>>
Gary: JUST AHEAD ON "NEED TO KNOW," NEW YORK CONTINUES ITS RECENT
TRADITION OF NOT ADOPTING A STATE BUDGET ON TIME. WE'LL TALK
WITH LEGISLATORS ABOUT THE IMPACT THE LATE BUDGET WILL HAVE
ON OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ONE GROUP IT MAY HURT THE MOST,
SCHOOLS. ALSO LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF A LITTLE
BOY IN NEED OF A NEW HEART. A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN A YEAR. WE'LL
HAVE THAT STORY. BUT FIRST THE IMPACT OF NEW YORK'S LATE BUDGET
IS ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "NEED TO KNOW."
>>
WE'RE ALL BEING HELD HOSTAGE AT THIS POINT TO THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
>>
THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH NEWS
PROGRAM. "NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COVERING ISSUES, POLITICS, EDUCATION AND CURRENT EVENTS.
>>
"NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS JONES FOUNDATION,
BY DORSCHEL LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>>
Gary: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I'M GARY WALKER. POLITICAL FORCES
IN ALBANY HAVE NEW YORK ONCE AGAIN WORKING WITHOUT A BUDGET.
THE STATE LEGISLATOR PASSED A 6-MILLION-DOLLAR OR 7-MILLION-DOLLAR
EMERGENCY SPENDING BILL ON MAY 21st TO KEEP THE STATE RUNNING
FOR ANOTHER MONTH. IT WAS A THIRD EMERGENCY SPENDING BILL OF
THE 2001/2002 BUDGET YEAR. INSIDERS SAY THERE'S A POLITICAL
SHOWDOWN BREWING BETWEEN GOVERNOR PATAKI AND THE DEMOCRATS IN
THE ASSEMBLY. THE GOVERNOR ARGUES THE STATE SHOULD SAVE AS MUCH
MONEY AS POSSIBLE TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
THE DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED ASSEMBLY SAYS THE GOVERNOR IS USING
THE WEAKENED ECONOMY AS AN EXCUSE TO STASH MONEY AND RESERVES
FOR PROGRAMS HE CAN SPEND ON WHEN HE'S UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT
YEAR. HERE'S A THUMBNAIL LOOK. THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SPEND $83.6
BILLION NEXT YEAR. THE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY WANTS THAT AND $2.2
BILLION MORE, WHILE THE REPUBLICAN SENATE WANTS TO SPEND ABOUT
$1.2 BILLION MORE THAN THE GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR PATAKI RECENTLY
WARNED WE MAY NOT SEE A BUDGET APPROVED THIS YEAR. YET VOTERS
WENT TO THE POLLS LAST MONTH TO VOTE UNDER LOCAL SCHOOL BUDGETS.
DISTRICTS WERE FORCED TO PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, PROGRAMS AND OTHER HIRES WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MUCH
MONEY IT WILL HAVE TO SPEND. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SAY THE LATE
STATE BUDGET LEAVES MANY SCHOOL PROJECTS UP IN THE AIR. "NEED
TO KNOW'S" MATT CUMMINGS HAS THE STORY.
>>
WE'RE REALLY IN NEW TERRITORY HERE LEGALLY. THERE ISN'T PRECEDENT
FOR BEING AS LATE AS IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING TO BE. >> Matt:
THOSE WORDS ECHOED THROUGHOUT MANY NEW YORK SCHOOL DISTRICTS
AS THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO FORMULATE FISCAL PLANS FOR THE UPCOMING
SCHOOL YEAR WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING HOW MUCH STATE FUNDING
THEY'LL BE RECEIVING.
>>
IN NORMAL YEARS, WHEN THE BUDGET IS LATE, DISTRICTS CAN KIND
OF GUESS WHAT THE LIKELY STATE AID IS GOING TO BE. BUT THIS
YEAR, BECAUSE THERE ARE SUCH WIDELY DIFFERING PHILOSOPHIES IN
HOW THE BUDGET PROPOSALS WERE PUT TOGETHER AND A HUGE DIFFERENCE
IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN ALBANY
ARE PROPOSING, IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR DISTRICTS TO MAKE
AN INFORMED GUESS ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD ULTIMATELY BE RECEIVING.
>>
Matt: JODY SIEGLE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MONROE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. SHE SAYS 15 TO 60% OF SCHOOL FUNDING
COMES FROM THE STATE, MEANING A LATE STATE BUDGET HAS SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TAKING A SHOT IN THE DARK WHEN PLANNING THEIR FISCAL
YEAR.
