Albany, NY – In response to Governor Cuomo’s proposed $10 billion in budget cuts, including $8.2 billion in cuts to schools, hospitals and local governments, Stanley Fritz, Political Director of Citizen Action of New York, released the following statement:
“Governor Cuomo could be using his recent popularity to emphasize the need to raise taxes on the super rich in order to close the budget deficit and protect everyday New Yorkers. Instead, he would rather protect his corporate interests. Slashing health care funding in the middle of a pandemic would cause direct harm to Black, Brown, and low-income people who are most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Plans to cut education funding by up to 20 percent will force already underfunded school districts to lay off even more teachers and eliminate vital programs at a time when they need more resources, not less.
“Despite Governor Cuomo using this crisis to expand his power to make devastating cuts, the State Legislature still maintains an important role in the budget process. In this moment of crisis, state legislators must put the health and well-being of our communities first. That means raising taxes on ultra-millionaires and billionaires to invest in health care, housing and education for our families.”
###