Spitzer's 'State Of State' Proposals Generally Well Received
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Governor Eliot Spitzer drew high praise for many of the proposals he enunciated in last week's State of the State message- praise that was balanced by concerns expressed for meeting a huge budget deficit, to provide aid to seniors' high drug costs, and to cap property taxes for suburban school districts.

While most elected officials expressed support for Spitzer's public education funding, child health improvements and assistance for beleaguered homeowners proposals, a state teacher's union official said he was wary of the new commission the governor would create to deal with the property tax cap.

State Senator George Onorato (D- Astoria) said he felt Spitzer had presented a highly ambitious agenda for meeting some of the most important needs of New Yorkers, especially for improving higher education, expanding child health insurance coverage and affordable housing opportunities for middle income families.

But Onorato, a veteran lawmaker, also noted that the state faces a potential $4.3 billion budget gap and stated that when the governor issues his budget proposals later this month, "We'll have a better idea of whether we can afford this menu of proposed improvements and decide what adjustments might need to be made to the ingredients."

Another Queens senator, Toby Ann Stavisky (D- Flushing), praised the proposal for SUNY and CUNY expansions, saying, "After 12 years of 'benign neglect' by the Pataki administration, it's refreshing to see higher education receive the attention that has been lacking in the past. It's time to think of education in terms of P-16: prekindergarten through college."

Stavisky, a member of the senate Higher Education Committee, said she also looked forward to more full-time professors and increased research at SUNY and CUNY.

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said the governor's speech "struck the right tone" and indicated a desire to get more cooperation among government officials.

Cuomo stated: "I look forward to working with the governor on his priorities, particularly crafting solutions to the mortgage crisis facing middle class families. From revitalizing the upstate economy to improving our state university system to property tax relief, the governor's ambitious agenda tackles real problems facing real New Yorkers."

Assemblymember Ellen Young and Councilmember John Liu (both D- Flushing) said they were pleased with Spitzer's proposal for elementary and higher education, particularly his plan for making the public schools more accountable.

Liu also called for smaller class sizes and for more accountability from the city Department of Education, of which he is a constant watchdog and critic.

Several school advocate groups also expressed agreement with the governor's aim of following up the increases in funding for the city's public schools that he made last year and that he promised to do again this year.

Speaking for the state's seniors, the AARP praised the governor for tackling property taxes and proposing paid family leave and providing a number of opportunities that allow people to age in place- in their homes- with health care and financial security.

But the senior advocacy group also urged Spitzer to address one of the fastest growing healthcare costs for consumers, employers and the government- the high cost of prescription drugs.

[The cost of] brand-name prescription drugs increased at twice the rate of inflation in 2006 and the price increases come on top of six consecutive years in which manufacturers' price increases are often double or triple the Consumer Price Index, the seniors' organization pointed out.

The group also called for creation of a foreclosure fund to help thousands of state residents caught up in the subprime mortgage trap who are not eligible for the state's "Keep the Dream" program.

The governor's property tax cap proposal ran afoul of the New York State United Teachers organization. Its president, Richard C. Iannuzzi, said he was wary of the way Spitzer had appointed Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi to lead this effort to prevent continuing property tax increases in suburban counties where efforts to keep taxes in check are thwarted by school officials who keep raising them.

Iannuzzi expressed concerns that Suozzi might apply the same solution he used to curb police officers' salaries which had skyrockeled to more than $100,000 a year on Long Island.

But Iannuzzi said he had been assured by Suozzi that he would do the tax capping in a way that was fair to everyone.