Budget process undemocratic

To the editor,

We should not celebrate Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature passing a budget on time. This is what they get paid to do. This budget was negotiated behind closed doors by Mr. Cuomo, Republican state Sen. Leader John Flanagan, his partner state Sen. Jeff Klein and Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Only they, their key aids and many of the infamous Albany State Street lobbyists were privy to the details.  Democratic state Sen. Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Republican Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, along with virtually all members of the Senate and Assembly, were left out of the process.  

Too many members view the funding of member item pork barrel projects as a path to grease the wheels of reelection or run for higher public office. Like a monkey on their back, they appear to be addicted to this spending. Mr. Flanagan and Mr. Heastie both use this as a tool to keep their respective loyal flocks in line. Vote as directed by the “leadership” for adoption of the new budget, and you will receive your share of this $1.5 billion pot of gold.  Those few Democrats who have to run in competitive races receive “extra” earmarks from Mr. Heastie courtesy of taxpayers. The same is true for Mr. Flanagan. 

Did members of legislature take an Evelyn Wood speed reading class to absorb the thousands of pages contained in this spending bill?  They received these only hours before being asked to vote up or down. Liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, we would all be better off if our Assembly and Senate members took the time to actually read, line by line, any proposed legislation before voting.  Their legislative actions impact both our economic and civil liberties.  Future generations may have to pay for and live with the consequences. 

There should have been an open budget process agency by agency. The public, media and members of the legislature should have been afforded sufficient time to read the fine print line by line, page by page and conduct an open debate before adoption.

Larry Penner