Okay, so the governor has signed it. The state, for the first time in more than two decades, has passed a budget on time. Let the celebrating begin.
It's no surprise that our elected representatives -- those guys who have been so unable to accomplish the most basic part of their job for so long -- have been patting themselves on the back with great vigor. As if fulfilling job responsibilities is worth celebrating. I won't go into the idea that one should always go above and beyond what's expected. Not today.
But what of this on-time budget? What does it really mean? And why this year?
Don't fool yourself into believing that it has anything to do with reform measures. The budget could have passed on schedule in any of the past 20 years...

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I get to listen to Yankees haters quite a bit. There's a couple of them here in the office, and I get a chuckle every time I overhear their conversations.
See, if I'm not in the office, I'm wearing a Yankees cap. I'd probably wear my jerseys to work if the collars worked with a tie. I've been listening to the "Evil Empire" complaints and the whining of the Red Sox fans long enough to know the stories by heart. But here's the thing: It wouldn't be baseball without the Yankees.
The Yankees are the greatest franchise in sports history. They've won more pennants, raised more stars and captured more imaginations than any other team...

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Economic Development Power was quietly instituted to enable competition and job growth for manufacturers throughout New York.
Through that program, the New York Power Authority was able to offer low-cost power to a significant number of manufacturers by allocating them power from the state-owned Fitzpatrick nuclear plant in Oswego County. It was a necessary move. New York, not surprisingly, boasts some of the nation's highest energy costs, and businesses -- and therefore jobs -- were suffering.
Contracts through the Economic Development Program preserved and created tens of thousands of jobs throughout the state...

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The state legislature has taken steps to reform the Freedom of Information Law – the law that allows the public and press access to public records. Those records include most documents generated by state and local governments.
Government agencies have for too long thumbed their noses at the current law, which allows for a response to a Freedom of Information request within 10 days from the time that request is filed and puts no limit on how long agencies have to actually fill the request. The new proposal offers language that forces government to comply within a reasonable amount of time.
We agree that the law needs changing to ensure all New Yorkers are given open access to government records...

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I gotta say, I agree with state Sen. Dave Valesky on this one.
The state Thruway Authority yesterday decided to raise tolls on I-90 by 25 to 35 percent -- a move it claims is necessary to improve the condition of the interstate and improve customer service. But Valesky says it's a targeted tax, meant to gouge more money from those of us who live upstate so it can be used on projects downstate. And it will only hurt those of us in the Syracuse area who rely on the Thruway to get to work and back.
Valesky unsuccessfully tried dissuading the Authority from raising fees. Now he's proposing commuter tags for folks who travel the Thruway locally, using only the Syracuse exits. It's a good idea...

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