Governor Andrew Cuomo delivers State of the State address

(Photo Courtesy: P. Arnow)

Albany, NY (New York News Connection) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo is looking to rebuild and revitalize in 2012.

The centerpiece of Cuomo’s plan, outlined Wednesday in his second State of the State address, is to build a new convention center in Queens and make it the biggest in the nation.

While much of the national political narrative is focused solely on efforts to downsize government, says James Parrott, deputy director and chief economist for the Fiscal Policy Institute, Cuomo is offering a broader vision.

“Clearly in New York, this governor’s vision is that government is an active partner with the private sector in rebuilding the economy and creating broadly shared prosperity.”

Cuomo also called for investing in depressed areas of the state such as Buffalo, which he noted ranks third in the nation for poverty.

“We believe in Buffalo. Let’s put our money where our mouth is. We’re ready to invest $1 billion in an economic development package for the city of Buffalo, to bring business back to Buffalo.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, set the stage for lively debate in Albany with his own set of proposals. Parrott says Silver’s three-point plan is a way to rebuild the rungs of the ladder into the middle class for low-income New Yorkers.

“Calling for an increase in the state minimum wage, for tax reform that reduces the tax burden on low-income New Yorkers and increasing the state’s commitment to community colleges.”

Expiration of the Millionaires’ Tax in December leaves a budget gap of more than $2 billion that Cuomo says must be filled by cuts. Parrott says finding those cuts is likely to be difficult, given deep cuts made in recent years.