As Governor Cuomo made clear, the difficult choices that we have had to make in recent years have erased a sizeable structural deficit and we are in a much better fiscal position. I share the Governor’s broad priorities to address the property tax burden, increase education funding, and create a more business friendly environment. In the coming weeks, I look forward to assessing the details of the budget proposal and discussing it with my constituents and colleagues in the Legislature with the goal of enacting an on-time, responsible budget that strategically invests in areas that will allow the state to reach its full potential.