SYRACUSE -- Lt. Governor Robert Duffy was in Syracuse Thursday to drum up support for the governor's budget proposal.
The state is facing a $10 billion budget gap and the budget Governor Cuomo presented Tuesday cuts spending and proposes nearly 10,000 state layoffs if there's no negotiation. Duffy said the state would save money freezing salaries The budget also cuts medicaid and education aid.
"We want this budget to be on time," Duffy said. "But in all honestly, I'm not sure what the choices are if someone tries to add something on, then it's going to be an addition back to the taxpayers of the state."
Duffy presented the budget message at Le Moyne College to business and community leaders. He said, "We can't afford more taxes."
The governor could get resistance from members of his own party in just how to balance the budget. Duffy calls it "astounding" the "built in" and "inflated" costs that have been in the budget every year.
"We need the legislature to get behind us and help us through this time because if we can make the tough decisions now, I believe the prosperous times, what we're looking to happen in New York state will happen," Duffy said. "If we fail to act now, we're going to be in the same situation year after year."
Duffy says there will be "no easy steps" in balancing the budget and pressure on lawmakers from special interests groups and lobbyists. That's why he's asking for the public's support.
