Gov. Spitzer Proposes Funding Increases for Education, Health Care

Governor Eliot Spitzer introduced a $120.7 billion budget plan last Wednesday, complete with increased funding for education, an expansion of the state's child health care program, and reforms for making allocation of funds more transparent.

Spitzer's proposed budget would increase funding for part-time tuition assistance, a program that last year lowered the minimum credits a student must be enrolled in per term to receive aid from 15 to 12 credits, according to Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, D-Morningside Heights.

Both branches of the state legislature have until April 1 to discuss, debate, and modify Spitzer's proposal. If the budget passes by April 1, however, it would only be the third year in a row that the budget passes on time after 22 years of late budgets.

Committee hearings began this week for legislators to voice their concerns about the budget.

"There's a dialogue about what the budget says, where it falls short, and clarifications," said State Sen. Bill Perkins, D-Harlem.

The method by which negotiations will go forward in the next few months is contingent on the results of Tuesday's special state senate election on Long Island, which resulted in a win for Democratic Nassau County legislator Craig Johnson. Johnson will replace Sen. Michael Balboni, R-Long Island, who was recently appointed Spitzer's chair of homeland security. Johnson's win has given Democrats one more seat in the Republican-controlled Senate and has led to much speculation about what will happen next.

"Does the election of a Democrat embolden the governor or not?" O'Donnell said, before the election results came in. "Will it make [Senate Majority Leader] Joe Bruno dig in his heels?"

Going forward into negotiations, Perkins and O'Donnell said they would raise questions about the $50 million dollars Spitzer has proposed to address affordable housing creation. This $50 million is part of a four-year plan to devote $200 million to affordable housing.

"50 million? We could use that 50 million just in my district," Perkins said. "But nevertheless, for the first time in a long time, the budget puts the state into the responsibility of addressing the housing crisis."

A spokesperson for Spitzer's office said he could not comment on the specific affordable housing proposal but that the governor's main priorities this year are increasing education funds, property tax relief, and restructuring the health care system.

Spitzer also introduced a reform which would publish how legislators decided to spend their share of a $200 million lump sum-a special appropriation called a member-item.

O'Donnell and Perkins are accepting applications from community organizations looking to receive some of their discretionary funds. O'Donnell estimated his fund amounts to about $50,000. Perkins said he will likely award money to youth groups, senior citizens organizations, small businesses, and community foundations.