Governor Andrew M. Cuomo delivers 2014 State of the State address

email_header 2

Dear Friend,

This afternoon, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo delivered his 2014 State of the State address, building on the successes of his first three years offering a comprehensive plan for the future of our state.

The Governor highlighted four broad areas in his address:

  • Continue New York’s successful job growth strategy through property tax relief, business tax cuts, and innovative job creation programs;
  • Transform New York’s schools to provide the highest quality education for all our children;
  • Create more progressive, fairer, safer and cleaner communities; and
  • Reimagine New York State to protect against future severe weather events by improving our disaster response capabilities and hardening our infrastructure.

To read the full plan, click here.

Under the Governor’s leadership, the state has demonstrated real fiscal discipline by limiting state spending growth to 2% and passing on-time budgets. As a result, the state has gone from a $10 billion deficit to a projected $2 billion surplus. Rather than using this revenue to increase spending, the Governor proposed to instead provide additional tax relief for New Yorkers, including significant property tax relief for homeowners and a tax credit for renters, reduced taxes on businesses to help create jobs, and reforms of our estate tax.

Economic growth and jobs will continue to be the Governor’s first priority.  In addition to his tax relief plan to attract business and investment, the Governor will undertake a series of initiatives aimed at creating jobs.  He will continue to encourage targeted investment in New York businesses through key industry initiatives and build upon the success of the Regional Economic Development Councils. He will focus more intensely on encouraging foreign investors to increase investment in New York and spread the word of the START-UP NY program.  He will continue to prioritize revitalizing upstate communities by redoubling our efforts to promote tourism, bringing world-class destination resorts to Upstate NY, and eliminating the corporate income tax rate for Upstate manufacturers.  He also outlined a plan to upgrade our LaGuardia and Kennedy airports to increase our competitiveness and enhance the experience of air travelers.

To ensure that our children have the highest quality education in the nation, the Governor’s education agenda will ensure New York continues to lead the nation in reform. With this goal in mind, he has proposed reinventing our classrooms with new technology – a key step in doing this is the Governor’s proposal to launch a $2 billion “Smart Schools” bond referendum to help bring all of New York schools into today’s high-speed, high-tech world.  The Governor also proposed building on his programs to reward our most effective teachers, encourage students to study in math, science and engineering, and make full-day pre-K universal in NYS.

The Governor also understands there is more to do to make New York communities more progressive, safer, and fairer. To ensure New Yorkers have safe, clean, and decent housing, the Governor’s agenda includes preserving or creating 3,000 more units of affordable housing. The NY Youth Works program has helped 13,000 inner city youth find work, and for 2014, the Governor has proposed increasing the program to further combat the unacceptable unemployment levels in our communities. New York remains one of only two states in which the age at which youths are treated as adults in the justice system is 16 – nearly 40,000 16- and 17-year-olds had their cases handled in adult or criminal court in 2012, which is why the Governor proposed establishing the Commission on Youth, Public Safety & Justice to provide concrete, actionable recommendations regarding youth in New York’s criminal and juvenile justice systems. Medical research suggests that medical marijuana may help manage the pain and treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses, which is why the Governor has proposed launching a medical marijuana research program at 20 hospitals to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a medical marijuana system.

To further protect New Yorkers against drunk drivers, the Governor is proposing a three-strikes-and-you’re-out license revocation rule. He will also continue to crack down on youth texting while driving.

The Governor challenged the Legislature once again to pass the Women’s Equality Act because discrimination against women is still too common in our society. And he made it clear that he will continue to fight for reforms to ensure New Yorkers have confidence in the honesty and integrity of their elected officials. He proposed new anti-bribery and corruption laws, public financing of elections, independent enforcement and oversight at the Board of Elections, and disclosure of outside clients with business before the State.

Recent devastating storms have demonstrated that extreme weather is the new reality and that we need to reimagine our state for this new reality. In this light, the Governor proposed a $17 billion strategy that will transform New York’s road and transportation infrastructure, energy supply, coastal protection, weather warning system, and emergency management to better protect New Yorkers from future storms. Vice President Biden called the Governor’s storm plan a model for future recovery efforts.

To read the Governor’s full plan, click here.

We have made great progress over the last three years, establishing New York as a model for the nation. In 2014, together we can build on these successes and ensure a safe, fair, and prosperous state for all our people. We thank you for all you do to make our success a reality.

Sincerely,

The Andrew Cuomo Committee

Print Friendly, PDF & Email