Erie County Legislators John J. Mills, 13th District, Edward A. Rath III, 15th District, and Raymond W. Walter, 4th District, were prevented from voicing their opposition to the proposed 2009 New York State Budget at session today. In a procedural move, an item expressing disapproval of the budget was referred to the Legislature's Finance and Management committee.

So, we have a $15,000,000,000 budget shortfall looming for 2009.  We have an absurd budget proposed by the Governor which features plans to tax your purchases from iTunes and your bottle of loganberry.  The Governor didn't have the stones to make significant cuts in the operating budget beyond what he could transfer to localities which [.

So, we have a $15,000,000,000 budget shortfall looming for 2009.  We have an absurd budget proposed by the Governor which features plans to tax your purchases from iTunes and your bottle of loganberry.  The Governor didn't have the stones to make significant cuts in the operating budget beyond what he could transfer to localities which [.

Mayor Byron W. Brown traveled to Albany to present testimony to the New York State Joint Legislative Fiscal Committees regarding Governor David A. Paterson's 2009-10 recommended State Budget.

"Today the New York State Senate completed the passage of the Enacted Budget for Fiscal Year 2009-10 Budget, taking the first steps toward getting our economy back on track. After more than 30 hours of rigorous and thoughtful debate this week, we passed nine budget bills that finally reverses decades of fiscal irresponsibility.

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Enacted Budget will include major, permanent reforms to the way health care is delivered in New York to rationalize the State's Medicaid reimbursement system and provide increased investment in primary and preventative care. The budget also includes a record $2.