Morgan McKay is reporting for New York State of Politics a group of state Assembly lawmakers is urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to restore funding to fight Lyme and tick-borne diseases in the state budget plan. In a letter to the governor released January 17, Assemblymember Didi Barrett calls for at least $1 million in funding to research Lyme and tick borne diseases to help combat what is regarded as a pandemic. "New York is at the epicenter of a growing Lyme disease public health crisis. Your welcome State of the State initiative to preserve 4,000 acres of trails and parks in the Hudson Valley will not only lead to increased tourism and outdoor activities in the region, it will also result in more exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases," the letter read. New York has the third-highest number of confirmed Lyme disease cases in the country. Approximately $1 million was originally earmarked by the state Senate for Lyme and tick-borne disease research last year, but it was not approved in the final budget. In the end, roughly $250,000 was appropriated. A group of 19 Assembly members signed on to Barrett's letter; more are expected to do so in the coming days. Read the full story at NYStateofPolitics [dot] com.