BE TACKLED SOMEWHERE ELSE OR

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON WITH THIS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, I -- I BELIEVE THAT IS

SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ADDRESS OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET, SO WE -- WE --

THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT INCLUDED DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT

WE'RE GOING CONTINUE TO CONSIDER, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO DO IT

AT THIS TIME.

MR. SCHMITT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND

I JUST STRESS THAT IT IS A REAL SAVER FOR THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS. AND IT IS A

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

REAL CONCERN THAT IF THAT DOES NOT EXTEND, I KNOW MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT

ARE ONGOING THAT UTILIZE THIS AND IT -- IT SAVED US A LOT OF TAX MONEY IN

THE HUDSON VALLEY.

ALSO ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, I KNOW THERE'S A PROPOSAL

TO TWEAK THE AIM FUNDING FORMULA. THERE'S -- OBVIOUSLY, THE LAST FEW

YEARS I THINK YOU AND I HAVE PROBABLY DEBATED THIS DURING ONE-HOUSE

AND THE ACTUAL BUDGET A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THIS PROPOSAL

WOULD REVERT BACK TO 2018 FUNDING LEVELS. IS THAT --

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, CORRECT. IT REVERTS -- WE NOT

ONLY REVERT BACK TO THE '18-'19 FUNDING LEVELS, WE -- OBVIOUSLY, WE

REJECT THE TAX INTERCEPT THAT JUST CONFUSED EVERYBODY AND SEEMED TO

REDUCE -- CLEARLY REDUCED REVENUES. AND WE ALSO, ON TOP OF -- OF THAT

WE ADD AN ADDITIONAL $125 MILLION TO -- FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AIM

PAYMENTS TO THE CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES ON TOP OF THE $98 MILLION

RESTORATION THAT WE DO TO AIM.

MR. SCHMITT: SO THAT WOULD HELP SO THAT IT WOULD

MAKE THE COUNTIES WHOLE FOR THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING WITHHELD -- OR

BEING KEPT BACK FROM THE COUNTIES THAT FUNDED AIM. SO THEY WOULD BE

MADE WHOLE, AND THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WOULD STILL GET THE AMOUNT

ANTICIPATED BASED ON THE 2018 NUMBERS, BUT A SUPPLEMENT ON TOP OF

THAT AS WELL, CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, CORRECT.

MR. SCHMITT: AND WITH THAT, I NOTICED IN THE

EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSAL THERE WERE NUMEROUS TOWNS OR VILLAGES THAT MAY

NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE AIM FORMULA OR HAD SOME SUPPLEMENTAL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

LOCAL AID. DOES THAT INCLUDE FUNDING FOR -- FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES

ACROSS THE STATE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: ANYBODY WHO -- WHO DID GET IT IN

2018 WILL GET IT AGAIN. AND, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD NOTE, AS I'M SURE YOU

KNOW BUT MAYBE OUR COLLEAGUES DON'T KNOW, THAT UNDER THE AMERICAN

RECOVERY PLAN THERE ARE -- THERE IS MONEY COMING TO I BELIEVE OVER $6

MILLION -- $6 BILLION OF UNRESTRICTED AID COMING TO LOCAL -- LOCAL

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND OUR STATE.

MR. SCHMITT: YES. ALL RIGHT. SO NONE -- NONE OF

THAT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT, THEN, ON THEIR AIM IN ANY FORM OR

FASHION?

MS. WEINSTEIN: THE -- THE STATE MONEY WILL NOT

BE IMPACTED BY THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT MUNICIPALITIES, LOCALITIES

RECEIVE. EVERYBODY WILL BE GETTING A LOT MORE.

MR. SCHMITT: AND JUST TO -- I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE

BEEN ASKED BEFORE, BUT A BIG COMPLAINT THAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY LOCAL

LEADERS IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT

GIVES THE GOVERNOR OR THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET THE ABILITY TO

WITHHOLD SOME OR ALL OF THEIR AIM PAYMENTS, EXTREME WINTER WEATHER

RECOVERY PAYMENTS, CHIPS, ET CETERA. THAT -- I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM,

THAT IS OUT, CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: RIGHT. WE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OF

THAT LANGUAGE GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S IN THE

CURRENT -- IN THE BUDGET THAT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH THAT WE

(INAUDIBLE) DEAL WITH.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. SCHMITT: UNDERSTOOD. WELL, CHAIRWOMAN,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS. AND

I'M SURE WE'LL BE TALKING AGAIN AS WE GO FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS.

MS. WEINSTEIN: THANK YOU, MR. SCHMITT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. TAGUE.

MR. TAGUE: YES, MR. SPEAKER. WOULD THE

CHAIRWOMAN YIELD FOR A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SURELY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: SHE YIELDS.

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, MR. TAGUE.

MR. TAGUE: FIRST OF ALL, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I

WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THROUGHOUT

THE HEARINGS AND PUTTING THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET TOGETHER. ALTHOUGH WE

PROBABLY WON'T AGREE ON MUCH OF THE BUDGET, THERE ARE SOME THINGS

THAT I WILL AGREE WITH YOU ON.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ALLOCATIONS IN THE AID TO

LOCALITIES UNDER SPECIFIC FEDERAL EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS. AND THE

FIRST QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT WE

HAVE A FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM IN NEW YORK STATE AND THAT IT EXISTED

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC? THE PANDEMIC PROBABLY MADE IT MORE EVIDENT

AND EVEN WORSE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. TAGUE: OKAY. I ALSO WANT TO TOUCH ON WHAT

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TOUCHED ON. WE HAD BROUGHT UP THE $4 MILLION

IN AGRI-TOURISM BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET. I -- I -- I GUESS I WANT TO

MAKE MORE OF A STATEMENT THAN ASK A QUESTION. YOU KIND OF ANSWERED

THE QUESTION, BUT I THINK THAT EDUCATION IS PART -- PART OF AGRI-TOURISM.

AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY THAT YOUNG FOLKS UNDERSTAND

WHERE THEIR FOOD IS COMING FROM, AND I THINK THAT THAT EDUCATION AND

AGRI-TOURISM HELPS WITH THE FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM IN HELPING US DO A

BETTER JOB. SO I WOULD ASK THAT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO FIND -- TO GET THAT

MONEY PUT BACK IN THE BUDGET - AND I WOULD EVEN ADVOCATE FOR IT TO BE

INCREASED - I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THAT WITH YOU.

AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE, OR MAYBE YOU'RE NOT, I, AS

THE MINORITY AGRICULTURAL RANKER, HAVE INTRODUCED WHAT IS CALLED THE

NEW YORK FOOD INSECURITY, FARM RESILIENCY AND RURAL POVERTY ACT,

WHICH SEEKS TO INTEGRATE THE EFFORTS OF NOURISH NEW YORK INTO A

BROADER $35.7 MILLION EFFORT TO REINFORCE AND REVITALIZE NEW YORK'S

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE DELIVERING NEW YORK

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. SPECIFIC FUNDING IS

DESIGNATED IN THE PROGRAM FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT

LIMITED TO, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR FARMS AND REGIONAL FOOD

BANK FACILITIES; COLD STORAGE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES BY LOCAL FOOD

PANTRIES AND NON-PROFITS; TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING FUEL COST

REIMBURSEMENTS; PERSONAL SERVICE COST ASSISTANCE; PURCHASING

ASSISTANCE FOR REGIONAL FOOD BANKS TO PURCHASE NEW YORK AGRICULTURAL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

GOODS; AND GRANTS TO ASSIST NEW FARMERS, VETERANS FARMERS AND DISABLED

FARMERS OR FARM WORKERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ENTER OR REMAIN INVOLVED IN

NEW YORK AGRICULTURE. SO, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, CAN YOU PROVIDE ME

ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THE COLD STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION

GRANT PROGRAMS INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS NOURISH NEW YORK PROPOSAL?

ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO INCORPORATE OTHER TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL AID - FOR

EXAMPLE, FARM INFRASTRUCTURE - INTO THIS PROGRAM?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO, YOU KNOW, YOU -- YOU WENT

THROUGH A LOT. FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE DO PROVIDE $35- -- I

MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT IN THE OPENING -- $35.41 MILLION FOR LOCAL

ASSISTANCE FOR AG -- AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS, WHICH IS $8 MILLION ABOVE

THE -- THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. SO THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTS -- NOT ONLY DO

WE RESTORE THE CUTS THAT THE EXECUTIVE SENT US, BUT AN ADDITIONAL $3.64

MILLION IN FUNDING. BUT ALSO, YOU MENTIONED THE NOURISH NEW YORK.

AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $25 MILLION FOR NOURISH

NEW YORK, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO $85 MILLION, AND SOME OF WHAT YOU

SAID IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIAL TO HELP INFRASTRUCTURE, AND AG

INFRASTRUCTURE COULD BE USED -- THE NOURISH NEW YORK MONIES COULD BE

USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

MR. TAGUE: OKAY. WELL, I JUST -- I HAVE A LITTLE BIT

OF RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS PLAN BECAUSE IT'S NOT QUITE SPECIFIC ENOUGH. I

JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.

AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, MY LEGISLATION WOULD

BE A YEAR-TO-YEAR PERMANENT PROGRAM, WHICH THIS LEGISLATURE, THIS

HOUSE AND OUR FRIENDS IN THE SENATE, WOULD BE ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AMOUNT OF DOLLARS USED EACH YEAR. SO IF WE NEED MORE MONEY IT COULD

BE THROWN IN THERE. THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT'S JUST $50 MILLION COMING

FROM THE FEDS. IT'S A ONE-TIME THING AND THEN THAT'S IT. THAT'S VERY

CONCERNING. ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT BOTH YOU AND I AGREE THAT WE

HAVE A FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM IN THE STATE THAT ACTUALLY WAS THERE

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. YOU KNOW, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE LOOK FURTHER

INTO THIS. YOU KNOW, I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE FINALLY

TAKING AGRICULTURAL SERIOUSLY, BUT I STILL DON'T THINK ENOUGH IS BEING

DONE. AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED, AGAIN, WITH THE $4 MILLION IN

AGRI-TOURISM. AGAIN, I THINK THAT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER.

BUT AGAIN, CHAIRWOMAN, I -- I THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR YOUR TIME, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TO YOU -- WORKING WITH YOU AS

WE COME TO A FINAL PRODUCT AND HOPEFULLY AGRICULTURE WILL BE ON THE TOP

OF YOUR MIND. I KNOW IT IS ON THE TOP OF CHAIRWOMAN LUPARDO'S MIND.

SO, AT THIS TIME, MR. SPEAKER, ON THE RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

SIR.

MR. TAGUE: IN CLOSING, ALTHOUGH I AM VERY HAPPY

THAT WE'RE FINALLY TAKING AGRICULTURE SERIOUSLY AND INVESTING MORE THAN

WE HAVE IN THE PAST, IT'S STILL NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, NOR ARE THE ALLOCATIONS

SPECIFIC ENOUGH. WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN OUR FARMERS AND IN NEW

YORK AGRICULTURE. WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY.

WE NEED TO FIGHT MORE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IN THE YEAR 2021, NO HUMAN

BEING, NO HUMAN BEING IN NEW YORK STATE OR AMERICA FOR THAT MATTER

SHOULD BE GOING HUNGRY. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO A BETTER JOB

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WHEN IT COMES TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INSECURITY. AND ALWAYS PLEASE

REMEMBER: NO FARMS, NO FOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. KIM.

MR. KIM: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ON THE BILL, PLEASE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. KIM: THANK YOU, SIR. NEW YORK STATE HAS A

$1.7 TRILLION ECONOMY. NEW YORK STATE HAS -- IF WE WERE A COUNTRY,

WE WOULD BE THE 10TH WEALTHIEST STATE IN THE WORLD. RICHER THAN

CANADA. RICHER THAN FINLAND. RICHER THAN SOUTH KOREA. NEW YORK

HAS THE MOST CONCENTRATED WEALTH IN THE WORLD, BUT WE HAVE THE WORST

SOCIAL AND UPWARD MOBILITY. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THE

RICH ARE LITERALLY GETTING RICHER EVERY SECOND IN OUR STATE WHILE THE POOR

ARE GETTING KILLED OR PRISONED. SO I THINK MY COLLEAGUE WHO CHAIRS THE

-- THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE TOUCHED ON SOME OF THIS

EARLIER IN HIS VERY PASSIONATE AND ARTICULATE WAY, MUCH MORE ARTICULATE

THAN I COULD BE ON THIS SUBJECT. BUT HE'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. YOU

KNOW, WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE -- THE CORE SOCIAL CONDITIONS THAT -- THAT

BREW THE TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE THAT WE ARE SEEING EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE

WERE SO QUICK TO INDIVIDUALIZE ALL OF THAT, SAYING, OH, OUR PEOPLE LACK

CHARACTER. THEY LACK THE SELF DISCIPLINE. SO LET'S GO VILIFY OUR YOUNG

TEENAGERS AND -- AND THE YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS

WHO ARE CAUSING THE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S NOT ADDRESS THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

SOCIAL CONDITIONS THAT BREW THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING EVERY SINGLE

DAY. SO, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CORRECT THAT, AND THIS IS THE YEAR, I

BELIEVE, WE CAN MAKE A REAL DENT IN BRINGING THE TYPE OF -- TYPE OF

BUDGET THAT HAD BEEN LACKING IN OUR STATE FOR SO MANY YEARS. OUR ONE-

HOUSE BUDGET IS MOVING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE ARE STILL

WALKING ON EGGSHELLS AROUND THE BILLIONAIRES AND THE -- AND THE GIANT

CORPORATIONS INSTEAD OF HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE WE

HAVE A FREEDOM BUDGET THAT TACKLES THE MANMADE POVERTY IN OUR STATE.

YOU KNOW, IN FACT -- IN FACE, WE'RE SO SCARED OF THESE BIG CORPORATIONS

AND BILLIONAIRES LEAVING OUR STATE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WILLING TO DESTROY

SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKING FAMILIES, IMMIGRANTS. YOU KNOW, THE

PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY LEAVING BECAUSE OF OUR DECISIONS. YOU KNOW,

WE HAVE THIS RACE TO PROTECT CORPORATE INTERESTS AND THE WEALTHIEST IN

OUR STATE. AND WE'RE WILLING TO ALWAYS ENGAGE IN THIS -- IN THIS RACE TO

THE BOTTOM WITH OTHER STATES TO WHO'S GOING TO GIVE OUT MORE TAX BREAKS

AND MORE CORPORATE TAX CREDITS TO -- TO BRIBE THESE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE

STATE WHEN YEAR AFTER YEAR, ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING THAT'S NOT HOW OUR

ECONOMY WORKS. IT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. IT'S THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF OUR

STATE THAT PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO. INVEST IN THE PEOPLE. INVEST IN OUR

NEW YORK. THAT'S WHERE THE BUSINESSES -- THAT'S WHERE BUSINESSES AND

CORPORATIONS THRIVE, BECAUSE THEY COME TO THE STATES WITH THE TALENT.

SO I DO BELIEVE WE'VE GONE -- WE ARE TAKING A STEP IN

THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER IMPROVEMENT THAN -- THAN

WHEN WE STARTED, BUT I DO BELIEVE WE COULD DO MORE. I AM SUPPORTIVE

OF THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS WORK OUR -- OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

CHAIR AND OUR SPEAKER AND A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T

SLEPT IN DAYS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE, BUT I DO HOPE THAT THIS IS THE FLOOR.

THAT WE WILL BE -- YOU KNOW, RACE TO THE OTHER -- OTHER HOUSE TO GET TO

A BETTER BUDGET TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERY SINGLE STRUGGLING PERSON IN

OUR STATE AT A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE STEPPING UP AND NOT SCARED AND

WALKING ON EGGSHELLS THAT THE RICHEST WILL LEAVE OR THE BIGGEST

CORPORATIONS WILL LEAVE OUR STATE.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN

SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AND WE CAN GET TO A BETTER PLACE IN OUR BUDGET IN

THE COMING WEEKS.

ACTING SPEAKER BURGOS: MR. LAWLER.

MR. LAWLER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER BURGOS: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, HAPPY -- HAPPY TO YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER BURGOS: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. LAWLER: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

AND FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL YOUR

WORK DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY AND -- AND A LOT

OF WORK. AND ALSO, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU SAID YOU DON'T HAVE GREEN

HAIR, I JUST ASSUMED YOU WERE GETTING IN THE SPIRIT FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

THIS WEEK.

(LAUGHTER)

I -- IT LOOKS GOOD EITHER WAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ON THE -- ON THE ISSUE OF TAXES, HAS THE MAJORITY DONE

AN ANALYSIS OF -- OF HOW MUCH REVENUE MIGHT BE LOST IF THESE, YOU

KNOW, TAX INCREASES WENT INTO EFFECT AND BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS

DID CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE STATE? I -- I KNOW THERE'S A FEELING THAT THAT'S

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET ALL THESE -- ALL THESE

INCREASED REVENUES. BUT JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, GIVEN WHERE WE

CURRENTLY ARE, HAVE YOU DONE AN ANALYSIS OF -- OF HOW MUCH TAX

REVENUE MIGHT BE LOST BASED ON THE IMPACT OF -- OF THESE TAX HIKES?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, WE -- WE DO NOT BELIEVE

THAT REVENUES WILL BE LOST. AND, IN FACT -- I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT

THE NUMBER OF MILLIONAIRES IN NEW YORK STATE OVER THE YEARS, REALLY

GOING BACK TO THE -- THE 1990'S, AND THE NUMBER OF MILLIONAIRES

CONTINUES TO INCREASE, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER OUR -- OUR TAX RATE IS HIGH

-- HIGHER OR -- OR LOWER. IT'S A -- A CHART THAT JUST HAS MILLIONAIRES GOING

UP AND THEIR TAX LEVEL GOES BACK AND FORTH. EVEN RECENT NEWS ARTICLES

HAVE SAID THAT NEW YORKERS THAT LEFT THE STATE TO WORK REMOTELY ARE

RETURNING BACK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE BACK IN NEW YORK. SO WE --

WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ANY -- ANY INCOME FROM THIS.

AND, IN FACT, PART OF WHY WE REESTIMATED THE INCOME THAT THE REVENUES

WE HAVE AVAILABLE IS BECAUSE IT INCREASED THE PERSONAL INCOME TAXES

THAT ARE BEING -- THE RECEIPTS THAT WE'RE SEEING ALREADY THIS YEAR. SO

THAT IS MY -- OUR BEST ESTIMATE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR. THERE --

THERE WAS NO ANALYSIS DONE OF -- OF HOW THESE TAX INCREASES MIGHT

NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE STATE. IT WAS MOSTLY JUST BASED ON ASSUMING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

EVERYBODY STAYS AND NOBODY LEAVES. IF WE RAISE TAXES BY THIS MUCH,

THIS IS THE REVENUE WE'RE GOING TO GET, CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, THAT LOOKING AT PAST -- AT

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHEN WE INCREASED -- WHEN TAX RATES

VARIED -- THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX VARIED AND WE, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID,

RECEIVED THE CHART OF THE MILLIONAIRES, NUMBER OF MILLIONAIRES

INCREASING ANNUALLY.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S

EXECUTIVE BUDGET HE RELEASED SCHOOL AID RUNS. I -- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT

YOUR ONE-HOUSE RESOLUTION DID THAT, CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE -- WE DON'T DO RUNS IN THE --

IN THE ONE-HOUSE, CORRECT.

MR. LAWLER: SO, IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE

BUDGET - I LIVE IN ROCKLAND COUNTY - SEVEN OF THE EIGHT ROCKLAND

COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE SLATED TO RECEIVE A $6.7 MILLION CUT UNDER

THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET. DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR ONE-HOUSE

BUDGET WOULD IMPACT THAT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, THERE

IS SOME OF THE SUPPORT FOR THE EAST RAMAPO MONITOR, BUT, YOU KNOW,

WE HAVEN'T DONE THE MICRO -- DRILLED DOWN TO THE MICRO LEVEL OF THE

SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WE KNOW THIS IS MUCH GREATER AID THAN THE STATE

HAS PROVIDED TO SCHOOLS IN THE -- IN THE PAST -- FOR EDUCATION IN THE PAST.

SO I WOULD THINK THAT THEY SHOULD DO BETTER -- CLEARLY, THEY SHOULD DO

BETTER UNDER OUR PLAN THAN THEY WOULD UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE

PLAN FROM THE SCHOOL RUNS I'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. BUT -- BUT BASED -- BASED ON

THIS YOU CAN'T FULLY COMMIT THAT THEY WOULD BE FULLY MADE WHOLE, AS AN

ANALYSIS WAS NOT DONE, CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU -- YOU KNOW, IT'S -- I CAN'T

GIVE THAT -- THAT GUARANTEE. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COSTS

THAT WERE -- WERE INCURRED, FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSPORTATION COSTS THAT THEY

INCURRED (INAUDIBLE) NOT JUST YOUR -- YOU KNOW, YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE WE ALSO -- YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME

REIMBURSABLE AIDS THAT WOULD HAVE -- WOULD DECREASE OVER THE -- THE

YEAR, BUT OUR ACTIONS SHOULD ONLY HELP INCREASE THE AID TO DISTRICTS

AROUND THE STATE.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. AND I HEARD -- I HEARD YOU

MAKE MENTION OF FUNDING FOR THE EAST RAMAPO MONITOR. I BELIEVE IT'S A

$1 MILLION WAS -- WAS RESTORED IN YOUR ONE-HOUSE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES. THE $1 MILLION IS FOR EAST

RAMAPO. THE $250- IS FOR THE -- I THINK IT'S AROUND $250- FOR THE

MONITOR.

MR. LAWLER: FOR THE MONITOR. OKAY, THANK YOU.

