State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Upper East Side, Lenox Hill) released a statement today following the passage of the New York State Budget, showing that she was (mostly) satisfied with what was conceived.
After months of negotiation, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and the Democratic-controlled State Legislature reached an agreement and approved the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2019-2020 Budget. As the current Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Krueger played an instrumental role in formulating the budget.
“I am very proud that in my first year as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, under the leadership of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and working closely with so many dedicated colleagues in the Majority Conference, we have delivered a budget that is fiscally responsible and addresses the needs of New Yorkers in every part of our state,” said Krueger.
Among the most noteworthy measures approved in this year’s budget were a $1 billion boost in school aid funding, a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, an abolishment of cash bail for most nonviolent crimes, and a congestion pricing fee imposed on drivers entering Manhattan anywhere south of 61st Street.
“Any budget, by its very nature, is a product of compromises,” said Krueger. “But this budget represents a significant step in the right direction on a wide variety of issues and demonstrates our commitment to the entire state and to investing in New York’s most valuable resources – our people.”
This is not to say that Krueger was completely satisfied. As she detailed in the latter half of her statement, there were several measures excluded from this year’s budget that she wanted to see implemented.
“It is vital that we get to work immediately on these important issues, including truly delivering quality education for all New York students; tackling our growing recycling crisis with a multi-faceted approach that includes expanding the bottle bill; and legalizing adult-use marijuana in a way that restores and empowers the communities most impacted by the drug war,” said Krueger.
Kruger concluded with a pledge to continue her effort to address those issues – plus several others that lie outside the purview of the budget, such as rent reform, voter protection and addressing climate change – in the State Senate.
“I look forward to tackling these challenges together with my colleagues, and grasping this historic chance to build a New York where opportunity and prosperity are shared by all New Yorkers,” said Krueger.
