I commend Governor Pataki for assembling a public meeting with the four legislative leaders today to foster an open dialogue for creating a better budget process. This gathering was especially significant to the people of New York State as each and every one of them was represented in the room when we met.

After twenty consecutive years of late state budgets, New Yorkers expect and deserve a budget that is on-time this year. The Assembly Minority Conference has long been the champion of real budget reform and we are encouraged by all of the positive developments that continue to occur to move an "on-time" budget process forward.

I am heartened by this bi-partisan effort today and hope that it is the first of many efforts that foster an atmosphere of congeniality and productivity. It is my ardent hope and desire that, although we sometimes represent very diverse constituencies, we can continue to zealously advocate for the interests that are important to them, while at the same time do so with respect for one another, the people of this great state, the process and the institution.

Let today be the first of these public meetings, the initial step towards a more cooperative, timely and orderly process that will result in a fair and sound budget that is enacted before the end of this fiscal year. I stand committed, as do the members of the Assembly Minority Conference, to do whatever we can to help achieve that end.