From left top row, Todd Tranum, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, John DáAgostino, The Post-Journal and OBSERVER editor and moderator, from left bottom row, state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, during the online Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce 2021 State Legislative Breakfast Friday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

A record-breaking state budget, legalized recreational marijuana and the scandals connected to Gov. Andrew Cuomo are just a few of the topics discussed during the online Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce 2021 State Legislative Breakfast.

On Friday, Todd Tranum, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, was joined by John D’Agostino, The Post-Journal and OBSERVER editor and moderator, state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, for the annual meeting to discuss state and local issues.

Both Borrello and Goodell criticized the $212 billion state budget, with its record-high spending amount. Borrello said there are many burdens being placed on small businesses in the state budget, which includes a significant increase in unemployment insurance.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of backbreaking changes that will hurt our small businesses,” Borrello said.

Goodell said spending increased by $35 billion, which is a 15% hike. He said all of the work that has been done in the last five years to try and keep spending down via the state 2% tax cap has been eliminated because of the increase in disbursements for 2021-22.

“It’s really an expensive state,” he said.

Both Borrello and Goodell are against the legalization of recreational marijuana. Borrello said the new law now makes it extremely challenging for the police to enforce driving while under the influence of drugs.

“This law specifically says the police can’t take action unless there is an accident or damages,” he said.

Goodell said, normally, the governor is the dominant player in state budget negotiations, but this year he was distracted because of the duress he is feeling from the alleged sexual abuse allegations and the investigation into the COVID-19 nursing home deaths.

“(Cuomo) was absent because he is under stress and pressure because is under multiple investigations,” Goodell said.

Both Borrello and Goodell said they believe the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, but they can understand why some people are hesitant to receive the shot. Both believe that vaccine efforts were hurt when Cuomo politicized the rollout of the vaccine while President Donald Trump was still in office.

“This has been politicized and that has had an effect on people’s attitudes,” Borrello said.

Goodell said Dr. Anthony Fauci saying people still need to wear a mask and social distance even after being vaccinated is causing people to question whether to receive the shoot.

He said the county’s economy, especially tourism businesses, won’t return to normal until a vast majority of the county is vaccinated.

“I’m urging people to get vaccinated as an overall effort to help reopen the economy,” he said.

Both legislators were critical of the The New York Health and Essential Rights Act, or NY HERO Act, which could lead to fines against businesses that fail to adopt and enact new standards to protect workers and stem the spread of coronavirus or other airborne diseases.

Borrello said the law was enacted because it was driven by special interest groups associated with attorneys looking to sue businesses. He questioned how anyone can prove they contracted an illness specifically at their workplace.

“Burdens being placed on small businesses with things like the HERO Act will drive more businesses out of business, and more and more people out of New York state,” Borrello said.

Goodell said he has asked the governor to make several changes to the law, like excluding businesses that only have a handful of employees.

“The danger is the governor is so focused on surviving that I don’t know if he will make any changes,” Goodell said.