“News that the Senate Democrats have left Albany without finishing the 2010-11 State Budget is unconscionable and unfathomable to me and millions of New York taxpayers who have waited over three months for the Democrat Majorities to do their jobs and get a fiscally responsible spending plan done. This irresponsibility cannot be justified. The Senate Democrats had an obligation to stay in Albany, complete their negotiations and get the 2010-11 State Budget passed without further delay. The Senate Democrats have shirked this shared responsibility with seemingly no regard for the people they are supposed to serve who want a budget passed.”

Assembly Republican Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) announced the recent passage of legislation he sponsored – Assembly Bill A.8961 – officially renaming a portion of State Route 96A in Seneca County as the “Sampson Veterans Memorial Highway.”

The Sampson United States Naval and Air Force Base served as a naval training station during World War II and later used as an Air Force Basic Training Center. A parcel of land in Sampson State Park, formerly part of the Base, will be the site of the new Sampson Veterans Cemetery. The Sampson Memorial Naval Museum and Air Force Museum are also located at this site.

“I am proud to give Seneca County residents an additional opportunity to remember the veterans who protected our freedoms. The part of State Route 96A that connects Waterloo and Ovid in Seneca County will now honor the efforts of our country’s courageous service men and women,” said Leader Kolb.

“Visitors traveling to the Sampson Veterans Cemetery and the Sampson Memorial Naval Museum and Air Force Museum will use this road, along with local families. I hope that seeing signs for the ‘Veterans Highway’ will inspire parents to tell their children about the countless sacrifices that local veterans made in service to our country,” Leader Kolb said.

Leader Kolb has been a strong supporter of legislation that would aid veterans. Examples include the Assembly Republican Conference’s “New York Salute” plan that would extend small business ownership benefits to disabled veterans and establish a wage tax credit for businesses employing members of the National Guard and Reserves. Additionally, the Conference’s “New York Homes for Heroes” plan would expand the federal home loan guarantee for certain New York State National Guard and Reserve veterans and make the Affordable Home Ownership Development Program available to service-related disabled veterans.

The “Sampson Veterans Memorial Highway” Senate companion legislation was sponsored by Senator Michael Nozzolio. That bill and Kolb’s legislation have passed both houses of the Legislature and are awaiting Governor Paterson’s signature.
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Say this for Albany and our dysfunctional state government: at least it is consistent! As of this week, there are now two missed deadlines to report on. First, the 2010-11 State Budget – which was due back on April 1 – is now, are you ready for this? – 86 days past due. For over seven weeks, Albany has dithered and delayed while stuck in denial about the new fiscal reality the Empire State faces: a $9.2 billion budget deficit, local taxes that are 79 percent higher than the national average and over 800,000 New Yorkers out of work. Any surplus is long gone and been replaced by chronic shortfall, while generational theft has robbed younger New Yorkers of the brighter fiscal future they deserve.

Second, the overtime clock is now ticking on the Assembly’s “extended” session. The last officially scheduled session day was supposed to be Monday June 21. Like so many of Albany’s deadlines, this too came and went. Every day past June 21 costs taxpayers more money as they shoulder the costs of keeping our state Legislature convened. Keep in mind that these are the very same taxpayers already suffering from a state spending plan not being enacted months ago.

DIFFERENT SONG, SAME TUNE: HIGHER TAXES

Regular readers of my weekly column are already well aware of my opposition to last year’s bad budget and how its $8.5 billion in job-killing taxes and fees, along with an unsustainable 10 percent hike in government spending, put us on a collision course with financial disaster. It’s the hardworking folks of New York State who are paying the price – and then some.

Exactly how – and how much – we will be paying remains to be seen. Only Governor Paterson and the Democrat Majority leadership know at this point what additional financial hardships will be borne by New York’s businesses and middle class families. I’m referring to the folks down the street, the people you know, who are working longer and harder but struggling to make ends meet because of New York’s crushing costs, high taxes and runaway fees.

The school year may have just ended but, if the whispered sales tax on clothing is enacted, families could be faced with higher taxes on clothing in the months to come. Remember, all of this is on top of the billions in tax and fee hikes that were rammed through last year.

