East Hudson Valley News

Legislators in New York approved a $1.7 billion budget extender on Tuesday to keep the government operational until Thursday. However, several lawmakers expressed skepticism about meeting this new deadline, indicating the necessity for another extension.

State Senator Rob Rolison, a Republican from the 39th District, acknowledged his limited influence in the proceedings due to his position in the minority conference. Despite this, he emphasizes the importance of modifying pre-trial discovery laws in New York. "Essentially, what the governor has proposed is that something that’s inconsequential, something that was not deliberately held back…there needs to be some leeway," he stated. He described how district attorneys are unable to meet the stricter deadlines for submitting evidence, a requirement instituted in 2019, which has led to the dismissal of numerous cases.

Concurrently, both Rolison and fellow lawmaker James Skoufis express concerns regarding funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The MTA is seeking assistance from the state to address a funding shortfall exceeding $33 billion for its upcoming capital plan. Rolison and Skoufis noted that the proposed solution involves potentially raising the payroll mobility tax for businesses in the vicinity. Skoufis remarked on the impact of such a decision, stating it would disproportionately affect businesses in the Hudson Valley, especially those on the west side of the Hudson River lacking direct train links to New York City.