Assemblyman Rob Walker (R, C, I, WF - Hicksville) released the following statement regarding the special session of the Assembly called by Governor David Paterson:

"When Governor Paterson called the Assembly back to Albany, I applauded his leadership on behalf of the overburdened taxpayers of New York State. Although I ultimately think that much more could have been accomplished with this special session, I believe that we have a message that we must be more fiscally responsible and spending must be reined in if New York ever hopes to get out of the fiscal crisis we currently find ourselves in. Those of us in Albany cannot ask New Yorkers to live within a budget if we cannot follow those same guidelines.

"The cuts we approved begin to cut away at the fat of the state budget without severing the vital and necessary programs which fund our schools, provide senior citizens with medical care and keep our roads safe. I look forward to working with Governor Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver in the near future to continue making the hard but necessary decisions for those we were elected to represent."