Mondello to Spitzer: New Yorkers Deserve On-Time Budget

ALBANY, NY (03/26/2007)(readMedia)-- New York Republican State Committee Chairman Joseph N. Mondello today urged Governor Eliot Spitzer to "put the interests of average New Yorkers above partisanship" as Albany's internecine budget battles enter the last six days before the legal deadline for adopting a state budget.

"New Yorkers expected everything to change on Day 1 of the new administration," Mondello stated. "It would be sadly ironic if the first real change in Albany under Governor Spitzer would be the state's failure, after two successful on-time budgets under the former Republican governor, to meet the legally required April 1st budget deadline.

"New Yorkers are looking for leadership from our new governor," the state GOP chairman continued. "And leadership means bringing people together, from both sides of the aisle, in the spirit of compromise and conciliation to achieve a budget that serves the best interests of all the people of New York.

"Leadership isn't about scoring political points or issuing expletive laced threats about steam-rolling the opposition into submission, it's about fostering a healthy dialogue among the people's elected representatives that will meet the many challenges facing our state and its citizens.

"New Yorkers are crying out for property tax relief, an equitable solution to our state's education funding needs that doesn't pit one section of the state against another, and real reform that preserves -- not decimates -- the health care safety net that is relied upon by our state's neediest citizens.

"Real change is possible in New York, but only if all our elected representatives work together in the true spirit of bi-partisanship.

"Governor Spitzer has the opportunity, over the next six days, to turn his catchy campaign slogan about 'everything changing on day one' into a reality that gives the people of New York hope about the future of their state government.

"The Governor can give New Yorkers that hope by providing the leadership necessary to bring all the parties in the current budget controversy together over the next six days to hammer out the compromises necessary to enact the third-consecutive on-time state budget," Mondello concluded.

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