A Democratic state lawmaker on Thursday blasted the idea of altering New York's flag and seal as proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 

Cuomo, in his State of the State address, proposed adding the Latin phrase "E Pluribus Unum" to the seal and flag. The flag has not been changed in about a century and would require the consent of the legislature. 

Most lawmakers in recent days have to seem unperturbed by the idea backed by a governor with a penchant for the state's history. But Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara wasn't convinced. In a statement, he said altering the flag and seal was a distraction.  

"Here we go again! We’ve seen bridges renamed, license plates redesigned and now a proposal to change our state flag," Santabarbara said. "New York has a $6.1 billion budget gap and the governor just can’t stop with his pet projects. People are not interested in changing the state flag! Anyone who is paying attention would know they are interested in PUBLIC SAFETY and KEEPING MORE OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY!"