ALBANY, NY — Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) is in opposition to Assembly Bill A11090, the “Automatic Utility Deferment Act,” introduced last week, which would require utility providers, including electric, gas, water and internet providers to automatically halt service terminations and waive late payment penalties for all New York state employees, including elected officials, whenever the state budget is not passed by April 1. The proposal would also allow lawmakers to defer payments on their personal utility bills until a state budget passes.
“In a striking example of tone-deaf policy, Assembly Democrats are proposing to exempt themselves from paying their utility bills on time when the budget is inevitably late. I have been a state legislator since 2010, and I can count on one hand the number of times this Legislature passed a budget on time,” said Blankenbush. “Year after year, the Majority misses the deadline, and now instead of fixing that problem, they truly believe a good idea for a new law is to shield them from paying their utility bills and avoid late payments when they can’t do their job of completing a state budget on-time. I’m left near speechless. The people of the North County and Mohawk Valley don’t get this type of luxury. This bill is an embarrassment, and it is exactly the kind of policy that has made New Yorkers lose faith in state government.”