>>
IF THE BUDGET WAS IN PLACE ALREADY THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO
HAVE BEEN, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PLAN THEIR SUMMER COURSES FOR
TEACHERS TO DEVELOP CURRICULUM AND TO TRAIN TEACHERS FOR THE
PROGRAMS IN THE FALL. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LET PARENTS KNOW
THAT THERE WOULD BE A PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE
THAT THE STATE DEVELOPED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND LET PARENTS PLAN
THAT THAT'S WHERE THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE IN THE FALL. THEY'D
BE ABLE TO HIRE THE STAFF FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. THEY'D ALSO BE
ABLE TO START THEIR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, BUT BECAUSE THERE
ARE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT STATE AID WOULD FLOW
TO DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THE WAY IT WOULD
IN THE PAST, QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS,
DISTRICTS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO
BEGIN PROJECTS THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES APPROVED LAST YEAR FOR
CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR.
>>
Matt: NEW YORK STATE HASN'T PASSED A BUDGET ON TIME IN 16 YEARS,
FORCING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDING
THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. DISTRICTS MUST
MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN PROCEEDING AT THEIR OWN RISK AND HOLDING
BACK ON NEEDED SERVICES. EAST ROCHESTER SUPERINTENDENT HOWARD
MAFFUCCI HAD A 5.5-MILLION-DOLLAR CAPITAL PROJECT UP FOR VOTE
THIS SPRING.
>> IN ANALYZING THE PAST BUDGET SITUATIONS WITH LATE BUDGETS,
AND THE BUILDING AID BEING A SMALL PART OF THAT, WE DECIDED
THAT IT WAS OBVIOUS TO US THAT WE WOULD GET OUR AID AT SOME
POINT. WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE BID PROCESS, ATMOSPHERE AND INTEREST
RATES, AND THE TIME WAS REALLY RIGHT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS I SAID, THERE WILL BE A SOLUTION AT SOME POINT AND WE BELIEVE
WE'LL GET OUR MONEY.
>>
Matt: THE SCHOOL BROKE GROUND ON MAY 1st AND, IN SEPTEMBER,
THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE A NEW ATHLETIC FIELD, PRE-K SCHOOL, AND
A NEWLY RENOVATED AUDITORIUM. MAFFUCCI WENT AHEAD WITH THESE
PLANS BASED ON THE STATE'S RECENT TRACK RECORD FOR SCHOOL AID.
>>
WHAT WE DO IS WE USE PAST PRACTICE TO PICK A NUMBER THAT WE
BELIEVE WILL BE AS CLOSE TO THE ACTUAL NUMBER AS WE CAN POSSIBLY
GET, AND BECAUSE WE'RE USED TO THIS, WE GENERALLY ARE PRETTY
GOOD AT IT. THE UNCERTAINTY IS SUPPOSE, FOR ONE YEAR, IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN LIKE IT USUALLY HAPPENS, AND THAT'S A SCARY THOUGHT;
AND IN FACT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 16 YEARS WE'VE ACTUALLY
HAD TO HAVE THE VOTE BEFORE THE STATE BUDGET WAS PASSED. SO,
IN THEORY, WE'RE USED TO THIS, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE
PROBLEM. THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK REALLY HAVEN'T RISEN UP AND
SAID "NO MORE OF THIS. AGREE ON A BUDGET AND BE DONE WITH IT."
>>
Matt: THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET WILL ALSO IMPACT A NEW LAW GOING
INTO EFFECT. AS OF JULY 1st, ALL NEW TEACHERS HIRED IN NEW YORK
STATE MUST BE FINGERPRINTED AND A BACKGROUND CHECK PROVIDED
TO EACH DISTRICT BEFORE THEY CAN BE HIRED.
>>
THE UPCOMING STATE BUDGET INCLUDED FUNDS TO HELP THE STATE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT FUND THAT. IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE EFFORT. IT'S ANTICIPATED
THAT, IN THE FIRST YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO RUN ABOUT
70,000 FINGERPRINT CHECKS THROUGH THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
BUT WITHOUT A BUDGET, THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DOESN'T
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SET THAT UP. IT'S GOING TO CREATE A HUGE
BOTTLENECK, POSSIBLY AN IMPOSSIBLE BOTTLENECK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVING THE AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE SUMMER
FOR SUMMER SCHOOLS AND IN THE FALL WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.
