Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman "Denny" Farrell today announced the committee's release of the Statistical and Narrative Summary of the Executive Budget, also known as the Yellow Book.

"We have some tough choices to make this year. But what the governor has presented us with is nothing but wrong choices," said Silver. "Whether it's eliminating universal pre-K, raising SUNY tuition or destroying Empire Zones, the governor's budget consistently fails to make the right choices."

"The release of the Yellow Book is only the first step in a process that will reveal the harsh reality behind the governor's rhetoric. In addition, today marks the beginning of a series of joint Senate and Assembly public hearings where we will have the opportunity to hear from those who would bear the burden of these misplaced priorities," said Farrell.

No Educational Vision

"We must not abandon our children during times of uncertainty, but that's exactly what this budget would do," said Farrell. "Quite simply put: this governor has no educational vision."

The governor's budget eliminates virtually all early childhood programs, including pre-kindergarten, K-3 class size reduction and full day kindergarten. School aid cuts totaling $1.24 billion mean cutbacks to essential educational programs, teacher lay-offs and ultimately lower academic standards - not to mention local property tax increases.

"Children need high-tech skills and a quality education to succeed in our modern economy. This budget will leave tomorrow's workers trapped in overcrowded classrooms without the resources they need," said Silver.

Pushing College Education Out Of Reach

"Historically, during times of economic uncertainty, SUNY and CUNY enrollment have risen significantly - demonstrating that these institutions are often the last great hope for the dream of a college education," said Farrell.

The Yellow Book indicates the cuts to higher education in the governor's budget total $660 million. For the past eight years, the governor's proposed budgets have cut support for higher education by about $2.4 billion, Farrell said. The Assembly has consistently fought the governor to preserve an affordable college education for all New Yorkers, he added.

"Currently New York ranks 47th in state support for higher education," said Silver. "Increasing tuition, cutting TAP and slashing funding to community colleges will only exacerbate this situation."

Jeopardizing New York's Health Care System

As he has done nearly every year, the governor proposed massive cuts to Medicaid. According to the analysis, the governor's budget would precipitate a total decrease in health care spending of $2 billion - severely impacting a health care industry already reeling from previous cuts, workforce shortages, new technology costs, disaster preparedness and caring for the uninsured.

"The health care industry is a top employer in nearly every county in New York," Silver noted. "These proposed Medicaid cuts could cost us 38,000 jobs when unemployment is rising, and drastically reduce services in an industry already plagued by staff shortages, emergency room closures and the denial of home care services to many seniors."

The Yellow Book also details the governor's proposal to raise EPIC fees, cut reimbursements to pharmacies and reduce eligibility levels for the Family Health Plus Program - further harming New York's most vulnerable citizens.

Ignoring New York's Stagnant Economy

The Assembly has been a leader advocating for comprehensive, progressive, economic development policies - such as Empire Zones, the Excelsior Linked Deposit Program, CAPCO, Downtown Development Initiative Grants and workforce training funds, Farrell said. But despite the Assembly's efforts to stimulate growth, the governor has failed to advance a strategy to help the state capitalize on its regional strengths and the booming national economy, he added.

During the period between 1995 and 2001, the nation's employment grew by 12.6 percent, while New York State employment grew by only 8.8 percent. If New York State employment grew at the same rate as the nation over this period, 289,900 additional jobs would have been created.

"To make matters worse, the governor's budget threatens the viability of the successful Empire Zone job-creation program by requiring localities to pay 50 percent of the cost of the real property tax benefit offered to new businesses," Silver said. "His budget will force more bad choices on local communities struggling to turn around their economies: either pay up or risk losing new jobs and businesses."

When terrorists attacked on 9-11, they struck at the engine that drives New York State's economy. After nearly a year and a half, the site is cleared, but plans for rebuilding have stalled and the Pataki administration has failed to take full advantage of recovery funds, further impairing efforts to rebuild our state economy, Silver added.

Picking The Pockets Of Working Families

The governor's budget - when proposals such as public university tuition increases and Metropolitan Transportation Authority fare hikes are factored in - contains billions in numerous hidden taxes, fees and surcharges.

"Despite his promise not to raise 'job-killing taxes,' the governor has chosen to pick the pockets of working families - those who are least able to bear the burden of his failed economic development policies," Silver said. "Commuters, college students, health care patients, homeowners and car buyers will all feel the sting of the governor's tax increases."

Those Pataki taxes include:

• freezing the School Tax Relief (STAR) program;
• calling for a state and local sales tax on clothing and shoes costing less than $110;
• reinstating at a higher rate a tax increase on hospitals; and
• imposing a tax increase on other certified home health agencies, home care agencies and personal care agencies.

Undermining Our Safety

The Yellow Book details the governor's plan to decrease funding for transportation improvements, even though: approximately 30 percent of New York roads have pavement conditions rated poor or fair in 2002; nearly 30 percent of state highway bridges were rated deficient; and 43 percent of local bridges were rated deficient.

The governor is also refusing to allocate $20 million from wireless surcharges to help improve E911 - an emergency wireless safety network.

Making The Right Choices

"We need a budget that will invest in tomorrow while taking care of the people who are hurting today," Farrell said. "We cannot force children and the elderly, the sick and the disabled and the working families struggling to make ends meet to carry the weight of the state's budget crisis on their backs. The Assembly Majority will work to produce a budget that's fair and equitable to all New Yorkers."

Click Here to view Yellow Book.