CHIPS FUNDING REMAINS FLAT. WAS CHIPS FUNDING IN

LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CUT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR BEFORE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, WHILE WE DO MAINTAIN

THE CHIPS FUNDING AT THE $438.1 MILLION, WE FULLY RESTORE THE $65

MILLION IN EXTREME -- IN WINTER RECOVERY, AND THEN WE ADD FUNDING FOR

THE MARCHISELLI AID -- MARCHISELLI AID PROGRAM, AND WE ADDED $100

MILLION FOR PAVE-NY AND $100 MILLION FOR BRIDGE NY AND $100

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MILLION FOR A NEW PROGRAM, STATE ROUTE NY TO REIMBURSE CITIES, TOWNS

AND VILLAGES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS COSTS. A NEW YORK OR (INAUDIBLE)

STATE TOURING ROUTE. SO, WE -- WHILE THE CHIPS FUNDING MAY BE THAT

NUMBER YOU HAVE TO ADD IN ALL THIS OTHER ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. SO I JUST -- SINCE YOU BROUGHT

UP STATE ROUTE NEW YORK, I -- I SAW THAT AS A -- A NEW PROGRAM. SO

FOR INSTANCE, IN MY DISTRICT I HAVE STATE ROUTE 59, STATE ROUTE 9W. SO

HOW WOULD -- HOW WOULD THIS NEW PROGRAM APPLY TO THAT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, THEY'D BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR

THE -- BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT ARE WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. THE ROCKLAND CHILDREN'S

PSYCHIATRIC CENTER, I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM AND I -- AND I ALSO WANT TO

RECOGNIZE OUR CHAIRWOMAN OF THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, AILEEN

GUNTHER, WHO'S REALLY BEEN VERY STRONG ON THIS ISSUE. IN THE

GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET HE WAS PROPOSING TO SHUT DOWN AND

REPURPOSE ROCKLAND CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC CENTER. HOW DOES THE

ONE-HOUSE BUDGET DEAL WITH THAT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE -- WE REJECT THAT AND RESTORE

THE $8 MILLION.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. SO IT'S FULLY FUNDED TO REMAIN

OPERATIONAL AND NO LAYOFFS FOR ANY OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE THERE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: CORRECT. AND NOT JUST AT

ROCKLAND. THERE ARE NO LAYOFFS AT ANY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES

AROUND THE STATE.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THE EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE. I GOT A CALL TODAY

ABOUT IT FROM ONE OF OUR LOCAL CSEA REPS, SO CAN YOU JUST QUICKLY

EXPLAIN HOW THAT -- HOW THAT IS WORKING IN YOUR PROPOSAL?

MS. WEINSTEIN: IT -- IT'S BASICALLY -- IT'S A LOCAL

OPTION AND YOU GET ONE MONTH FOR EACH -- YOU GET ONE -- ONE-MONTH

SERVICE CREDIT FOR EACH YEAR OF SERVICE UP TO THREE -- UP TO THREE YEARS

WITH THE -- AND THEN THE PART B OF IT IS -- I THINK WE ACTUALLY TALKED

ABOUT IT EARLIER, BUT IT'S RETIREMENT AT AGE -- 25 YEARS OF SERVICE OR AGE

55 WITH TEN YEARS OF SERVICE FOR STATE, LOCAL AND EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYEES.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. AND IT DOESN'T -- IT DOES NOT

APPLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIREFIGHTERS, CORRECT? IT ONLY APPLIES TO

STATE EMPLOYEES OR -- OR STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES AND TEACHER'S

UNIONS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: CORRECT.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY.

HOW DOES THE ONE-HOUSE BUDGET DEAL WITH RESPECT TO

MTA -- THE MTA WEST OF HUDSON SERVICE? YOU KNOW, DURING THE

MTA'S STRUGGLE THIS PAST YEAR THERE WAS A PROPOSAL AT ONE POINT TO

ELIMINATE RAIL SERVICE TO ROCKLAND AND ORANGE COUNTIES. THEY ENDED

UP NOT DOING THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE IN A PRECARIOUS FINANCIAL

SITUATION. I JUST -- I DON'T -- I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE ONE-HOUSE DEALS

IN ANY WAY WITH RESPECT TO WEST OF HUDSON SERVICE.

MS. WEINSTEIN: NOT DIRECTLY WITH THAT. I MEAN,

WHAT WE DO IN THE ONE-HOUSE IS WE DO RESTORE SOME OF THE SWEEPS THE

GOVERNOR HAD TAKEN -- HAD PROPOSED TAKING OUT OF THE MTA FUND.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. LAWLER: OKAY.

THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM, I BELIEVE YOU'RE

ALLOCATING A LITTLE OVER $7 MILLION TO -- TO FUND, I GUESS, THE CREATION OF

IT, IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES. YES, THAT'S IT.

MR. LAWLER: AND WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S A

PRIORITY GIVEN KIND OF THE FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE DEALING

WITH?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DID ADOPT

THIS PROGRAM OF PUBLIC FINANCING. THE GOVERNOR HAD IT IN HIS BUDGET

AND WE INCLUDE IT -- WE DON'T REMOVE IT FROM -- FROM THE ONE-HOUSE,

WE ACCEPT IT AS AN INCLUSION.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY.

WITH RESPECT TO THE SALES TAX INTERCEPTS, I KNOW THE --

THE -- FOR DISTRESSED HOSPITALS, THE GOVERNOR WAS TAKING $200 MILLION

FROM THE COUNTIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND $50 MILLION FROM NEW YORK

CITY. YOU GUYS RESTORED THAT -- YOU -- YOU ELIMINATE THE USE OF THAT,

CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: CORRECT. BECAUSE THE MONEY

WASN'T GOING TO THE DISTRESSED HOSPITALS. IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE SWEPT

INTO THE GENERAL FUND, SO WE JUST -- WE RESTORE THOSE --

MR. LAWLER: SO DID --

MS. WEINSTEIN: -- WE ELIMINATE THAT -- THAT ABILITY

TO SWEEP THOSE FUNDS.

MR. LAWLER: DO THE MUNICIPALITIES GET THE FUNDS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. SO THE FUNDS THAT HAVE

ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, THEY -- THEY WILL NOT GET.

MS. WEINSTEIN: BUT, YOU -- YOU KNOW, AS I

MENTIONED EARLIER -- I'M NOT SURE, I THINK IT WAS WITH MR. SCHMITT --

THAT THE -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE -- THE $6 BILLION FOR UNRESTRICTED AID TO

THE MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCALITIES, SO HOPEFULLY THAT MONEY WILL TRICKLE

DOWN TO MANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN -- IN OUR STATE AND THAT WILL HELP

MAKE UP FOR THAT $50 MILLION SWEEP.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY.

IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET HE HAD, I BELIEVE,

EXPANDED THE -- THE USE OF VIRTUAL ARRAIGNMENTS. I BELIEVE YOUR

ONE-HOUSE ELIMINATED THAT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- YOU KNOW,

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO OFF-BUDGET. IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO DO

IT NOW.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY.

AND FINALLY, THE MEDICAID GLOBAL CAP, I BELIEVE YOUR

ONE-HOUSE BUDGET ELIMINATED THAT, IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, THAT -- THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. LAWLER: AND -- AND WHAT DID -- WHAT DID THAT

DO, THE MEDICAID GLOBAL CAP?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, WHY DID WE ELIMINATE IT OR

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF IT GOING --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. LAWLER: YEAH. WHY DID YOU -- WHY DID YOU

DECIDE TO ELIMINATE IT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, BECAUSE THE REALITY WAS IS

THAT THE CAP WASN'T KEEPING UP -- ALLOWING US TO KEEP UP WITH THE

INCREASED HEALTHCARE COSTS, AND THERE'S -- THERE'S NO NEED FOR IT TO

CONTINUE.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. AND WILL -- WILL THE

ELIMINATION OF THAT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE COUNTIES?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I DON'T -- I DON'T BELIEVE SO. IN

FACT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENED AS FAR AS THE PANDEMIC IS THAT THE

AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN -- BEEN GETTING HAS

INCREASED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC BY

ABOUT 6 -- 6 PERCENT. SO WE -- WE'VE -- AT THIS POINT ALREADY OVER $1

BILLION WE'VE GOT IN EXTRA FUNDING AND BY END OF THE YEAR IT WILL BE

CLOSER TO $2 BILLION IN INCREASED FUNDING.

MR. LAWLER: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,

MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.

ON THE RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

SIR.

MR. LAWLER: MR. SPEAKER, I THINK THERE ARE SOME

LAUDABLE THINGS WITHIN -- WITHIN THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET. AND CERTAINLY

WITHIN MY DISTRICT, OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES HAS

BEEN FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT ROCKLAND CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC CENTER

STAYS OPEN, SO I -- I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET DOES

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THAT AND I WANT TO COMMEND ASSEMBLYWOMAN GUNTHER FOR -- FOR

WORKING WITH ME AND -- AND MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THAT. BUT AT THE END

OF THE DAY, THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET IS A WISH LIST, AND IT'S A WISH LIST OF A

LOT OF THINGS THAT, FRANKLY, WE CAN'T AFFORD. AND DESPITE ALL --

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. -- MR. LAWLER,

YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THAT DAY. SO, YOU CAN --

MR. LAWLER: I APPRECIATE IT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: -- CONTINUE LATER.

MR. LAWLER: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE

RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

MA'AM.

MS. WALSH: SO I'VE BEEN LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY

TO EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD TO SAY, AND I -- I JUST -- FOR

ME IT JUST KIND OF COMES DOWN TO ONE QUESTION: YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH

IS ENOUGH? TO ME, THAT'S WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO. I MEAN, WHEN THE

GOVERNOR GAVE HIS BUDGET ADDRESS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, HE KIND OF

PRESENTED IT ON TWO TRACKS. RIGHT? ONE WAS THE TERRIBLE WORST-CASE

SCENARIO TRACK. WE'RE ALL WAITING TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT GET IN TERMS OF

THE FEDERAL AID PACKAGE, AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS EXTREMELY UNCLEAR AS

TO WHAT WE WERE GOING TO GET. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IF WE ONLY GOT

$6 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TERRIBLE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN.

JUST TERRIBLE CUTS, CURTAILING OF SERVICES. A LOT OF PAIN WOULD BE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

DISTRIBUTED IF IT WAS ONLY $6 BILLION. IF WE GOT, ON THE OTHER HAND, $15

BILLION, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE FANTASTIC. WE WERE

GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET SO MANY NEEDS, UNMET NEEDS. WE WERE GOING

TO BE ABLE TO REALLY REVERSE ALL OF THE WORST IMPACTS OF THE COVID

PANDEMIC. SO GOOD NEWS, RIGHT? WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT NEW YORK IS

GETTING A TOTAL AID PACKAGE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AMERICAN

RESCUE PACKAGE, OF $23.8 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL RELIEF WITH $12.6

BILLION GOING TO THE STATE. SO, $12.6 BILLION. AND THEN WE GOT MORE

GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE ON MARCH 1ST, EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE FOUND OUT

THAT ALL PARTIES AGREED TO AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 BILLION IN TAX RECEIPTS FOR

FISCAL YEAR '21 AND FISCAL YEAR '22, AND THAT THIS $2.5 BILLION IS IN

ADDITION TO THE $3.2 BILLION THAT THE GOVERNOR INCREASED TAX RECEIPTS

OVER THE SAME TWO-YEAR PERIOD IN HIS 30-DAY AMENDMENT TO THE

FINANCIAL PLAN. SO WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT, STATE TAX REVENUE

PROJECTIONS ARE UP ON A TWO-YEAR BASIS $5.7 BILLION FROM WHEN THE

GOVERNOR INTRODUCED HIS BUDGET IN MID-JANUARY. SO, TWO GREAT PIECES

OF NEWS. WE GOT MONEY, QUITE A BIT OF MONEY, FROM THE AMERICAN

RESCUE PACKAGE AND THEN THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE UP. BUT EVEN

WITH ALL OF THAT, THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET STILL INCREASES TAXES OR CREATES

SIX NEW TAXES. AND THE REASON THAT I'VE -- I'VE HEARD SOME OF MY

COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED THE PHRASE, I HEAR THIS A LOT, "FAIR SHARE."

YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME FOR EVERY -- PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, AND WE,

AS THE STATE, IS GOING TO TELL THEM WHAT'S FAIR. THE ONE-HOUSE EXCEEDS

-- IT ACTUALLY BLOWS APART THE 2 PERCENT SPENDING CAP THAT WE HAD BEEN

ADHERING TO IN RECENT YEARS, 10.9 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE STATE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

OPERATING FUNDS BASED ON THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET. AND I WOULD TELL

MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES HERE THAT THAT IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO. THAT

IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO HERE. AND I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT

REPETITIVE BECAUSE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO

SOME OF THESE THINGS. BUT, BUSINESS CLIMATE. LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT

BUSINESS CLIMATE FOR A MINUTE. CNBC RANKS NEW YORK 27TH IN THEIR

TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS RANKINGS. THE REASON WHY IT'S SO HIGH IS THAT THE

STATE RANKED HIGHLY IN CATEGORIES OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL, NUMBER TWO.

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION WAS RANKED FOURTH. AND EDUCATION IT WAS

RANKED SEVENTH. BUT THE OVERALL RATING WAS DRAGGED DOWN BY THE HIGH

COST OF DOING BUSINESS, 42ND, AND THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, 48TH, AND THE

LACK OF BUSINESS-FRIENDLINESS, 49TH. ANOTHER FACT IS THAT NEW YORK

RANKS 48TH ACCORDING TO THE TAX FOUNDATION'S STATE BUSINESS TAX

CLIMATE INDEX. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS RANKING INCLUDE LOW SCORES

FOR INDIVIDUAL TAXES, SALES AND EXCISE TAXES, PROPERTY AND WEALTH TAXES

AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAXES. SO WHAT DOES THIS ONE-HOUSE BILL

DO IN TERMS OF TAXES? IT CREATES A NEW MILLIONAIRE'S TAX, A CAPITAL GAINS

TAX, NEW BUSINESS TAX SURCHARGES, THE PIED-�-TERRE TAX, AND AN INCREASE

TO THE ESTATE TAX. THE CURRENT TOP -- TOP INCOME TAX RATE IN NEW YORK

IS 8.82 PERCENT. NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS ALREADY PAY ONE OF THE

HIGHEST INCOME TAXES IN THE NATION, A COMBINED RATE OF 12.7 PERCENT.

SO YOU TAKE ALL THAT GOOD NEWS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FROM

OUR OWN REVENUE PROJECTIONS, AND YOU STILL CREATE OR ADD TO SIX

DIFFERENT TAXES.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE BUT I'LL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MENTION IT AGAIN, IS POPULATION LOSS. SO THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING

DISCUSSION HERE IN THE CHAMBER ABOUT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHO'S LEAVING

AND WHO'S STAYING, AND IS IT THE PEOPLE WITH THE MONEY OR IS IT THE

PEOPLE WITH THE -- WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE LEAVING. IT'S -- IT'S ALL OF

THOSE. IT'S ALL OF THOSE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT

THEY USED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MARY BETH, I'VE GOT TEN MORE YEARS TILL I

RETIRE. NOW THEY SAY, I'VE GOT TEN MORE YEARS TILL I LEAVE NEW YORK.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY PUT IT. AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE

OUR STATE, THEY TAKE WITH THEM -- IF THEY STARTED A BUSINESS THEY MIGHT

TAKE THEIR BUSINESS WITH THEM. THEY CERTAINLY TAKE THEIR ASSETS WITH

THEM. THEY TAKE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH THEM. THEY MAY TAKE OTHER

FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEM. IT -- IT'S A LOSS. AND THE EXACT NUMBERS

HAVE ALREADY BEEN CITED, I WON'T REPEAT THEM. I THINK, TOO, WE NEED TO

CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IS NOT FREE

MONEY. IT'S NOT -- WE'RE ALL -- WE'RE ALL GOING TO PAY FOR IT. WE'RE ALL

GOING TO PAY FOR THAT FEDERAL MONEY. SO TO -- TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL

TAXES ON NEW YORK STATE RESIDENTS ON TOP OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO

EVENTUALLY PAY TO PAY OFF THIS -- THIS MONEY WE'RE GETTING FROM THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS JUST BEING -- JUST SLICED TWICE, I WOULD SAY.

WE'RE THE SECOND-MOST INDEBTED STATE BEHIND CALIFORNIA. YOU KNOW,

AND -- THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE FEARED WOULD HAPPEN, HONESTLY, IN 2018

WHEN WE WENT TO ESSENTIALLY ONE PARTY. WE WERE ALL SAYING ON MY SIDE

OF THE AISLE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLETS. YOU KNOW,

IT'S GOING TO GET BAD. AND LAST YEAR WAS A BIT OF AN ANOMALY BECAUSE OF

COVID. IT ENDED UP, AS SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, WE -- THERE WERE -- THERE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WAS QUITE A BIT OF ACTUAL FINANCIAL RESTRAINT, WHICH I WAS PROUD TO SEE.

BUT THAT'S -- THAT'S ALL GONE AWAY NOW. I THINK THAT THAT'S, IN PART, WHY

WHEN THE DEBATE WAS OCCURRING ON THE $1.9 TRILLION FEDERAL RELIEF

PACKAGE THERE WERE SO MANY STATES OUT OF THE 50 THAT DIDN'T WANT TO

GIVE NEW YORK ANYTHING. BECAUSE THEIR POINT OF VIEW WAS, WHY

SHOULD WE BE GIVING MORE MONEY TO A STATE THAT CAN'T EVEN GET ITS OWN

FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER? AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT THIS ONE-HOUSE BILL

-- AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S A ONE-HOUSE BILL, IT'S NOT THE FINAL BILL.

WE'LL GET THOSE BUDGET BILLS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THAT THIS WAS

MORE OF AN ASPIRATIONAL, MAYBE A BLUE SKY APPROACH TO WHAT OUR BUDGET

PRIORITIES OUGHT TO BE. BUT REALLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE -- THE PROPOSAL IS HERE, AN INCREASE IN STATE

OPERATING FUNDS OF 10.9 PERCENT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THOSE OTHER

STATES ARE COMING FROM. I JUST HOPE THAT UNDERSTANDING, AGAIN, THAT THE

ONE-HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS JUST A PROPOSAL, IT IS JUST A RESOLUTION AT

THIS POINT AND THAT THERE WILL BE NEGOTIATIONS NOW THAT WILL BE

OCCURRING, I HOPE THAT THE PARTIES IN THE ROOM WILL CONSIDER THAT WE

NEED TO SHOW -- WE NEED TO HELP BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE COME OUT OF

THIS COVID PANDEMIC. THERE'S NO QUESTION. AND YOU KNOW, I HEARD

MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TALKING ABOUT SPENDING FROM EVERYTHING FROM

INFRASTRUCTURE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES -- WHICH IS A -- A VERY DEAR TOPIC

FOR ME -- TO OPWDD FUNDING, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING FOR ME. I -- I

THINK THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY PLACES WHERE WE COULD INCREASE THE

GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IN SOME PLACES. BUT OVERALL, I THINK WE NEED TO

SHOW SOME RESTRAINT HERE. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. PALMESANO.

MR. PALMESANO: YES, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

WILL THE CHAIRWOMAN YIELD FOR SOME QUESTIONS, PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, I'M HAPPY -- HAPPY TO YIELD.

MR. PALMESANO: THANKS. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF

AREAS I WANTED TO GO THROUGH QUICK, IF I MAY. FIRST OF ALL, ON THE TAX

REVENUE SIDE YOU PLACED AN 18 PERCENT SURCHARGE ON UTILITIES, HEALTH,

COMMUNICATION COMPANIES, LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND OTHER

CORPORATIONS. ARE YOU -- ON THE CABLE, JUST -- JUST LET'S TALK ABOUT THE

CABLE SIDE FOR A MINUTE. AREN'T YOU CONCERNED ABOUT RAISING COSTS AND

THEREBY PRICES FOR CUSTOMERS? BECAUSE THIS IS A FEE THAT'S BEING PLACED

ON THE BUSINESS SO THEY'RE JUST GOING TO PASS IT ALONG TO THE CUSTOMER SO

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIRECT INCREASE IN THEIR CABLE RATES. AND THE

SAME THING ON UTILITIES WITH OUR ELECTRIC AND UTILITY BILLS. WE HAVE

SOME OF THE HIGHEST UTILITY RATES IN THE COUNTRY. AREN'T YOU CONCERNED

ABOUT WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO CUSTOMERS, THE RATEPAYERS AND THEIR

BILLS AND ALSO MANUFACTURERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL?

MS. WEINSTEIN: IT -- IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, I COULD

-- USE THIS UP, AND TO CLARIFY, IT'S NOT 18 PERCENT ON THEIR RECEIPTS. IT'S

18 PERCENT SURCHARGE ON THE TAXES THAT THEY'RE ALREADY FILING WHICH ARE

AT A PRETTY LOW -- LOW RATE. AND IT'S NOT JUST BASED ON THEIR REVENUE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

FROM -- FROM CUSTOMERS, IT'S OTHER -- OTHER REVENUES THAT THEY HAVE.

THE MAJORITY OF -- OF THIS MONEY WILL COME FROM THE CORPORATE -- THE

9-A CORPORATE FRANCHISES AROUND THE STATE, THE REALLY BIG CORPORATIONS

IN NEW YORK STATE. AND IT'S -- OBVIOUSLY IT'S BASED ON INCOME. IT'S

BASED ON TAXES THEY'VE -- THEY'VE PAID.

MR. PALMESANO: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE

SAYING, BUT YOU -- YOU PROJECT TO PROBABLY ESTIMATE TO COLLECT ABOUT $1

BILLION IN THIS, AND ONE AREA, ESPECIALLY ON THE CABLE SIDE, THE

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SIDE, HERE WE ARE TRYING TO PROPOSE EXPANDED

BROADBAND AND BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT WHICH WE KNOW IS A BIG

PROBLEM, WE KNOW IT'S NOT WORKING. WE CERTAINLY KNEW THIS WAS --

ACCESS TO RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY AND THAT WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE COVID.

IT BECAME CLEARLY EVIDENT AFTER IT. THIS, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A

DISINCENTIVE FOR THESE COMPANIES TO INVEST, AND THIS JUST DOUBLES DOWN

ON THE STATE RIGHT-OF-WAY DOT FEE -- TAX THAT WAS PLACED ON THE BUDGET

IN 2019 FOR FIBER INSTALLATION. SO THESE THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO HELP

PROMOTE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND. SO DOESN'T THAT CONCERN YOU AT ALL?

BECAUSE IT'S JUST -- AGAIN, IT'S -- IT'S A COST THAT'S GOING TO BE PASSED ON

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A DISINCENTIVE FOR THESE COMPANIES TO INVEST.

