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Cap state budget increases, oppose ‘Dream Act,’ Sen. Ritchie’s North Country constituents say in online survey

Posted 1/28/15

 Strong support for reforming Common Core, concerns regarding raising the minimum wage and support for making the state’s two percent tax cap permanent are several of the results released …

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Cap state budget increases, oppose ‘Dream Act,’ Sen. Ritchie’s North Country constituents say in online survey

Posted

 Strong support for reforming Common Core, concerns regarding raising the minimum wage and support for making the state’s two percent tax cap permanent are several of the results released today from State Sen. Patty Ritchie’s online survey.

Nearly 4,000 Central and Northern New Yorkers answered the survey questions, which touched on topics such as government spending and investments in the state’s agriculture industry.

According to Ritchie, a Heuvelton Republican whose district includes the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur, some of the results showed:

· 79 percent of participants believe a new law should be passed to make the state’s 2 percent tax cap permanent

· 90 percent of participants support a law that would put a cap on state budget increases to prevent overspending

· 89 percent oppose the “DREAM Act,” a legislative proposal which would make illegal immigrants eligible for taxpayer-paid tuition benefits

· 71 percent support reform of Common Core

· 75 percent believe a full repeal of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA should continue to be a priority in the next State Budget)—

· 77 percent support reducing taxes on businesses that create good-paying job

· 72 percent support increasing funding for the “Young Farmers NY” program, an initiative launched by Ritchie to encourage more young people to pursue farming.

In addition, participants were also asked for their opinions on how to spend the state’s $5 billion windfall. According to results, most felt funds should go towards highway and bridge projects in an effort to improve infrastructure as well as create jobs and to pay down existing state debt, and not use it to increase school funding.

Ritchie said the feedback will help her in this year’s session.

The survey represents Ritchie’s latest effort to call on constituents for their opinions on major issues. Previously, she has hosted surveys on topics such as outdoor recreation and education, and hosted public forums and telephone town halls on issues such as heroin abuse and synthetic drugs.