During this difficult economy budgets are strained at all levels – the state faces a $10 billion deficit and this proposal does nothing to help our current situation. Because many things are absent from this proposal, taxpayers will not get the property tax relief they desperately need and, instead, will likely feel higher property taxes because local governments and schools will not receive the unfunded mandate relief they asked for. The Assembly Majority has the audacity to propose a budget that not only spends more than Governor Cuomo’s proposal but raises taxes as well. This is yet another missed opportunity. Regardless of how dire our fiscal situation is in New York, this Assembly Majority simply does not get it. Make no mistake; they are very aware of the situation this state is in. This is more of the same political charade that Albany is notorious for, and as long as that charade continues, I will be voting ‘no’ on this proposal.