CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION

1 Penn Plaza * Suite 640 * New York, NY 10119

 

 

Contacts:          Carol Kellermann                                Charles Brecher

212-279-2605 x322                               212-279-2605 x315

 

CBC ISSUES STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED SPENDING CUTS

 

New York, NY – August 11, 2008 – Carol Kellermann, President of the Citizens Budget Commission, issued the following statement today on Governor David Paterson’s proposed spending cuts for New York State:

 

“Governor Paterson today proposed a menu of spending cuts that would reduce New York State’s budget this year by more than $1 billion. He has asked the State Legislature, when it meets in special session next week, to adopt at least $600 million in savings from these  proposals or others they might add.

 

The Governor is absolutely right to urge early action in a special legislative session to focus on cutting State spending. He deserves a great deal of credit for putting specific cuts on the table. Among his proposals, the Medicaid cuts should be the first to be enacted. New York spends far beyond national norms for Medicaid, and its costs should be reined in.

 

While the Governor’s proposed cuts in local aid may be admirably intended to spread the pain broadly, the CBC’s proposals to eliminate ineffective economic development programs and close unneeded prisons would save far more money with no harm to public services.

 

We applaud the Governor for coming forward with a set of options that encourages debate on how to curb spending. The Governor is right to keep pressure on the State Legislature and to insist that tax increases be considered only as a last resort.”

 

For a full description of CBC’s proposed State spending cuts, go to cbcny.org

 

Founded in 1932, the Citizens Budget Commission is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of New York State and New York City governments.