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE -- WE DO NOT BELIEVE SO. AND

THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS BOTH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IN OUR PROPOSAL

RELATING TO EXPANSION OF BROADBAND.

MR. PALMESANO: YOU ALSO HAVE IN YOUR BUDGET

PRESENTATION A -- A CAP AND A TAX ON -- INCREASED TAXES ON OUR

MANUFACTURERS. WHAT WAS THE -- WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR DOING THAT?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

I MEAN, OUR MANUFACTURING IS AN INDUSTRY WE WANT TO GROW HERE

BECAUSE THEY MAKE PRODUCTS HERE, THEY HAVE GOOD-PAYING JOBS SO

FAMILIES CAN LIVE HERE AND STAY HERE. WHAT'S THE RATIONALE TO INCREASE

OUR -- THE TAX ON OUR MANUFACTURERS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO, YOU KNOW, WE INTENTIONALLY

PUT A MISTAKE IN THE -- IN OUR BUDGET SO THAT SOMEONE LIKE YOU COULD

FIND IT. SO WE ACTUALLY AMENDED THE -- THE WRONG -- THE WRONG SECTION.

IT SHOULD BE NONMANUFACTURING INSTEAD OF MANUFACTURING.

MR. PALMESANO: I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION FOR A LITTLE BIT. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE BROUGHT UP THE

CHIPS PROGRAM AND LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE. AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS

SOMETHING I TALK ABOUT EVERY YEAR AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK

ABOUT. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, WITH A BUDGET

THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING WITH US HERE TODAY OF SEVEN BILL -- NEARLY $7

BILLION IN NEW TAXES, $12 BILLION IN DIRECT UNRESTRICTED AID TO THE STATE

OF NEW YORK WITH REVISED REVENUE ESTIMATES THAT THE JOINT CONFERENCE

DID -- OF $2.5 BILLION PLUS THE GOVERNOR INCREASED BY $3.2 BILLION IN HIS

30-DAY AMENDMENTS. SO $5.7 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. HOW EVEN

AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE INCREASING BY $133 MILLION -- INCREASING TO OUR

STATE MTA OPERATING ASSISTANCE, $133 MILLION INCREASE AND BRINGING IT

TO A TOTAL OF $3.1 BILLION, A $16.7 MILLION INCREASE TO NON-MTA

DOWNSTATE OPERATING AID, AND $80 MILLION IN MTA TRANSIT CAPITAL. ALL

OF THAT FUNDING INCREASES WITH ALL THOSE TAXES, WITH ALL THIS DIRECT AID

COMING IN, BUT YET YOUR BODY, FOR THE NINTH YEAR IN A ROW, CANNOT

PROVIDE AN INCREASE TO OUR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES AND CULVERTS THROUGH

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THE CHIPS PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN FLAT FOR NINE YEARS? WINTER

RECOVERY, YOU'RE RESTORING $65 MILLION. WELL, GREAT. PAT YOURSELF ON

THE BACK. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. JUST RESTORING THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.

BRIDGE NY AND PAVE-NY IS THE SAME. IT'S ALL FLAT. AND I'M REALLY

HAVING TROUBLE -- I'D LOVE FOR ONE OF MY UPSTATE COLLEAGUES FROM THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE GET UP AND SAY HOW THEY CAN SIT HERE AND SUPPORT

THIS RESOLUTION WITH ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S GOING FOR INCREASES IN AID FOR

DOWNSTATE FOR MTA NONOPERATING AND OPERATING EXPENSES AND

NON-MTA OPERATING EXPENSES, BUT YET, CHIPS, PAVE, WINTER

RECOVERY, FUNDING FOR OUR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE FLAT AGAIN. HOW

DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, I'D -- I'D RESPOND HERE THEY

-- WE DIDN'T INCLUDE A MISTAKE IN -- IN THE BILL, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE

MISREAD IT. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $504 MILLION THROUGH DOT CAPITAL.

YOU KNOW, AND WE DO RESTORE THAT $65 MILLION THAT'S MENTIONED IN THE

EXTREME WINTER RECOVERY FUND. BUT YOU'RE -- YOU'RE WRONG IN THAT THE

PAVE-NY AND BRIDGE NY, THOSE ARE AN ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION

THIS YEAR ABOVE PREVIOUS YEARS. SAME THING FOR THE BRIDGE NY, ALSO

$100 MILLION. AND WE HAVE THIS NEW PROGRAM THAT I WAS TALKING TO MR.

LAWLER ABOUT, $100 MILLION FOR STATE ROUTE NEW YORK TO REIMBURSE

CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS COSTS ON NEW YORK OR

(INAUDIBLE). SO, IN FACT, WE DO INCREASE FUNDING. WE ALSO -- IN TERMS

OF -- WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR PASSENGER FREIGHT RAIL,

WE INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MONIES ABOVE --

MR. PALMESANO: MADAM CHAIR, I --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MS. WEINSTEIN: -- THE EXECUTIVE.

MR. PALMESANO: I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT

THERE'S NO INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR LOCAL ROADS, BRIDGES AND CULVERTS

THROUGH CHIPS, PAVE OR WINTER RECOVERY. FOR THE NINTH

CONSECUTIVE YEAR IT'S BEEN FLAT WHILE THIS BUDGET HAS A SIGNIFICANT

INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE MTA. SO AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE FOR ONE OF

MY UPSTATE COLLEAGUES UP THERE TO SAY, YOU KNOW SEE HOW THEY CAN

JUSTIFY SUPPORTING THIS WHEN THERE'S NO INCREASE TO THAT FUNDING.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION, ONE OTHER QUESTION I WANT ASK

YOU, TOO. RELATIVE TO THE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM, I KNOW THERE'S $2.3 BILLION IN FEDERAL AID IN HERE. BUT I'VE

HEARD FROM SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE TENANTS AND OTHERS WHO ARE

ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS BUT AREN'T APPLYING FOR THEM. AND I KNOW

IN THIS -- IN THIS PRESENTATION, IN THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION OR YOUR

BUDGET PROPOSAL YOU SAY THAT THEY CAN APPLY -- IF THEY'VE APPLIED FOR

THESE -- THE LANDLORDS CAN APPLY FOR THEM ONLY IF THE -- THE TENANT SIGNS

OFF IT. SO, AREN'T WE WORRYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD BE USED FOR

RENT, UTILITY PAYMENTS OR INTERNET ACCESS? AREN'T WE WORRIED ABOUT IF

THEY'RE NOT APPLYING FOR THESE FUNDS, IF THEY JUST -- BECAUSE MANY

PEOPLE AREN'T -- JUST AREN'T PAYING THEIR UTILITY BILLS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T OR

THEY JUST WON'T? BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES OUT

THERE WE KNOW THAT AREN'T PAYING THEM. WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. SO

THEY JUST CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT. SHOULDN'T WE BE COMPELLING THEM AND

MAKING THEM PAY FOR THIS OR APPLY FOR THESE PROGRAMS SO THE LANDLORDS

AND OTHERS CAN GET REIMBURSED AND UTILITIES GET REIMBURSED FOR AT LEAST

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

IF THERE'S -- IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF NOT?

WOULDN'T THAT BE A GOOD THING TO DO? AND OTHERWISE IF THEY DON'T -- IF

THEY DON'T APPLY FOR IT, WE DON'T GET THE FEDERAL DOLLARS. DON'T WE

FORFEIT THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS IF THEY'RE NOT UTILIZED?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, WE DESIGNED THE -- A

PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS AND ENCOURAGES THE LANDLORD TO APPLY. THEY NEED

THE CONSENT OF THE -- THE TENANT. IT'S IN EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS TO HAVE THE

RENT PAID. IT'S IN TENANTS' INTERESTS TO APPLY, TO COOPERATE WITH -- THEY'RE

NOT LOOKING TO GET THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF, YOU KNOW, OF -- OF

JUDGMENTS AGAINST THEM, IT AFFECTS THEIR CREDIT RATING. SO, YOU KNOW,

WE THINK THAT CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU SAY THAT THERE WILL BE LARGE

TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE APPLYING. WE ALSO HAVE $100 MILLION

OUTSIDE OF THIS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR -- TO HELP LANDLORDS WHO

HAVE TENANTS THAT DON'T QUALIFY UNDER OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

UNDER THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

MR. PALMESANO: THANK YOU, MADAM

CHAIRWOMAN.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. PALMESANO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, MY

COLLEAGUES. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. COVID WAS NOT

JUST A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, IT WAS AN ECONOMIC -- IT'S AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.

IT WAS CHALLENGING BEFORE COVID CAME HERE, AND IT JUST WAS

COMPOUNDED FURTHER WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CLOSURES, LOCKDOWNS AND THE

RESTRICTIONS. THIS BUDGET BEFORE US IS A TYPICAL TAX AND SPEND BUDGET,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A FISCALLY AND DANGEROUS IMPACT ON US IN THE LONG

TERM. WITH MORE THAN $12 BILLION THAT'S COMING FROM DIRECT AID TO OUR

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THERE'S -- OR FOR OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, UNRESTRICTED

AID, $12 BILLION-PLUS, THERE'S NO NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $7 BILLION IN TAX

INCREASES. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE SPENDING -- THIS BUDGET SPENDS 10.9

PERCENT ABOVE THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THIS OUTLINE IS A

PROBLEM AND WILL CAUSE BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE FOR OUR FAMILIES,

OUR JOB CREATORS, OUR MANUFACTURERS AND OUR OVERALL ECONOMY AS

BUSINESSES AND TAXPAYERS CONTINUE TO LEAVE OUR STATE, TAKING JOBS AND

THEIR TAX REVENUE WITH THEM. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE ALL KNOW

WALL STREET AND THE FINANCIAL SECTOR CONTRIBUTES 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF OUR

STATE REVENUES. WITHOUT IT, WE'D HAVE A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM. ARE YOU

GUYS OKAY WITH RISKING THAT REVENUE WITH HIGHER INCOME TAXES, HIGHER

CAPITAL GAINS TAXES? AND WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHOSE -- WHAT THE

FAIR SHARE IS. MY COLLEAGUE TALKED ABOUT THAT. THE TOP 1 PERCENT

ALREADY PAY MORE THAN 40 -- 40 PERCENT OF OUR STATE TAXES. THE TOP 10

PERCENT PAY OVER 7 PERCENT OF OUR STATE TAXES. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

WHAT'S FAIR? ONE THING COVID CERTAINLY SHOWED US, YOU DO NOT HAVE

TO BE IN NEW YORK CITY OR MANHATTAN TO -- TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. IN

FACT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN NEW YORK STATE, EITHER. AND I KNOW A LOT

OF YOU BELIEVE, YOU SAID BEFORE, I'VE BEEN SAYING IT, THE WEALTHY -- THE

WEALTHY ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE, THE BILLIONAIRES ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE.

WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEY'RE ALREADY LEAVING AND THEY'RE TAKING

THEIR REVENUE WITH THEM. IN FACT, THERE'S A COUPLE OF STUDIES OUT THERE

THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF. IN 2016, NEW YORK STATE HAD A -- A

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

DECREASE IN THEIR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME BY $8.8 BILLION IN 2016.

FLORIDA HAD AN INCREASE OF $17.7 BILLION. BUT THEN IN 2018 ANOTHER

STUDY SHOWED THAT NEW YORK'S ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME DECREASED BY

$9.6 BILLION WHILE FLORIDA'S INCREASED BY $16 BILLION. THAT WAS THE

LARGEST, BIGGEST NET LOSER. WE -- WE LOST MORE THAN THE STATE OF

CALIFORNIA. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEAVING, AND THIS WILL JUST FURTHER THE

EXODUS. THESE TYPES OF POLICIES -- IF WE PUSH THIS FORWARD IN THE

REGULAR BUDGET, THIS WILL JUST FURTHER THAT EXODUS. WE'VE -- WE ALREADY

KNOW WE'VE LOST MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION NEW YORKERS SINCE 2010, AND

WE'RE LOSING THE REVENUE AND THEY'RE TAKING THAT WITH THEM. WE'VE SEEN

THE PICTURES THIS SUMMER OF MOVING TRUCKS LINED UP, LOADING PEOPLE UP

AND LEAVING THE STATE. I SAW -- WE ALL SAW THE -- THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS

CONFERENCES HE HAD ON TV, BEGGING PEOPLE, COME BACK TO NEW YORK,

I'LL TAKE YOU TO DINNER. YEAH, THAT'S GONNA WORK. THE FACT OF THE

MATTER IS, THE MOST MOBILE ARE -- THE WEALTHIER AND HIGH-INCOME EARNERS

ARE THE MOST MOBILE AND ABLE TO MOVE AT ANY POINT IN TIME. THEY'LL DO

IT, THEY'RE DOING IT NOW. ISN'T IT BETTER TO HAVE 8.82 PERCENT OF $10-, $20

MILLION THAN 11.8 PERCENT OF ZERO? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT HERE, THEY'RE

NOT PAYING THE TAXES. AND WE WILL JUST CREATE A BIGGER HOLE THAT THIS

BODY HAS CERTAINLY HAS NOT SHOWN A -- A -- ANY DEFINITIVENESS THAT THEY

WOULD BE WILLING TO CUT SPENDING OR -- AND MAKE BUDGET PRIORITIES.

THEY JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO SPEND MORE, SPEND MORE AND TAX MORE

AND TAX MORE. AND ALL THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN -- WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

WITH THAT IS WHEN ALL THE INDIVIDUALS LEAVE, WHICH THEY ARE NOW, TAKING

THEIR TAX REVENUE WITH THEM, TAKING THEIR JOBS WITH THEM, IT'S GOING TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BE MORE TAXES FOR EVERYONE ELSE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO

SUSTAIN THIS TYPE OF SPENDING, THESE TYPES OF BUDGETS IF YOU'RE DRIVING

THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS OUT OF OUR STATE. AS

WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE TAXES, IT'S GOING TO

INCREASE UTILITY RATES, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE TELECOMMUNICATION, OUR

CABLE RATES. AT THE SAME TIME DISCOURAGING BROADBAND INVESTMENT

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A -- A SURCHARGE ON OUR -- OUR CABLE COMPANIES AND

BROADBAND. DOUBLING DOWN, AGAIN, ON THIS DISASTROUS RIGHT-OF-WAY TAX

FEES ON FIBER INSTALLATION THAT THIS BODY WENT ALONG WITH THAT'S COSTING

$200 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THAT'S A DISINCENTIVE FOR BROADBAND

DEVELOPMENT EVEN THOUGH THIS GOVERNOR AND THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT

WE'RE 98 PERCENT. THAT'S NONSENSE. WE KNOW WE'RE NOT 98 PERCENT.

AND I KNOW THERE'S A STUDY IN THIS BUDGET. THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT

THAT -- WE DON'T NEED A STUDY TO TELL US WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO

BROADBAND. IT'S NOT.

AND I GUESS THE OTHER THING I JUST HAVE TO GO BACK TO IS

HOW MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE CAN SIT HERE AND

SUPPORT NO FUNDING INCREASES FOR OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS LIKE

CHIPS WHILE YOU'RE SUPPORTING INCREASES TO THE MTA. AGAIN, I CAN'T

WAIT FOR ONE OF MY UPSTATE COLLEAGUES TO GET UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

AISLE TO GET UP TO SEE HOW THEY JUSTIFY THAT. IT'S NOT JUSTIFIABLE. I KNOW

MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, AND WHAT IT DOES SHOW IS THAT

DOWNSTATE TRANSPORTATION NOW WE'RE -- FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS MORE

IMPORTANT THAN THE UPSTATE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR LOCAL ROADS, BRIDGES

AND CULVERTS. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

SIT HERE AND SAY, THIS IS ALL FOR THE WEALTHY, THEY'RE GOING TO PAY MORE

THROUGH TAXES. THEY WON'T LEAVE. WELL, THEY'RE LEAVING NOW. THEY'RE

GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR INCOME TAXES

THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR THESE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS, AND JOBS WITH THEM.

AND FOR THAT REASON I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO AND I WISH ALL OF YOU

WOULD AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A QUICK QUESTION?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN, WILL

YOU YIELD?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, HAPPY TO.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: THANK YOU, CHAIR WEINSTEIN. I

JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT

PROGRAM. WHAT STATE AGENCY ARE WE PLANNING TO HAVE ADMINISTER THAT

PROGRAM?

MS. WEINSTEIN: ESDC - I THINK I MENTIONED THAT

EARLIER - WOULD BE ADMINISTERING THAT PROGRAM.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: AND IT'S $1 BILLION WITH $500

MILLION SET ASIDE FOR PRIORITY CATEGORIES. CAN YOU JUST EXPAND ON THAT A

LITTLE BIT? LIKE, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE, WHAT CATEGORIES ARE WE TALKING

ABOUT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS IS REALLY OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

RESPONSE TO THE COUNTER -- WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE FEDERAL PPP

PROGRAM WHERE FOR THE -- THE LARGE BUSINESSES WERE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN

THAT MONEY AND OUR SMALLER LOCAL BUSINESSES WEREN'T ABLE -- WEREN'T

ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. SO THIS REALLY PRIORITIZES -- AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,

PRIORITIZES SOME OF THE SMALLER -- SMALLER BUSINESSES, MINORITY-OWNED

BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES IN IMPACTED AREAS. THOSE KIND.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR

WEINSTEIN.

ON THE RESOLUTION, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

SIR.

MR. BRAUNSTEIN: I AM SUPPORTING THIS

RESOLUTION, AND IN PARTICULAR I'M HAPPY THAT WE ARE INCLUDING $1 BILLION

IN THIS SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM. I WANT TO THANK THE

CHAIR OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR OF OUR ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, THEIR STAFF AND -- AND ALSO OUR FEDERAL

PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED SOME OF THE FUNDING WHERE WE'D BE ABLE TO

INVEST IN THIS KIND OF ONE-SHOT PROGRAM. ONE OF THE CONCERNS I'M

HEARING FROM THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT I REPRESENT HERE IN QUEENS IS

THAT A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES STRUGGLED IN PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AT THE

FEDERAL LEVEL FROM OBTAINING FUNDING, WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE THEY

COULDN'T OVERCOME BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES OR THEY HAD LANGUAGE ACCESS

ISSUES. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT AS -- AND I KNOW THE SENATE

IS -- IS -- ALSO IN THEIR ONE-HOUSE THEY'RE PUTTING FORTH A SIMILAR

PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT AS WE START TO MOVE TOWARDS A

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

FINAL BUDGET THAT WE ARE -- WE EMPHASIZE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE

THAT THIS FUNDING GETS TO THE BUSINESSES THAT NEED IT MOST. AND I HAVE

CONCERNS THAT IF WE LEAVE IT TOO OPEN-ENDED FOR EMPIRE STATE

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, POLITICALLY-CONNECTED BUSINESSES OR

BUSINESSES THAT ARE MORE SAVVY IN NAVIGATING SOME OF THE BUREAUCRATIC

HURDLES, WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO OBTAIN SOME OF THE FUNDING AND SOME OF

THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAD TROUBLE GETTING PPP WOULD ALSO

STRUGGLE GETTING FUNDING UNDER THIS STATE PROGRAM. SO I JUST WANTED TO

BRING THAT TO, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD

TO A FINAL BUDGET, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT IN THE PROPER SAFEGUARDS IN

THIS PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING GETS TO THOSE BUSINESSES

THAT WE INTENDED TO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. EPSTEIN.

MR. EPSTEIN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE

RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

SIR.

MR. EPSTEIN: I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE ASSEMBLY

AND OUR LEADERSHIP. WE ARE LIVING IN UNUSUAL TIMES AND WE NEED

UNUSUAL SOLUTIONS. WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE. WE NEED TO INVEST

IN OUR PEOPLE. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE NEED TO INVEST IN HIGHER

ED, ENDING THE TAP GAP AND RAISING TUITION. WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR

EDUCATION. WE SEE STUDENTS STRUGGLING ALL OVER THE PLACE, REMOTE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

LEARNING. KIDS ARE BEHIND. WE NEED REAL INVESTMENT. WE JUST HEARD

ABOUT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. ONE BILLION DOLLARS TO INVEST IN OUR SMALL

BUSINESSES. AN ECONOMIC ENGINE TO BRING NEW YORK BACK. WE NEED

TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE WITH THE NEED. NOT THE PRETEND 1 OR 2 PERCENT OF

ALLEGED TENANTS WHO MIGHT COMMIT FRAUD, BUT THE 98 PERCENT WHO ARE

DOING THE RIGHT THING. THE 1.3 MILLION TENANTS WHO ARE BEHIND IN THEIR

RENT THAT NEED RENT RELIEF. FACTS REALLY MATTER HERE. DON'T FORGET, IN

2017 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUT CORPORATIONS TAXES. BILLIONS OF

DOLLARS FLOWED BACK TO CORPORATIONS. WE NEED THIS REVENUE BACK IN

NEW YORK STATE FOR OUR SOCIAL SERVICES. WE NEED REVENUE BACK FOR THE

PEOPLE WHO I REPRESENT IN THE LOWER PART OF MANHATTAN. WE NEED

PEOPLE BACK TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO PEOPLE SAY WELL PEOPLE

MIGHT MOVE. WE DO HAVE CONVENIENCE TAX RULES. WE DO PLAN OF SALES

TAX RULES. THOSE PROVISIONS AND IN NEW YORK WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE

FORWARD WITH THE REVENUE WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD IS LEFT

BEHIND. THAT CHILDREN AREN'T THE SUBJECT OF FUTURE HARMS AND FUTURE

TRAUMA. AND WE STAND HERE SAYING INVESTING IN OUR NEW YORK,

MEANING RAISING THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS NECESSARY.

I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS

RESOLUTION. I'LL BE DOING THE SAME. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MS. NIOU.

MS. NIOU: ON THE BILL, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, MS.

NIOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MS. NIOU: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON OUR ONE-HOUSE RESOLUTION. WHEN I SPOKE LAST

YEAR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED EXECUTIVE BUDGET, WE WERE ONLY

JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIRE NEW WORLD THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY

ENTERED. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE'VE ALL BEEN FORCED TO LEARN A PAINFUL

NEW VOCABULARY. PHRASES LIKE "CONTACT TRACING" AND "SOCIAL DISTANCING"

AND "LONG COVID" MEANT LITTLE TO MOST OF US AT THIS TIME OF YEAR LAST

YEAR. AND NOW THOSE WORDS HAVE BECOME REGULAR PARTS OF OUR LIVES.

