State Senator George Onorato Assesses Budget

State Senator George Onorato (D-Queens) made the following statement on the 2008-2009 New York State Budget approved April 9 by the state senate and Assembly:

"This $121.7 billion state budget, which was adopted under the most extraordinary of circumstances, has a great deal to recommend it. While the spending plan came in lower than the $124 billion Executive Budget presented to the legislature in January- something which hasn't happened in a decade- the new budget makes tremendous investments in education aid that will bring New York City schools an increase of about $644 million in state support.

"The new budget also restores needed aid to our State and City University systems, without a tuition hike; restores aid to nursing homes, and seeks to reform our healthcare system by shifting resources towards primary care and preventive health services. In addition, it creates a welcome new prescription drug discount card for lowand moderate-income New Yorkers between the ages of 50 and 64, and also makes these discounts available to disabled individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability benefits. And I am also pleased that we were able to expand Child Health Plus to reach even more uninsured children in working families.

"But even as we cheer the good things about this spending plan, there were certainly some aspects of the budget negotiation process that deserve a big thumbs down. Given the fact that Governor David Paterson officially took office only two weeks before the spending plan was due, I think it's highly understandable that the budget was nine days late. However, the sad lack of transparency in the budget negotiations was certainly disappointing, even in light of these extraordinary circumstances.

"On the bright side, I have every confidence that Governor Paterson, a good friend who has long been a staunch champion of legislative and government reform, will take the lead in improving this process as his administration continues to move forward. He, himself, has already expressed his own disappointment with this year's process, which bodes well for a more accountable and transparent system in the future."