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Hawley challenges Cuomo over 'taxpayer-funded handout to cons'

By Billie Owens

A statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia):

“Gov. Cuomo is proposing that New York state provide prisons $7 million so convicts can take college courses. I believe that there are more efficient ways to spend this amount of money.

"Our infrastructure throughout the state is in desperate need of attention along with many hardworking taxpayers who are struggling to provide college tuition for themselves and members of their family.

“Unfortunately, I feel that when the governor announces such misguided ideas and proposals that he is solely attempting to bring national media attention upon himself and to position himself for an upcoming presidential run.

"I call on the governor to relieve some of the burden that he placed on taxpayers to pay for his 'free' tuition plan and use this proposed $7 million for education at SUNY schools for law-abiding citizens.

“I can’t believe the governor puts the future of convicted felons ahead of the young men and women of our state who are working day in and day out to provide for their families and to become pillars of their communities. The people of New York state deserve better.”

John Roach

They had this program once before and it was a failure. And it slowly expanded to giving free college to inmates who were doing life-never going home.

It was a waste of money then and will be again. And it is people who have to borrow to put their kids through college that pay for convicts to get the free college.

Aug 10, 2017, 1:41pm Permalink
Julie Morales

It was a failure? The program or the proposal?

Hawley: “Gov. Cuomo is proposing that New York state (sic) provide prisons $7 million so convicts can take college courses.”

Just enough disingenuous misinformation sprinkled with hyperbole to cause the hackles to rise.

“On Sunday, Cuomo administration officials sought to mitigate concerns, reiterating that the grant program — which creates classes for about 2,500 inmates — will be financed with money from large bank settlements secured by the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., rather than general state funds...

…Only inmates with five years or less remaining on their sentences will be allowed to take classes.”

Seems it’s beyond a “proposal” as:

“The courses will begin in September...”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/06/nyregion/cuomo-to-give-colleges-7-mi…

Sharpen the pitchforks and light the torches over recidivism. But don’t dream of investing one dime in trying to do anything about it, and make sure to attack anyone who does.

You do realize that it costs money to warehouse the undesirables, right?

A pandering politician? Pot meet kettle.

Aug 10, 2017, 2:48pm Permalink
John Roach

Julie, The program was a failure. I saw many inmates come back into the system who had the college program.

And I don't think tax payers should have to pay for a convict to go to college in prison while that same taxpayer has to borrow to put his own kid(s) through college That court settlement money should be returned to the taxpayers or put into paying for that new NYC bridge.

Aug 10, 2017, 4:15pm Permalink
Cheryl Wilmet

When I saw this I got mad. The so called Excelsior Scholarship denied my 2 college bound students for rules that we didn't know existed. My daughter has gone to GCC for 2 years but because she only has 59 credit hours instead of 60 she is not eligible. My son isn't eligible because he went for 1 semester in 2010 and now that he wants to go and further his education he can't because he didn't have 60 credit hours within the last 2 years (because of a semester that was 7 years ago). Cuomo is a joke. Now he wants to help cons.

Aug 10, 2017, 4:49pm Permalink
Bob Price

Don't they get enough benefits already that I pay for??? Food,medical,TV, gyms....when will this stupid governor realize that the more "free" stuff he adds that taxpayers have to pay for,the less and less there will be of them to pay for his "ideas"???? Tired of working and working and having more and more taken out to be given to the undeserving leeches of society. I recently received a bonus at work and almost HALF of it went to taxes- DISGUSTING!!!!!

Aug 10, 2017, 9:35pm Permalink

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