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KOLB WEEKLY COLUMN – PAGE 2
06.25.2010

CHANGE IS NEVER EASY – BUT IT CAN HAPPEN

Before I entered public service, I ran manufacturing companies in the private sector so I can say with complete confidence that if a business was run in the same inept way state government is, it would be out of business – fast. As anyone who runs a successful business, farm, or household knows, you don’t spend more than you earn. And you certainly don’t spend and then demand someone else to pay for it. But that is precisely what happens in Albany.

However, despite all the problems, all the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Even in a state government as broken as ours, reform can happen, change is possible. The key is not to quit, but to keep fighting. It begins by convening a “People’s Constitutional Convention” that empowers taxpayers to take back their state government. To learn more, visit www.reformny.org – while you’re there, sign the petition.

BEING NAMED A “HERO OF REFORM”

As bad as things are in Albany, there are many people and good-government groups hard at work to reform it. That’s why I was honored to be recognized this week by one of them: “NY Uprising,” a non-partisan, independent good government coalition founded by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch. They awarded me their “Hero of Reform” Seal of Approval. Earlier this year, I signed their three reform pledges in the areas of independent redistricting, ethical government and responsible budgeting. I also signed the New York Public Interest Research Group’s (NYPIRG) “Pledge for Change” and will work with anyone committed to fixing state government. In the meantime, I, along with our Assembly Republican Conference, will continue championing the non-partisan cause of real reform. Here’s how:

 Advancing non-partisan legislation and continuing to holding public Town Halls across the state to build support for a non-partisan “People’s Convention to Reform New York” that would empower taxpayers to take back their state government;

 Sponsoring and supporting legislation to enact term limits for Legislative Leaders and legislators; protecting families with a property tax cap; imposing a state spending cap to restore fiscal accountability; and establishing procedures for “initiative, referendum and recall,” which grants taxpayers the ability to vote to create laws, repeal laws and remove elected officials; and

 Championing bi-partisan ethics reform legislation to move New York State’s government another step closer toward having the toughest ethics laws in the nation.

I will not give up the fight for real reform, reduced government spending, lower taxes for hardworking families and the creation of good paying jobs here in the Empire State.

As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic, or any other state-related matter should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and informational updates regarding state government and our Assembly Republican Conference.
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Signing NY Uprising’s reform pledges was just part of Kolb’s continued efforts to advance the cause of true reform and fix New York’s broken state government. Kolb has also:

 Spoken at “Albany On-the-Record,” a statewide webcast and public forum sponsored by a coalition of good government groups to discuss the need for reform and restore taxpayers’ faith and confidence in state government;

 Introduced non-partisan legislation (Assembly Bill A.9157) and held public Town Halls across the state to build support for a non-partisan, grassroots “People’s Convention to Reform New York” that would empower taxpayers to take back their state government and chart a positive new direction for the Empire State. More details on the “People’s Convention” can be found at www.reformny.org;

 Sponsored and supported legislation to enact term limits for Legislative Leaders and legislators, protect families with a property tax cap; impose a state spending cap to restore fiscal accountability; and establish procedures for “initiative, referendum and recall” which grants taxpayers the ability to vote to create laws, repeal laws and remove elected officials; and

 Co-sponsored bi-partisan ethics reform legislation (Assembly Bills A.9544 and A.9032) which would have moved New York State’s government another step closer toward having the toughest ethics laws in the nation, which is one of Kolb’s top priorities.

“I want to thank Mayor Koch and New York Uprising for their determination to bring real change to New York and for recognizing me as a ‘Hero of Reform.’ I will continue working with them and any good government group or individual who is committed to making our state government more ethical, accountable and responsive to the needs of taxpayers,” Kolb said.

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“Once again, instead of doing the jobs they were elected to do, the Assembly and Senate Democrat Majorities opted to pass their 12th emergency budget extender. Today’s extender contained a provision that would move forward the state’s collection of taxes on cigarettes sold on Native American lands to non-Native American Indians, a step I have been pushing New York to take for years. However, the legislation did not go far enough. It failed to include motor fuel and other products sold on Native American lands to non-Native American Indians. Another concern was the fact that the measure would not take effect until September 1, which represents another delay that we cannot afford. Make no mistake, New York needs to enforce the law, collect all of these taxes and level the playing field – and it needs to do so now, not in September.

