Extension of Remarks: State leaders must act

News of the last week featured Joe Bruno's victory lap -- with the outgoing Senate majority leader announcing millions of state dollars for projects in the Albany area -- and David Paterson's midnight ride -- as the still newish governor spread the word of gigantic state budget deficits on the horizon. Guess which one won the most applause.

The lead editorial in Sunday's Buffalo News calls on other state official's to finally heed the governor's call for facing the budget facts: With 20 percent of state revenues flowing from New York City’s financial district, when Wall Street catches a cold, Albany sneezes and upstate takes to its bed. Wall Street is shivering.

Today's New York Post splashes an exclusive about Paterson's plan to deliver a major address on the state budget problems: The governor's address - which his aides hope will be televised by public and cable news stations - will say that plunging state revenues will force painful cuts in state services, necessitate a reduction in the state work force, possibly through layoffs, and require other difficult economic measures, source said.

But, beyond that, Paterson's call of alarm isn't getting that much ink.

Elsewhere:
* The Post also supports the call from NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg to help fill the state's budget holes by collecting the taxes from the smokes sold on Indian reservations.
* Newsday editorializes in favor of Paterson's call for any future economic stimulus from the federal government to come in the form of infrastructure -- highways, rail, mass transit -- rather than checks to individuals: Rebate checks are, at best, a stopgap. Putting people to work gets to the root of solving our economic woes.
* The Times Union in Albany has a problem with legislative action to cough up $50 million for three new law schools, at a time when the basics of the existing SUNY system are not being adequately funded: This is baffling. Three new law schools when the SUNY system needs an infusion of cash? New law schools when SUNY funds are being "swept" into the state budget? New law schools when statistics show that 9,267 new lawyers were admitted to the bar last year, competing for just 9,260 new jobs projected over the next six years?

--George Pyle/Editorial Writer

Comments

[Chancellor Carlyle Roberts, II]

Solution: SPEND LESS MONEY!

[Texas Kid]

State leaders acting..well if they follow the script, they'll start by raising taxes. If Wall Street is bad right now, how is NY going to fund those cushy pensions for retired workers now living in Florida. The legislature in Albany will always look out for the hand that feeds them and they need to up taxes to keep their biggest supporters happy and content. You'll get angry, but the news media and the Buffalo News will emphasize the impacts of budget cuts on the children, poor women, and elderly medical care. Then all will be fine as you pony up more monies for taxes. Once Wall Street gets back on track, the taxes will remain the same. This script is the same as a Lifetime Movie, you know how NY is going to react and how its going to end and the show hasn't even started yet. As for going after the Indians on smoke taxes, who does Bloomberg think he is, the new version of General Custer. The Indians will stand up for their treaty rights and nothing good for NY will come of this confrontation. To finish, as I've said all along before in my postings..better you than me! You reap what you sow WNY voters!

[fedup]

It's plain and simple right in front of your faces. Government and corporations, in perfect co-ordination run uncontrolled, unchecked with blatent immunity.
Where are the wages WAY WAY OUT OF PROPORTION in the real world? Who has retirements fit for kings? Who still has full coverage health insurance for the rest of their lives? Who is investing heavily into everything ELSEWHERE, BUT NOT HERE IN THE USA? Who gets ANY kind of help in times of trouble? The BAILOUTS?
Welcome to the USA INC. Where politicians, ceo's, make the BIG BIG money and CAN'T RUN A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G EFFECIENTLY, yet STILL get raises and bonuses! Their DEMANDING more money from those who don't have it, to make up for their INEPTNESS, SHEER GREED, and LACK OF BEING ANYWHERE CAPABLE to do the JOB THEIR PAID WELL FOR. Only MORE money, IN THEIR POCKETS fixes all their mistakes.
What a joke. THEY ran down it down. Now THEY want MORE. Do corporations raise YOUR pay to CONTINUALLY SCREW UP?

[Barton Keyes]

The Governor's call is problematic for two reasons;
1) While it is accurate in detailing the beudgetary crisis fascing the state, it is also a day late and a dollar short. The Governor knew or should have known of the crisis when he signed off on the bloated, election-year budget passed earlier in the year. But he bowed to political reality, kept his mouth shut and signed off.
2) Thus, only after adding to the budget problem has the governor "got religion". And that will mean more drastic budget cuts where the good, the bad and the ugly get the ax. And the sad part is that even then there will be strong political opposition to cut sacred cows and politcally sponsored programs.
This all represents government by crisis. No one seems to be talking about fundamental reform. No one is requiring that all legislation provide an accurate funding source before it qualifies for passage. No one is saying they will veto increased expenditures in the face of a probable recession. No one, including Republicans, are signing on to fiscal responsibility.

[Hank]

Sadly, all here know exactly the conditions, and that "state leaders must act." But it will not happen. The elected representatives in the State (including all the local officials) choose to disrespect the communities they come from. Willful neglect is always punished by reality. Taxes are going to go up and up. The bill is in the mail.