WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th Assembly District. April 28, 2006: The Legislature approved an on-time, bipartisan budget that was both balanced and fiscally responsible. Unfortunately, the governor used his veto pen in order to score political points at the expense of the sick, elderly, school children, college students, and property taxpayers. That is unacceptable and why the Legislature had no choice but to override the governor’s vetoes - sending a bipartisan message that we’re fighting for a budget that New Yorkers deserve.
If left unchallenged, the governor’s vetoes would have shortchanged New York’s college students and left our universities unprepared to meet the challenges of the future. The Legislature moved to rectify these inequities and voted to override the governor’s vetoes, restoring $119 million to the Tuition Assistance Program, vital operating aid as well as construction and infrastructure funding to SUNY. I voted to restore capital improvement projects at local colleges totaling $34 million, including:
· $6 million to SUNY Purchase for the Heritage Site
· $8 million to SUNY Purchase for HVAC renovations
· $20 million to Westchester County Community College for additional Master Plan Projects.
Westchester’s overburdened taxpayer would have been left with no meaningful relief under the governor’s budget vetoes. The Assembly and Senate overrode the governor’s shortsighted vetoes of the Legislature’s bipartisan tax-relief package, including:
· Empire State Tax Credit – a maximum credit of $330 for each child age 4 to 17
· Property tax rebates that average $532 for Westchester’s Basic STAR recipients and $822 for senior homeowners under the Enhanced STAR program
· Reducing the marriage penalty tax – saving married couples $41 million when fully phased in
The Legislature fought to restore the governor’s cuts to Westchester’s hospitals and nursing homes and voted to override health care vetoes that would punish the sick, elderly and disabled by:
· Forcing seniors and disabled into the Medicaid Part D confusion
· Cutting transportation, support services, Home Health Care Recruitment and Training and efforts to allow seniors to remain in their homes
· Denying residents of Adult Homes with mental disabilities an SSI supplement of $25 per month to support basic needs
· Increasing certain co-payment for Family Health Plus
This budget represents the priorities of elected representatives from both sides of the aisle in the Assembly and Senate – representatives from across the state who are attuned to the values and needs of people in their communities.
Sadly, the governor has threatened to tie up portions of the budget in courts, based on legal technicalities – not democratic principals. I urge the governor to join us in providing New York residents with an appropriate budget by not litigating on technicalities.
