subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: November 20, 2009 11:09 pm    print this story  

EDITORIAL: Fix the fiscal mess

Another week ... the same fiscal mess.

Once again, New York state’s lawmakers failed to agree on ways to close a $3.2 billion fiscal deficit.

Unlike last week, they do appear to be negotiating.

But by caving to powerful special interests, state lawmakers aren’t protecting anyone. They are hurting New York’s taxpayers (read voters).

The Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders were unified against any cuts in school aid, which advocates said would result in layoffs and higher local property taxes in the spring.

“It’s not going to happen,” said Sens. John Sampson, the Democratic leader, and Dean Skelos, the Republican leader, in unison to reporters on Thursday.

Ok, so what’s the alternative?

Gov. David Paterson said cuts to school aid and health are critical because they represent 55 percent of the state budget.

Like it or not, some tough choices are going to have to be made.

It’s no small wonder that a Marist College poll on Wednesday found voters overwhelmingly blame the Legislature for inaction so far, more than three times as many who blame Paterson.

The governor’s been sounding alarms about the state of New York’s economy for a while.

The Legislature has failed to respond.

What will it take for state lawmakers to finally cut the budget?

Maybe New York will have to go the route of California, which is facing $20 billion deficits for each of the next five years.

Legislators will return to Albany on Monday to hammer out a deal ... unless party bosses reach a consensus first ... but don’t hold your breath.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Administrative Assistant
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT for human services agency. Resume to: ILNC, 746 Portage Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14301. EOE...>MORE

Director of Laboratory Services

DIRECTOR OF
LABORATORY SERVICES

Mount St. Mary's Hospital is offering an
excellent op
...>MORE

Human Services
HUMAN SERVICES. Transitional Specialist: (PT) Niagara Falls. Assist youth with 90 day transition programming, intake and...>MORE

Assistant Director
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
 Ass
...>MORE

Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts (Baking and Pastry Instructor) NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking applications for part-time inst...>MORE

Assembly
NF Co. seeking the
following:
• Packaging
• Assembly (small
detailed parts)
• Sorters
...>MORE

School Bus Drivers
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
We will train you to be a School Bus Driver. Classes starting now. Must have a clean drivers lic
...>MORE

Medical Associate
MEDICAL ASSOCIATE
Busy local Niagara Falls practice, strong computer skills, billing background helpful, $13-$14/ho
...>MORE

TOOL GRINDER & WIRE EDM OPERATOR
Tool Grinder-exp. w/contours & blades,Wire EDM Operator-5 yrs exp., 3rd shift. Pivot Punch Corp., resumes: jobs@pivotpu...>MORE

Cashiers
CASHIERS 
Looking for dependable people with great customer service skills to work in APlus Convenience store in Le
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1998 Dodge Dakota Sport
DODGE 1998 Dakota Sport 3.9 V6, regular cab, exc in & out, no rust, real sharp, $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

1999 Chevy Malibu
CHEVY 1999 Malibu, needs fuel pump, $700. 282-6141 or 990-6026....>MORE

1991 Lincoln Executive Town Car
LINCOLN 1991 Executive Town Car, 42k miles, no rust, runs, needs work, $600. 990-8895....>MORE

1993 Chevy Silverado
CHEVY Silverado 4x4 1993 new alt, starter, exhaust, rebuilt trans., etc. Reliable. Call 282-0465....>MORE

Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI
Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI, 4 door, one owner, exc. condition, power windows, power steering, power locks, $5000 or best ...>MORE

Ford 1997 TAURUS
FORD 1997 taurus, runs exc. fully loaded, must see $1400 or best offer. 205-7711...>MORE

Pontiac 2000 Grand Prix XL
PONTIAC 2000 Grand Prix XL, black,
good condition
531-2669
...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
DODGE 2001Neon, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 58k mi. am/fm CD player, n o rust, like new, $3950. 525-7796...>MORE

1986 Ford Mustang
FORD 1986 Mustang convertible, 5.0 body kit, 3.8L V6, 40k on new motor, runs but needs work. $700 or BO. 417-1611...>MORE

Ford 1999 Escort ZX2
FORD 1999 ESCORT, ZX2 Coupe, runs great, NYS inspected, exc. cond. $1650. 694-0441...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index