>>
Matt: SOME PRE-K PROGRAMS ARE ALSO PENDING. SIEGLE REPORTS THE
PRESCHOOL DISTRICT IS COUNTING ON OVER $2 MILLION WORTH OF STATE
AID FOR THESE PROGRAMS.
>>
BASICALLY THEY'RE HELPLESS. I KNOW SEVERAL THAT ARE ON PINS
AND NEEDLES AT THE MOMENT WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
>>
Gary: ONE ADDED IMPACT ON SCHOOLS IS THE ANNUAL SCHOOL TAX LEVY.
WHEN DISTRICTS PREPARE FOR THEIR BUDGETS WITHOUT KNOWING THE
AMOUNT OF STATE AID THEY'LL RECEIVE, THEY HAVE TO SET THE PROPERTY
TAX LEVY IN THE DARK. TOO HIGH AND YOU OVERTAX. TOO LOW AND
YOU HAVE TO BORROW DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. JOINING ME NOW IN
STUDIO TO DISCUSS THE YEAR'S LATE BUDGET IS REPUBLICAN STATE
SENATOR JIM ALESI OF THE 55th DISTRICT AND DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYMAN
JOSEPH ROBACH OF THE 134th DISTRICT. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH
FOR JOINING US. WE'LL TALK SCHOOL AID IN A MINUTE. I HAVE MY
OPENING QUESTION IS THIS: GOVERNOR'S TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY
NO BUDGET THIS YEAR. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON BACK EAST?
>>
THAT'S A LIVE POSSIBILITY I THINK AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE
HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO MOVEMENT AND NO MEETINGS THAT ANYBODY
KNOWS ABOUT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
THERE IS ALWAYS DISCOURSE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER. THEY ARE BOTH PARTNERS AS REPUBLICANS, BUT
THE ASSEMBLY I THINK HASN'T NAMED ITS MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET
CONFERENCE COMMITTEES YET. THEY HAVEN'T COME UP WITH ANY INITIATIVES
TO START THAT PROCESS ROLLING. I WOULD SAY, WITH MY COLLEAGUE
JOE ROBACH HERE, I'LL LET HIM SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT I THINK
THAT THEY SHARE THE SAME FRUSTRATION THAT WE DO, THE GENERAL
MEMBERSHIP.
>>
Gary: Mr. ROBACH?
>>
I WOULD ADD, GARY, THAT IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME TO HAVE
THE EXECUTIVE SPACE PUT OUT HIS BUDGET. HE'S DONE WITH HIS WORK.
HE'S UNWILLING TO COMPROMISE OR CHANGE AND HAS NOW EVEN CALLED
FOR A THREE-MONTH EXTENDER, WHICH I PERSONALLY WON'T VOTE FOR
AND AM ENCOURAGING EVERYONE IN THE PROCESS, IN MY HOUSE OR ANYONE
ELSE TO NOT VOTE FOR. WE CANNOT DO BUDGETS BY EXTENDER. IT NOT
ONLY HURTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CONSTRUCTION, ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CAPITAL PROJECTS, ANY PROJECT; ANY ADDITION OR DELETION TO THAT
PROJECT CAN'T GET DONE WITHOUT IT. UNFORTUNATELY WE NEED SOME
PEOPLE WITH BIG EGOS AND LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR TO COME
INTO A ROOM AND COMPROMISE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO DO AT OUR LEVEL.
THEY NEED TO DO THAT ALSO.
>>
Gary: MAYBE WE CAN TOUCH ON THAT QUICKLY. YOU KNOW, I SPENT
SOMETIME REPORTING IN ALBANY, AND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT I STILL
HAVE CONTACT WITH THERE SAY THAT THEY WANT THE LEGISLATURE,
THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO PASS A THREE-MONTH EXTENDER EMERGENCY
BILL, THEREFORE KEEPING THE WHOLE SUMMER PRETTY MUCH OPEN WITHOUT
HAVING TO VOTE MONTHLY. I'M HEARING THAT THE DEMOCRATS IN THE
ASSEMBLY ARE NOT GOING TO GO FOR THAT. IS THAT THE CASE?
