Association for a Better Long Island Endorses Cuomo's Budget Reform Package as "the Blueprint Needed to Restore New York's Economic Future"

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) today endorsed without reservation Governor Andrew Cuomo's program of sweeping reforms designed to make New York economically competitive by reducing the cost of government, mandating financial accountability among school districts and introducing public-private initiatives that would rebuild our infrastructure.

"We are under no illusions. Governor Cuomo is proposing to reinvent New York for the purpose of protecting its future, but that comes at enormous political risk to him. Those who benefit from the status quo will fight this plan with any weapon available," stated ABLI President Jan Burman. "This is the time for every business organization to stand with the Governor and insist that our elected officials demonstrate the same level of political will required to secure these strategic goals. Mr. Cuomo has created a blueprint to restore our economic future and we wholeheartedly approve."

In his statement Governor Cuomo explained, "Because of the tough choices and the historic reforms we achieved last year, we are able to propose a pro-growth budget, tackle broad fiscal reform, drive accountability in our schools to put students first, and leverage tens of billions of dollars of new investment to create jobs without significant cost to the taxpayer. Through fiscal discipline and working in partnership with the private sector, we are making New York a pro-growth State once again. This budget represents the next step in our plan to transform New York State."

A Pragmatic Approach to Building Solutions

Desmond Ryan, ABLI's Executive Director, said, "This is the first pragmatic effort we have seen by a governor in a very long time. He has not just identified the problem, but the road to recovery. Those of us who use New York as a base to compete in a global economy recognize that his reform package represents a crucial crossroads in determining what New York will look like for decades to come. It will either be a vigorous competitive region that creates jobs and investment or a derelict economic backwater. In addressing such crucial areas as public-private partnerships and education reform, he is tackling head on those issues that have previously met with deliberate indifference. Those days are over."

Among the elements of the Cuomo reform package singled out for praise by the ABLI are its insistence that any spending increases for service providers reflect their job performance and actual cost, public employee pension reform and school aid linked to improved academic performance and management efficiencies. "Just like the real world," observed Ryan.

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SOURCE The Association for a Better Long Island