Local Assemblymen Weigh In On New Governor

Now that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been officially sworn in as the state's 56th governor, he can take the first steps in dealing with the many pressing issues facing New York. Topping that list is a $9 billion budget deficit, continuing concerns about tax rates and shrinking state aid to local schools.

During his inaugural address in Albany on Saturday, Cuomo said that people are disappointed with the government and  have been suffering because of the economy. He also specifically mentioned the challenges being faced by homeowners on Long Island related to high property taxes and shrinking home values.

Assemblymen James Conte (R, Huntington Station) and Andrew Raia (R, East Northport) gave their point of view on the governor's inaugural address.

PATCH: What were your overall thoughts on the governor's inaugural address?

JAMES CONTE: The governor's speech was on point. He spoke on the urgent need for Albany to put its fiscal and ethical house in order, reduce the size of government, cap taxes and improve the state's languishing economy. Since many of Gov. Cuomo's proposals mirror those long supported by Assembly Republicans, he will have 51 allies if he is serious about transforming the political culture in Albany.

ANDREW RAIA: I thought the governor said all the right things.

PATCH: What were the topics you were glad he touched upon?

CONTE: I was pleased that the governor addressed tax caps and the need to restructure our bloated state government. A property and spending cap will help save Long Islanders money, both long and short term, and restructuring state government will help restore the public's faith in their government, while putting the state on a firmer fiscal footing, which will enable New Yorkers to rebound from the current economic crisis more quickly.

RAIA: The one thing I found particularly heartening in Governor Cuomo's speech is that he singled out Long Island in having extremely high property taxes.

PATCH: What topics would you have liked the governor to have addressed?

CONTE: I would have liked him to acknowledge how Albany continues to overtax its citizens and businesses, which has directly attributed to the loss of private sector jobs across the state.     

PATCH: Did you hear any significant new ideas or proposals in the governor's address? Do you feel the new governor will be able to end the dysfunctional nature that has plagued Albany for years?

CONTE: I was intrigued by the governor's Emergency Financial Initiative, which is his plan to get the state's fiscal house in order. With the state in the midst of a fiscal crisis, the legislature should declare a state of emergency to ensure that the state government's finances are put in order and that taxpayers are not left on the hook for Albany's fiscal incompetence.  

PATCH: Do you feel the new governor will be able to end the dysfunctional nature that has plagued Albany for years? What will it take to do this?

CONTE: It will take 109 elected officials to reform Albany; 76 members of the Assembly, 32 members of the Senate and the governor. However, to pass these critical reforms, the bills must be allowed to come to the floor for an up or down vote. For substantive change to occur in Albany, pressure must be placed on the legislative leaders from individual legislators, the general public and the executive mansion. Gov. Cuomo will need to demonstrate himself as a leader in order to ensure that important legislation is not allowed to languish.  He will also need to use the bully pulpit to keep the general public engaged in the legislative process in Albany.

RAIA: It's my hope that the governor will be able deliver on half of what he said and I look forward to working with him in a bipartisan fashion for those things that are extremely important for Long Island. This includes getting our fair share of state funding, the property tax cap and shrinking the size of government and pension reform. If we don't do them now, it's just going to be the beginning of the end. The bottom line is, yes we've been called dysfunctional, but when push comes to shove, we're in far better shape then, say, California, and yet we took a much more severe blow with respect to Wall Street.