We are learning everyday about things contained in the Governor’s Budget proposal.  One new thing we learned about this week is that, if approved as is, the Governor would have new power to move money among agencies outside the state’s normal budget process.

At New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, we're not comfortable giving the Executive this new fiscal power. This authority would allow the Governor to seriously alter the State Budget with no checks and balances. The State Legislature is constitutionally-required to approve the State’s fiscal plan for a reason.

The Albany Times-Union reports, "Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, said altering the language in question was an important priority for members of his conference as budget negotiations proceed.’I believe it would be necessary for efficiency with this governor, but I'm not sure I'd give that blanket of trust to every succeeding governor,' he said."

Be careful what kind of unchecked authority you give to the Governor, any governor. It starts out with a benevolent dictator, but quickly descends from there.