However, this 12th budget extender also contained nearly $300 million in increased taxes and continues a piecemeal approach to budgeting that is not working for taxpayers. Both of these measures ‘poisoned the well’ making it impossible for me to support the extender. New Yorkers already pay some of the nation’s highest taxes – increasing them even further won’t solve our fiscal problems. Nor will allowing New York’s broken budget process to continue unraveling accomplish any goal.

New York has been without a complete spending plan for 82 days and the fact we are here in June, on the final scheduled day of Assembly session, voting on still another extender, shows how serious the disconnect is between Albany and the real world.

I will continue leading the fight to collect all of the sales taxes from cigarettes, motor fuel and other products sold on Native American lands to non-Native American Indians. This measure was too important for the Democrat Majorities to try to play politics with. It should have been advanced as a stand-alone piece of legislation, just as we should be passing a fiscally responsible spending plan in its entirety as opposed to more piecemeal extenders.”

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Readers have likely heard the old expression “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Nowhere is that sentiment more apparent, and appropriate, than at our state capitol, as the Assembly and Senate head toward the scheduled conclusion of the 2010 legislative session. As usual, there is a mad dash to finish, where bill after bill is passed in a flurry of legislative activity. Don’t be fooled: this is just Albany trying to make up for entire wasted weeks where little of substance was accomplished.

This year, the end-of-session sprint included a last-minute effort to finally enact the 2010-11 State Budget which, as of this column’s writing, is a staggering 79 days past due. The budget was originally supposed to be in place back on April 1, which is New York’s fiscal deadline. But Albany’s “business as usual” approach to doing the people’s business – and actually meeting deadlines – doesn’t exactly mix. That is why much of this week saw more lip service to getting a spending plan done than substantive progress.

RECENT PUBLIC LEGISLATIVE LEADERS’ MEETING WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT

On Wednesday, when the budget was 77 days overdue, Governor Paterson convened our fifth public Legislative Leaders’ meeting since the budget deadline was missed. As readers are well aware, I have continually called for public Leaders’ meetings stretching all the way back to July 2009. I wanted these meetings so we head off the disastrous repercussions of last year’s bad budget and its $8.5 billion in job-killing taxes and fees, along with an unsustainable – and unwise – 10 percent hike in government spending. However, my push was for productive Leaders’ meetings, where things of actual substance could be accomplished. Unfortunately, our meeting on Wednesday seemed like more of a photo op than a serious-minded attempt to break the late budget stalemate.

The Governor apparently called our meeting to grab headlines by pronouncing a “deadline” of June 28 for the Majorities to get the 2010-11 State Budget done. This ultimatum might have carried more weight 11 weeks ago, when the budget was actually due. Why the Governor chose to issue this meaningless deadline 77 days after the budget was already supposed to be in place is truly a mystery. The Governor’s deadline might have made a difference if it had been issued back in March. On June 16? Not so much.
I have led the fight and continually spoken out for getting a fiscally responsible and financially sound State Budget in place as quickly as possible. As you have read in this column, week after week I urged the Governor to bring the Majorities to the table, follow the law, and convene Joint Conference Committees to ensure budget negotiations were 100 percent open and transparent. Incredibly, the Joint Conference Committee has not met since the budget was due. As a result, there has been more secrecy than usual surrounding the 2010-11 State Budget.

BUY NOW, PAY LATER?

During our Leaders’ meeting, the Governor also confirmed that he had not reached an agreement with the Senate and Assembly Majorities regarding a revenue plan that must accompany the budget. The absence of such a plan means government is essentially deciding what to buy before figuring out how it can pay. Does that sound like a fiscally responsible idea? Of course not. It is this sort of financially irresponsible approach to spending the taxpayers’ money that caused New York’s $9.2 billion budget deficit.

The good news right now is that it does appear that a budget will finally pass – 79 days late – by
the time you read this column. The past 79 days with no state spending plan has negatively impacted construction contractors and their workers, non-profit organizations, local school districts, not to mention taxpayers who have been forced to wait 79 days for the Majorities to do their jobs and pass a spending plan.

