Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I – Merrick) called for the passage of the Assembly Minority Conference’s Deficit Reduction Package (DRP), which was given to the governor over a month ago. The Assembly Minority DRP incorporates many of the cuts proposed by the governor, but also eliminates cuts to education and Medicaid by proposing cuts in less essential areas. These alternative cuts total $1.66 billion and include the elimination of member items, cuts to state land acquisition, agency consolidations and a reduction in the cost of contracts the state enters into.