Contact: Timothy Lantz

518-455-5981

March 10, 2016

FIRINGS, FORECLOSURES AND OVERDOSES: CONSEQUENCES OF A

MISGUIDED BUDGET
A Column from Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark)
Its that time of the year again in Albany, budget season. As we dive deeper into the
political quagmire that leaves millions of jobs and our childrens future hanging in the balance, I
cant help but get excited contemplating the potential we have as lawmakers to alleviate the
persistent issues in our state and make millions of New Yorkers lives better. I am anxious to get
to work and fight to end our heroin epidemic, eliminate the 2011 education cuts, known as the
Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA), and lower the property-tax burden on middle-class families.
Heroin and opioid addiction is no longer a fringe issue. This disease knows no
socioeconomic status and its hitting many middle-class families hardest. The key to ending
this epidemic is love, support and rehabilitation, not draconian punishment. Last year, I fought to
secure several million dollars in the budget to fund chemical dependency treatment, but this year
I will fight to secure even more. Lets empower places of salvation like the Rockland and Orange
County Councils on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and put an end to this epidemic once and for
all.
Buying a home shouldnt be a punishment. But in New York State, high property-taxes
often make that the case. Property-taxes in our district are some of the highest in the country, and
thats an embarrassment. Career politicians continue to tax our middle-class families in order to
force the poorest New Yorkers into supporting more bloated, corrupt and expensive government
programs. The governors rebate program is like treating a brain tumor with an Advil. What we
need is sweeping relief for homeowners and an end to expensive Albany mandates that force
municipalities to raise taxes. The end to this scourge starts in Albany, and I will do everything in
my power to fight for middle-class families.
A good teacher is worth their weight in gold. Its too bad that New York City Democrats
refuse to empower school districts to hire more of them. The GEA was unfairly ripped from our
school districts in 2011, and this has to be the year we restore it. Parents and teachers everywhere
are calling in Albanys loan and this is the year we have to pay up. Local schools are cutting
after-school and sports programs, firing good teachers, and eliminating honors and AP classes
that will propel the next generation into advanced careers. That is unacceptable and our children
deserve better. Join me in this fight and together, we can restore New Yorks high standard of
education.
We have an extraordinary opportunity as lawmakers to finally put New York on the
right path, ensure quality education, combat the heroin epidemic and alleviate our soaring
property-taxes. Lets make New York State the Empire State once again!

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