Today was supposed to be a good day. It’s the kids’ last day of school, a half day, and I took the day off to enjoy it with them. But I just looked at the New York Times online, and saw a nightmare.
By accident, as a result of the failure of the "big three" to agree how to divide the spoils, this budget was going to be the least bad of the Pataki Administration. There was no additional state aid to allow over-funded school districts in the rest of the state to spend even more, and pass the check to the city’s children and taxpayers. There was a reduction in the spending increase for New York City’s greedy, Medicaid-financed health care providers. There was even a few capital nickels for New York City’s ripped off children. But according to the Times it won’t happen that way.
The Times reports the Governor and Legislature have agreed (and they never agree on anything good) to a big increase in back-door school aid for the rest of the state via STAR once again, with little for the city. Meaning the city’s share of education funding will be going down, again.
And in exchange, the Democrats in the Assembly, who have endorsed inferior schools for the city’s children for 30 years, got 2/3 of Pataki’s Medicaid restraint removed.
Thus they have once again demonstrated their priorities — more for those who have more then the money is rolling in (like this year), and less for those who have less in recessions.
In Albany, money flows
To power,
Not to need.
From each according to
Their stupidity.
To each according to
Their greed.