Statement by Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein and Senate Republican Conference Leader Dean G. Skelos
(Long Island, NY) The following joint statement was released by Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein and Senate Republican Conference Leader Dean G. Skelos:
“As the Governor has said time and again, expanding casino gaming is one of his signature economic programs for New York State. The Senate Majority Coalition agrees with the Governor that expanded gaming has the potential to unlock upstate New York’s vast economic potential and to create thousands of good-paying jobs. In Queens alone, 1,500 workers just saw their salaries double. That’s real economic progress for New York’s middle class.
Since many Senate Democrats voted against this legislation, the Governor only earned a referendum on this key economic program by working with Senate Republicans and the Independent Democratic Conference. Without the leadership of the IDC and Senate Republicans, one the Governor’s biggest economic development programs would have likely been dead on arrival in the Legislature. We were pleased to provide the leadership to get this through the Senate, much like we did with the other key pieces of the Governor’s economic agenda, such as the family tax rebate, tax cuts for the middle class and incentives for small businesses.
It is our hope that passage of this referendum will create jobs, spur economic development, and produce hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for New York schools — things that every New Yorker can get behind.”
