It is clear to many that the economy of New York continues to deteriorate. In the most recent six year period, manufacturing in New York declined by over 28%. Manufacturing represents the wealth generating segment of our economy and is the single best barometer of our economic health. All other segments of the economy are affected by the success or failure of manufacturing.

As high paying manufacturing jobs are lost, the economy which depends on those wages suffer. Ultimately, the loss of these jobs will produce a migration of population to states which have a more vibrant economy, generally based on manufacturing.

Statistics from 1990 to 2005 show Western New York lost over 30 % of our young adults ages 25 - 34. During the same period New York State lost over17% of our young adults. These young adults represent the future of our state. A future which they will now seek elsewhere.

Even while the business economy continued to deteriorate, New York State legislators refused to operate our state budget in a fiscally sound fashion. During this period, annual state spending routinely increased 3-5 times the rate of inflation. During this time no effort to restrain spending was made by either the State Legislature or the Governor.

Therefore, I propose the following steps to rebuild New York's economy and encourage our children to once again seek their futures in New York.

During the past two year, our State Legislators approved increases in state spending totaling $23 billion dollars. This represents an increase in spending of over 23 percent. Despite this massive increase New York ended 2007 with a deficit of about 5 billion dollars. The deficit represents monies borrowed, and interest to be paid by your children. At present, interest on the debt your children will pay exceeds 4 billion dollars annually.

It is an irrefutable fact that taxes cannot go down while state spending continues to rise. It is important that people understand that we do not pay tax rates, we pay tax dollars. Lowering your property tax rate while increasing your assessment will produce a predictable increase in the number of tax dollars you have to pay. As long as it remains an unwritten rule that government spending must continue to rise annually, we will be destined to pay ever increasing taxes.

It shall be my purpose when elected to oppose any real dollar spending increases. In addition, I will propose that total dollar spending be reduced by 20 percent over the next two years.

Forcing New York State to operate with less money will force them to become more efficient and less generous with the public's monies.

New York offers the most costly Medicaid system in the country. The most recent statistics show that hard working New Yorkers were forced to pay over 44 billion dollars in a single year providing free medical care for various members of our society, while at the same time, though working, being unable to supply medical care for themselves.

Put into perspective, New York spends $2,316 dollars on Medicaid for every man, woman and child in the state. However, the burden of Medicaid falls on only those that are working. Therefore, the financial burden per working family is substantially higher.

California by comparison, spends only $939 dollars per capita with a 2006 budget of $34 billion dollars even though California has a greater population.

Texas also spent only $18 billion dollars in 2006, though it has a greater population. Per capita spending on Medicaid in Texas is only $771 dollars.

It is clear that New York's Medicaid system is fraught with inefficiencies waste and mismanagement which is costing the taxpayers of New York billions of dollars.

Therefore, when elected I will propose legislation to review and reform Medicaid with the intent of reducing total Medicaid cost to the taxpayers. Additionally, I will propose legislation which prohibits the state from increasing Medicaid costs and passing those costs onto county government.

By taking this step, substantial reductions in Medicaid costs can be achieved resulting in reductions in that part of local property taxes.

New York State offers a most lucrative pension program to retired state workers. The pension, earned after only twenty years of service includes fully paid life time health care without co-pay and is also exempt from state tax.

Additionally, the pension fund is insured from loss in the market by the taxpayers. This practice punishes the taxpayers who may have also suffered loss during a downturn in the markets.

Therefore, when elected, I will propose legislation to remove taxpayer insurance of the public employee pension. In addition legislation must be proposed which revisits and reviews the terms of state pension contracts with the intent of making public employee compensation and retirement packages more consistent with private sector employees.

There is an old saying, "if you want less of something tax it." Taxation is a way to discourage consumption of a particular product such as tobacco. If the state wants to discourage the use of tobacco they simply increase the tax on tobacco thus making it less affordable and therefore consumption falls.

Based on the taxing policies of New York, it could be said that New York wants less of everything. Every product, every service every fee, or license has increased over the past many years.

This practice has resulted in abandoned homes, closed factories, lost jobs, a migration of our very best children and the list goes on and on.

As your State Assemblyman I pledge to seek every opportunity to reduce your taxes. Not just your property taxes, but your school taxes, county taxes, your sales taxes, your DMV fees etc. We need legislators who understand that the days of over spending by the state are over and that the people require, nay, demand that total dollar spending by the state be reduced resulting in lower taxes everywhere.