It’s that time of the year again in Albany, budget season. As we dive deeper into the political quagmire that leaves millions of jobs and our children’s future hanging in the balance, I can’t help but get excited contemplating the potential we have as lawmakers to alleviate the persistent issues in our state and make millions of New Yorkers’ lives better. I am anxious to get to work and fight to end our heroin epidemic, eliminate the 2011 education cuts, known as the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA), and lower the property-tax burden on middle-class families.

Heroin and opioid addiction is no longer a fringe issue. This disease knows no socioeconomic status – and it’s hitting many middle-class families hardest. The key to ending this epidemic is love, support and rehabilitation, not draconian punishment. Last year, I fought to secure several million dollars in the budget to fund chemical dependency treatment, but this year I will fight to secure even more. Let’s empower places of salvation like the Rockland and Orange County Councils on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and put an end to this epidemic once and for all.

Buying a home shouldn’t be a punishment. But in New York State, high property-taxes often make that the case. Property-taxes in our district are some of the highest in the country, and that’s an embarrassment. Career politicians continue to tax our middle-class families in order to force the poorest New Yorkers into supporting more bloated, corrupt and expensive government programs. The governor’s rebate program is like treating a brain tumor with an Advil. What we need is sweeping relief for homeowners and an end to expensive Albany mandates that force municipalities to raise taxes. The end to this scourge starts in Albany, and I will do everything in my power to fight for middle-class families.

A good teacher is worth their weight in gold. It’s too bad that New York City Politicians refuse to empower school districts to hire more of them. The GEA was unfairly ripped from our school districts in 2011, and this has to be the year we restore it. Parents and teachers everywhere are calling in Albany’s loan and this is the year we have to pay up. Local schools are cutting after-school and sports programs, firing good teachers, and eliminating honors and AP classes that will propel the next generation into advanced careers. That is unacceptable and our children deserve better. Join me in this fight and together, we can restore New York’s high standard of education.

We have an extraordinary opportunity as lawmakers – to finally put New York on the right path, ensure quality education, combat the heroin epidemic and alleviate our soaring property-taxes. Let’s make New York State the Empire State once again!