Assembly, Senate support most of PEF’s budget issues

By SHERRY HALBROOK
As this issue of The Communicator goes to press in mid-March, hope persists in Albany that New York could have its first on-time (April 1) or nearly on-time budget in decades.

The governor continues to meet in open-door sessions with the leaders of both parties in the Senate and the Assembly, but says their budget plans are at least $1.5 billion to $2 billion higher than his and need trimming.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver addresses PEF members at a Region 10 Legislative Reception in NYC.  Photo by Ken Dischel 

The state Assembly has passed a budget resolution outlining its position on budget issues, and the Senate has passed budget bills, which means negotiations could become very substantive at this point. However, the Medicaid spending issue looms as potentially a major roadblock on the road to a final budget agreement.

“Overall, both houses of the Legislature have supported the vast majority of PEF’s budget priorities,” said PEF President Roger Benson. “However, we need to continue to lobby and monitor the negotiations closely to make sure our budget priorities are reflected in the budget that is finally enacted.”

Among the PEF budget issues that have not received full support from both houses are:

• Both houses adopted the proposal, which PEF opposed, to reduce staff and capacity in youth services at the state Office of Children and Family Services;

• Both houses adopted the proposal, which PEF opposed, to transfer the Welfare to Work program from the state Labor Department to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance;

• Only the Senate agreed with PEF in rejecting a $2.1 million cut for the state Division of Parole that would eliminate 47 field staff.

• Only the Assembly agreed with PEF in rejecting a $2 million budget cut for the state Education Department;

• Only the Assembly agreed with PEF in rejecting the proposed merger of the state Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities with the state Commission on Quality of Care of the Mentally Disabled;

• Only the Assembly agreed with PEF and rejected the proposal to switch from annual to risk-based inspections of food stores and pet dealers and breeders; and

• The Assembly agreed with PEF in restoring funding to keep Fulton Work Release Facility open, but did not provide funding for Pharsalia and Camp McGregor Correctional Facilities. The Senate provided funds for Pharsalia and Camp McGregor, but left Fulton unfunded.