Medicaid Cuts: (which truthfully is not a cut, it is a reduction in spending growth)
Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) is saying this is not shared sacrifice if certain sectors are exempted, such as state education.
“Moreover, this plan in no way can be considered a balance of shared sacrifice when entire sectors are exempted from it."Greater New York Hospital Association and union SEIU issued a joint press release.
"By any measure, these are staggering cuts that would devastate New York’s health care infrastructure and severely threaten access to care. For New York’s already financially struggling hospitals, they would simply be unsustainable."SEIU President George Gresham suggested a tax increase.
"I strongly encourage the Legislature and Governor to look instead for revenue options, including a surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers, in order to protect hospitals, nursing homes and home care services.”Aid to local communities cut:
New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) is warning of property tax increases, executive director Stephen Acquario said in a press release.
"We still have to spend taxpayer money to deliver the state’s programs we just have less of the state’s funding to pay for it. If we are going to make the hard choices than we need to be reducing state programs and services, not simply shifting more costs to property taxpayers.”
Beyond funding cuts, the legislature has to accompany these cuts in funding with a reduction in mandated programs in order to make this work properly.
Meanwhile groups like the Citizens Budget Commission are applauding Governor Paterson.
"We applaud the Governor for coming forward with a set of options that encourages debate on how to curb spending. The Governor is right to keep pressure on the State Legislature and to insist that tax increases be considered only as a last resort"
1 comment:
First of all, I need to say that I understand the state of our economy in NYS--and I understand the need to make budget cuts. I also need to admit that I am a NYSer who pays a large portion of my paycheck to student loans each month. However, if it was not for student aid, I would never have gone as far as I have. I would never have made it to an Ivy League school. I would never have made anything of myself. The partnership between the federal and state governments, educational institutions, families and students is imperative. Without this type of financial support, those "without" may not have the opportunity to ever be "with". I am constantly reading articles about NY and the "brain drain". Does Patterson seriously believe that by cutting student aid we will improve our state economy? The truth is, our economic growth depends on students of all economic levels having open access to a higher education. Without student aid, this is not possible.
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