THOSE PHRASES ARE A REMINDER THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK ARE STILL

FIGHTING THEIR WAY THROUGH A REALLY GREAT TRAUMA. AND EVEN AS WE

REPLACE WORDS LIKE "MOBILE MORGUE" WITH "APPROVED VACCINE," WE

MUST REMEMBER THAT JUST AS MARGINALIZED AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES

BORE THE BRUNT OF COVID'S LETHALITY AND DESTRUCTION, SO DO WE LAG

BEHIND OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS IN SECURING EQUAL ACCESS TO THE COVID

VACCINE. THAT ISN'T SOME ANECDOTAL CLAIM. IT'S GROUNDED IN POVERTY AND

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS THAT REPRESENT REAL LIVES DERAILED AND

DEVASTATED, FIRST BY A YEAR OF FAILED LEADERSHIP FROM REPUBLICANS IN

WASHINGTON, AUSTERITY BUDGET AFTER AUSTERITY BUDGET IN NEW YORK, AND

NOW BY PERSISTENT INEQUITIES IN VACCINE ACCESS LOCALLY. AS A RESULT,

ONLY 8.1 PERCENT OF BLACK NEW YORKERS AND 7.7 PERCENT OF LATINX NEW

YORKERS HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE COMPARED TO OVER 17.3 PERCENT OF

WHITE NEW YORKERS. MINORITY AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS

OUR STATE HAVE LIVED A MORE DEADLY REALITY THAN THOSE WITH THE

RESOURCES TO LEAVE THE STATE FOR OTHER VACATION PROPERTIES. MY

CONSTITUENTS IN CHINATOWN FACED A BRUTAL 80 PERCENT DECREASE IN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BUSINESSES AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE OPEN

ANTI-ASIAN BIGOTRY AND RACIAL HATRED CHEERED ON BY OUR FORMER

PRESIDENT EVEN BEFORE THERE WAS A SINGLE AMERICAN COVID-19 CASE.

THE PROUD NEW YORKERS WHO ONCE MADE CHINATOWN A VIBRANT CULTURAL

AND ECONOMIC HUB NOW FACE CRIPPLING FOOD INSECURITY AND DEPEND ON

LOCAL UNDERFUNDED FOOD BANKS AND OUR FINANCIALLY-STRIPPED NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY MEALS.

AND YET, NOT A SINGLE NEW DOLLAR OF FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR OUR

AAPI COMMUNITIES AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS WHEN OTHER STATES HAVE

ALREADY FUNDED MILLIONS TO STOP AAPI HATE AND TO PROVIDE OUR

COMMUNITY RESOURCES. I DID HEAR THAT THERE IS ANOTHER $10 MILLION

ALLOCATED TO THE LIBERTY DEFENSE FUND, BUT CRUEL REMINDER,

ASIAN-AMERICANS, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE THE LARGEST-GROWING

UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY, HAD ALMOST GOTTEN ZERO DOLLARS OF THAT

FUND, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO FIGHT OVER THE SAME PIECE OF PIE.

ONE IN FOUR ASIAN-AMERICANS LIVES IN POVERTY IN NEW YORK, AND WE

ARE THE MOST IMPOVERISHED ETHNIC GROUP IN THE STATE, YET WE GET NO

RESOURCES FROM OUR STATE. WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE IMPORTANT RESOURCES

FROM ANY OTHER GROUPS. WE NEED OUR OWN PIE. MY COMMUNITY

MEMBERS, LIKE SO MANY NEW YORKERS, BEAR THAT STRUGGLE WITH DIGNITY

AND THE HOPE THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT WILL HELP THEM. NOW THEIR

SACRIFICES ARE AT RISK OF BEING ERASED BY A BUDGET THAT DOES TOO LITTLE TO

GENERATE THE REVENUE NECESSARY TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND BEGIN

A BROAD-BASED POST-COVID ECONOMIC RECOVERY. WE ARE FACING THE

LONG TAIL OF A TWIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISIS UNLIKE ANY THAT

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

NEW YORK HAS SEEN IN MODERN MEMORY. THE ONE-HOUSE BUDGET

RESOLUTION ADDRESSES SOME OF THOSE SWEEPING CHALLENGES BY FUNDING

THE EXCLUDED WORKERS FUND WITH $2.1 BILLION TO HELP THOSE

UNEMPLOYED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. BUT I HOPE YOU WOULD ALL AGREE THAT

THE LESSONS OF OUR FIGHT WITH COVID OVER THE PAST YEAR SHOW THAT THIS

IS NOT A TIME FOR HALF MEASURES AND WE'LL GET BACK TO IT THINKING. WE

MUST FULLY FUND THE EXCLUDED WORKERS FUND WITH THE FULL $3.5 BILLION

IT NEEDS TO DELIVER SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO KEPT US SAFE DURING THE

PANDEMIC. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROPOSED EXECUTIVE BUDGET IGNORES THE

TRUE DEPTH OF THAT CRISIS AMONG COMMUNITIES WHO WERE UNDERSERVED

EVEN BEFORE THE VIRUS DRAINED OUR LOCAL TREASURIES AND SHUTTERED SO

MANY OF OUR NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. THESE PROVIDERS WERE

AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET. THEY FILLED IN WHERE OUR

GOVERNMENT SERVICES TURNED A BLIND EYE. AND IN THE PANDEMIC, THESE

PROVIDERS STEPPED UP AND PIVOTED RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO PROVIDE

DIRECT SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE OUR GOVERNMENT WITHHELD OR

CUT THEIR BUDGETS. THESE ARE THE VERY SAME SERVICES LIKE FOOD BANKS,

SETTLEMENT HOUSE PROGRAMS, LOW-COST HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OR

NATURALLY-OCCURRING RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES THAT SAVED THE LIVES OF OUR

ISOLATED SENIORS, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES OF

COLOR THAT WERE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THIS IS A CRISIS

THAT IS THREATENING THE VERY LIVES OF NEW YORKERS STATEWIDE. AND I

KNOW YOU SEE IT BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY OF YOU ABOUT THE

CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING IN YOUR OWN DISTRICTS. I KNOW YOU SEE IT

BECAUSE I HEAR YOUR WORDS OF SOLIDARITY AND COMFORT FOR THOSE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT BY THE PANDEMIC. ONE OF THE CLEAREST LESSONS

THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS IS THAT LOWER INCOME AND

MINORITY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AS

BUSINESSES SHUTTER AND TRADITIONAL BIG BANK FINANCING DRIES UP. THAT'S

WHY IT'S SO SHOCKING TO SEE NOT A SINGLE DOLLAR INCLUDED IN THE

EXECUTIVE BUDGET TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL

INSTITUTIONS, OR CDFIS, AS WE CALL THEM. THE NON-PROFIT-OPERATED

LENDING INSTITUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDE LOANS AND SUPPORT TO OUR

SMALL AND -- SMALL AND MINORITY-OWNED COMMUNITY BUSINESSES THAT BIG

BANKS HAVE OVERLOOKED. CDFIS ARE EXTREMELY EFFICIENT VEHICLES FOR

INVESTMENT. FOR EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR INVESTED, CDFIS CAN LEVERAGE

BETWEEN $12 TO $20 TOWARDS CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, DIRECT

LENDING PROGRAMS AND CRITICAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR UNDERSERVED

COMMUNITIES. WITHIN A TWO-MONTH PERIOD, 302 CDFI PPP PROVIDERS

MADE 106,113 PPP LOANS TOTALING $7.4 BILLION IN LOANS. IN COMPARISON,

J.P. MORGAN CHASE, THE LARGEST PPP LENDER WITH OVER $2 TRILLION IN

ASSETS AND NINE TIMES THE SIZE OF AN -- OF THE ENTIRE CDFI INDUSTRY, ONLY

MADE FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT OF PPP LOANS AS CDFIS DID. THAT'S WHY

WE NEEDED TO EXPAND PROGRAMS LIKE THE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER

PROGRAM. WE DID NOT FUND HAVP IN OUR ONE-HOUSE. INSTEAD, WE

ADDED $200 MILLION TO A PROGRAM THAT LEAVES MANY PEOPLE OUT,

INCLUDING UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE 20,000

SINGLE ADULT HOMELESS NEW YORKERS WHO NEEDED THE MOST HELP. THIS IS

REPEATED FROM PROGRAM TO PROGRAM IN OUR ONE-HOUSE. BAND AID

ONE-SHOT AID WITH BARRIERS TO ACCESS INSTEAD OF CONSISTENT FUNDING TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

HELP INVEST IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. COVID-19 HAS RAVAGED OUR

PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES. NYCHA, THE LAST BASTION OF PUBLIC

HOUSING IN OUR CITY, HAS RAPIDLY DETERIORATED. WHAT ONCE WAS THE

BEAUTIFUL MODEL OF WHAT LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING COULD BE IS

NOW OLD, NEGLECTED, DETERIORATING AND FAR FROM WHAT WE STAND FOR AS

NEW YORKERS. OUR NYCHA RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE BRUNT OF

THIS PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE IN INTOLERABLE CONDITIONS.

ALMOST EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC MY OFFICE RECEIVED REPORTS

OF HORRENDOUS LIVING CONDITIONS; LACK OF HOT WATER AND GAS,

MAINTENANCE ISSUES, MOLD AND CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE

11 PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEXES IN MY DISTRICT. OUR PUBLIC HOUSING

AUTHORITIES NEED IMMEDIATE DIRECT FUNDING NOW. THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET

INCLUDES NO FUNDING FOR NYCHA AND OUR ONE-HOUSE STOPS FAR FROM

WHAT IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. I

APPRECIATE THE ALMOST $1 BILLION OF MUCH-NEEDED PUBLIC HOUSING

DOLLARS FOR THE STATE, BUT THIS IS THE -- AND THIS IS THE MOST MONEY THAT

OUR STATE HAS EVER PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, BUT WE NEED

MUCH, MUCH MORE. MANY OF THE WORKING FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN OUR

PUBLIC HOUSING SYSTEM HAVE BEEN THE FRONT LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC AND

CREATE THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE ARE AS A CITY, AND WE ARE LETTING THE

HOMES THEY LIVE IN SLOWLY KILL THEM. THIS PANDEMIC NIGHTMARE WILL

END, BUT FOR MANY OF OUR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME NEW YORKERS,

ESPECIALLY THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTIONS, THE UNCERTAINTY BROUGHT BY

COVID-19 WILL PERSIST FOR YEARS TO COME. OUR BUDGET DOES NOT

MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS THE COMING STRUGGLES AND INSECURITY THAT MOST OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES FACE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE LACK OF AID AND

ONEROUS APPLICATION PROCESSES FOR RELIEF AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE

COVID-19 RENT RELIEF PROGRAM HAVE LEFT OUT SOME OF OUR MOST

VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS. ATTESTATION FORMS SHOULD BE THE FIRST AND

ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR TENANTS TO RECEIVE AID. HEAVY MEANS TESTING

DELAYS AID. THERE MUST BE RENT RELIEF AND FORGIVENESS, LONG-LASTING

EVICTION MORATORIUMS, FULL RELIEF FUNDS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WITH SMALL

RENTAL PORTFOLIOS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST RENT INCREASES. AS A STATE WE

HAVE ALWAYS REBUILT BIGGER AND BETTER. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO GIVE OUR

RESIDENTS THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO EMERGE FROM THIS PANDEMIC

SAFELY, READY TO REBUILD AGAIN. WE CAN'T BE ASKING PEOPLE TO STAY HOME

WHILE NOT CARING THAT PEOPLE HAVE HOMES TO STAY IN. THE PEOPLE WHO

ELECTED US NEED MORE THAN OUR WORDS. OUR BUDGET IS A VALUES

DOCUMENT. WE NEED A BUDGET WITH THE REVENUE GENERATING

MECHANISMS TO CREATE REAL GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN THE AFTERMATH OF

CORONAVIRUS SO THAT OUR STATE CAN TRULY RECOVER. WHILE OUR CONSTITUENTS

HAVE SUFFERED FOR OVER A YEAR, NEW YORK'S WEALTHIEST HAVE PROFITED

IMMENSELY FROM THE ECONOMIC INSTABILITY CREATED BY COVID-19,

GROWING RICHER AT THE COST OF OUR HARDWORKING LOW-INCOME

COMMUNITIES. WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE SACRIFICED

SO MUCH, BEEN EXPLOITED FOR SO LONG, TO BE SO EASILY CAST ASIDE IN

PURSUIT OF A SUPERFICIAL RETURN TO NORMAL THAT HELPS ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE

ALWAYS BEEN HELPED AND CAST ASIDE THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED. THIS IS

OUR CHANCE TO DO BETTER. LET'S NOT RETURN TO NORMAL, TO THE SYSTEM THAT IT

-- THIS PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN TO BE DESIGNED SO DISPROPORTIONATELY FOR SO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MANY. LET'S FIGHT FOR BETTER. THE TOP 1 PERCENT OF NEW YORKERS

CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LOWEST TAX BURDEN OF ANY INCOME BRACKET, AND IN

FACT, HAVE GROWN $77 BILLION RICHER DURING THIS PANDEMIC. GOVERNOR

CUOMO CONSISTENTLY CUT TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST NEW YORKERS,

CORPORATIONS, BANKS, MULTIMILLIONAIRES, ESTATES, YACHTS AND PRIVATE JETS

OVER THE PAST DECADE WHILE CUTTING FUNDS FOR CRITICAL HUMAN SERVICES,

HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING DURING THE PANDEMIC. I SAID THIS LAST YEAR AND I

WILL SAY IT AGAIN: WE CANNOT CUT OUR WAY OUT OF A PANDEMIC. TO

RECOVER WE NEED TO INVEST, AND TO INVEST WE NEED REVENUE. THIS

REVENUE ALSO CANNOT BE A ONE-OFF ALLOCATION. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO

INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES EACH YEAR BECAUSE THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN

DONE WILL TAKE YEARS, PERHAPS DECADES, TO RECOVER FROM. WE MUST PASS

A SLATE OF REVENUE GENERATORS ROOTED IN EQUITY AND FOCUSED ON INVESTING

IN NEW YORK'S RECOVERY. THIS INCLUDES ENDING TAX BREAKS FOR

CORPORATIONS AND THE WEALTHIEST NEW YORKERS SO THAT EVERYONE PAYS

THEIR FAIR SHARE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPLOITED OUR COMMUNITIES

FOR PROFIT. IN ADDITION, A PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX SYSTEM MUST BE

IMPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL TAXES ON CAPITAL GAINS AND REINSTATED

TAXES ON WALL STREET TRANSACTIONS LIKE STOCK BUYBACKS AND TRANSFERS.

THIS MONEY SHOULD FUEL OUR PATH TO RECOVERY WITH INVESTMENTS IN

CRITICAL HUMAN SERVICES THAT NEW YORK HAS RELIED ON TO SURVIVE LIKE

TRANSIT, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING.

IN THIS YEAR OF LOSS AND PAIN, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO

SERVE A SINGLE POSITIVE PURPOSE. LET IT BE THAT WE FINALLY SEE THAT ALL OF

OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED AND RECOGNIZE THAT ALL THE SAME

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

PRIORITIES WILL NOT SUFFICE TO HEAL OUR WOUNDS. WE ASK OUR FRIENDS AND

LOVED ONES AND NEIGHBORS TO SACRIFICE AND PERSEVERE THROUGH THIS

IMPOSSIBLE DIFFICULT TIME. AND LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, NEW YORKERS JOINED

TOGETHER TO OVERCOME A SHARED CHALLENGE. BUT IT'S TIME, MY COLLEAGUES,

THAT WE ASK LESS AND GIVE MORE. THAT WE EXERCISE THE SAME BRAVERY

WE'VE APPLAUDED IN THE SURVIVORS AND THE HEROES OF THIS PANDEMIC AND

PASS A TRUE PROGRESSIVE BUDGET THAT WORKS FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. THIS

ONE-HOUSE BUDGET IS A STARTING POINT, NOT THE FINISH LINE. IT MUST BE THE

FLOOR, NOT THE CEILING.

I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION WITH THE PROMISE THAT WE ARE

GOING TO KEEP NEGOTIATING AND KEEP FIGHTING FOR MORE AND FOR BETTER FOR

OUR STRUGGLING NEIGHBORS. I HOPE ALL OF MY FRIENDS IN THIS CHAMBER

WILL MAKE THIS SAME CLEAR COMMITMENT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MRS. GUNTHER.

MRS. GUNTHER: I'LL BE QUICK -- QUICK BECAUSE IT'S

A LONG DAY. I WANTED TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF REGARDING THE CROSSBOWS AND

HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ALL OF US UPSTATE MEMBERS THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT

OWN HUNTING CAMPS AND IT'S JUST A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THING. THE

OTHER THING IS I WOULD RATHER -- IF YOU PUT MARIHUANA IN THE BUDGET, I

DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD DO IT SEPARATELY. AND I THINK THE CHIPS

FUNDING IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK. I THINK THAT WE

DESERVE OUR FAIR SHARE, AND THAT CHIP FUNDING -- CHIPS FUNDING

SHOULD BE IN.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MRS.

GUNTHER.

MR. MANKTELOW.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, HAPPY -- HAPPY TO YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN

YIELDS, SIR.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, MA'AM. BACK TO

THE HUNTING EXPANSION, I KNOW IN OUR AREA IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET -- GET

OUR YOUTH OUT THERE AND GET -- GET THEM INVOLVED. I'M JUST WONDERING

WHY THE MAJORITY REJECTED THIS AGAIN. COULD YOU JUST REFRESH MY

MEMORY?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, I -- I THINK I MENTIONED

EARLIER WE BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HANDLE OUTSIDE OF THE

BUDGET. IT'S NOT BUDGET RELATED, AND WE ANTICIPATE HAVING ACTIVE

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRS ON THIS.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. BECAUSE MY -- MY

CONCERN, MADAM, IS THAT IF WE -- YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF POLICIES IN

THE BUDGET, WHICH I DON'T AGREE WITH, BUT HERE IS ONE THAT'S IN THE

BUDGET AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT. I JUST DON'T REALLY WANT TO LOSE

THIS PIECE. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO -- TO UPSTATE AND PROBABLY ALL OF NEW

YORK. SO I WOULD PLEASE ASK THAT IT GO BACK IN. OKAY?

NEXT, I SEE THE MAJORITY REJECTED THE CANAL

REVITALIZATION ACT. CAN YOU -- CAN YOU TELL ME WHY?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MS. WEINSTEIN: THAT -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT,

AGAIN, WE COULD DO OUT OF THE BUDGET. IT'S POLICY WHICH REALLY HAS A LOT

OF COMMERCIAL -- IT TALKS ABOUT COMMERCIAL LEASING. I THINK IT'S

SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME MORE TIME TO REVIEW AND

(INAUDIBLE) -- IT DOESN'T IMPACT THE BUDGET AND SO WE'LL BE HAVING --

THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE WE'RE HAVING CONTINUED DISCUSSION. AND --

AND TO YOUR POINT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TAKEN OUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF

POLICY THAT WAS PUT IN THIS BUDGET, AS WE HAVE IN PRIOR YEARS, AND MUCH

OF IT WILL BE ABLE TO BE DISCUSSED OFF-BUDGET.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING,

THEN, WE'RE STARTING TO LEAN TOWARDS TAKING POLICY OUT OF THE BUDGET,

THEN? IS THAT A SAFE THING TO SAY?

MS. WEINSTEIN: THE -- BY AND LARGE, THAT'S OUR

OVERALL -- OVERALL GOAL IS TO HAVE TO POLICY TAKEN OUT OF THE -- TO REMOVE

POLICY FROM THE -- THE BUDGET.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I KNOW NOT ONLY FROM MY COMMUNITY BUT COMMUNITIES ALONG ALL

OF NEW YORK STATE WHO HAS THE CANAL THAT RUNS THROUGH THEIR -- THEIR

MUNICIPALITIES AND TOWNS AND VILLAGES. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO -- TO

STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CANAL AND MAKING SURE IT'S GOING TO WORK

BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES SPEND LOTS AND LOTS OF DOLLARS

OVER THE YEARS BUILDING UP THE CANAL. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S

NOT LOST.

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE --

MR. MANKTELOW: BACK TO --

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MS. WEINSTEIN: GO AHEAD.

MR. MANKTELOW: NO, GO AHEAD. BACK TO

AGRI-TOURISM, AS -- AS WE SEE IN OUR -- IN OUR AG COMMUNITIES, MORE AND

MORE SMALLER FARMS ARE -- ARE GROWING AND MORE AND MORE SMALLER

FARMS ARE OFFERING, YOU KNOW, SPECIALTY PRODUCTS, WHETHER IT'S SOAP,

WHETHER IT'S HONEY, WHETHER IT'S CIDER, WHETHER IT'S MAPLE SYRUP. WHY

WOULD WE WANT TO TAKE OUT THE MONEY FOR AGRI-TOURISM?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, AS I -- AS I SAID, WE -- WE

TAKE OUT THAT MONEY BUT WE INSTEAD SPENT A LOT OF DIFFERENT MONEY ON

AGRICULTURAL ISSUES IN NEW YORK STATE. I MENTIONED -- IN THE EARLIER

DISCUSSION WE MENTIONED THE NOURISH NEW YORK, WHICH WAS -- HAS

BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC THAT NOT ONLY DID WE

INCREASE FUNDING BUT WE NOW MAKE IT PERMANENT. AND THAT'S

SOMETHING THAT HELPS OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE AS

WELL AS ALL OF THE LOCAL -- LOCALITIES -- AID TO LOCALITIES FUNDING THAT

WE'VE INCLUDED FOR AGRICULTURE.

MR. MANKTELOW: AND ANOTHER BIG PART OF

AGRI-TOURISM IS OUR FARMERS MARKETS THROUGHOUT -- THROUGHOUT NEW

YORK STATE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING GOOD, THEY'RE GOING WELL

AND PEOPLE ARE TENDING TO COME TO THEM MORE AND MORE OFTEN,

ESPECIALLY FOR THE HEALTHY FOOD THAT WE GET THERE. SO I REALLY WANT TO

SEE IT PUT BACK IN. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE TO IT OUT.

