Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) took part in the General Budget Conference Committee, which officially kicks off budget negotiations between the two houses of the Legislature and the governor. Palmesano says he is grateful to take part and help represent the Minority Conference, but he is calling for the negotiations to be more transparent than usual.

“It is an honor to help represent our Conference in this budget committee. As we move forward in negotiations, we need to make sure we are crafting a budget that is fiscally responsible. That includes ending the tax-and-spend policies that have done nothing but drive people away from the state. We need a spending cap to ensure that at a time when families are having to tighten their budgets, Albany does the same. The negotiations must also be transparent and open so the public can see what is going on; it is not fair for the taxpayers not to see how their money is being spent until the day we vote on it. Moving forward in this process, I will continue to push not only for fiscal restraint but also transparency, because New Yorkers deserve nothing less,” said Palmesano.