MUCH UNFINISHED BUSINESS ON ALBANY’S TO-DO LIST

Monday, June 21, is the last official scheduled day of the 2010 Legislative Session. Had the state’s fiscal crisis been addressed long before now, other significant priorities would not be left to linger on the back burner. Instead of routinely going into session at 2 p.m., the Majorities
should have started session earlier so we could get the spending plan enacted and then move forward with the people’s business.

There is much remaining on Albany’s “To-Do” list that still needs to get done. These issues include enactment of a property tax cap and state spending cap; renewal of the Power for Jobs Program; implementation of a real statewide economic development plan to create an economic climate that grows the private sector; reforming and consolidating State Agencies and providing unfunded mandate relief for local governments and taxpayers. The to-do list goes on for a country mile. As the remaining hours in the 2010 session continue to wind down, I will keep pushing for action on these agenda items. If, as expected, the State Budget finally gets enacted by the time this column goes to print, I will include specific details on the contents of the spending plan for readers in next week’s column.

As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic, or any other state-related matter should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and informational updates regarding state government and our Assembly Republican Conference.

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest, and nation’s oldest, firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, the organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Its membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state.

Earlier this year, Kolb held the first-ever “Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day” in Albany, a public event that was widely attended and provided sportsmen and women an opportunity to network with other outdoor enthusiasts from across the state and meet with legislators to discuss the important role of “Heritage Sports” and other activities.

The event showcased the positive role of outdoor activities in the lives of New Yorkers, as well as the state’s economy, and provided hunters, sportsmen and outdoor recreation enthusiasts the chance to weigh in on the critical legislative issues affecting them. Approximately 2,500 individuals from all over New York attended the event, which featured comments by New York State Rifle & Pistol Association President Tom King, among others.

Kolb also created the Assembly Republican Agriculture, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Task Force, a 16-Member entity charged with gathering information from local farmers, hunting and fishing organizations, agri-business owners and tourism officials on ways to improve New York’s outdoor recreation industry. The Task Force regularly travels throughout the state, developing strategies to promote outdoor recreation and raise awareness of the positive impact tourism has on the state’s economy.
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The month of June is celebrated throughout the country as “Dairy Month” and I cannot think of folks more deserving of our recognition than the hardworking family farmers here in New York State. Speaking as someone who is proud to call our Finger Lakes region home, I have always felt a strong connection to our community’s family farms and am continually impressed by their daily dedication to this way of life. It is a life that begins each day, well before dawn, and never slows down. New York’s family farmers are some of the hardest-working people you will ever meet and are the true backbone of our state’s economy.

In honor of New York’s dairy farmers, producers and providers, I hosted, along with the Assembly Republican Conference and Members from the Assembly Majority Conference,
our annual Dairy Day celebration in Albany last week. It was a terrific event that again showcased a true cross section of New York’s dairy industry, including the New York Farm Bureau; Northeast Dairy Foods Association; and American Dairy Association and Dairy Council. Dairy farms and distributors provided delicious free samples of their award-winning, nutritious products. Our Conference and I appreciate and thank them for their continued support for, and participation in, our Dairy Day festivities.

RAISE A GLASS OF MILK FOR NY’S HARDWORKING FAMILY DAIRY FARMERS

According to the State Department of Agriculture & Markets, we have many reasons to raise a cold glass of milk and toast our tireless dairy farmers. New York is the nation’s third-largest dairy state with 5,400 dairy farms and over 100 dairy processing plants. Last year alone, our hardworking dairy farms produced – are you ready for this – 716 million pounds of cheese; 171 million pounds of cottage cheese; 15 million pounds of butter; 225 million pounds of yogurt and 37 million gallons of ice cream. Now that’s a lot of dairy!

Aside from their tremendous financial contribution to our state, family farming has been, and must remain, a vital part of New York’s cultural heritage. As Assemblyman for the 129th District, I am honored to represent our dedicated family farmers in Albany and fight for their interests across the state. I have voted for, and sponsored, many non-partisan legislative initiatives that will help protect and preserve our family farms and will continue standing up for New York State’s strong farming tradition.
The good news is that we can all support our New York family farms by purchasing milk and other local dairy products that are produced and sold right here in our state. Eating more locally produced fresh ice cream is a personal sacrifice that I am confident many New Yorkers are more than willing to make!