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, TO GET BACK TO YOUR

POINT, FROM THE FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS WE DO INCLUDE $10 MILLION FOR

THE OPERATING COSTS OF COUNTY AND LOCAL FAIRS. I KNOW I'VE BEEN TO, OVER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THE YEARS, A NUMBER IN NEW YORK STATE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ALWAYS IS

-- THERE ALWAYS ARE LARGE PARTICIPATION BY -- BY FARMERS AND AG -- AND

SHOWCASING NEW YORK AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THERE.

MR. MANKTELOW: ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE

BUDGET. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE BUDGET PROPOSALS HERE THAT THE EDC IS

GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY A BIGGER PART IN DOING SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS

THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD. HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT INCREASING THE STAFF

FOR EDC IN THIS BUDGET?

(PAUSE)

MS. WEINSTEIN: THE GOVERNOR -- WE DON'T ADD --

WE DID ACCEPT THE GOVERNOR'S ADDING OF SEVEN STAFF PEOPLE FOR EDC.

MR. MANKTELOW: YOU DID OR YOU DID NOT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE DID. WE ACCEPT THE

GOVERNOR'S INCREASE OF STAFFING FOR EDC BUT WE DON'T GO BEYOND THAT.

MR. MANKTELOW: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY

FTES THAT WILL BE FULL-TIME?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SEVEN.

MR. MANKTELOW: SEVEN FOR THE WHOLE -- FOR ALL

OF NEW YORK STATE?

MS. WEINSTEIN: RIGHT. SEVEN ADDITIONAL.

MR. MANKTELOW: WHAT I -- YOU KNOW, ONE OF --

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS WHERE

DEC IS HAVING TO DO MORE AND MORE WITH HIGH WATER LEVEL WITH A LOT OF

THESE PROGRAMS ON THE FARMS, OUR JOBS ARE BEING SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DEC STAFF TO GO AROUND, AND SOMETIMES IT'S GOING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

OUT NOW A YEAR OR TWO. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY TAKE A

LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE SEVEN SEEMS TO BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER. AND I

KNOW TALKING TO OUR LOCAL DEC AGENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE

REQUIREMENTS AND THE PEOPLE MOVING AROUND THAT THEY'RE -- THEY'RE JUST

OVERWHELMED AND IT'S REALLY HURTING NEW YORKERS AND WHAT WE NEED TO

GET DONE. BUT I -- I THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

MY LAST QUESTION, MADAM, IS WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO

INCREASING THE BUDGET AGAIN THIS YEAR BY, WHAT IS IT, $6.8 BILLION?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YEAH. WE'RE -- WE'RE INCREASING

THE ALL-FUNDS BUDGET BY -- BECAUSE WE ARE INCLUDING FEDERAL --

FEDERAL DOLLARS, $12.3-.

MR. MANKTELOW: WELL, THROUGH TAX INCREASES,

HOW MUCH IS THAT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: HOW MUCH OF THAT IS THE TAX

INCREASES, ARE YOU ASKING?

MR. MANKTELOW: YES.

MS. WEINSTEIN: $7. -- $7.3-.

MR. MANKTELOW: $7.3-?

MS. WEINSTEIN: OR $6.7- I BELIEVE THIS YEAR.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS -- I

THOUGHT IT WAS $6.8- BUT CLOSE ENOUGH. SO WITH THE -- THE PANDEMIC

MONEY COMING IN, THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT

YEAR?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, IT -- YOU KNOW, I -- I WOULD

JUST SAY THAT THE PANDEMIC MONEY IS -- IS STRETCHED OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE AT LEAST UNTIL 2024 AT THIS POINT. SO AS THAT MONEY

STARTS TO ROLL OUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A -- A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT -- OF

ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND WE'LL ALSO -- HOPEFULLY DURING THAT TIME OUR

ECONOMY WILL BE RESTORED, WE'LL HAVE INCREASED GROWTH AND WE'LL HAVE

SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE. SO, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOT TO

KEEP AN EYE ON. BUT WE BELIEVE OUR PROPOSAL WILL ACCOUNT FOR --

ACCOUNT FOR THE STRETCH OUT AND HAVING ENOUGH RESOURCES TO CONTINUE

THESE PROGRAMS.

MR. MANKTELOW: SO IF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE

STRETCHED OUT OVER FOUR YEARS, DOES THAT MEAN EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO

CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE TAXES THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IN NEW YORK

STATE? DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER $7 BILLION NEXT YEAR?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WE WILL SEE. YOU KNOW, THAT --

THOSE TAXES, ONCE MADE PERMANENT, WILL PROVIDE REVENUE, INCREASED

REVENUE FOR THE STATE. WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE INCREASED REVENUES,

TAX RECEIPTS GOING UP FOR BUSINESSES RE-OPENING, MORE PEOPLE GOING

BACK TO WORK THAT WILL INCREASE THE REVENUE THE STATE RECEIVES. WE'LL

HAVE TO YEAR BY YEAR FIGURE OUT IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MEET

THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

MR. MANKTELOW: ONE LAST QUESTION I HAVE. ON

THE -- ON THE ROADS THERE IS A NEW PROGRAM OF MONEY THAT WAS PUT IN THE

BUDGET FOR NEW YORK STATE ROUTES. CAN YOU -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT

AGAIN TO ME ONE MORE TIME?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES. THAT'S $100 MILLION AND IT'S

FOR NEW YORK STATE ROADS THAT ARE WITHIN A LOCALITY.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. MANKTELOW: SO DOES THAT $100 MILLION --

MS. WEINSTEIN: IT WOULD BE AN APPLICATION

PROCESS THAT -- IT -- IT WOULD BE AN APPLICATION PROCESS. SO, STATEWIDE

THERE ARE 399 MILES OUT OF THE TOTAL OF OVER ALMOST 16,000 MILES OF

(INAUDIBLE) ROUTES THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE CITIES, TOWNS AND -- AND

VILLAGES, THE REST BY THE STATE. SO THIS WOULD ALLOW FUNDS TO BE

ALLOCATED BASED ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TOURING GROUP MILES FOR WHICH

THE MUNICIPALITY HAS CAPITAL MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY AS DETERMINED

BY DOT'S LOCAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY. AND THE ELIGIBLE CAPITAL COSTS

COULD INCLUDE THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR OF HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES,

BYWAY OR RELATED CROSSING, OTHER TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, PROJECTS WITH

A SERVICE LIFE OF -- OF TEN YEARS OR MORE. SO IT'S -- YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY

THIS WILL -- THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM AND IT WILL HELP LOCALITIES THAT HAVE

BEEN PAYING FOR THESE PROGRAMS.

MR. MANKTELOW: THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY WOULD

ACTUALLY PUT IN THE APPLICATION, IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: ACTUALLY, THIS WILL BE JUST THE

FORMULA. I THINK I MISSPOKE BEFORE. IT WOULD BE A STRAIGHT FORMULA

BASED ON THE -- $100 MILLION BASED ON THE ROUTES -- THE NUMBER OF

MILES WITHIN THE LOCALITY.

MR. MANKTELOW: FOR TOUR MILES YOU SAID,

CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I'M SORRY. BRIAN, COULD YOU --

MR. MANKTELOW: DID YOU SAY TOUR -- TOUR

MILES?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MS. WEINSTEIN: THAT'S HOW THE -- THE STATE MILES

ARE REFERRED TO IS TOURING MILES. TOURING ROUTE MILES. BUT IT'S STATE

MILES WITHIN THE LOCALITY. STATE ROADS WITHIN THE LOCALITY THAT THE

LOCALITY HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING.

MR. MANKTELOW: OKAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME

ON ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS. YOU DID A GOOD JOB PREPARING. THANK

YOU.

MR. SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR.

MR. MANKTELOW: THANK YOU, SIR. AS WE MOVED

ON THE BUDGET PROCESS HERE IN NEW YORK STATE, I'M JUST LOOKING AT

SOME OF THE COSTS IN THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET AND -- AND WHERE WE'RE

GOING. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS OF WHERE MY CHILDREN OR MY

GRANDCHILDREN'S CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE IN NEW YORK STATE IN THE

UPCOMING YEARS. WE ALL HAVE GREAT NEEDS. ONE OF THE EARLIER

COMMENTS WAS ABOUT THE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY, AND I'VE HAD A

CHANCE TO SEE THAT HOUSING AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, IT'S DEPLORABLE.

THERE'S NO WAY PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO

COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO MAKE THINGS MOVE FORWARD OTHER

THAN JUST TAXING PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THIS AND I -- I

KNOW WE CAN DO THIS. WE'RE SMART. WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SO ON THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME

CHANGES. I REALLY CAN'T SUPPORT IT THE WAY IT IS RIGHT HERE. THERE ARE

SOME GOOD POINTS IN IT, BUT ALSO SOME THINGS THAT -- THAT NEED TO BE

TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT. SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS, BUT THANK YOU, MR.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

SPEAKER, FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. LEMONDES.

MR. LEMONDES: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. CAN

YOU HEAR ME?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES, SIR.

MR. LEMONDES: MR. SPEAKER, JUST A STATEMENT ON

THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE BILL, SIR. ON

THE RESOLUTION.

MR. LEMONDES: ON THE RESOLUTION, EXCUSE ME.

CORRECT. I'M SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED TO GENERATE MORE

REVENUE. IN DOING SO, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT LOWERING THE HUNTING

AGE TO 12 WOULD HELP NEW YORK STATE GENERATE MORE REVENUE. IT WON'T

SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IT'LL DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS LIKE EXPOSURE OF

YOUTH AND MORE PARENTS TO CONSERVATORY PRACTICES. ENGAGEMENT IN

HEALTHY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OF MANY MORE PEOPLE AT A YOUNGER AGE, IN A

FAMILY SETTING PERHAPS. AND IT ALSO ALLOW AND/OR ENABLE, POTENTIALLY,

THE EXPANSION OF MORE MEAT GIVEN TO HUNTERS FOR THE HOMELESS [SIC].

THIS HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK EAT, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE

THAT IMPINGED UPON. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS PASSED SO THAT MORE

YOUTH CAN ENGAGE IN A VERY POSITIVE ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION, WITH RESPECT

TO CROSSBOWS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY SEVERAL COLLEAGUES, THIS IS

IMPERATIVE. AND I VIEWED IT THAT WAY THAT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF

ELDERLY PEOPLE AND OLDER PEOPLE THAT CANNOT HUNT LATER IN THE SEASON

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND/OR THEIR PERSONAL PHYSICAL RESTRICTIONS. BY

ALLOWING THE CROSS -- USE OF THE CROSSBOW IN THE ENTIRE ARCHERY SEASON,

IT WOULD KEEP A LOT MORE PEOPLE AFIELD FOR A LOT LONGER, AGAIN,

GENERATING MORE REVENUE AND MAKING A LOT MORE PEOPLE A LOT HAPPIER IN

NEW YORK. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO MORE THINGS THAT WILL GENERATE

REVENUE THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE HERE. WE ARE LAST IN SO MANY AREAS,

SECOND TO LAST AND -- AND APPROACHING LAST, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS DRIVE

OUR CITIZENS OUT OF OUR STATE. IF WE DON'T CHANGE THESE THINGS AND DON'T

ASPIRE TO BE BETTER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. I WOULD ASK

EVERYONE TO CONSIDER THAT NOTHING ESCAPES SCRUTINY IN THE BUDGET.

ADDITIONALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO CHIPS FUNDING, I -- I

WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO -- THAT -- ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE

NOT BEEN, TO TAKE A TRIP THROUGH CENTRAL NEW YORK AND LOOK AT SOME OF

THE STATE OF OUR ROADS AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH -- WITH

WATER QUALITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS FUNDING IS -- IS CRITICAL, AS IS ALL

THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDS THAT -- THAT SUPPORT THOSE WATER QUALITY

INITIATIVES.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AGRI-TOURISM $4 MILLION BEING TAKEN

OUT, I -- I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF

THAT AND TO RECOGNIZE HOW CRITICAL THAT IS TO FARMS ACROSS THE STATE FOR

MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT FARMS AND

FARM BUSINESS ENTITIES, AND THAT MONEY THAT SUPPORTS THAT ASPECT OF

AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR FARMING

COMMUNITY, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO THE -- TO THE SUCCESS OF NEW YORK

STATE. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION I LEAVE IT AT THAT.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF ALL I'VE SAID, IN THE CURRENT

FORMAT, I SIMPLY CANNOT SUPPORT THIS AND WILL BE VOTING NO. THANK YOU,

MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MS. GLICK.

MS. GLICK: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I'VE LISTENED

TO THE -- CAN I BE HEARD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES, MA'AM.

MS. GLICK: I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT -- OKAY.

I'VE LISTENED TO THE DEBATE AND APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS OF MANY OF MY

COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM UPSTATE. BUT WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT

THAT THE PART OF THE BUDGET THAT I AM MOST FAMILIAR WITH, THE HIGHER

EDUCATION BUDGET, IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STEP FORWARD IN SUPPORT FOR

HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND WHEN ONE TRAVELS ACROSS

THE STATE, ONE IS QUITE WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE INSTITUTIONS,

WHETHER THEY ARE A PRIVATE COLLEGE OR A SUNY INSTITUTION, THE VIBRANCY

OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS DECIDEDLY ATTACHED TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO

ATTEND OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OFTEN STAY IN NEW YORK

STATE. SUNY HAS A RETENTION RATE OF ABOUT 83 PERCENT OF GRADUATES

REMAIN IN NEW YORK STATE. NOT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS ARE ESOTERIC IN

NATURE. MANY OF OUR COLLEGES OFFER PROGRAMS LIKE MANAGEMENT IN

CONSTRUCTION. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES THAT HAVE A

WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO DIRECT HIRING IN AREAS OF ALLIED

HEALTH OR TECHNICAL PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO JOBS AND ARE WORKING CLOSELY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES. SOME OF OUR COLLEGES HAVE PROGRAMS THAT RELATE

TO AGRICULTURE AND SUPPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE

STATE. AND THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET PROVIDES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF

RESOURCES FOR OUR TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN

THE AFFORDABILITY OF COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO TO

COLLEGE BUT DIDN'T THINK THAT THEIR FAMILIES COULD AFFORD IT. THIS BUDGET

PROVIDES A MAJOR INCREASE IN THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM'S TOP

AWARD, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY MORE STUDENTS TO GO

TO COLLEGE ALMOST DEBT-FREE. SO I THINK THAT I'VE HEARD PEOPLE ON THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SAY THEY COULDN'T POSSIBLY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE

OF THE INSUFFICIENCY OF ATTENTION PROVIDED TO UPSTATE COMMUNITIES. I --

I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT THEIR INABILITY TO SUPPORT THIS

RESOLUTION IS A REJECTION OF THE INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE

SO DESPERATE FOR SUPPORT. NOT JUST THE FUNDS THAT COME THROUGH

STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE, BUT ALSO THE JOBS. NOT JUST FOR FACULTY, BUT

FOR GROUNDSKEEPERS, MAINTENANCE WORK. COLLEGES ARE ECONOMIC

ENGINES IN EVERY AREA OF THE STATE. THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDES THE MOST

DRAMATIC SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN YEARS. AND

I WOULD HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD FOCUS ON THE -- THE IMPORTANCE

OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE SURROUNDING REGION.

THEY DO MANY THINGS THAT PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR COMMUNITIES TO COME

TOGETHER. THEY PROVIDE AREAS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATERS TO PRESENT

PROGRAMS. THEY ARE JOBS CENTERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET WHATEVER SKILLS

THEY FEEL THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE MARKETABLE IN A

CHANGING ECONOMY. THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTS COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN A

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WAY THAT RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT ENROLLMENTS ARE DOWN. USUALLY IN A

BAD ECONOMY YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES SEE AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT.

THIS IS AN ANOMALY WHERE IN THIS CRISIS, ENROLLMENT HAS DROPPED. SO,

MAINTAINING 100 PERCENT COLLEGE-LEVEL SAVE HARMLESS FOR -- FOR THE

COMING ACADEMIC YEAR AND A 98 PERCENT FLOOR GOING FORWARD PROVIDES A

CONSISTENT BASE OF SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

UNBELIEVABLY IMPORTANT. SO I WOULD SUGGEST TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES

FROM UPSTATE, EXPLAIN TO YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHY YOU JUST

COULDN'T BE THERE FOR THEM. OR FOR YOUR INDEPENDENT COLLEGES, WHY YOU

COULDN'T BE THERE FOR THEM WHEN IT COMES TO BUNDY AID. OR WHY YOU

COULDN'T BE THERE FOR THEM WITH HECAP FUNDING. OR WHY YOU COULDN'T

BE THERE FOR THEM ON THE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR

STUDENTS THAT COMES THROUGH THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. EXPLAIN

TO THEM WHY THEY, AS ECONOMIC ENGINES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, JUST COULD

NOT POSSIBLY GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE

PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION AND OUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN ALL OF THIS VITAL

FUNDING FOR COLLEGES AND STUDENTS WHO ATTEND FOR ANY NUMBER OF

REASONS; SOME TO GET AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, SOME TO GET A BACHELOR'S

DEGREE OR A MASTER'S DEGREE. OR SOME WHO ARE SIMPLY GOING TO GET

CERTIFICATES IN CERTAIN TECHNICAL AREAS IN ORDER TO UPGRADE THEIR SKILLS

AND THEIR ABILITY TO BECOME MORE EMPLOYABLE. OR BECAUSE THEIR

EMPLOYER ASKED THEM TO TAKE CERTAIN COURSES THAT WOULD MAKE THEM

ELIGIBLE FOR A PROMOTION. THAT IS THE SUCCESS. IT'S NOT ALWAYS

GRADUATION. SOMETIMES THE SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN THE ABILITY OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

PEOPLE TO EARN MORE MONEY AND HAVE A MORE SOLID EMPLOYMENT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER, AND I URGE A

VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. ANDERSON.

MR. ANDERSON: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE

RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

SIR.

MR. ANDERSON: THANK YOU. MR. SPEAKER, I WANT

TO START BY, OF COURSE, THANKING THE HARDWORKING STAFF AND LEADERS

WITHIN THE CENTRAL STAFF OF THE ASSEMBLY WHO HELPED US GET TO THE

FLOOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND THIS IS THE ASSEMBLY ONE-HOUSE BILL.

BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO GO. I WANT TO READ A QUOTE. IF YOU STICK

A KNIFE IN MY BACK NINE INCHES AND PULLED OUT SIX INCHES, THERE'S NO

PROGRESS. IF YOU PULL IT ALL THE WAY OUT, THAT'S NOT PROGRESS. PROGRESS

IS HEALING THE WOUND THAT MADE THE BLOW. AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN

PULLED THE KNIFE OUT, MUCH AS LESS ALLOWED US TO HEAL FROM THE WOUND.

AND THEY WON'T EVEN ADMIT, MR. SPEAKER, THE KNIFE IS IN THERE ALL

TOGETHER. AND I SAY THIS -- AND I SHARE THIS QUOTE FROM MALCOLM X

BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED UNTOLD

DAMAGES, MR. SPEAKER, TO MANY LIVES. AND ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS

RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING TODAY AND HAS

BEEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. WE NEED TO HEAL FROM THAT WOUND. WE

NEED TO HEAL THAT WOUND, MR. SPEAKER, THAT THE BLOW MADE. WE NEED

100

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WOUND WAS THERE LONG BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC.

WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR MANY NEW YORKERS DURING THIS

PANDEMIC THINGS WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE. THE PROPOSED ASSEMBLY

BUDGET WOULD PROVIDE $935 MILLION IN CAPITAL NEEDS -- IN DOLLARS,

EXCUSE ME, FOR HOUSING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING $750

MILLION FOR NYCHA RIGHT HERE AT HOME. BUT THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH,

MR. SPEAKER. THE REASON BEING IS THAT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DECLINE IN

INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR YEARS, WHICH

HAS GREATLY INCREASED THE COST OF REPAIRS, WHICH HAS GREATLY INCREASED

THE LACK OF ACCESS TO EDUCATION, AND THERE HAS TO BE AN INCREASE IN

FUNDING. AND -- AND -- THE -- THE BUDGET WOULD ALSO PROVIDE $2.1

BILLION TO CREATE A FUND FOR NEW YORKERS WHO COULD NOT ACCESS FEDERAL

STIMULUS DOLLARS. RIGHT? FOLKS WHO WERE EXCLUDED; OUR PIZZA DELIVERY

GUY, OUR FOLKS WHO CLEAN, OUR FOLKS WHO ARE FIRST RESPONDERS. THE

FOLKS WHO ARE IN OUR ECONOMY THAT JUST WERE NOT -- WERE NOT ABLE TO

ACCESS THE DOLLARS NECESSARY TO FUND THEMSELVES AND TO FUND THEIR

COMMUNITIES THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. AND, MR. SPEAKER, ACCORDING TO

THE FISCAL POLICY INSTITUTE, THE AMOUNT OF BENEFITS WE NEED TO MAKE FOR

SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES FOR EXCLUDED WORKERS, THAT INVESTMENT LOOKS LIKE

UPWARDS OF $3.1 BILLION AND WE'VE ONLY PROPOSED $2.1 BILLION. SO

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO GO TO MAKE FOLKS WHO'VE LOST SO MUCH DURING

THIS PANDEMIC GAIN BACK WHAT THEY'VE LOST AND -- AND LOOK FORWARD TO

MOVING THE BALL UP THEIR COURT. WE NEED MORE FUNDING, AND THAT

FUNDING NEEDS TO COME FROM INCREASES IN REVENUE. SEVEN BILLION

DOLLARS IS GREAT. AND I HEAR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

101

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AISLE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY LIKE IN THE BUDGET. AND,

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY TO THEM THAT THE THINGS THAT THEY LIKE THAT'S IN

THE BUDGET COMES FROM REVENUE. WE NEED TO RAISE MORE REVENUE SO

THAT IT MEETS THE DEMAND OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUFFERING IN THIS

MOMENT. AND THAT INCLUDES THE FARM WORKERS, AND THAT INCLUDES FOOD

INSECURITY AND ADDRESSING THAT, AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE -- ON THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SAID. THAT INCLUDES INVESTING IN HIGHER

EDUCATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, ONE-HOUSE

BUDGET PROPOSAL. BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

ONE MORE STAT. THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES SAYS,

MR. SPEAKER, THAT -- AND WHEN PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK WHERE ARE WE GOING

TO RAISE THIS REVENUE, WHERE IS IT GOING TO COME FROM, HOW ARE WE

GOING TO INVEST, THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES SAYS THAT AMERICA HAS

614 BILLIONAIRES WHO ARE WORTH A COMBINED $2.95 TRILLION. AFTER THE

PANDEMIC. WHEN -- WHEN 650 BILLIONAIRES COMBINE THEIR WEALTH NOW,

FROM WHAT THEY USED TO HAVE AND POST-PANDEMIC, ACCORDING TO THE

INSTITUTE OF POLICY STUDIES THAT MEANS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GROW IN A

NET $4 TRILLION, WHICH IS THE MOST -- THE MOST THAT GROUP OF -- OF FOLKS IN

THIS BILLIONAIRES CLASS HAS GROWN SINCE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN THE

1930'S. SO THEIR WEALTH GREW BY A THIRD. AND WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT

TAXING THAT WEALTH TO FEED OUR COMMUNITIES. SHAME ON US.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO OTHER STATS. I WANT TO

MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WALMART FOLKS, ROBERT, JIM AND ALICE

WALTON, THE FOLKS WHO OWN WALMART. DURING THE PANDEMIC THEIR NET

WORTH INCREASED TO $48.2 BILLION -- EXCUSE ME, BY $48.2 BILLION. BILL

102

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

GATES, HIS WEALTH AND FORTUNE INCREASED TO $98 BILLION. SO IF YOU ASK

HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THESE CRITICALLY, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT

PROGRAMS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR HIGHER

EDUCATION, HOW DO WE PAY FOR IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK, HOW WE PAY FOR MAKING SURE THAT EXCLUDED

WORKERS ARE FUNDED, IT COMES FROM THE TOP 1 PERCENT OF THIS STATE AND

OF THIS NATION WHO HAS GAINED SO MUCH DURING THIS PANDEMIC AS PEOPLE

ON THE BOTTOM HAVE HURT SO MUCH DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

SO I DO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS

RESOLUTION AS A FLOOR OF WHAT REVENUE, WHAT WINDFALL OF REVENUE WE

NEED TO MEET THE TIMES OF NOW, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENCIES,

TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR FAILING STATE IN THIS MOMENT.

