State Senator Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $178 billion budget proposal, announced on Tuesday, presents some opportunities for debate, but he says a Republican counter-plan is more “fiscally responsible.”

“The Governor presented a budget today that touched on a number of proposals, fiscal policies and initiatives that he would like to see New York State undertake in the coming year. While I have no problem discussing and debating the various issues presented today, our priority should be on making New York more affordable for residents and businesses and providing residents throughout the state with additional economic opportunities,” Griffo, the acting Senate minority leader, said in a prepared statement. “We also must ensure that all regions of the state are treated equally and that they all have access to the same resources for infrastructure and other needs.”

The senator in his statement repeated the themes of high taxes and over-regulation in New York.

“People are not leaving our state because of the weather, as the Governor has suggested. Instead, people are leaving because they are over-taxed and over-regulated and our mandate and energy costs are too high, making it difficult for people to afford to live here and for businesses to prosper. Until we have a significant overhaul of taxes, regulations and mandates and focus on lowering our energy costs, we will continue to face a significant challenge in New York State.”

He introduced and Republicans’ “Real Solutions” budget as an alternative to Cuomo’s spending plan.

“The ‘Real Solutions’ budget is a fiscally responsible plan that will reduce taxes, rebuild the state’s economy and create new opportunities for small businesses, workers, students and middle-class families. By offering better alternatives to the Governor’s proposed budget, and by maintaining a laser-focus on the real, everyday problems affecting millions of hardworking New Yorkers, our Conference will lead the fight for real solutions that chart a better, safer and more prosperous path for our state.

Griffo challenged the governor’s inclusion budget lines for new policy initiatives in the spending plan before any bills on the policies have been introduced.

“As I have repeatedly said in the past, I also remain troubled that policy has again been included in the state budget. These issues should be vetted independently and transparently and they should be discussed, debated and deliberated during the legislative session.

“In a one-party dominated government, we will continue to stand as a bulwark against excessive spending and policy practices that are not in the best interests of all New Yorkers. As a Conference, we have the track record of protecting hardworking taxpayers and promoting affordability for the middle-class, which is why we rejected over $1 billion in new taxes and fees proposed by the Governor in last year’s budget.”

Griffo, who represents the 47th Senate District including a swath through the middle of St. Lawrence County, from Massena to Fine, including Potsdam, said he is concerned that the new Democratic majority has rapidly approved some measures recently with little debate.

“The last two days in the state Legislature have been a flurry of activity. While a number of important issues have come up for discussion, I remain concerned that many of these bills were pushed through rapidly and taken up with little debate or discussion that left with no time for public comment and critical input from local governments and stakeholders,” Griffo said.