Assemblymembers Sandy Galef, Amy Paulin and George Latimer are renewing their call for no member item spending in the 2010-2011 NY State Budget. By cutting such expenditures for member items the state can save an estimated $140 to $200 million in this year's budget.

Member items include state funding secured by individual Assembly and Senate members to fund community projects, civic projects, public health initiatives and other public use specifically in the recipient members' districts.

Said Galef, "With an over $8 billion state budget deficit this year and proposed major cuts to state agencies and to those that provide education and health care to New York residents, there is absolutely no way we can afford to have discretionary spending in the budget.

Paulin says "By rejecting member items we will save the state money and that's the bottom line."

Assemblyman George Latimer agreed, saying "Tough times require tough decisions. We need to show we understand that people and businesses are tightening their belts and that we're prepared to do the same."