>>
AGAIN, WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I PERSONALLY WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANY
EXTENDER LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS. THE PURPOSE OF THE EXTENDER
IS TO CONTINUE TO FUND NOT-FOR-PROFIT, TO KEEP GOVERNMENT GOING,
NOT SHUT IT DOWN LIKE CONGRESS DID. THE PUBLIC DID NOT LIKE
THAT, AND WE SHOULDN'T PUNISH THEM BECAUSE OF OUR INABILITY
TO HAVE A BUDGET. AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T PUT A PROCESS IN
PLACE THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO DO BUDGETS BY EXTENDERS AND
NOT DEAL WITH THE ISSUES WE NEED, HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED FOR
SCHOOLS, ROADS, BRIDGES, PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT WOULD REALLY BE
AN ABDICATION OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND I AM ENCOURAGING ALL
PEOPLE INVOLVED NOT TO GO FOR THAT.
>>
Gary: SENATOR, WHAT ABOUT YOUR HOUSE?
>>
WELL, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT A THREE-MONTH EXTENDER BUT
I THINK THAT THERE IS A DANGER IN THAT BECAUSE THAT LETS EVERYBODY
OFF THE HOOK AS FAR AS THE BUDGET PROCESS IS CONCERNED; AND
AS YOU KNOW THE REPUBLICANS IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE REPUBLICANS
IN THE SENATE HAVE BEEN MEETING WEEKLY IN PUBLIC IN WHAT SHOULD
BE A BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, BUT WE'RE DOING THAT WITHOUT
THE PRESENCE OF THE ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS, WITH ALL RESPECT TO
MY COLLEAGUE HERE. THE SPEAKER, SHELLY SILVER, AS I SAID HASN'T
EVEN NAMED THOSE PEOPLE YET. HE HASN'T SHOWN ANY MOTIVATION,
ANY ENERGY; HE HASN'T SHOWN ANY ACTION AT ALL ON DOING ANYTHING
TO START THIS PROCESS, EXCEPT TO PROVIDE FOR OVER $2 BILLION
WORTH OF INCREASES AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. BUT THE
WHOLE THING IS THAT, IF WE CONTINUE TO DO EMERGENCY SPENDING,
WHICH WE HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE I AGREE WE DON'T WANT TO SHUT THE
GOVERNMENT DOWN. THAT WOULD BE FOOLISH, AND WE'VE NEVER DONE
THAT BEFORE. THE WHOLE THING IS THAT, IF WE TAKE THE PRESSURE
OFF THE LEGISLATURE, WE TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF EVERYBODY,
THE ARGUMENT MIGHT BE THAT IF WE DO THREE MONTHS, THEN IT WILL
GIVE US TIME TO GET THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND DO SOME TALKING,
BUT TIME HAS ALREADY PASSED. WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.
>>
Gary: LET ME BRING A THIRD VOICE IN ON THIS BECAUSE YOU HAD
MENTIONED YOU'RE CRITICAL -- AT LEAST YOUR HOUSE IS CRITICAL
OF THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, SHELDON SILVER. DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN
VERY -- AND ASSEMBLIES ARE VERY CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNOR, AND
WE DID TALK TO ONE LOCAL ASSEMBLYWOMAN, SUSAN JOHN, AND SHE
HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS.
>>
NEW YORKERS SHOULD BE OUTRAGED THAT GOVERNOR PATAKI WOULD EVEN
SUGGEST NO BUDGET. THE GOVERNOR HAS A JOB AS THE ELECTED LEADER
IN THE STATE TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT POINTS
OF VIEWS. WHEN GOVERNOR CUOMO WAS GOVERNOR, HE BROUGHT TOGETHER
THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS EVERY DAY TO TALK ABOUT A BUDGET WHEN
THE BUDGET WAS LATE. SOMETIMES NO PROGRESS WAS MADE; SOMETIMES
VERY INCREMENTAL PROGRESS WAS MADE. BUT THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZED
THAT HE HAD THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIAL
IN THE STATE. FOR SOME REASON, GOVERNOR PATAKI FEELS HE HAS
NO OBLIGATION HERE AND, AS LONG AS THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA
ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO GET AWAY WITH CONVEYING THAT IMPRESSION,
THE STATE WILL HAVE NO BUDGET.
