Assemblyman Tom McKevitt announced the passage of a package of initiatives that will help lawmakers make significant strides in reforming the state budget process. The package, co-sponsored by McKevitt, passed with bi-partisan support in the State Assembly and marks the first bill passed in the 2007 legislative session.

Since taking office in March 2006, McKevitt has taken an active leadership role in the reform movement and the need to make government more accountable to Long Island taxpayers.

"For nearly a year, I have fought to ensure that the budget process is open and accountable to every hard-working Long Islander," McKevitt said. "This is a step in the right direction in the reform movement, and I hope there is more to come as we proceed through the legislative session."

McKevitt has supported many of the measures enacted as part of the budget reform package. These initiatives include authorizing the state comptroller to foster a consensus on state revenue and the earlier convening of conference committees to forge agreements on budget bills.

Additional highlights of the budget reform package include:

· Additional reporting by the governor on receipts, disbursements and transfers that impact the state fiscal plan;

· Estimates of the fiscal impact of the Executive Budget on local governments;

· Requiring the legislature to report within thirty days of budget passage, the impact of the enacted budget on the General Fund, local governments, and the state workforce;

· Detailed reporting by the governor on technology-related projects, which are proposed to receive more than $10 million in funding in the Executive Budget; and

· Establishment of a new "Rainy Day" Reserve Fund consisting of up to three percent of General Fund spending to be used in the event of an economic downturn or in response to a catastrophic event.

"While the last two budgets have been passed on time, this legislation hopefully provides a foundation that will lead to more fiscally sound, on-time budgets in the future," McKevitt said. "The onus now falls upon Governor Spitzer and the entire state Legislature to truly live up to the standards passed today by embodying a spirit of bi-partisan cooperation throughout the upcoming state budget process."