I YIELD BACK THE REST OF MY TIME, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN --

MS. WEINSTEIN: HAPPY TO. HAPPY TO, MR.

GOODELL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. WEINSTEIN

YIELDS, MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, MS. WEINSTEIN, AND

THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ALL THESE ANSWERS ALL DAY. I HAD A QUESTION ON

DEBT. AND AM I CORRECT THAT THERE'S $67.8 BILLION IN DEBT IN THIS

103

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

RESOLUTION?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES, OUTSTANDING DEBT. YES.

MR. GOODELL: AND OF THE $67.8 BILLION IN DEBT,

HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE VOTERS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I -- I WOULD SAY A FEW BILLION. I

DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS. I MAY BE ABLE TO GET THAT FOR YOU.

MR. GOODELL: OKAY. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEW

YORK CITY SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY TAX CREDIT CAPPED AT $10,000

AIMED PRIMARILY TOWARD ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION SECTORS AND

RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK CITY. IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT'S LIMITED TO

NEW YORK CITY, WHY WE DON'T HELP RESTAURANTS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

UPSTATE AS WELL?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO, THE -- WE ARE EXPANDING THE

EXISTING PROGRAM FOR UPSTATE ARTS PRODUCTION, BUT THE NEW MONEY IS

DIRECTED TOWARDS NEW YORK CITY WHERE THERE WAS A TREMENDOUSLY --

WHICH RELIES TREMENDOUSLY ON THE TOURISM, HOSPITALITY SECTOR WHICH HAS

LOST TREMENDOUS INCOME.

MR. GOODELL: WELL, I AGREE THE TOURISM AND THE

HOSPITALITY SECTOR HAS BEEN HARD HIT. IS THERE A REASON, THEN, WHY WE

ELIMINATED THE FUNDING FOR MARKET NEW YORK, WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL

FOR UPSTATE TOURISM AND MARKETING?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- NOT

SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THAT, THE MARKET NEW YORK, BUT WE, YOU KNOW,

(INAUDIBLE) THROUGH THE BUDGET, WE HAD SOME OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE --

WE FUNDED AND OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE CONTINUED -- CONTINUED

104

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

DISCUSSIONS.

MR. GOODELL: I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE OTHER

FUNDING PRIORITIES, BUT WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY CUT FUNDING OVERALL, RIGHT?

WE INCREASED OVERALL SPENDING ON -- ON THE STATE OPERATING FUNDS BY

$11 BILLION OR 10.9 PERCENT, CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES.

MR. GOODELL: SO THERE'S A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN

THE SPENDING, YET WE'RE CUTTING A LOT OF THE UPSTATE MARKETING

PROGRAMS, AGRI-MARKETING, AGRI-TOURISM, MARKET UPSTATE NEW YORK. IS

THERE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE REPLACING THOSE LOST ONES?

MS. WEINSTEIN: WELL, THE $4 MILLION FOR

(INAUDIBLE) NEW YORK, I MEAN, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE

DOING. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE AN IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE NOT DOING

PROGRAMS. SO WE DO HAVE (INAUDIBLE) HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAM. (INAUDIBLE)

PRODUCE FOOD AND BEVERAGES. IT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2013. IT PROMOTES

FARM AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE DESTINATIONS THROUGH NEW YORK. IT --

THAT'S THE MARKETING THAT YOU SEE AT SOME OF THE TRAVEL CENTERS ON THE

THRUWAY. THERE'S ONLINE RETAIL CENTER THAT DELIVERS FOOD GROWN IN NEW

YORK. WE HAVE BEVERAGE TRAILS PROMOTING TASTINGS IN TOURISM AND

MAPLE PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHEAST MAPLE -- MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION.

SO WE DO HAVE THAT PROGRAM, THAT'S $4 MILLION.

MR. GOODELL: AND I APPRECIATE THAT THOSE

TARGETED PROGRAMS ARE HELPFUL. AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS A FINAL

BUDGET I HOPE WE KEEP IN MIND THAT SOME OF THESE BROADER-BASED

MARKETING PROGRAMS ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.

105

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

I SEE WE HAVE $2.1 BILLION - THAT'S WITH A B - $2.1

BILLION IN NEW FUNDS FOR THE EXCLUDED WORKER FUND.

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES.

MR. GOODELL: WHO ARE -- WHO ARE THESE

INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS $2.1 BILLION IN FUNDING?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO, YOU KNOW, EXCLUDED WORKERS

ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE -- ARE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ELIGIBLE -- LARGELY

WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THEIR FEDERAL -- QUALIFIED FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT

INSURANCE PROGRAMS, WHO DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT

ASSISTANCE. PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-EMPLOYED OR GIG

WORKERS. THOSE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE WITHOUT A LONG ENOUGH HISTORY

OF WORK TO QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. OTHERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE

OTHERWISE -- DEEMED OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE (INAUDIBLE) OTDA. AND ALSO

PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED WHO HAVE AN

INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND HAVEN'T PAID TAXES BUT

DON'T QUALIFY FOR STATE OR FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAMS.

MR. GOODELL: SO THESE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT WE

BELIEVE WERE UNEMPLOYED BUT WHO WERE NOT FILING INCOME TAXES OR

WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE INCOME

TAX ISSUE, BUT WHO WERE NOT OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

MR. GOODELL: I SEE. I SAW THAT THIS BUDGET

RESOLUTION INCLUDED $3.1 BILLION - WITH A B - AND I'M NOT EMPHASIZING

BILLION, I JUST KNOW THAT WITH THESE MASKS IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO HEAR

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MILLION AND BILLION. BUT I SAW WE'VE PROVIDED

106

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

$3.1 BILLION IN MTA OPERATING AID. IS THERE ANY PLAN FOR MTA TO WORK

ON BRINGING ITS REVENUES AND EXPENSES IN LINE OR DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT

TAXPAYERS WILL BE PERMANENTLY SUBSIDIZING THE MTA?

MS. WEINSTEIN: THIS IS THE -- THE ANNUAL

DEDICATED REVENUE. WE'RE -- WE'RE NOT ADDING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

MR. GOODELL: WELL, WE'RE ADDING $136 MILLION,

RIGHT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: RIGHT. BUT, YOU KNOW -- RIGHT,

MILLION WITH AN M, NOT THE, YOU KNOW, THE BILLION WITH A B.

MR. GOODELL: HOW MUCH DO WE PROVIDE FOR

OPERATING ASSISTANCE? HOW MANY BILLION DO WE PROVIDE IN OPERATING

ASSISTANCE FOR UPSTATE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I THINK ABOUT $223 MILLION.

MR. GOODELL: SO IT'S $223 MILLION OPERATING

ASSISTANCE FOR ALL OF UPSTATE AND $3.1 BILLION FOR JUST THE MTA? WHY

-- WHY DO WE NOT TRY TO SEEK SOME LEVEL OF PARITY? OR IS IT JUST THAT THE

UPSTATE OPERATING SYSTEMS ARE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: I THINK THE UPSTATE SYSTEMS ARE

TREMENDOUS -- MUCH SMALLER. THE MTA, YOU KNOW, THE NEW YORK

CITY SYSTEM, THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD, METRO-NORTH. SO IT'S JUST A

QUESTION OF THE SIZE OF THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY -- PROGRAMS.

MR. GOODELL: I AGREE. CERTAINLY, UPSTATE MANY

MORE PEOPLE DRIVE ON ROADS, USE PERSONAL AUTOMOBILES RATHER THAN MASS

TRANSIT LIKE THE MTA. HOW IS THE MTA FUNDING AT $3.1 BILLION

COMPARED TO THE FUNDING WE PROVIDE FOR UPGRADING UPSTATE HIGHWAYS

107

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AND BRIDGES?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YOU KNOW, SO -- YOU KNOW,

AGAIN, THE -- YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE FOR THE MTA IS RAISED WITHIN THE

MTA REGION, AND THE STATE -- THE UPSTATE REVENUES THAT ARE -- THAT ARE

RAISED GO TO THE UPSTATE TRANSIT SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW -- AND, YOU KNOW,

YOU MENTIONED THE DRIVING. THAT'S -- THAT'S WHY -- YOU KNOW, AS I

MENTIONED TO A NUMBER OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL

DOT CAPITAL FUNDING. THE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR PAVE-NY, FOR

BRIDGE NY, FOR THE STATE -- STATE ROUTE NEW YORK AND FOR, YOU

KNOW, THE RESTORATION OF THE EXTREME WINTER RECOVERY FUNDS.

MR. GOODELL: I SEE. THIS BUDGET PROJECTS INCOME

GROWTH -- A GROWTH IN INCOME TAXES. I NOTE, THOUGH, THAT THE LAST

COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT SPORADIC. IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST

SEVERAL BILLION IN TERMS OF ACTUAL INCOME TAX RECEIPTS. IN 2017-'18, IT

LOOKS LIKE LAST YEAR, NO SURPRISE WITH COVID, IT WAS FLAT. MAYBE JUST A

LITTLE BIT REDUCTION. HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE THAT THESE INCOME TAXES WILL

REBOUND?

MS. WEINSTEIN: OUR -- OUR STAFF -- AND I'LL RELY

UPON OUR STAFF'S ANALYSIS AND ALSO OUR MEETING WITH THE -- AT OUR -- OUR

REVENUE CONSENSUS MEETING WHERE WE HAD ECONOMIC EXPERTS COME AND

SPEAK TO US. I THINK EVERYBODY IS PROJECTING A -- A ROBUST RECOVERY AND

WE CAN SEE IT ALREADY IN THE RECEIPTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- THE TAX

RECEIPTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THAT ARE -- ARE

INCREASING BEYOND WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED, WHICH IS WHY THE -- THE

ESTIMATES WERE INCREASED AS PART OF THE REVENUE CONSENSUS MEETING.

108

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. GOODELL: I SEE. AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST

SEVERAL YEARS THE GOVERNOR HAS TRIED TO KEEP STATE SPENDING TO 2

PERCENT ON THE -- I THINK IT WAS BASED ON STATE OPERATING FUNDS. AND I

THINK ONE REASON WHY HE KEPT TRYING TO KEEP IT AT 2 PERCENT IS BECAUSE

WE HAVE A 2 PERCENT TAX CAP THAT APPLIES TO ALL LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, STATE OPERATING FUND EXPENDITURES UNDER THIS

BUDGET WOULD GO UP BY 10.9 PERCENT, IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. WEINSTEIN: SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST NEW

YORK STATE. BECAUSE OF THAT ADDITIONAL FEDERAL AID, EVERYONE WILL BE

GOING ABOVE THAT 2 PERCENT. AND THE -- THE REALITY IS IS THAT THE 2

PERCENT CAP THAT THE GOVERNOR IMPOSED WAS NOT REALLY A CAP. THE

MONEY WAS SPENT FROM OTHER SOURCES TO MAKE UP FOR THE -- THE

SELF-IMPOSED 2 PERCENT CAP.

MR. GOODELL: DO YOU DO LONG-TERM PROJECTIONS,

AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT STATE OPERATING FUNDS WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP

IN THE 10 TO 12 PERCENT RANGE MORE THAN JUST THIS YEAR OR DO YOU SEE THIS

AS AN USUAL (INAUDIBLE)?

MS. WEINSTEIN: YES. YES, WE DO.

MR. GOODELL: (INAUDIBLE).

(CROSS-TALK)

MS. WEINSTEIN: -- THE FEDERAL MONEY HELPING

GETTING OUR BUSINESSES BACK ON TRACK, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE

CONTINUED GROWTH.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS.

WEINSTEIN. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND I DID NOTICE PANAMA, BY

109

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THE WAY. ONE OF MANY SCHOOLS, HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO

RESOLVE IN TERMS OF A FUNDING REPORT THAT GOES BACK LITERALLY YEARS AND

YEARS.

ON THE BILL -- ON THE RESOLUTION, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. WHEN I WAS

GROWING UP I LIVED IN THE 43RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, 43RD. WE ONLY

HAVE 27 NOW. AND PROJECTIONS ARE WE'LL LOSE ANOTHER ONE OR TWO. SO IF

NEW YORK STATE HAD GROWN AT THE SAME RATE AS THE REST OF THE NATION,

WE'D HAVE 43. INSTEAD, WE'RE LOOKING AT 25. WE HAVE LOST A THIRD OF

OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. AND THAT'S BECAUSE NEW YORK, NOT JUST

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BUT GOING BACK DECADES, HAS NOT BEEN GROWING

LIKE THE REST OF THE NATION. AND THE -- THE INFORMATION WE ANTICIPATE

RECEIVING FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU IS GOING TO CONFIRM THAT NEW YORK'S

POPULATION IS STAGNANT, IF NOT GOING DOWN. AND OF COURSE ONE REASON

WHY OUR POPULATION IS GOING DOWN IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT

WE HAVE IN NEW YORK STATE IS NOT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT AN EXPANDING AND

GROWING MIDDLE-CLASS. IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY WEALTHY PEOPLE.

IT'S THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HIGH-QUALITY, MIDDLE-INCOME PAYING

JOBS. THAT'S OUR PROBLEM. BUT WE CAN'T SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BY RAISING

TAXES ON EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO INVEST IN NEW YORK OR WANTS TO HIRE

PEOPLE TO WORK HERE IN NEW YORK OR WANTS TO EXPAND IN NEW YORK.

SO A LONG-TERM SOLUTION IS NOT TO HAVE THE HIGHEST TAXES IN THE NATION.

THE SOLUTION IS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING STATES. I

110

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL LOOK AT A MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL STRATEGY

THAT HELPS BRING NEW YORK STATE MORE COMPETITIVE, HELPS MAKE NEW

YORK STATE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING STATES SO THAT ALL OF

US CAN GROW AND PROSPER. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS LEGISLATION DOESN'T

ACCOMPLISH THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MS. KELLES.

MS. KELLES: THANK YOU SO MUCH. ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION.

MS. KELLES: ON THE RESOLUTION, THANK YOU SO

MUCH. IT SEEMS TO BE A TREND TODAY, MR. AUBRY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: YES, IT DOES.

MS. KELLES: SO, I WANT TO START BY NOTING THAT IF

NEW YORK WERE A COUNTRY, WE WOULD BE THE 10TH WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN

THE WORLD. YET IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A 30 PERCENT

DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR CHILD -- CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. A 50

PERCENT REDUCTION IN HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL. A 45 PERCENT

REDUCTION IN HUMAN RIGHTS. A 15 PERCENT REDUCTION IN FUNDING TO LABOR,

AND OVER A 25 PERCENT REDUCTION IN TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE.

NEW YORK IS - AND THESE ARE IMPORTANT STATISTICS - THE NUMBER ONE MOST

UNEQUAL STATE IN THE U.S. WITH RESPECT TO WEALTH. NUMBER ONE IN THE

HOMELESSNESS RATE. NUMBER 48 FOR COST-OF-LIVING DUE TO HOUSING,

GROCERY, TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY COSTS. NUMBER 39 FOR ECONOMIC

WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. NUMBER 47 IN PUBLIC HOSPITAL SAFETY. NUMBER

111

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

49 IN STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION FUNDING EQUITY. NOT A GREAT SCORECARD.

SO LET'S LOOK AT AN OVERVIEW OF CUTS TO SERVICES AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TAX

CUTS TO THE WEALTHY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. 2011, THERE WERE CUTS TO

HOMELESS PROGRAMS, SUMMER YOUTH JOB PROGRAMS, EDUCATION. 2012,

TAXES WERE CUT ON THOSE EARNING $500,000 TO $2 MILLION. 2014, TAXES

WERE CUT FOR CORPORATIONS FROM 7.1 PERCENT TO 6.5 PERCENT. CUT -- TAXES

WERE CUT FOR BANKS AND TAXES WERE CUT ON ESTATE TAXES, SHIFTING THE

EXEMPTION LEVEL FROM THOSE EARNING $1 MILLION ALL THE WAY TO

EXEMPTING EARNERS UP TO $5 MILLION. 2015, TAXES WERE CUT ON YACHTS

AND PRIVATE JETS. 2016, CUTS TO MEDICAID AND HIGHER EDUCATION, AND YET

THERE WAS A TAX CUT BY 1 PERCENT ON THOSE EARNING $40,000 TO $300,000.

2017, THERE WERE CUTS TO MEDICAID. 2018 THERE WERE CUTS IN FUNDING TO

LOCALITIES BY $1.2 BILLION. 2019 THERE WERE CUTS TO SOCIAL WELFARE

AGENCIES AND ON AND ON. THIS BILL IS NOT ABOUT FRIVOLOUS RAISING OF

TAXES THAT PUTS OUR ECONOMY AT RISK. THIS BILL IS A SMALL STEP TOWARDS

UNDOING THE WRONG THAT WE HAVE BEEN CREATING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST

DECADE. WE HAVE BEEN CUTTING TAXES ON THE RICH WHILE CUTTING SERVICES

TO THE POOR AND WORKING-CLASS OF OUR STATE. YES, WE ARE IN A RECESSION.

BUT NOT FOR THE TOP 5 PERCENT. WE HAVE SEEN AN ALMOST COMPLETE

REBOUND IN WEALTH, AND THE BILLIONAIRES OF THE STATE HAVE SEEN MANY

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WEALTH GAINS. THERE IS A MYTH OF PEOPLE LEAVING

THE STATE DUE TO THE TAXES PROPOSED IN THIS BILL. THE TAXES THAT HAVE

BEEN PROPOSED ARE WRITTEN SUCH THAT THEY EXCLUSIVELY FOCUS ON THE

HIGHEST EARNERS, BOTH OF INDIVIDUALS AND OF CORPORATIONS. WHEN I HEAR

THAT COMPANIES WILL LEAVE AND PEOPLE WILL LEAVE, I FIND IT FRANKLY

112

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

DEEPLY TIRESOME AND MANIPULATIVE OF THE -- OF THE DATA. THE DATA

SIMPLY DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT THIS IS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF IMMIGRATION

FROM THE STATE. WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN THE STATE POPULATION, BUT

THERE ARE OVERWHELMINGLY THE WORKING CLASS WITH THE GREATEST FLIGHT IN

THE AGE GROUP OF 20 TO 35 YEARS OLD. WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN A

STEADY DECLINE IN SERVICES TO BARE BONES WITH A CONSTANT FLOW OF THE

COSTS OF PROGRAMS PUSHED ON TO COUNTIES. THIS SHIFT INCREASES PROPERTY

TAXES, WHICH IS A REGRESSIVE TAX. WE MUST BASE OUR CONVERSATION ON

FACTS OR WE ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE PUBLIC AND THEY'RE

REALLY IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR IT. WE MUST STOP MASKING THE TRUTH

BY SAYING A BLANKET -- BLANKET STATEMENT LIKE WE MUST STOP INCREASING

TAX BECAUSE IT'S MAKING PEOPLE LEAVE. THE TRUTH IS WE NEED TO START

MAKING THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE SO THAT WE STOP INCREASING

TAXES ON THE POOR AND WORKING CLASS. ALL TAXES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

LET'S LOOK AT THE TAXES BEING PROPOSED. THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX: THE

PERCENTAGE INCREASE DOESN'T START UNTIL AN INCOME LEVEL OF $1 MILLION FOR

AN INDIVIDUAL AND ABOUT $2.5 MILLION FOR A COUPLE. THIS IS ABOUT

87,000 INDIVIDUALS AND AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 COUPLES. SO THIS AFFECTS

107,000 PEOPLE, TOTAL INDIVIDUALS, IN A STATE POPULATION OF 19.4 MILLION

PEOPLE. THIS IS A 0.55 PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE STATE POPULATION. THE

CORPORATE TAX: THE FEDERAL CORPORATE TAX HAS BEEN CUT TWICE SINCE

1905. A MASSIVE TAX CUT IN 1986 BY PRESIDENT REAGAN FROM A LEVEL OF

ABOVE 50 PERCENT DOWN TO 35 PERCENT. FEDERAL CORPORATE TAXES STAYED

FLAT AT 35 PERCENT FROM 1986 TO 2017, AND CORPORATIONS STILL THRIVED IN

THIS COUNTRY. IN 2017, CORPORATIONS GOT A MASSIVE ARBITRARY BREAK FROM

113

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

35 PERCENT TO 21 PERCENT THAT EVEN BAFFLED MANY IN ECONOMICS WORLD --

THE ECONOMIC WORLD OF EXPERTS. THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO UNDUE THIS

MASSIVE ARBITRARY TAX TO IMPLEMENT A STATE SURTAX TO BRING TOTAL TAXES

BACK TO 35 PERCENT WHERE CORPORATIONS WERE VERY RECENTLY THRIVING. I

WOULD NOTE THAT OVER 99 PERCENT OF ALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE ARE NOT

INCORPORATED, SO THEY WOULD NOT EVEN BE AFFECTED BY THIS TAX. WHAT IS

BEING PROPOSED IS APPROXIMATELY A 1 PERCENT SURTAX ON TAXABLE INCOME.

