The Onondaga County's legislature says it's time for New York State to "step up" and assume the local share of Medicaid costs. YNN's Bill Carey says the legislators say if Albany acts, local taxpayers will see major relief.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It was a plan first announced by republican lawmakers in January. Support for a bill sponsored by freshman assemblyman Don Miller that would have the state take over the full cost of Medicaid. If it happened, they claimed, Onondaga County would move to eliminate its property tax.

“I think it's important, at the local level, that we advocate for real progress. Not the status quo. Not saying that any costs, going forward from today, we're going to take over. Because that's not going to help us do what we need to do at the local level,” says Ryan McMahon, (R) Onondaga County Legislature chairman.

It did not take long for the full legislature, dominated by the republican caucus, to approve the request to the state.

“I really don't think that any real, thinking people believe that that could happen,” said County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

Mahoney, says the request makes no sense, looking at budget realities in Albany. “I am, I think, probably, one of the people who's better known as an optimist. And even I will tell you there is no way that the state is in a position, right now, to absorb all of the costs of Medicaid.”

In the state capital, where budget hearings are underway, lawmakers make it clear that any dramatic takeover of Medicaid is years off.

The legislators insist they are not trying to raise false hopes among property owners who's tax rates are among the highest in the nation. They say, simply, that it's time to put pressure on the state for real reform.

“The state feels the pressure. I think the Governor has the political capital to do something big,” McMahon said.

Rather than raise homeowners' hopes, others say it's time to focus on what can be done in the short term.[

“Great idea. We would love for that to happen. There's no way it's going to happen, so let's get back to reality and talk about solving the problems that we have right now and how are we going to get through this year,” Mahoney said.

Lawmakers say waiting to make the demand serves no purpose.