| Governor David Paterson has concluded his first State of the State Address. You can read the full speech here.
As Governor Paterson just wrote here, this is our time to lead. This is no time for politics. In a recent interview, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt told me that a "crisis is a terrible thing to waste." That is very true. We can't sit down and complain that we are in a crisis. We must start working our way out of this crisis.
Governor Paterson highlighted many different issues during his address today. He talked about health care and proposed expanding health care for individuals ages 19 to 29 who could still be covered under their family's health insurance plan. Paterson also made a strong case for his proposed obesity tax, which has drawn criticism, not necessarily because of what the obesity tax stands for, but because it is another tax. More taxes and fees aren't the answer. However, Paterson made a strong case in support of addressing the issue of childhood obesity. That was worth noting.
Paterson also discussed education, economic development, energy and the environment. I loved his mention of the Erie Canal and how the canal's construction created a revolutionary means of travel and something that would be historic even 200 years after it was built. The Erie Canal was for the 1800s what things like high speed rail could be for us in the 21st century. We should utilize that comparison going forward and use it to build a stronger case for high speed rail and other transportation initiatives moving forward.
I thought Paterson was eloquent and intelligent. He presented some great ideas. Although I disagree with him on the budget and other issues like the tax cap, I believe he presented a strong agenda for the upcoming year that was both progressive and responsible. |
