“The 2015-16 State Budget has been a series of disappointments. No meaningful ethics reform, no cost savings, and no real property tax relief for residents and small businesses.

“I’ve sponsored multiple pieces of legislation that would increase accountability and transparency in Albany, including pension forfeiture for corrupt government officials and tougher campaign finance laws.

“Perhaps most egregious, however, is the teacher evaluation system that only hinders the development of students by forcing our educators to teach to the test, makes less room for enrichment, creativity and innovation, and is downright insulting to those we are supposed to trust with our children's future! This budget ignores the flawed Common Core curriculum, and despite the governor’s attempt to force me and my colleagues to support it, I cannot abide such an assault on public education.

“Furthermore, Assembly members were given this budget at the last possible minute, and it was put together by the ‘three men in a room’ without any input from me or my colleagues.”