Assemblymember John McDonald joins JoDee Kenney to discuss his big takeaways from this year's state’s budget agreement.

Among the topics discussed were increased penalties for those people who assault retail workers and small business tax credits for businesses to help install greater security measures. McDonald says penalties have been increased for aggregation the crimes are those people competing who are repeat offenses regarding stealing and shoplifting.

McDonald says increased funding for education, hospitals and nursing homes is important to those he represents. This is coupled with support for human services, particularly those who care for individuals who have developmental disabilities.

Another topic of importance, McDonald says, is funding for clean water.  

McDonald says there is still work to be done and elected leaders are having meetings as the legislative session continues to get some bills fine-tuned. This includes efforts to tackle the opioid and heroin crisis.

You can watch the full interview with McDonald in the video above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.