|
OVERRIDE!
Joint Legislative Budget
Passes
ALBANY - May 14, 2003
Over 33 advocates were in
Albany on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 for "leadership development" training. What
they witnessed was historic. Appealing to the needs within their districts, the
Democratic-controlled Assembly joined forces with the Republican-controlled
Senate and produced the more than two-thirds majority required to successfully
override 120 of the Governor's line item vetoes.
The coalition behind the
Governor - Republican members of the Assembly (i.e., with the exception of Pat
Casale, 108th District), NYS Business Council and numerous statewide Chambers
of Commerce - attempted to avoid what they termed as "job-killing taxes" by way
of the "largest tax increase in state history." However, their pleas to protect
the state's wealthiest citizens didn't add up when compared to the impact on
local communities. There would have been immediate job cuts in education and
health care if the Governor's budget prevailed. Many of the Governor's
proposals like the one to take $25.7 million away from SSI recipients - some of
the poorest individuals in the state - raised serious questions, if not
anger.
In the end, several rank
and file lawmakers felt satisfied with the opportunity to impact the process on
behalf of their constituents.
|
Inside...
On the Horizon… (Page 2)
ILRU National Training Project (Page 5) |
|
 |
WHAT WAS RESTORED…
- $25.7 million for SSI COLA.
- $1.2 million for IL state
appropriation.
- $5.5 million to VR case services to
avoid an "order of selection.
" WHAT WAS
REJECTED…
- Damaging language to the new MIS law
(Olmstead implementation)
- Proposal to move VR and IL to
labor.
- Proposal to move CBVH to Labor and
Aging.
ADDITIONAL…
- Restoration of home care provider
COLA.
- Rejection of 0.06% assessment on home
care providers.
|
|