>>
Gary: MY POINT, FROM ALL OF THIS, IS THAT EACH SIDE IS GOING
TO POINT FINGERS AT THE OTHER SIDE WHICH IS -- YOU KNOW, THIS
IS HOW IT WORKS. I'VE COVERED THE BUDGET PROCESS IN ALBANY SEVERAL
YEARS WHEN I WAS IN ALBANY. BUT I DID NOTICE ONE THING BACK
THEN: THERE WERE LEADERS MEETING, IN OTHER WORDS SIT-DOWN MEETINGS
WITH THE GOVERNOR, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK NO MATTER HOW LATE THE BUDGET
WAS. THEY ALWAYS SAT DOWN AND TALKED. IT WAS FRUSTRATING. THEY
DIDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE HALF THE TIME, BUT THEY DID TALK, AND
THAT SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT NOW.
>>
THIS IS THE MIDDLE EAST HAPPENING HERE IN ALBANY, AND THAT'S
THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. IF YOU LISTEN TO
ASSEMBLYWOMAN JOHN, HER STATEMENT, IF YOU JUST LOOK UNDER THE
SURFACE OF THAT, IS A PURELY POLITICAL STATEMENT. SHE'S BASHING
THE GOVERNOR, DEFLECTING THE RESPONSIBILITY FROM HER OWN SPEAKER
SHELLY SILVER. THE REAL PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE, SHELLY SILVER
WILL NOT EVEN INITIATE TALKS UNLESS THE GOVERNOR GIVES UP HIS
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAVE A LINE ITEM VETO, AND UNLESS THE
GOVERNOR AGREES TO SHELLY SILVER'S REQUIREMENT, THEN SHELLY
WILL NOT SIT DOWN WITH THE GOVERNOR. THE GOVERNOR HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO KEEP THAT VETO. THAT IS SHELLY SILVER'S FIRST ORDER
OF BUSINESS: GIVE UP YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VETO AND THEN
I'LL TALK TO YOU. LISTENING TO SUSAN JOHN SAYING THAT IT'S THE
GOVERNOR'S FAULT IS PURE POLITICAL BALONEY.
>>
I WOULD AGREE. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM,
IN A NUTSHELL. THERE'S TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS: ONE IS POLITICAL,
ONE'S REAL. ONE IS FIRST WE SHOULD ADOPT THE BILL THAT I'VE
BEEN SUPPORTING FROM DAY ONE THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT
THE ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND. THIS DOESN'T
MEAN WE CAN'T EARMARK PART OF THAT AND MOVE INTO NEXT YEAR.
THE OTHER THING, I WOULD DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH JIM. THERE
IS DIALOGUE GOING ON, BELIEVE ME, GARY. WHETHER IT'S OUT IN
THE PUBLIC AND IT'S POSTURING OR IT'S IN THE PROVERBIAL BACK
ROOM, THE MEETINGS ARE GOING ON. THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL NEEDS
HERE. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION WAS PROMISED THAT NO MONEY WAS PUT
IN THE EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET. CUT THE LONG-TERM NURSING HOME CARE
WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S MORE PEOPLE GOING INTO THAT ARE TWO BIG
THINGS THAT, EVEN FOR ME, A MORE MODERATE DEMOCRAT, I THINK
NEED TO GET ADDRESSED. IF WE HAVE MONEY TO DO IT, WE SHOULD
DO IT. WE ALL NEED TO STOP POINTING THE FINGERS AT EVERYONE.
THESE AREN'T DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ISSUES. THESE ARE HUMAN
ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. BUT FIRST THEY HAVE TO LOOK
AT HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SPEND
IT? WE'RE NOT EVEN TO THAT LEVEL YET BECAUSE THE POLITICS, AND
IT'S WRONG. WE ALL NEED TO STOP...
>>
Gary: YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. YOUR POINT ABOUT THE SPEAKER WAS CORRECT,
ALTHOUGH A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THEY DID COME UP WITH A BUDGET
DEAL AND A HANDSHAKE DEAL, THE GOVERNOR VETOED EVERY SINGLE
NUMBER ITEM THAT THE DEMOCRATS PUT ON THE TABLE AND NOT REPUBLICAN.
>>
AND MONEY FOR PRE-K.
>>
THAT'S NOT TRUE. HE DID VETO REPUBLICAN ISSUES AS WELL, SO THAT
PART IS TRUE.
>>
Gary: LET ME MAKE THIS POINT, THOUGH, AND ASK BOTH OF YOU BLUNTLY:
THE LEADERS OF BOTH OF YOUR HOUSES, AND ASSEMBLYMAN ROBACH,
YOU STOOD UP AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO VOTE Mr. SILVER
OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY.
