Dear Governor

Letter to Governor Paterson:

Dear Governor:

I know this is a busy time for you, what with the national elections, the economic problems, and New York’s financial woes, but I did want to write and thank you for bringing to the attention of New York’s residents and legislators how serious our budget deficits are.  How long can we continue to spend more than our annual revenues?  How long can we continue to raise taxes on those who have not already left the state?

A recent article in the Syracuse newspaper polled a number of local legislators and would-be legislators, asking for their ideas on eliminating our multi-billion dollar deficits and saving New York State from financial ruin.  Not surprisingly, they received the usual suggestions to cut state employees (except for legislators), reduce state spending, cut funding of schools and medical care, and eliminate state commissions that are no longer needed.  Based on this, I’m sure that you will receive the full cooperation of whichever candidates win their elections.

I did note, however, that there was no mention, even from those who aspire to go to Albany for the first time, for cutting funding for entitlements, member items, or “pork-barrel projects”.  It was as if these long sacred programs did not exist.  I recently noticed that one of Central New York’s legislators returned home to campaign for re-election, bearing for his district $500,000 he “found” in the budget, with the suggestion that it be used for local Little League facilities.  Now surely such a project would be nice, but does our state not have greater priorities?  And I might mention that this was not long after you called the legislators back to Albany for a Special Session to trim this same budget.

Therefore, I would like to suggest that you make these “pork” programs your number one priority in the next legislative session.  If you could retrieve a half million dollars or more from every member’s pet projects, surely it would go a long way toward balancing our state budget.  And surely our newly elected legislators will be eager to cooperate in this effort, along with their “fight” to create jobs, “fight” to lower taxes, and “fight” to reduce unnecessary spending.  Good Luck!

J