THE ESTATE TAX DOESN'T TOUCH THE EXEMPTION LEVEL. IT IS A 4.8 PERCENT

INCREASE TO 20 PERCENT STARTING AT $10 MILLION. ONLY THE HIGHEST

BRACKET, DESPITE THE INCREASE IN THE EXEMPTION LEVEL FROM $1.5 -- $1

MILLION TO $5 MILLION IN 2014. I COULD CONTINUE, BUT THE POINT IS CLEAR.

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS INCREDIBLY CONSERVATIVE AND IS EXCLUSIVELY

ON THE WEALTHY WHO'VE BEEN BENEFITTING FROM SIGNIFICANT TAX CUTS FOR

OVER A DECADE. ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET OUTLINES NEEDED INCREASES SUCH AS

THOSE IN CHILD CARE, ARTS AND TOURISM, EDUCATION LIKE FOUNDATION AID,

AND DESPERATELY-NEEDED FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OUR STATE

HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSED

DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO COVER WHAT WE FULLY NEED. IT DOES NOT COVER

THE FULL FUNDS NEEDED TO SUPPORT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR AN

EXCLUDED WORKERS FUND. THOSE WHO HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY SERVED

AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS. WE DO NOT FUND THE NEEDED $200 MILLION FOR THE

HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR

UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND THE OVER 20,000

SINGLE HOMELESS ADULT NEW YORKERS IN NEW YORK CITY, LET ALONE THOSE

IN THE REST OF THE STATE. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR

114

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT IN PRISONS AND JAILS THAT WE KNOW

REDUCES ADDICTION AND DEATH IN THE STATE. OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS THERE

HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN OVER 8,000 EMPLOYEES FROM THE OFFICE OF

MENTAL HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OASAS, OPWDD AND OCFS

COMBINED. THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THESE CUTS THAT

ARE FAR BELOW WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN

TASKED TO DO. UPSTATE WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

SUPPORT FOR ROADS, CULVERTS AND BROADBAND EXPANSION FAR BEYOND WHAT

IS BEING PROPOSED.

THIS BUDGET MOVES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THIS MUST

BE LAUDED AS A VICTORY. TO HEAR THAT RIGHTING THE WRONG OF THE TREND OF

CUTS TO THE RICH WITH THE SMALL REVENUE RAISERS IN THIS PACKAGE AS A

MISTAKE IS FRANKLY DISTURBING. WE MUST DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR

PEOPLE. WE MUST MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF EQUITY, AND WE CANNOT RELY

ON ONE-TIME FEDERAL FUNDING TO SOLVE THE CHRONIC ILLS OF OUR BUDGET.

ALTHOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE AGGRESSIVE MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION,

I STAND IN SUPPORT OF A BILL THAT STARTS DOWN THIS NOBLE AND NEEDED PATH.

AND I AM FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS MOVING

FORWARD THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US BE NOT A

CEILING FOR OUR NEGOTIATIONS, BUT OUR BARE MINIMUM FLOOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL

-- OF THIS RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. OTIS.

MR. OTIS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND I WANT TO

115

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THANK HELENE WEINSTEIN FOR THE -- THE FINE JOB SHE'S DONE NOT JUST TODAY

IN EXPLAINING OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL, BUT FOR ALL THE WORK THIS YEAR AND IN

PREVIOUS YEARS IN THE HEARINGS AND LISTENING TO ALL THE TESTIMONY, AND TO

THE WHOLE WAYS AND MEANS TEAM FOR A PROPOSAL THAT REALLY ADDRESSES

SIGNIFICANT NEEDS IN THIS STATE: EDUCATION, FAMILIES HIT BY COVID,

SMALL BUSINESSES, THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORTATION. THERE'S SO MUCH

HERE. THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET PROPOSAL AND IT IS GOING TO STAND UP

AS WE GO THROUGH TO APRIL 1ST.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY A VERY IMPORTANT NEW

PROGRAM THAT IS PROPOSED IN THIS BUDGET, A NEW YORK STATE DIGITAL

INCLUSION GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP LIBRARIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,

NOT-FOR-PROFITS ALL AROUND THE STATE DEAL WITH THE DIGITAL INEQUITIES THAT

OCCUR TODAY FOR DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES, FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS PROVIDE HOME CONNECTIVITY, PROVIDE A

DEVICE AND PROVIDE THE NEEDED TRAINING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY NEW

YORK FAMILY CAN GET ACCESS INTO THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT EQUALITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

OTHER STATES ARE DEALING WITH IT, AND A STATE PROGRAM TO HELP MANY OF

OUR LOCAL GROUPS THAT ARE IN THIS WORK NOW IS A REAL BOOST. I THANK ALL

OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THIS PROPOSAL WHICH IS GOING TO

BE A GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH -- ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE STATE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. A $15 MILLION PROGRAM IS REALLY NEEDED AND

IS GOING TO BE A GREAT BOON, I THINK, TO ALL 150 ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER. I STRONGLY

SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

116

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MR. ABINANTI.

MR. ABINANTI: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. FIRST, I

WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE

COMMITTEE MEMBERS, COMMITTEE STAFF AND THE SPEAKER FOR ALL OF THE

WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE TO PRODUCE THIS FORWARD-LOOKING BUDGET TO

MOVE US THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TO GIVE US A GOOD START

WHEN WE LEAVE THAT PANDEMIC BEHIND.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AS THE CHAIR OF THE

COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SOME OF THE MANY MEASURES

THAT WILL HELP OUR MANY RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS PROPOSAL

INCREASES OPWDD FUNDING WELL OVER THE EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSAL. IT

REJECTS THE EXECUTIVE'S OPWDD PROPOSED RATE REDUCTION. IT RESTORES

JUST ABOUT ALL, IF NOT ALL, OF THE EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED CUTS TO OUR MOST

VULNERABLE HELPED BY OPWDD. FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS, THIS

PROPOSAL RESTORES ALL OF THE HUMAN SERVICE -- SERVICES COST-OF-LIVING

INCREASES. ALL OF THE HUMAN SERVICES COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES EFFECTIVE

APRIL 1. AND IT PROVIDES MONEY TO MEET THE MINIMUM WAGE, ALL TO

MAKE THESE DIFFICULT BUT LOW-PAYING JOBS MORE ATTRACTIVE.

IT ALSO RESTORES MONIES IN THE EDUCATION AREA. WE PUT

BACK MONIES THE EXECUTIVE WAS GOING TO CUT FOR CHILDREN WITH

DISABILITIES. FOR THE 4201 SCHOOLS, FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS LIKE SCHOOLS FOR

THE DEAF AND THE BLIND. AND WE EVEN PUT $500,000 FOR DYSLEXIA

SCREENINGS. AND WE REJECTED THE EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD

ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO GUT IEP REQUIREMENTS BY SEEKING A WAIVER

117

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

FROM SED. WE'VE PUT BACK MONIES AND WE'VE -- WE'RE PROPOSING

TEMPORARY CHANGES TO THE RATE-SETTING METHODOLOGY WHICH HAS

HAMPERED OUR 4410 AND OUR 853 AND OUR SPECIAL ACT SCHOOLS DURING

THIS PANDEMIC. WE PUT IN $2 MILLION FOR PROGRAMS TO HELP HIGHER

EDUCATION STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN GENERAL, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF

GOOD THINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THE -- THE QUESTION WAS RAISED, WHY WOULD WE TAX

MORE WHEN WE'RE RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS. WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL

REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, FEDERAL FUNDS ARE ONE-TIME MONIES. AND I WANT

TO SUGGEST TO YOU IT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO USE ONE-TIME MONIES

FOR BILLS WE GET EVERY YEAR. IF WE WERE GOING TO FILL THE BUDGET HOLES

WITH JUST THE ONE-TIME MONIES, WE WOULD HEAR COLLEAGUES YELLING AND

SCREAMING, SAYING IT'S -- IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO USE A ONE-TIME

WINDFALL. SO WE'RE NOT USING THE ONE-TIME WINDFALL TO BALANCE THE

BUDGET GOING FORWARD. WE'RE USING FEDERAL FUNDS, BY AND LARGE, FOR

ONE-TIME EXPENSES. TO REIMBURSE THE MONIES THE PANDEMIC HAS

DRAINED FROM OUR SCHOOLS, FROM OUR NOT-FOR-PROFITS, FROM OUR SMALL

BUSINESSES. AND THEN ALSO TO SET ASIDE MONIES FOR THE SAME PURPOSES

FOR NEXT YEAR. SECONDLY, WE NEED REOCCURRING REVENUES TO PAY FOR

RECURRING NEEDS. NEEDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MET AND HAVE BEEN

AGGRAVATED BY THE PANDEMIC. WE'RE RAISING TAXES ON THOSE WHO

BENEFITTED WHILE EVERYONE SUFFERED. THOSE MAKING $1 MILLION, $5

MILLION, $25 MILLION EACH YEAR. WE'RE RAISING TAXES ON THOSE WHO

BENEFITTED. WHY? SO WE CAN STABILIZE PROPERTY TAXES. WE'RE RAISING

TAXES ON THOSE WHO BENEFITTED SO WE CAN RESTORE THE MIDDLE-CLASS TAX

118

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

CUTS. I REPEAT, WE'RE NOT TAXING THE MIDDLE-CLASS. WE'RE GOING TO

CONTINUE THE MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUTS. NOBODY'S MENTIONED THAT YET

TODAY. WE'RE RAISING TAXES, YES, BUT ON THOSE WHO ARE MAKING LOTS OF

MONEY. AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THE TAX CUTS FOR THE

MIDDLE-CLASS.

YOU KNOW, I HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES,

NOT INCOME TAXES. PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES, SO

WE'VE GOT TO CHOOSE. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE STATE MEET MORE NEEDS

OR ARE WE GOING TO LEAVE THAT TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO OUR

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO CAN ONLY INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES TO MEET THOSE

NEEDS. SO SOME ASK, CAN WE AFFORD ALL OF THIS? WE ARE NOT IN A

SITUATION WHERE WE CAN AFFORD TO NOT DO IT. I WANT TO -- SOMEBODY SAID

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? WELL, I WANT TO ASK THOSE IN GROUP HOMES WHO

DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IF WE'RE DOING ENOUGH. ASK THOSE 50-

AND 60-YEAR-OLDS WITH DISABILITIES WHO STILL LIVE WITH THEIR 80-YEAR-OLD

PARENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING TO MOVE INTO A GROUP HOME IF WE'RE

DOING ENOUGH. ASK THOSE WHO ARE STANDING ONLINE, FOOD LINES

THROUGHOUT THE STATE IF WE'RE DOING ENOUGH. ASK THOSE WHO CAN'T PAY

THEIR RENT OR THE SMALL LANDLORDS WHO NEED THAT RENT IF WE'RE DOING

ENOUGH. THIS BUDGET IS A SIGN THAT WE'RE DONE WITH AUSTERITY BUDGETS,

THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THAT WE'RE GOING

TO START TO MEET ALL OF THOSE NEEDS.

I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. I WILL

VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

119

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MR. SMULLEN.

MR. SMULLEN: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. ON THE

RESOLUTION.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: ON THE RESOLUTION,

SIR.

MR. SMULLEN: I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

SPEAK. I'VE LISTENED CAREFULLY TO WHAT'S BEEN SAID TODAY AND HADN'T

PLANNED ON SPEAKING, BUT HEARING ALL THE COMMENTS I JUST WANT TO MAKE

SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT I THINK THIS IS A BLOATED BUDGET BLOWOUT

OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS. YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR IN LISTENING TO ALL THE

CONVERSATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TAX PROBLEM IN NEW YORK STATE, WE

HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM. A 10 PERCENT INCREASE ON THE BACKS OF

BORROWED FEDERAL DOLLARS IS SIMPLY UNSUSTAINABLE. AND I REMIND

EVERYONE THAT THEY MUST BE PAID BACK NOT ONLY BY ALL THE TAXPAYERS IN

THE STATE, BUT THE FUTURE TAXPAYERS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND I THINK

THIS BUDGET IN PARTICULAR IS ESPECIALLY SUSPECT DUE TO THE PER CAPITA

DISPARITY BETWEEN THOSE RESOURCE RETURNS FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK

CITIZENS AND THOSE IN THE DENSE URBAN AREAS. AND I URGE A VERY -- A VERY

THOROUGH SCRUB OF THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT, INDEED, EQUITY IS THE

WORD OF THE DAY. BECAUSE I THINK USING THIS PANDEMIC TO PROMOTE

THESE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND I URGE ALL OF MY

COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SO WE CAN GET THIS RIGHT

BEFORE THIS BUDGET BECOMES REALITY. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES TO CLOSE.

120

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. I CERTAINLY WANT TO RISE AND THANK MY COLLEAGUE, THE CHAIR OF

OUR WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, FOR GOING THROUGH THIS BUDGET

PROCESS NOT JUST THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE BUDGET HEARINGS THAT SHE WENT

THROUGH, BUT CERTAINLY THROUGH TODAY'S PROCESS. LITERALLY ONE YEAR AGO,

WE WERE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT SITUATION, MR. SPEAKER. WE WERE IN THE

PROCESS OF DOING OUR BUDGET, GETTING IT DONE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE THERE WAS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC APPROACHING US. AND IT -- IT

WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'VE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH. I MEAN, THERE WAS

NOBODY HERE. IT WAS AROUND 100 YEARS AGO. SO WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO

DEAL. THERE WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. BUT WE MADE IT THROUGH THAT.

AND NOW WE'RE HERE AGAIN AT A TIME WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF A

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL -- AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. AND NO, WE

DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE NORMAL BECAUSE THE NORMAL WASN'T GOOD.

BUT I THINK THIS BUDGET TAKES US TOWARDS A BETTER NORMAL. NOT A NEW

NORMAL, BUT A BETTER ONE. AND I SAY BETTER BECAUSE, THANKFULLY, THE

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN -- HAS PROVIDED US WITH THE KIND OF

RESOURCES THAT HELP DEAL WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP

SPECIFICALLY AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, AND AS WELL AS DEALING WITH

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED WELL INTO THE FUTURE. I THINK IT WILL BE

TRANSFORMATIVE IN A LOT OF WAYS, MR. SPEAKER. WE'VE NEVER REALLY HAD

AS MUCH MONEY AS WE SEE THIS TIME IN THIS BUDGET GOING TOWARDS THE

NEEDS OF DAY CARE, FOR ONE, WHICH IS -- WILL BE SO FREEING FOR MOTHERS

AND FATHERS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER GET BACK INTO THE

WORKFORCE WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE OR, QUITE HONESTLY, FIND A NEW

121

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WORKPLACE BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE HELP WANTED

ADS OUT. WITH THE KIND OF DAY CARE RESOURCES THAT ARE HERE, MOTHERS

CAN, FATHERS CAN GET BACK TO WORK. I THINK THE RESOURCES THAT ARE

AVAILABLE K THROUGH 12 AS WELL AS THOSE IN HIGHER ED ARE GOING TO GO A

LONG WAY TOWARDS PULLING OUR ECONOMY BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EDUCATED IN ORDER TO DO THAT. AND SO I'M EXCITED

ABOUT THAT PART OF THE BUDGET. THE OTHER THING I LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT IT

SUPPORTS DIVERSITY. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ALL DAY ABOUT WHY PEOPLE

LEAVE NEW YORK. ONE OF THE REASONS THEY LEAVE NEW YORK IS BECAUSE

YOU -- IF YOU WANT TO -- YOU HAVE TO KNOW SOMEBODY IN ORDER TO GET

SOMEWHERE HERE. YOU CAN GO OTHER PLACES WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE

AND A RESUME AND GET HIRED, EVEN IF YOU'RE BLACK. EVEN IF YOU'RE

HISPANIC OR LATINO. EVEN IF YOU'RE ASIAN. BUT IN NEW YORK

SOMETIMES WE GOT THESE SYSTEMS ALL SET UP THAT IF YOU'RE NOT CONNECTED

TO THIS ONE OR THAT ONE, YOU CAN'T MOVE WITHIN THESE AREAS. THAT'S A PART

OF THE PROBLEM. SO, IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE ARE LEAVING FOR TAXES. THEY'RE

LEAVING FOR WHERE THEY CAN GET A JOB WITHOUT NEEDING TO CIRCULATE

PETITIONS FOR SOMEBODY. SO THERE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT NEW YORK THAT

PUSHES PEOPLE OUT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM. THE OTHER PART OF IT IS JUST A

SIMPLE RED LINE. YOU PAY MORE FOR CAR INSURANCE HERE. I PAY MORE IN

CAR INSURANCE THAN ANY WOMAN MY AGE WITH MY EDUCATION. I PAY MORE

FOR CAR INSURANCE JUST BECAUSE OF MY ZIP CODE. THAT COULD DRIVE PEOPLE

TO WANT TO MOVE. BANKING ISSUES ARE AN ISSUE HERE AS WELL. AS WELL AS

PREDATORY LENDING. IN MY ZIP CODE THERE'S MORE PREDATORY LENDERS THAN

THERE ARE IN THE TWO ZIP CODES AWAY FROM ME. THAT SHOULDN'T ALWAYS BE

122

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THAT WAY. SO THERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PUSH PEOPLE OUT.

THIS BUDGET ALSO SUPPORTS TENANTS AND IT SUPPORTS

LANDLORDS. I HAVE LANDLORDS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH THIS

PANDEMIC. THIS WILL BRING THEM SOME RELIEF. RELIEF FOR THEM IS AS

IMPORTANT AS RELIEF FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED HARDSHIPS

DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PANDEMIC. THIS BUDGET HONORS AND TRIES TO

PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. IT SUPPORTS THE UNDOCUMENTED. IT CONTINUES

OUR WORK IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND IT RAISES ADDITIONAL REVENUE

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY IT.

MR. SPEAKER, YOU AND MS. WEINSTEIN AND ALL OF OUR

COLLEAGUES SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THIS BUDGET THAT YOU'VE CRAFTED

TOGETHER. NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME DO I LIKE EVERY -- EVERY BIT OF

IT? DO I THINK I SHOULD HAVE MORE FOR MY COMMUNITY, FOR MY DISTRICT

AND MY PEOPLE? ABSOLUTELY, I DO. BUT THIS IS A LARGE BODY, AND

EVERYBODY'S THOUGHT PROCESS HAS TO BE INCLUDED. AND I BELIEVE THAT --

THAT IT IS. I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN INCLUDED. SO I'M EXCITED TO GET TO

THE POINT WHERE YOU SAY "READ THE LAST SECTION" AND OUR COLLEAGUES GET

THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THEIR VOTE. YOU AND THE STAFF WILL PUT

TOGETHER THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED TO

COMINGLE THE SENATE'S BUDGET AND OUR BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN PROPOSE

SOMETHING TO PUT TO THE PEOPLE. AND HOPEFULLY SOON WE'LL BE THROUGH

WITH OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS OF

GOVERNING.

SO, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO

MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS BUDGET. IT'S PROBABLY IN ALL OF MY YEARS OF

123

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

SERVICE ONE OF THE BEST, AND EVEN STILL, IT DOESN'T GET EVERYTHING THAT

EVERYBODY NEEDS. BUT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST AND I'M HONORED TO HAVE HAD

THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON IT. WITH THAT, THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES.

JUST A NOTE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE ON ASSEMBLY BUDGET RESOLUTION 107. THIS IS A PARTY

VOTE. ANY MEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE RECORDED AS AN EXCEPTION TO THEIR

CONFERENCE POSITION IS REMINDED TO CONTACT THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY

LEADER AT THE NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED.

MR. GOODELL.

MR. GOODELL: THANK YOU, SIR. THE REPUBLICAN

CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE OPPOSED TO THIS BUDGET RESOLUTION. THOSE

WHO WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT IT SHOULD CALL THE MINORITY LEADER'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MR.

SPEAKER. MAJORITY COLLEAGUES ARE VOTING IN -- IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON THIS

ONE. THOSE WHO DESIRE TO CAST THEIR VOTE AS AN EXCEPTION, PLEASE FEEL

FREE TO CONTACT THE MAJORITY LEADER'S OFFICE AND YOUR VOTE WILL BE SO

RECORDED. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

TO EXPLAIN THEIR VOTE, MR. HEVESI.

MR. HEVESI: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IN ORDER TO

124

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

PUT A FINE POINT ON WHAT I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, A BOMB HAS BEEN

DROPPED ON NEW YORK STATE AND IT WASN'T COVID. IT WAS THE

LOCKDOWN THAT WE IMPOSED AFTER COVID. WAS THAT THE RIGHT THING TO

DO? ABSOLUTELY. WOULD I DO IT AGAIN? A HUNDRED PERCENT. BUT WE

HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES, MY FRIENDS. CHILDREN HAVE

BEEN TRAUMATIZED BECAUSE OF THAT LOCKDOWN. WE LOCKED KIDS IN WITH

THEIR ABUSERS, WE LOCKED INTIMATE PARTNERS IN WITH THEIR ABUSERS. WE

HAVE THE EXACT KIND OF THINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANT HAPPENING TO ALL OUR

KIDS ARE HAPPENING. AND WE NEED TO REACT. THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T REACT.