>>
WELL, AND ALSO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THIS BUDGET PROCESS, ONE
OF SEVENTEEN, EXACTLY.
>>
Gary: BOTH LEADERS OF THE HOUSE SEEM TO BE VERY -- IS "CAVALIER"
TOO STRONG A WORD? BY THIS LATE BUDGET PROCESS. THEY KIND OF
SHRUG IT OFF SAYING WELL, YOU KNOW, LOOK, A LATE BUDGET'S BETTER
THAN A BAD BUDGET. IS THAT THOUGHT SHARED IN THE CONFERENCE?
>>
THAT'S A MISREPRESENTATION, GARY. I THINK YOU MENTIONED YOU
HAVE COLLEAGUES STILL HERE IN ALBANY. THEN YOU MUST KNOW AND
THE PEOPLE HERE MUST KNOW THAT SENATOR BRUNO HAS CONVENED MEETINGS
IN PUBLIC EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 10:30, CALLING FOR THE SPEAKER,
CALLING FOR THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY TO COME AND START THE BUDGET
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. WHETHER YOU THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD
BE IN THESE ON A DAILY BASIS OR NOT IS IRRELEVANT BECAUSE THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE NEED TO START THAT BUDGET CONFERENCE
MEETING, AND THE ASSEMBLY HASN'T SHOWN UP BECAUSE THE SPEAKER
WON'T SHOW UP FOR THE REASON THAT I GAVE YOU. I ALSO THINK THAT
THE SENATE -- AND I AGREE WITH JOE ON THIS BY THE WAY -- THE
SENATE ALSO HAS A PROPOSAL, AS PART OF OUR BUDGET REFORM PACKAGE,
TO LET THE CONTROLLER SET THE REVENUE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.
NOW, THIS IS THE SENATE REPUBLICANS SAYING WE WILL ALLOW THE
DEMOCRAT CONTROLLER, KARL McCALL, TO COME UP WITH REVENUE SO
THAT WE CAN ALL WORK. I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY GOOD STEP TO
SAY LET'S DO THIS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
>>
Gary: SEEMS MILES AWAY THOUGH, DOESN'T IT?
>>
YOU KNOW WHAT? WHY ISN'T THAT BEING ADOPTED? WHY ISN'T JOE ROBACH'S
PROPOSAL AND WHY ISN'T THE SENATE REPUBLIC'S PROPOSAL TO GIVE
A DEMOCRAT CONTROLLER THE POWER TO GIVE US, THE LEGISLATURE,
THE REVENUE FIGURE TO WORK WITH? IT'S NOT WORKING. IT'S NOT
COMING THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY.
>>
GARY, YOU POINTED OUT -- I HEARD FROM MY CONSTITUENCY, THEY
BELIEVE WE CAN MERGE CONTENT AND TIMELINESS. THE ONLY WAY IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, REGARDLESS OF WHO THE LEADERS ARE IN ALBANY,
IS IF THOSE THINGS ARE PUT IN STATUTE. IF WE HAVE INTO LAW,
HERE'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT. YOU HAVE TO COME
AND TALK ABOUT IT IN A PUBLIC ROOM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE
MEDIA, NO OTHER BUSINESS WILL GET DONE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEQUESTERED
IN ALBANY. WHATEVER CARROTS AND STICKS YOU WANT TO PUT IN THERE,
THEY HAVE TO BE IN LAW, NOT AT THE WHIM OF LEADERSHIP WHETHER
IT'S THE MAJORITY LEADER, THE SPEAKER OR THE GOVERNOR. I WILL
SAY THIS, THOUGH, THE FEW LAWS WE HAVE PASSED TO TRY AND DO
BUDGET PROCESSES, I WOULD SAY THIS IN ALL FAIRNESS, AND I AGREE
WITH THE GOVERNOR ON MANY ISSUES. THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE NOT
INCLUDED, WHETHER IT'S HOLDING OUR PAY, WHICH WE'RE GOING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW AND I VOTED FOR, OR ANY OF THE OTHER MEASURES. I THINK
THAT ALL THREE PARTIES DO HAVE TO PARTICIPATE TO REALLY GET
TO A GOOD BUDGET, ALL POLITICS ASIDE. BUT THOSE STATUTE CHANGES
HAVE TO OCCUR, AND UNTIL THEY DO, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS,
AS YOU POINTED OUT, IN MY OPINION WILL BE CAVALIER, MORE POLITICAL
AT TIMES RATHER THAN REAL SUBSTANTIAL BUDGETING WHICH IS WHAT
WE NEED TO GET DOWN TO.
