I voted against the budget bill containing $2.1 billion in aid for “excluded workers.” In my view, allocating 75% of new personal income tax revenue to excluded workers is beyond the pale. We have many needs in the State that are not being met. For example, I stood in the rain with the “Be Fair To Direct Care” movement, which has existed for several years. The workers who provide direct care to persons with disabilities and nursing home residents are predominantly and historically members of disadvantaged groups. They are badly underpaid for the difficult work they do. Further, NY, unlike the Federal government, is continuing to tax unemployment benefits. I think the budget proposal was unfair to the vast majority of my constituents, so I could not support it.