Politics on the Hudson

Combat veterans, taxpayers and students, said state Sen. Vincent Leibell, R-Patterson, should benefit from Gov. Spitzer’s vision for New York, according to the senator’s comments on Spitzer’s State of the State address. Read Leibell’s remarks after the jump.

Senator Vincent L. Leibell
40th District – Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester Counties

January 9, 2008
Governor’s State of the State Address
Discusses Many Concerns Facing the State

Senator Vincent L. Leibell (R-C-I) Patterson, listened carefully to
Governor Spitzer’s State of the State address delivered today at the State
Capitol.

“The Governor gave an important and broad based speech today,� Senator
Leibell declared. “I was pleased to hear him endorse our plan to provide
combat service veterans with tuition benefits at State and City
Universities. This is a plan for which I have advocated for years. Our
Veterans have sacrificed so much, and they have earned this benefit.
Providing New York’s combat veterans with state tuition benefits, will not
only help our state by encouraging these talented, service oriented men and
women to stay here, but it is simply the right thing to do,� Senator
Leibell, Chair of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Veterans, Homeland
Security and Military Affairs, said.

“I was also was happy to hear the Governor’s support for the issue of Real
Property Tax Reform. There isn’t a more important issue facing our state.
Although we need to go much farther and faster than the Governor’s proposed
commission, at least this issue is now being placed on the Governor’s
agenda. The fact of the matter is we need to take real action now to cap
and reduce real property taxes in our state,� Senator Leibell declared.
“We need to remove this crushing burden from our taxpayers. The burden of
real property taxes is a crisis, and we need to address it now, and not
just study and debate the issue. The Senate Majority has a bill that will
do just that. Our challenge is that we need to get the Governor to take
real, meaningful action with us,� Senator Leibell continued.

“Lastly, I was also happy to see Governor Spitzer’s announcement that he
will support an investment in education and infrastructure. The
restoration of SUNY’s full time faculty by 2,000 full time professors over
the next five years will prove very meaningful. Education is the gateway
to opportunity. We need to assure that the SUNY system remains a top
quality and provides an affordable education for the children of our
state,� Senator Leibell stated. “Additionally, the proposed investments in
our infrastructure will help grow and develop our state’s economy and
public safety. Infrastructure is a critical role for government, and it is
not respectful to taxpayers to watch it crumble merely to delay the payment
of a bigger bill for future generations. The Empire State has been
renowned for its infrastructure, and we need to retain that tradition,�
Senator Leibell concluded.