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Senate approves budget that increases spending, cuts funds to schools

By Howard B. Owens

Senate Democrats have approved a budget proposal that increases state spending by $1 billion, even as it cuts $1.4 billion in school spending, according to the Albany Business Journal.

The Senate budget -- which Republicans say they did not get time to review thoroughly, therefore voted against -- does not include a tax on soft drinks proposed by Gov. David Paterson, nor authorization for grocery stores to sell wine.

The proposed budget, which will need to be reconciled with an as-yet-unannounced Assembly budget, passed the Senate 32-29.

The two houses have until April 1 to agree on a budget.

Democrats say the increase in spending is still below the rate of inflation.

Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer released the following statement:

The Senate Democrats drafted their final budget resolution in secret, without any input from Republicans. They then released the resolution less than an hour before it was voted on. Only a budget resolution crafted in secret would produce such a bad deal for New Yorkers.

The Budget Resolution increases spending by $1.5 billion, expands welfare programs, and fails to restore the STAR rebate check program for all homeowners. Even worse, the resolution does nothing to help create private sector jobs. Instead, it only adds more government jobs by expanding welfare eligibility and increases public assistance payments again this year.

I will only support a budget which does not increase taxes and spending, delivers property tax relief to homeowners and enables the private sector to create jobs. This is the budget the people want. It’s a budget they deserve and the budget we must achieve.

John Roach

So Senate Democrats increase spending and don't close the budget gap. What else is new?

When Republicans controlled the State Senate, they use to do the same thing. saying they had to in order to make a deal with the Democrat run Assembly.

But this, like last year is an all Democrat budget. And the Assembly is not likely to balance the budget either, so it falls on the lame duck governor to do the right thing.

Mar 24, 2010, 7:21am Permalink
Donna Jackett

OK, let me get this right. Increase welfare (of course) and take way the Star Rebate for us tax payers and take money away from the from schools so that some day there will be more on welfare. That makes sense to me. Right!!

Mar 24, 2010, 7:56am Permalink

You got it Donna!

The more you make the less you have, but that's patriotic isn't it? I mean that's we have been told for sometime now.

What do you think is going to happen? The schools are going to have to raise taxes. All those reserves that were incorrectly reported will dry up very fast. Then we will lay off teachers, close a neighborhood school and increase class size to the max just so the tax levy doesn't go up 20%! It's going up mark my words. The day that my kids are in a classroom of 35 is the day that NYS will have two less incomes to count on.

Man I hate both parties. I really just can't wait for the party heads to come out now and start defending this garbage!

Let's go! Democrats are for education, defend this. They won the state because they could do a better job with the budget, defend that. Republicans have no power now...boohoo, but when they did they overspent like crazy as well, defend your record!

Just a joke.

Mar 24, 2010, 8:39am Permalink
adam garner

why give more money to welfare i think if they would have looked for a job before all this that they would be fine and why not make it something that everyone can benifit from one more thing they shouldnt CUT money for schools that is the worse thing for it just to we can pay for more people going on welfare i hear mcD's hire every day it may not be the best job but hey its honest money not just sitting at home waiting for that check to come

Mar 24, 2010, 11:55am Permalink
Mark Potwora

They give more money to welfare people because that is a big part of the Democrats base...The homeowners are not worth restoring the star rebate program because they don't keep them in power...Senate Democrats have approved a budget proposal that increases state spending by $1 billion, and the state is broke...Go figure...

Mar 24, 2010, 5:20pm Permalink

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