Senator O Mara shares his weekly perspective on issues facing New York State government. State investment in our local transportation infrastructure will be essential to the post-COVID future of local communities, economies, environments, governments, and taxpayers.
Senator O Mara offers his weekly perspective on many of the key challenges and issues facing the Legislature, as well as on legislative actions, local initiatives, state programs and policies, and more. Stop back every Monday for Senator O Mara s latest column.
This week,
Since the adoption of the 2021-2022 state budget, I have been outspoken in my strong criticism of this massive $212-billion, tax-and-spend fiscal plan that sets in motion a whole host of future, long-term commitments to massive new spending and taxing by New York State government.
$311 Billion Infrastructure Plan: New York s $311 billion infrastructure plan includes the Governor s $211 billion 2020-24 plan and his $100 billion 2015-2019 plan. The evolving plan increased by $36 billion in the budget with the inclusion of new, key elements of the Midtown West Redevelopment of New York City beginning with Penn Station, Belmont Station Redevelopment, a $3 billion environmental bond act, transportation programs, and additional supportive, affordable, and public housing support, along with incremental adds to existing capital programs.
First-in-the-Nation Affordable Internet for Low-Income Families: The FY 2022 Enacted Budget includes first-in-the-nation legislation requiring internet service providers to offer an affordable $15 per month high-speed internet plan to qualifying low-income households. The State will also require providers to advertise this plan to ensure programs reach underserved populations across the State. To further bridge
ALBANY â Senators and members of the Assembly on Tuesday persisted with hours of debate about taxing the rich, requiring nursing homes to spend 70% of revenue on patient care and other budget policies with the intent of passing the 2021-22 state spending plan six days late.
The stateâs historic $212 billion spending plan includes a provision to legalize mobile sports betting; a new program to map the stateâs availability and cost of high-speed internet services; $29.5 billion in school aid; $29 billion to grow the stateâs green infrastructure and economy; a $105 million expansion for full-day pre-Kindergarten in all public school districts; and $2.1 billion for benefits for excluded essential workers such as undocumented immigrants and people recently released from prison.