>>
Gary: WE BEGAN THIS PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. LET ME RETURN TO THAT BRIEFLY. WE LOOKED AT THIS
LONG AND HARD GOING INTO THIS STORY. ONE SIDE CAN SAY, LOOK,
THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR 16 YEARS. THE MONEY ALWAYS COMES. WHAT'S
THE BIG DEAL? AND THE OTHER SIDE IS SAYING, LOOK, I'M NOT GOING
TO COMMIT -- I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE RAISE
THROUGH OUR PROPERTY TAXPAYERS. I'M NOT GOING TO COMMIT A PROJECT
IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS. LET ME ASK YOU BOTH:
IN YOUR OWN DISTRICTS, WE FEATURED SOMETHING IN YOUR DISTRICT,
SENATOR, ROCHESTER WHICH THOUGHT LOTS OF MONEY'S GOING TO COME.
LET'S JUST LET THEM GO ON WITH IT. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM
YOUR DISTRICT AND EDUCATORS IN YOUR DISTRICT? IS THIS REALLY
A MAJOR ISSUE?
>>
I THINK TO A LARGE EXTENT, IF YOU LISTEN TO THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF EAST ROCHESTER SAY THAT WE HAVE BECOME USED TO THIS. IN OTHER
WORDS, THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BECOME USED
TO THIS. THEY'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THEIR PROJECTS, AND SOME
OF THAT IS ON THE "IF COME." HE EVEN SAID THAT EVENTUALLY WE'LL
GET OUR MONEY. THEY KNOW THAT. WE KNOW THAT, EVENTUALLY, WHETHER
WE'RE DOING THIS BUDGET IN EMERGENCY SPENDING BILLS OR WHEN
WE FINALLY DO IT, THAT EVERYBODY WILL GET THEIR MONEY. THE PROBLEM,
AS FAR AS SCHOOL AID, I THINK, IS PROBABLY NOT AS SEVERE AS
THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS, ROADS AND BRIDGES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK,
READY TO WORK. WE HAVE ENGINEERING FIRMS, CONSTRUCTION FIRMS,
ROAD FIRMS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS OUT THERE THAT HAVE A SEASON
THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK IN. IF THEY DON'T GET THE CAPITAL ADVANCED,
THEN THEY CAN'T DO THOSE. AND IN A SCHOOL SITUATION, AS THE
SUPERINTENDENT SAID, YOU KNOW, 16 YEARS YOU EVENTUALLY GET THE
HANG OF TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A GAMBLE; BUT EVEN THAT IS WRONG.
THEY SHOULD HAVE THE NUMBERS. THEY SHOULD KNOW. WHAT IT REALLY
COMES BACK TO IS THEY HAVE TO HAVE A FIRM NUMBER TO WORK WITH,
AND I WOULD GO BACK AND SAY WE IN THE REPUBLICAN SENATE AND
ASSEMBLYMAN ROBACH AND SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID LET
THE CONTROLLER GIVE US A NUMBER. IF WE HAD THAT NUMBER TO WORK
WITH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD FEEL MUCH SAFER IN WHAT THEY
HAVE TO DO AS FAR AS SPENDING WHETHER IT'S OPERATING AID OR
BUILDING AID.
>>
Gary: Mr. ROBACH, WHAT DO YOU HEAR?
>>
I AGREE WITH JIM THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATING AID, THEY
HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AT WITHIN A
SMALLER MARGIN. WHAT THE REAL ISSUE THIS YEAR IS IS BUILDING
AID. THE EXECUTIVE DROVE, AFTER NOT HAVING ANY REAL INITIATIVES
BUT TWO BUILDINGS, A VERY GOOD 80% ACROSS-THE-BOARD PROGRAM
THAT SAID, IF YOUR VOTERS APPROVE THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE
WILL GIVE YOU AN ENHANCED AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE STATE OF
NEW YORK. WE ALL APPLAUDED THAT. WE WENT OUT AND SOLD IT. THE
VOTERS OF GREECE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVED THOSE PROJECTS
ONLY TO HAVE THE STATE PORTION OF MONEY NOT BE PUT IN THE BUDGET.