ENFORCE THE LAW, COLLECT THE TAX – NOW!

At the time of this column’s writing, the 2010-11 State Budget is now 71 days overdue. The lack of a state spending plan is hurting non-profits, construction contractors and their workers, along with all of New York’s taxpayers who are sick and tired of late State Budgets. I share their feelings and frustration! I believe our top priority must be getting a fiscally responsible state spending plan done and in place as quickly as possible. With only five scheduled Assembly session days remaining, there is not a moment to waste.

A major sticking point to getting the budget done is closing New York’s massive $9.02 billion budget gap. One of the many real solutions I offered back in March to close the deficit was for state government to finally move forward and collect an estimated $600 million in taxes on cigarettes and gasoline sold on Native American lands to non-Native American Indians.

Earlier this week, I proudly stood with members of the “Enforce the Law-Collect the Tax Coalition,” along with other state officials from both political parties, to again push New York to move forward in collecting these much-needed revenues. The collection of these taxes must be a top priority before this legislative session concludes – Albany cannot be allowed to put it off for another year. I will continue speaking out, sponsoring legislation and leading the push for New York to secure this money so we can begin to close the deficit. The time for further delay or additional review is over. It is time to move forward – it is time to enforce the law, collect the taxes and level the playing field for all retailers.

HONORING OUR FLAG AND THOSE THAT FIGHT IN ITS HONOR

June 14 is “Flag Day,” which officially commemorates the 1777 adoption of the United States’ flag. The stars and stripes represent the very ideals our great country was founded upon: liberty, and freedom. So today, in advance of Flag Day, I want to pause and give my heartfelt thanks to all those who already sacrificed, as well as the military men, women and their families who sacrifice today. I, and all New Yorkers, say “thank you” for your service on behalf of our American flag, a truly grateful nation and all that it stands for. Stars and Stripes forever!

As always, constituents wishing to discuss this topic, or any other state-related matter should contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and informational updates regarding state government and our Assembly Republican Conference.

“At our public Legislative Leaders’ meeting this morning, I asked Governor Paterson why he had not provided important budgetary information to the Minority Conferences as was promised, and why the Majorities in both houses have still not convened the Joint Conference Committee as state law requires. Since he seemed to have forgotten, I reminded the Governor that our Assembly Republican Conference had already provided to him, and the other Conferences, a detailed list of ideas to achieve billions in budgetary savings over three months ago.

For all his talk of transparency, yesterday the Governor chose to meet behind closed doors with the Assembly and Senate Democrat Majorities and exclude the Minorities from the conversation. This type of secrecy produced last year’s bad budget that set the stage for the tough decisions New York now faces. I told the Governor that taxpayers are tired of a broken process and broken promises that have amounted to little more than window dressing at a time when New York’s spending plan is now 70 days past due.

As I have been saying throughout this process, the state budget should not be done on a piecemeal basis: it should be presented in its entirety, with a detailed financial and revenue plan. If the Governor and Majorities are going to put forth a spending plan, they must define how it is paid for. So far, they have not done so. This is not the way budgets are constructed by families or businesses. In the real world, people know what their expenditures and revenues are. We need a comprehensive budget plan that clearly lists revenues and expenditures, done at one time, in an open, public process that follows the Budget Reform Act of 2007. Doing so will ensure a complete spending plan is finally brought to the floor for an up or down vote.”

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“This morning, I proudly stood with members of the ‘Enforce the Law-Collect the Tax Coalition’ and other state officials from both political parties to again call for New York to move forward in collecting hundreds of millions in revenues being lost through cigarettes and gasoline sold on Native American lands to non-Native American Indians. The collection of these taxes must be a top priority before this legislative session concludes – Albany cannot be allowed to put it off for another year. I will continue speaking out, sponsoring legislation and leading the push for New York to secure these revenues. The time for further delay or additional review is over. It is time to move forward. It is time to enforce the law and collect the taxes.”