Statement from Unshackle Upstate Executive Director Brian Sampson Regarding Governor Paterson's

ROCHESTER, NY (10/15/2009)(readMedia)-- Statement from Unshackle Upstate Executive Director Brian Sampson Regarding Governor Paterson's Deficit Reduction Plan:

"The governor is to be praised for taking a leadership role and recommending significant cuts in state spending and, importantly, not recommending increases in taxes and fees," said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. "It is a good starting point. However, we remain concerned that some of the governor's proposed cuts, such as those to Medicaid and education, could have a disproportionate and negative impact on upstate schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Overall, though, the governor's cuts are a good first step."

"The Unshackle Upstate coalition recently recommended roughly $9 billion in spending cuts that we believe target the systematic problems that continue to drive up taxes and the cost of doing business in New York," Sampson added. "It is now up to the legislature to act with taxpayers not special interests in mind to ensure this does not occur, and to treat these cuts as a starting point. The legislature must come to a consensus and not water down these fiscally prudent measures."

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Unshackle Upstate is a bi-partisan coalition represents more than 45,000 employers with approximately 1.5 million workers in every region of upstate. The coalition's website www.unshackleupstate.com provides a direct way for citizens to send a message to elected officials in Albany.