(Albany, NY)- “I am incredibly disappointed that we have reached the point today that we have to pass temporary budget extenders to keep our state government working and ensure essential services are provided to New Yorkers who rely on them. I had hoped to be able to announce by now that we had passed a fiscally sound budget that addressed the needs of middle-class New Yorkers. However, due to a recalcitrant Assembly, and a Governor with higher political aspirations, we have not done so.”

“During the entire budget process, my colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference and I have been negotiating in good faith with our counterparts in the Assembly and the Executive. We had conceptual agreement on key issues, including legalization of ride sharing in upstate New York; record funding for clean water; and increased funding for secondary and higher education. Leaders in the Assembly would not address these issues without raise-the-age in the budget. This an incredibly sensitive issue that should not be dealt with in the budget; it is a social issue, not a budgetary issue.”

“While this temporary budget extender covers expenses through May 31, my Republican colleagues and I are committed to passing a budget that reflects the values of middle-class New Yorkers as soon as possible”