A statement by Assemblyman Dean Murray (R,C,I-East Patchogue)
(Long Island, NY) “This year saw a change in leadership in both houses of the legislature, but the modus operandi remained the same: omnibus bills crafted by three men in a room without any community input or negotiation with the entire Assembly and Senate. There were so many important measures to discuss and vote on this year that to stick them in one take-it-or-leave-it bill a week after the legislative session should have ended demeans the importance of each issue and the legislative process.
“That being said, the bill we passed this evening contained many solid measures that will make Long Island even better. There’s a renewal of the property tax cap, saving homeowners thousands each year. I’m pleased to see property tax rebates included, returning money back to our hardworking residents. We even made solid strides for our schools, providing mandate relief for private and parochial schools and increasing transparency in standardized testing, ensuring parents aren’t subjecting their children to unfair tests concocted in secrecy.
“While there was a hidden tax tucked into the bill designed to help bail out Suffolk County’s leadership from their fiscal mess by upping registration fees on vehicles, on the whole this bill will provide meaningful relief to middle-class families. It’s just a shame that the process in which a session that began with no bills being passed in January and continued with the indictment of two legislative leaders ended in a tumultuous extension of session and an omnibus bill that displays Albany at its worst. Going forward, I plan to continue providing a strong, outspoken voice for our communities and will work to ensure all New Yorkers receive the open, honest, accountable government they deserve.”
