"NY Budget Grand Slam"*

From: "Governor Andrew M. Cuomo"

Subject: Historic Passage of State’s Fourth Consecutive On-Time Budget

Date: April 1, 2014 at 9:05:34 PM EDT

Today, New York State passed its fourth consecutive on-time balanced budget, for the first time in more than 40 years since Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, Assembly Speaker Perry Duryea, and Majority Leader Earl Brydges – proof that Albany’s legendary dysfunction and gridlock are a relic of the past. Truly a NY Budget Grand Slam, this budget builds on the State’s progress over the past three years in order to grow the economy and create new opportunities for New Yorkers and their families.

The 2014-15 State Budget maintains the fiscal discipline that has characterized the last three years of progress by holding the growth in spending below two percent, while also making broad tax cuts that will help homeowners and businesses thrive. It also contains targeted investments that will transform our schools, ensure safer, cleaner, and fairer communities, and restore the public’s trust in government."

Do the people writing that stuff actually believe it? Or do they feel that releasing it on April Fool's Day gives them license to write such BS?

Passing an on-time (allegedly) balanced budget doesn't prove "dysfunction and gridlock are a relic of the past", won't "restore the public’s trust in government", etc. A LOT more has to be done before such claims could realistically be made.

As for it being a "grand slam," there's the problem of the Legislators and Governor achieving it through performance enhancing....