This legislative session has been interesting to say the least. Despite all the headlines, the Assembly and Senate still have work to do on behalf of the people of this state. The last few weeks of the legislative session should be packed with productive work, which should focus on middle-class tax relief so families can thrive, unfunded mandate relief so communities can reinvest in themselves, education reform to support and improve our children’s education, and ethics reform to restore public trust.

First and foremost, families in our state need tax relief. New York is one of the costliest states in which to live. There are income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, fees and fines. Little by little, it all adds up; and according to the Tax Foundation, on average, state and local taxes collected amounted to $2,431 per person, the highest tax burden in the nation.

One thing we can do is make the property tax cap permanent, which is something I am looking to achieve. It’s been working for families; it has helped to slow property tax growth in the state significantly. It will not work, however, without comprehensive unfunded mandate relief. Unfunded mandates are the programs and services the state has required municipalities to not only provide but also pay for. There are many mandates, but it only takes nine to consume nearly 90 percent of the local tax levy. Failure to remove the undue burden these mandates create has significantly hindered progress in our communities and was the source of high taxes in the first place. Studies and discussions have happened over the years, and we’ve identified the mandates – it’s time to act – let’s pass legislation to change this.

We’ve worked very hard to bring about change in our education system despite the institutional challenges mounted by both the State Education Department (SED) and the governor. We just passed teacher evaluation reform, and there are many other ways we can move our schools forward. I worked closely with my legislative colleagues to develop the Achieving Pupil Preparedness and Launching Excellence (APPLE) Plan, which is a set of legislative solutions to empower local stakeholders like educators, school administrators and parents to shape education to support our children. We took a small step; it’s now time to take the big leap and pass these additional reforms.

Finally, amid the scandal of too many crooked officials, there are still a large number of us who are genuinely motivated to serve the public. As a body of legislators, we must pass some of the toughest ethics laws in the country to begin gaining back the people’s trust. This means passing the Public Officers Accountability Act, which creates new corruption crimes and follows through with effective punishments. Additionally, the Public Pension Forfeiture Act would strip publicly-funded pensions from felonious politicians. We must take a tough stand and pass these laws now.

I welcome your input and ideas about what needs to be accomplished in the final stretch of session. Share your thoughts with me by emailing blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 493-3909.