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March 31, 2011

New York Assembly Approves Budget Amidst Protests 
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New York state lawmakers have approved a $132.5 billion budget that will
cut more than $2 billion in healthcare and education spending, while
granting millionaires a tax break. Despite a budget shortfall, Gov.
Andrew Cuomo opposed extending a tax surcharge on New Yorkers with
personal earnings of more than $200,000 year. The new budget has drawn
criticism from advocates of increased education aid, who say the cuts
will disproportionately impact students in low-income and middle-class
districts. The budget was approved after a raucous day of protests from
hundreds of activists who converged on the Capitol from across the
state. Karen Scharff of the group Citizen Action of New York spoke out
at the protest.

Karen Scharff: "We're here today because the budget the governor has
proposed and the legislature is passing is giving $5 billion dollars
away in tax cuts to millionaires. Five billion dollars that we need for
our schools, for K-12 education, for early childhood education, for our
universities, and for basic public services that low-income and
middle-class New Yorkers need. Instead of funding those services, we're
throwing $5 billion dollars out the window in a tax cut for millionaires
who don't need it and haven't asked for it. It's not only irrational,
but immoral. This immoral budget cannot stand."



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