Albany, NY — In response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2018 Executive Budget, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York Karen Scharff issued the following statement:
“With the State of the State behind him, Governor Cuomo has reverted back to his fiscally conservative ways. This year’s Executive Budget doesn’t match the soaring rhetoric we heard earlier in the month.
“The projected school aid is nowhere near the $4.2 billion currently owed to our public schools. Without this critical funding, the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest school districts in our state will only grow wider. Assemblymember Charles Barron’s point about ignoring the needs of our Black and Brown students is confirmed in this budget plan.
“On climate, the Governor once again overpromises and underdelivers. While other states are considering bold initiatives that make corporate polluters pay for the damage they’re doing to our communities, Governor Cuomo’s budget takes no such action.
“The Governor blames the deficit for this disappointing budget. But if he were truly committed to funding our schools, creating affordable child care, and addressing the climate crisis, he would recapture the taxes that corporations and the super rich can now avoid paying thanks to the GOP tax scam.
“Although many New Yorkers will be hurt by the cap on State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions, it’s the deep cuts to our social programs that will hit working people the hardest. Governor Cuomo’s budget doesn’t do enough to right the wrongs of the federal tax scam.”
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