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| NYSUT testifies: Gov.'s proposed budget equals nothing but pain for schools February, 2006 ALBANY, N.Y. February 6, 2006 — In testimony before the state Legislature, New York State United Teachers today blasted Gov Pataki's proposed state budget for its failure to address the problems facing New York's public schools. "On every level, the governor's budget is just wrong for New York 's children," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "He has completely ignored the funding gap and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision. Either the governor simply doesn't understand what's happening in our schools, or he simply doesn't care. "The governor is proposing a $400 million voucher plan in the guise of a tax credit that will do nothing to improve our schools. It won't hire one new teacher for the classroom; it won't place one new book on the shelf; it won't put one new computer in the school library. And that's just one bad piece of a really bad budget." In testimony before the state Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan B. Lubin called this year's executive budget proposal "an all-out assault on public education, on children and on property taxpayers." "Besides this voucher plan, his proposals on charter schools and his plans to freeze school district operating aid pass the buck and place additional burdens on working families who are already paying more for heat, fuel, college tuition and health care," Lubin said. Lubin said the governor's plan to increase the cap on charter schools from 100 to 250 doesn't make sense. "Charter schools have not distinguished themselves from public schools," Lubin said, citing a recent University of Illinois study that showed charter school students are performing below students in public schools. Lubin noted NYSUT would be introducing legislation to protect local districts from exorbitant charter school costs and to increase charter school accountability. "The governor continues to expand a program that has not shown positive results," Lubin said. "And school districts are facing real fiscal problems because of the way the state funds charter schools. It's a double whammy on taxpayers: Not only are charter schools failing to raise student achievement, they are also placing a heavy financial burden on local taxpayers, who have no say in how many charter schools are forced into their school districts." Lubin also criticized the governor's proposal to pay taxpayers $400 to vote "no" on local school budgets. "This is nothing more than a bribe — the governor is paying for votes," Lubin said. "Voters should make decisions about their school budgets based on substance, not subterfuge. Our schools are too important to have choices made in such an irresponsible way. "From the first page to the last, the governor's budge t sends a message louder than words: The governor doesn't think public education and public school students are worth the investment." A full version of Lubin's testimony is available at www.nysut.org or by calling (518) 213-6000 ext. 6313. NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. |
Read a complete copy of the testimony [154k PDF] Read For More Information CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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