A significant part of New York's fiscal problems stems from our budget process, which is in desperate need of reform. Late budgets, secretive deliberations and governmental inefficiency cost taxpayers money and interfere with state operations. This dysfunctional budget process also undermines efforts being taken in other areas of public policy to improve the state's financial situation.

My colleagues and I in the Assembly Republican conference have been a leading voice in urging reform of the outdated and exclusionary type of government currently practiced in Albany. This reform has been a key element of our legislative agenda for some time and will again remain one of our priorities for the 2004 legislative session.

Key provisions of the budget reform plan include:

* Establishing a binding revenue forecast to allow intervention by the state comptroller if the Legislature cannot achieve revenue consensus.

* Permanently establishing budget conference committees to require open, public debate of revenue and spending issues.

* Creating a default budget if a budget agreement is not in place within 72 hours of the April 1 deadline by requiring the previous year's budget automatically take effect.

* Prohibiting action on non-budget related bills if the budget is not adopted on time.

*Prohibiting the use of Úquot;lump sumÚquot; disbursements. The legislature has used Úquot;lump sumsÚquot; to pay out sizable amounts of tax dollars without public disclosure of its recipients.

Problems surrounding our budget process have widespread consequences that affect all New Yorkers. School districts are denied data, which they need to provide to their voters regarding spending and tax rates. Late budgets also force municipalities to borrow money to continue critical services.

The Assembly Republican budget reform plan has practical applications that should be supported by the entire legislature. This year it is my goal to restore public trust and confidence in government by implementing the reforms necessary to make our government work efficiently and in the best interest of all New Yorkers.