Governor Offers Buffet Menu
To The Editor:

In his second State of the State address to the New York state legislature [on January 9], Governor [Eliot] Spitzer presented a highly ambitious agenda for meeting some of the most important needs of New Yorkers. I particularly appreciated his emphasis on providing more support for our higher education system, expanding health insurance coverage for New York's children, enhancing tax relief and establishing a new fund to provide greater affordable housing opportunities for middleincome families.

But, historically, the State of the State address is somewhat akin to a buffet menu. There's usually something there for everyone, and it all sounds good. But we won't really know how palatable it is until we find out what's really on the table, what goes into it and what it costs.

I very strongly support and share many of the governor's priorities for New York, but remain mindful of the fact- as does he- that our state faces a potential budget gap of some $4.3 billion. When we see the governor's proposed 2008-2009 state budget later this month, we'll have a better idea of whether we can afford this menu and what adjustments might need to be made to the ingredients. George Onorato State Senator 12th Senate District Astoria-Long Island City