5/7/2003Late Budget again
The State legislature’s battle with Governor Pataki over the 2003 budget was continuing today, with the Governor still highly critical of lawmakers’ decision to approve a budget nearly $2 billion higher than the $90.8 billion budget he had proposed.
Despite the Governor's threats to veto it, Sen. Jim Seward says legislators passed a state budget that attempts to provide a "reasonable, common sense approach" to dealing with a state deficit of more than $11 billion.
Much of the money put back in the budget restores funds for education and health care. "The school aid restorations of more than $700 million will help avoid massive property tax hikes, and we said no to the governor’s plan to freeze the STAR program," Seward said. "We’re cutting taxes on hospitals and nursing homes too. This isn’t an easy year and the Albany blame game doesn’t help educate one child or pave one road."
The governor today said that the legislators' budget would lead to "disastrous consequences to every single resident of this state." He has pledged "extensive vetoes."