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Governor's veto ax falls hard Impact on higher ed, health care, many school districts 
September 9, 2004 NYSUT's Alan Lubin with state Sen. Carl Andrews, D-NYC, at the Democratic National Convention. Saying he slashed "virtually everything I could get to," Gov. Pataki vetoed more than $1.8 billion in funding approved by the state Legislature just weeks before schools and colleges were scheduled to begin another school year. The 195 line-item vetoes gutted $235 million in spending and $1.6 billion in borrowing - hitting higher education and health care especially hard. Acting on the latest budget in state history, the state Legislature in August had added $332 million in restorations for higher ed, plus $94.5 million more in operating support for SUNY and CUNY. However, much of that good news was wiped out with the stroke of the veto pen. In jeopardy are hundreds of new faculty lines and gone is $723 million toward a five-year capital program for SUNY and CUNY's crumbling campuses. The governor also rejected the Legislature's plan to boost aid to community colleges by $50 per full-time student. "Vetoing higher education funding just days before tens of thousands of students head back to CUNY and SUNY is insensitive and reckless," said New York State United Teachers Executive Vice President Alan Lubin. "The years of neglect of our public universities have already made it difficult for students to find the classes they need to graduate. All those students returning to campus this month better check their schedules; the courses they've registered for may not have any professors." "SUNY has been slammed with millions of dollars in cuts in state funding in recent years, while enrollments are skyrocketing and the number of faculty members is declining," said William Scheuerman, president of United University Professions. "We're deeply concerned the governor's actions will starve the university, jeopardize our members' jobs and threaten the quality of education." The governor's vetoes, Scheuerman noted, included a cut of the $2.4 million the Legislature added for SUNY's strapped technology sector colleges. "That cut will wreck the technology colleges, which are critical educational and economic engines for the communities they serve," Scheuerman said. "These colleges have endured years of underfunding, aggravated by an unfunded mandate to provide four-year programs. We made that case to our friends in the Legislature and they followed through." Poor students The governor also cut the Legislature's $3.2 million in restorations to equal opportunity programs that help students from impoverished backgrounds. "These programs are critical to maintain access to the university," said Barbara Bowen, president of the Professional Staff Congress, representing City University faculty and staff. The governor also vetoed a higher ed program he supported: a $350 million matching fund for building projects at private colleges. The governor objected because legislators added their own appointees to the selection board and specified half the money would go to public colleges. Indeed, the only legislative add-on for higher ed that the governor didn't veto was $94.5 million in additional operating aid. But the governor has proposed spreading the funding over three years, capping spending and making it even more difficult for students to take courses they need to graduate in four years. "Once again, the governor is being less than forthright about SUNY and CUNY funding and the results will be faculty layoffs and chaos," Lubin said. Health care For health care, the Legislature had restored $771.6 million of the governor's proposed $1.2 billion in cuts to health care funding. Most vetoes hit health provider services and important consumer programs such as creation of a state ombudsman for long-term care. In addition, he nixed rate increases for hospital, nursing homes and home health care providers, as well as bonding to allow hospitals to upgrade computer systems to comply with new federal privacy regulations. While the governor spared the $740.5 million in additional general operating aid to school districts, he vetoed $28 million in discretionary educational adds. In addition, the governor vetoed a number of Democrat-backed education initiatives, such as $1 million grants for Rome and Schenectady city schools. "We're pretty upset all the way around about the governor's veto and his budget in general," said Rome TA President Pat Mungari. "We took a beating." Mungari said the $1 million grant was advanced by Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, D-Utica, to help close a $2.5 million shortage even after the school board raised taxes and eliminated positions. "No one was laid off, but we had 31 people retire and most of those positions were not replaced," Mungari said. "Class sizes are climbing: some elementary classes are already over 25. Some of the primary grades are climbing into the mid-to high twenties. Some classes already have become too large and it's necessary to hire someone, but where the money comes from - we have no idea." Mungari had not yet spoken to the superintendent about how the district plans to make $1 million more in cuts. "It will come out of existing services," he said. "It's not a pretty picture." The governor also vetoed new funding to help teachers earn national board certification. Union analysts said the program will not run dry because there is funding left from previous years. Override? While the Assembly talked of an override attempt as early as Sept. 20, it remained uncertain whether the Senate would return to Albany before Election Day, Nov. 2. The Senate and Assembly have until Dec. 31 to attempt an override. A two-thirds vote is required in both chambers. The key is the Senate, where Republicans would need to join with the 24 Democrats to override. Last year, after a coalition of education groups including NYSUT organized a massive march for public education, the Legislature overrode the governor's $1.2 billion in education aid vetoes. Assembly Higher Education Committee Chairman Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, noted that higher ed projects desired by both chambers were hit by the vetoes, which he predicted could spark a two-chamber revolt. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Rensselaer, vowed to look closely at the vetoed legislation. "I strongly disagree with the governor's assessment of the budget and I maintain that the investments made in the budget are vital and responsible," Bruno said in a statement. - Sylvia Saunders
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