With little over a week remaining for budget negotiations, I am concerned that this year’s enacted state budget will lack the provisions necessary to help revitalize our economy and grow jobs. All across the state, families and communities are struggling with pressing concerns: how do we put food on the table and what kind of future are we building for our children?

All throughout these budget negotiations, I have put these concerns at the forefront. It’s imperative that any available public dollars are put toward improving our economy and providing relief to our communities, job creators and working families.

While the governor continues to tout his plan to revitalize upstate’s economy, I have yet to see one that will truly help our small towns, cities and rural communities here in the North Country and Mohawk Valley. His plan lacks details, gives a considerable amount of economic development control to political appointees instead of business leaders, and shows a fundamental lack of understanding as to what our upstate economy needs.

A real plan to revitalize our upstate economy must entail substantial relief from the state’s burdensome regulations and taxes, as well as a renewed focus on incubating start-up companies that promote innovation and best fit our region’s model for growth, as opposed to basing our economic future on weekend jaunts away from the city. Governor, we are going to need more than whitewater rafting and a casino to help our upstate families and businesses, and I can’t help but feel this budget is missing a chance to deliver good jobs and opportunity to our communities.

Albany’s proposal to cut nearly $5 million in local farm aid programs is more proof that downstate politicians have little understanding of our values and economic needs. In upstate New York, agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy, a catalyst for jobs and economic growth. While I appreciate the governor’s proposal for specialized shops for farmers to sell their goods, both his budget proposal and that of the Assembly Majority shortchange our farming communities and place further strain on our already fragile economy.

During the final week of budget negotiations, I will be working with my colleagues from both parties to restore cuts to our farmers, repeal the new energy tax on businesses and families and enact policies to foster economic growth and job creation for our region. If the governor and lawmakers are serious about showing the world that New York is truly “Open for Business,” then we need to pass a budget that benefits our entire state, not a few select interests.