Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) tonight expressed his support for the 2013-14 New York State budget, saying it was on-time and provided needed relief for Long Island.

“I am very pleased that we’ve been able to complete our third consecutive on-time budget,” said McDonough. “I am also happy we were able to restore aid for nearly all our schools and take steps to increase the funding. We expect a high quality education for our students and they deserve this commitment to their future.”

However, McDonough also acknowledged the shortfalls of the budget, including his great disappointment with the lack of funding for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). During his floor debate, McDonough gave an impassioned plea of support for the budget amendment put forward by the Assembly Minority that would have restored $90 million to the agency.

“We work for the people, and there are people who cannot be here today because they’re physically unable to be here. But if we showed the courage to do the right thing, then we could go home and say we helped somebody - the people,” concluded McDonough.

Video of McDonough’s perspective on the budget can be found at: http://youtu.be/7bKZ47tiZVs. His comments on the amendment to restore funding for OPWDD can be found at: http://youtu.be/A0G7FSJ25Ns.