Diaz (again)....

good question... (0.00 / 0)

...the local news media focused all weekend on the possibility that state government could "shut down" if a budget extension wasn't enacted by Monday; and then...when the extension was passed...they, basically, acted as if everything is fine. Is the legislature planning on continuing to delay a final budget forever? They just keep enacting extension after extension. It would be great for them to get around to doing their job and pass a final budget.

A couple of other thoughts regarding the budget:

a)As a long-time progressive, "government spending" has never been a major issue with me (as long as it's fiscally prudent, and balanced by revenue); however, this NIMBY attitude of the people objecting every time some cuts are proposed to bring the budget into balance...is beginning to get to me. Something has to give; something has to be cut, in order to balance the state's budget, by law. None of the cuts proposed by the Governor are cuts that he wants to make...they are all cuts that he, reluctantly, feels necessary to balance the budget. Whenever someone objects to these cuts, they need to start telling us where they would recommend cuts be made instead. Nobody is doing that.

b)It's shocking to me to see not just one, but three Republican members of the Senate who have decided not to vote in lock-step with their party. This must be the first time that the Republican caucus in the NYS Senate has not voted in lock-step in a long time. This feels to me like an historical achievement. This seems like a good sign to me.

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by: paco @ Tue Jun 15, 2010 at 15:09:47 PM UTC

Diaz is holding our caucus hostage (0.00 / 0)

No surprise, considering that Ruben Diaz Sr. has shown time and time again that he cares about only one person's interests; his own.

That's why we need to support Charlie Ramos in the primary.

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by: BingChester @ Tue Jun 15, 2010 at 16:10:20 PM UTC

I would have voted HELL NO. (0.00 / 0)

Extenders are bullshit.  They sap the urgency from the legislature to actually do something about the budget.  I would have gone on the record as being steadfast against any extenders for all but the most dire circumstances, and since I don't live in Albany, I can get away with it.

Same goes for these school "contingency" budgets.  These are the reason taxpayers are getting hosed every year, because there are no consequences for not doing your job.  Too much of this goes on in Albany, and it's time somebody put their foot down.

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by: Steaming Pile @ Tue Jun 15, 2010 at 19:23:29 PM UTC