WE'RE REACTING IN THIS BUDGET. BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, I DO THIS

BECAUSE WE SHOULD ALL CARE ABOUT THE KIDS WE REPRESENT. BUT PUT THAT

ASIDE FOR A SECOND. I DO THIS BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF EVERY YEAR PAYING

FOR INCREASED COSTS FOR SERVICES THAT WE SHOULDN'T NEED TO PROVIDE.

NEW MONEY FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS. MORE MONEY FOR MEDICAID. MORE

MONEY FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MORE MONEY FOR PUBLIC

ASSISTANCE ON PERPETUITY. THERE'S A DRIVER HERE, MY FRIENDS. THE DRIVER

IS CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. NOW THIS

BUDGET RESOLUTION, I AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER WHO SPOKE A

SECOND AGO. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN. THIS MAY BE THE

BEST BUDGET I'VE EVER SEEN. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A STATEWIDE

PROGRAM TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY ABOUT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

AND THE FIVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS. BUT WE ALSO FIND OURSELVES IN A

WONDERFUL POSITION THAT PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, I HOPE, AT

THE END OF THIS BUDGET WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS AND CELEBRATE THAT WE

ARE ABOUT TO INFUSE $2.3 BILLION, $1.8- FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,

125

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

$500 MILLION FROM THE STATE, FOR CHILDCARE. WE ALL NEED CHILDCARE.

YOU WANT TO GET YOUR PEOPLE BACK TO WORK? YOU NEED CHILDCARE. YOU

WANT TO HELP THE PROVIDERS, THE HEROES WHO'VE BEEN HELPING OUR KIDS?

YOU TAKE CARE OF THOSE PROVIDERS. YOU WANT TO HELP FAMILIES? HELP

THOSE FAMILIES WITH CHILDCARE. THAT'S THE AREA THAT WE CAN ALL JOIN

HANDS AND CELEBRATE A BIG VICTORY.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU TO THE

SPEAKER, THE MAJORITY LEADER, AND CERTAINLY TO THE CHAIR OF WAYS AND

MEANS, HELENE WEINSTEIN, FOR DOING A REMARKABLE JOB. I AM PROUD TO

VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU, SIR.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: CERTAINLY. MR.

HEVESI IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. RODRIGUEZ.

MR. RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT

BUDGET. AND CERTAINLY, AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, IN THE TEN YEAS THAT

I'VE SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THE BEST BUDGETS IN TERMS OF

RAISING MUCH-NEEDED REVENUE. A REVENUE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE

TO ADDRESS IN THE PAST THAT CAN GO TOWARDS MUCH-NEEDED USES THAT WE

ARE NOW STARTING TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS IN A SIGNIFICANT AND A SUBSTANTIAL

WAY. AND PART OF THAT -- THAT NEED GOES BACK TO NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC

HOUSING AND NYCHA. BEING ABLE TO PUT $1 BILLION WHICH REPRESENTS

MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE PUT IN IN ANY YEAR SINCE 2015 IS A SIGNIFICANT

INVESTMENT AND A PLACEHOLDER WITH WHAT I BELIEVE WILL FOLLOW AGAIN

WITH FEDERAL AID IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT

126

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING RESIDENTS HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT -- THE BRUNT OF

THIS ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE AND NEED INVESTMENT LIKE THIS.

THERE'S BEEN A SPIRITED DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT REVENUE RAISERS ARE

NEEDED. WE ARE DEALING WITH ONE-TIME ISSUES WITH THE ONE-TIME

STIMULUS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND LET'S REMEMBER WHEN WE

TALK ABOUT THE -- THE $50 BILLION ACROSS THE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AREAS,

THAT IS BECAUSE THE STATE OF NEW YORK'S ECONOMY HAS BEEN IMPACTED

LIKE NO OTHER STATE IN THE NATION, AND WE REPRESENT ONE OF THE MOST

IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ENGINES FOR THE COUNTRY. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT

THIS -- THIS RESTORATION OF -- OF DOLLARS, IT'S REALLY TO HELP US GET BACK AND

RESTART AND REIGNITE OUR ECONOMY SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO THAT STATURE.

BUT MOVING FORWARD THERE ARE MORE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED, AND

AS A RESULT, REVENUE RAISERS, WHICH I THINK ARE QUITE MODEST AND TARGETED

IN THIS INSTANCE ON -- ON THE HIGHEST EARNERS REALLY HELP US TO GET THERE.

BUT TWO PARTICULAR PROGRAMS OF IMPORTANCE IS OUR DIGITAL DIVIDE. WE

HAVE SENIORS WHO AS WE SEE CANNOT SIGN UP FOR VACCINATIONS BECAUSE

THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY TO DO THAT. OUR BUDGET PROVIDES

MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES. AND THEN TO OUR RESTAURANTS AND SMALL

BUSINESSES, $1 BILLION TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES GET ON THEIR GROUND,

AND THE I LOVE NEW YORK RESTAURANT INITIATIVE WHICH IS MODELED OVER

WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN MODEL THAT WE HAVE SEEN WORK ACROSS THE STATE

FOR $25 MILLION. THIS WILL HELP OUR ECONOMY GET BACK ON ITS FEET. THIS

WILL HELP THE RESTAURANTS AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES. THIS WILL HELP US

COME OUT OF COVID STRONGER. AND AS A RESULT I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION

AND ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

127

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. RODRIGUEZ IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. LAWLER.

MR. LAWLER: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S

ALWAYS ALARMING WHEN WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A BUDGET IS GOOD

BASED ON HOW MUCH WE INCREASE TAXES. WHEN YOU HEAR THE PRESIDENT

OF THE UNITED STATES TALKING ABOUT INCREASING TAXES, WHEN YOU SEE WHAT

THIS BODY HAS JUST PRODUCED WITH A MASSIVE TAX HIKE IN -- IN -- IN ITS

ONE-HOUSE BUDGET, A SPENDING INCREASE THAT IS DRAMATIC OVER THE LAST

DECADE, WE -- IF THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET WERE TO BECOME A REALITY, WE

WILL HAVE INCREASED SPENDING BY $70 BILLION. THAT'S INSANE. THAT'S

INSANE. WE CONTINUE TO LOSE POPULATION AT ALARMING RATES, AS MY

COLLEAGUE POINTED OUT. WE'RE MOST CERTAINLY LOSING ONE IF NOT TWO

CONGRESSIONAL SEATS. THE IDEA THAT LEADING THE NATION IN OUT-MIGRATION,

LEADING THE NATION IN TAX POLICY, LEADING THE NATION IN SPENDING IS -- IS

GOOD PUBLIC POLICY IS WRONG. THIS PANDEMIC ACCELERATED A MASS

EXODUS OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, OUT OF OUR STATE. THERE ARE STUDIES THAT

SHOW THAT WE'VE LOST $34 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. IT IS A REAL

CRISIS. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED A FEDERAL BAILOUT

TO HELP CLOSE OUR BUDGET GAP, AND THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, NOW WE

WANT TO CREATE MORE SPENDING, INCREASE TAXES EVEN HIGHER, WE'RE GOING

TO BE DEALING WITH QUITE THE CRISIS NEXT YEAR IF THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET

WERE TO BECOME A REALITY. SO THERE IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO PERCENT CHANCE

THAT I SUPPORT THIS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTION. AS I SAID EARLIER,

THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS IN THERE, CERTAINLY, FOR MY DISTRICT THAT I

128

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WOULD SUPPORT. BUT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR SPENDING. WE NEED TO

PRIORITIZE HOW WE GET NEW YORKERS BACK ON THEIR FEET. TAXES AND

MORE REGULATIONS AND MORE BURDENSOME SPENDING IS NOT THE WAY TO DO

IT.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MR. LAWLER, HOW DO

YOU VOTE?

MR. LAWLER: I VOTE NO, MR. SPEAKER. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

MS. FAHY.

MS. FAHY: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR THIS

OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I'M RISING IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUDGET,

AND AS WITH MOST BUDGET PROPOSALS, OR IN THIS CASE A RESOLUTION, IT IS A

SERIES OF -- OF TRADE-OFFS AND COMPROMISES. HOWEVER, THIS ONE IS BY FAR

THE MOST GENEROUS, THANKS TO FEDERAL AID, AS WELL AS THANKING THOSE

WHO EARN THE MOST TO DO MORE TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SO

SERIOUSLY IMPACTED BY COVID AND MORE. SO, WE ARE TRYING TO ASK

MORE OF OTHERS, THOSE WHO DO -- DO WELL AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO WELL

THROUGHOUT THE COVID ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL, AND WE WANT THEM TO

CONTINUE TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN HURT BY COVID AND

THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

WITH REGARD TO THE CAPITAL REGION, I NEED TO SAY THANK

YOU TO THE SPEAKER AND OTHERS FOR RESTORING THE WADSWORTH MONEY.

NOTHING WILL TRANSFORM THIS REGION AS REBUILDING AND CONSOLIDATING THE

WADSWORTH PUBLIC HEALTH LABS AS WELL AS CAPITAL CITY AID TO THE CITY

OF ALBANY. I ALSO COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED TO SEE THE $1 BILLION IN

129

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

GRANTS - GRANTS, NOT LOANS - TO SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING OUR

RESTAURANTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO DISPROPORTIONATELY THROUGHOUT THIS

PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS CREATING JOBS. AND I'M ALL ABOUT JOBS. WHILE WE

DON'T HAVE THE WPA IN HERE, WE DO HAVE THE ARTS, RECOVERY AND

REVITALIZATION, AND A SHOUT-OUT TO THE CHAIR OF OUR ARTS COMMITTEE FOR

GETTING THAT DONE. WE'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS INCREASE FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT. EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY PRE-K, K-12, HIGHER ED AND TAP.

THE -- THE -- FIXING THE TAP GAP AS WELL AS INCREASING TAP IS GOING TO

BE HUGE, AS WELL AS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND AGAIN, OVERALL, WHAT

THIS WILL DO TO HELP JUMP START THE ECONOMY IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST

IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS BUDGET.

AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE

BIGGEST BUDGETS DURING MY TIME. IT'S CERTAINLY THE SINGLE BIGGEST JUMP.

BUT I THINK IT'S AN INVESTMENT NEEDED AND I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. FAHY IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. STECK.

YOU NEED TO --

MR. STECK: YEAH, I GOT IT. WE ONCE HAD A

PRESIDENT WHO TALKED ABOUT BUILDING THE SHINY -- SHINING CITY ON THE

HILL, BUT CONVINCED US WE DID NOT HAVE TO RAISE THE REVENUE NECESSARY

TO PAY FOR IT. AS A RESULT, NEW YORK'S INFRASTRUCTURE HAS DECLINED TO THE

POINT WHERE IT IS GRADED C-. OUR CLIMATE LEADERSHIP LEGISLATION IS

COMPLETELY UNFUNDED. THE STOCK TRANSFER TAX ADDRESSES THOSE ISSUES,

130

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THIS BUDGET DOES NOT. SO IT IS, IN FACT, NOT JUST ABOUT A PARTICULAR BILL.

IT'S, IN FACT, ABOUT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK NOT

JUST FOR ONE YEAR OR TWO, WITH FEDERAL AID. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FILLING IN

THE GAPS. STOCK TRANSFER TAX IS ABOUT A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE NEEDS

OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK. FOR EXAMPLE, AS I ASKED MY

SELF-PROCLAIMED MODERATE FRIENDS, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS GLOBAL CLIMATE

CHANGE WITH MODERATION? I NEVER GET AN ANSWER.

I AM VOTING FOR THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT GETS US TO WHERE

WE WERE BEFORE COVID. I AM HOPING, HOWEVER, THAT WE ARE NOT

CONTENT OR SELF-CONGRATULATORY AND THAT THIS BUDGET WILL DO MORE THAN

JUST FILL IN THE GAPS. THAT THIS BUDGET CAN SERVE MORE POWERFULLY AS A

FOUNDATION SO THAT WE CAN EVENTUALLY PASS LEGISLATION THAT REBUILDS

NEW YORK AS A MODERN GREEN ECONOMY THAT PROVIDES FOR ALL ITS

CITIZENS.

WITH THAT, I WITHDRAW MY REQUEST AND VOTE IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE, MR. SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THANK YOU. MR.

STECK IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. COLTON.

MR. COLTON, YOU NEED TO MUTE -- UNMUTE YOURSELF, SIR.

THERE WE GO.

MR. COLTON: OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MR.

SPEAKER, I RISE TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE BECAUSE WHEN I VOTE ON A BUDGET I

LOOK AT HOW THAT BUDGET MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES

IN NEW YORK STATE. AND THIS BUDGET IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL BECAUSE, IN

131

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

FACT, WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC. WE HOPE TO SEE THE LIGHT

AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL NOT FAR AWAY, BUT IT ISN'T THERE YET. AND THIS

BUDGET IS ONE THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS NOT ONLY OF THE

PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE SYSTEMIC IN TERMS OF THE

NEEDS OF PEOPLE. EDUCATION, THIS BUDGET PROVIDES $1.6 BILLION DEALING

WITH FOUNDATION AID. AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR FISCAL EQUITY, WE'RE NOT

THERE YET. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT PAID OFF IN ONE YEAR, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE

PAID OFF UNDER THIS BUDGET IN A THREE-YEAR INSTALLMENT. THIS BUDGET

DOES TREMENDOUS THINGS IN TERMS OF EASING THE BURDEN ON COLLEGE

STUDENTS. THE TAP GAP IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR

COLLEGE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED. THIS

BUDGET DEALS WITH MANY OF THE CRISES IN HEALTHCARE, IN CHILDCARE. IT

PROVIDES MONIES TO HELP TENANTS WHO ARE GOING TO BECAUSE OF THE

PANDEMIC FACE POSSIBLE EVICTION. AND HOMEOWNERS, SMALL

HOMEOWNERS WHO MAY FACE MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE. THIS BUDGET DEALS

WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS. THIS BUDGET DEALS WITH THE

NEEDS OF PEOPLE, AND IT DOES IT WITHOUT RAISING THE TAXES ON

MIDDLE-INCOME OR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. IT DOES IT BY EQUALIZING SOME

OF THE TAX BURDEN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS PANDEMIC,

WHO HAVE PROSPERED UNDER THIS PANDEMIC, AND NOT FROM THE

MIDDLE-INCOME AND LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED GREATLY.

THEREFORE, MR. CHAIRMAN -- MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO

THANK THE SPEAKER, THE CHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND

THE MAJORITY LEADER FOR MAKING THIS BUDGET POSSIBLE, AND I AM VERY

PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

132

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ACTING SPEAKER J.D. RIVERA: THANK YOU.

MR. GOTTFRIED.

MR. GOTTFRIED: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. YOU

KNOW, WE HAVE NEW YORK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST INDUSTRIAL

DEMOCRACIES ON THE PLANET, HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM TWO FUNDAMENTAL

INJUSTICES: NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A TAX SYSTEM THAT HAS ALLOWED THE

WEALTHIEST NEW YORKERS TO BE UNDER-TAXED COMPARED TO WHAT WORKING

PEOPLE PAY IN TAXES. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THAT UNDER-TAXING HAS

IMPOSED TWO BURDENS ON WORKING PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD WORK

IF THEY COULD. NUMBER ONE, THEY ARE PAYING HIGHER TAXES THAN THEY

OUGHT TO OR NEED TO. AND NUMBER TWO, THEY ARE RECEIVING A LOWER LEVEL

OF SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S HEALTHCARE OR EDUCATION OR HOUSING OR

TRANSPORTATION OR CHILD WELFARE ISSUES AND CHILDCARE. A HOST OF OTHER

THINGS. LOWER LEVEL OF SERVICES THAN THEY OUGHT TO IN A WEALTHY

INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY. AS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE OBSERVED

ABOUT INJUSTICES LIKE THIS, MODERATION IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE IS NO VIRTUE.

THIS BUDGET STARTS TO TURN THIS AROUND AND STARTS NEW

YORK IN A VIGOROUS PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. AND I WANT TO THANK SPEAKER

HEASTIE AND CHAIR WEINSTEIN AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY

WHO HAVE WORKED TO HELP BUILD A BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT PURSUES JUSTICE

FOR NEW YORK. WE'VE BEEN MISSING THAT FOR A LONG TIME. I'M PROUD TO

VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION AND TO CONTINUE THEN TO FIGHT TO MAKE

SURE THAT THE GOOD THINGS IN THIS BUDGET SHOW UP IN THE FINAL BUDGET IN

A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THANK YOU, AND I'M PROUD TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

133

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

ACTING SPEAKER J.D. RIVERA: THANK YOU.

MS. LUNSFORD.

MS. LUNSFORD: ALL OF US WERE ELECTED OR

REELECTED TO THIS BODY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AND I KNOW

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN THAT PROCESS MADE A PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE

WE SERVE TO HELP BRING THEM THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC SAFELY AND TO BUILD

BACK BETTER. THIS BUDGET SERVES THAT GOAL. THIS BUDGET NOT ONLY

ADDRESSES THE DAMAGE DONE TO OUR PEOPLE, TO OUR SCHOOLS, TO OUR

ECONOMY AND TO OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, BUT IT SEIZES THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND IT CREATES A SYSTEM BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT LED US INTO THIS CRISIS TO

BEGIN WITH. WE WILL LEAVE THIS PANDEMIC WITH A STRONGER HEALTHCARE

SYSTEM. WITH A STRONGER CHILDCARE SYSTEM. WE WILL LEAVE IT WITH

BETTER-FUNDED SCHOOLS. WE WILL LEAVE IT WITH MORE JUST LAWS. WE HAVE

INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND. WE HAVE

RESTORED CUTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

WHILE THIS BUDGET DOES NOT SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM OR

MEET EVERY NEED, IT DOES MEET THIS MOMENT. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF

AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO FOUGHT SO HARD TO CREATE A PATH WE COULD ALL

WALK TOGETHER. AND, MR. SPEAKER, I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK

YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER J.D. RIVERA: THANK YOU.

MR. MEEKS.

MR. MEEKS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE TO

VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE COMMITTED TO IS HOW DO WE --

134

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

AND SOMETHING I'VE GIVEN DEEP THOUGHT IS HOW DO WE MOVE FROM A

REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM TO A MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM. WHILE WE

DON'T QUITE GET WHERE A NUMBER OF US HAVE PUSHED TO GO, I THINK THERE'S

STILL WORK TO BE DONE. BUT THIS IS TRULY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO

I'M THANKFUL TO THE STAFF, I'M THANKFUL TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES IN THE

ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS THE ADVOCATES OUT THERE WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO

PUSH AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE NEEDS OF ALL NEW YORKERS. SO I

JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

AGAIN, I RISE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER J.D. RIVERA: THANK YOU.

MS. SIMON.

(PAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. SIMON, YOU NEED

TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.

MS. SIMON: I THOUGHT I HAD. SORRY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

MS. SIMON: SORRY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THAT'S OKAY.

MS. SIMON: I CLICKED ON TWO DIFFERENT BUTTONS.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. AS I SAID LAST YEAR WHEN I

VOTED AGAINST THE -- THE BUDGET BILL, IT WAS A TIME TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE

OF NEW YORK AND IN THE STRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONS THAT CARE FOR OUR

PEOPLE AND LIFT THEM UP. THAT WE NEEDED AN INVESTMENT BUDGET, NOT AN

AUSTERITY BUDGET. THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR IS THE MOST CRITICAL OF OUR LIVES,

AND I WANT TO THANK SPEAKER HEASTIE AND CHAIR WEINSTEIN AND THE

135

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

WAYS AND MEANS STAFF FOR ALL THEY DID TO CRAFT THIS VERY IMPORTANT

BUDGET. LAST YEAR WE NEEDED SO MUCH HELP. PEOPLE HAD LOST THEIR JOBS,

COULDN'T PAY THEIR RENT. THEIR ENTIRE LIVELIHOODS WERE -- WERE GONE.

THEY WEREN'T PROTECTED BY THE BENEFITS PACKAGES THAT EXISTED.

WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WE PROVIDED, IT WASN'T ENOUGH. WE NEEDED HELP

FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR OUR TEACHERS, FOR OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, FOR PPE,

FOR FOOD INSECURITY. AND THE WRITING ON THE WALL TOLD US THAT WHATEVER

WE DID LAST YEAR, THE NEED WOULD BECOME FAR GREATER AS A RESULT OF THE

PANDEMIC. THIS ONE-HOUSE RESOLUTION FIXES MANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE ASSEMBLY HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND

ALLOCATED FEDERAL MONIES TO ENSURE THAT FEDERAL AID SUPPLEMENTS STATE

FUNDING AND DOESN'T SUPPLANT IT, AND I THINK THAT OVERALL APPROACH IS

PRECISELY WHAT OUR STATE NEEDS. I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT STATE

REVENUES ARE BEING GENERATED. WHETHER I LOVE EVERY ASPECT OF IT OR NOT,

WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO GENERATING MUCH-NEEDED RECURRING REVENUE FOR

NEW YORK STATE. THE BUDGET DOES MANY, MANY THINGS. I WON'T LIST

THEM. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ALL DAY LONG. BUT IT -- IMPORTANTLY, IT

PROVIDES FOR MANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT SO MANY OF US FOUGHT FOR ALL THIS

YEAR. IT SETS US ON THE RIGHT PATH. IT IS CLEARLY A FLOOR THAT WE NEED TO

KEEP AND TO HOLD, AND -- BUT IT IS AN ENORMOUS STEP IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION AND I WILL BE PLEASED TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: MS. SIMON IN THE

AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE VOTE.)

136

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2021

THE BILL -- THE RESOLUTION IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MR. SPEAKER, JUST TO

MAKE THE MEMBERS AWARE THAT YOU SHOULD BE HEARING SOMETIME IN THE

IMMINENT FUTURE, LIKE EITHER THIS EVENING OR FIRST THING TOMORROW, ABOUT

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES AS WELL AS THE MOTHERSHIP. BUT BEFORE WE GET

TO THAT, IT IS NOW TIME TO ASK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER

HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: NO, MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES. WE HAVE NEITHER HOUSEKEEPING NOR RESOLUTIONS.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THEN I NOW MOVE THAT

THE ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL 1:30 P.M., TUESDAY, MARCH THE

16TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY: THE ASSEMBLY STANDS

ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 5:55 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL TUESDAY, MARCH 16TH AT 1:30 P.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)

137