NOW, IF I'M SUPERINTENDENT STEVE WALLACE, FOR A BIG SCHOOL DISTRICT
LIKE THAT, HOW DO I REALLY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, OR WHAT
INFORMATION DO I HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE PROJECTS? BEST
CASE SCENARIO, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MOVED BACK ONE YEAR NOW
BECAUSE OF THIS DELAY IN THE BUDGET. AND I THINK THAT'S BAD
PUBLIC POLICY. I THINK, AFTER VOTER APPROVAL, WE REALLY SHOULD
HAVE LOOKED AT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUSLY, AND I THINK
IT'S -- THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE A LITTLE BIT UPSET KNOWING
THIS IS GOING ON AND NO ONE TOOK ANY EXTRA CONSIDERATION IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS QUITE FRANKLY IS WRONG.
>>
Gary: RIGHT. BEYOND SCHOOLS, TOO, WE HAVE THE SUPER FUND. WE
HAVE BOTH HOUSES ELECTED MONEY TO UPGRADE THE ELECTION PROCESS.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR. FINANCIALLY
AID TO COLLEGE STUDENTS AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER AND FALL, THAT
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ANY TANGIBLE NUMBERS
TO IT. AND AGAIN THIS WHOLE FINGERPRINTING IDEA ON THE PART
OF EDUCATORS, IF YOU'RE BY LAW MANDATED TO FINGERPRINT NEW EMPLOYEES
AND THERE'S NO DOLLARS TO DO IT, WHAT DO YOU DO?
>>
WELL, THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS WILL PAY FOR THAT WHEN THEY VOTE FOR
THEIR BUDGET. THE PROPERTY TAXES WILL COVER SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
REMEMBER, PROPERTY TAXES COVER ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE LOCAL
SCHOOLS OPERATE ON ANYWAY. SO IT'S NOT AS IF NO MONEY COMES
IN, AND I'M NOT EXCUSING THE STATE HERE, BUT THE VIEWERS SHOULD
KNOW THAT AT LEAST HALF OF WHAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO OPERATE
WITH COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES, SO THERE IS MONEY COMING IN.
AND THOSE EXPENSES CAN'T BE MET, BUT THEY SHOULD BE MET WITH
A COMMITMENT OF A BUDGET FROM NEW YORK STATE.
>>
Gary: WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME. I WANT TO ASK BOTH OF YOU, IS
THERE GOING TO BE A BUDGET ENACTED THIS YEAR OR IS THERE A REAL
POSSIBILITY WE CAN GO THE WHOLE YEAR GOING ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET?
>>
WELL, I THINK THAT IF WE GET PAST THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, WHICH
IS ABOUT THE TIME THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE SENDING OUT
THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS; IF THEY DO THAT WITHOUT A BUDGET,
IF THEY DO THAT GUESSING, THEN THERE'S NO REAL IMPETUS FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS. THAT'S THE ONE BIG HOOK. IF WE GET PAST
THAT, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
>>
Gary: MR. ROBACH?
>>
GARY, I'M PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE AND EDUCATION ON MY DOWNSTATE
COLLEAGUES TO LET THEM KNOW, AS JIM POINTS OUT, WE HAVE TO HAVE
A BUDGET BEFORE THAT DATE FOR UPSTATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAIL
OUT THEIR TAX BILL, AND I'M HOPEFUL AND TRY AND LEAD AGAIN SOME
REFORMS OR EFFORT TO NOT VOTE FOR LAW EXTENDERS TO TRY AND MAKE
THAT BUDGET HAPPEN AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
>>
Gary: GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS DISCUSSION. BUT ABOUT ONE YEAR
AGO, "NEED TO KNOW" BROUGHT YOU A STORY ABOUT A 3-YEAR-OLD BOY
AND HIS FAMILY WHO WERE WAITING FOR A HEART TRANSPLANT. WE HAVE
BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY AND, TODAY, ALMOST ONE YEAR LATER,
WXXI's JENNIFER REED HAS THIS UPDATE.
(Singing)
>>
HE'S REALLY WORKED HIS WAY INTO THE HEARTS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>>
Jennifer: ROCHESTER NATIVE KIMBERLY LAHMON-HOSER AND HER HUSBAND
RUSSELL HAVE BEEN SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS.
THE HOSERS, WHO NOW LIVE IN OHIO, SPENT YEARS WAITING FOR A
HEART FOR THEIR SON JONAH. JONAH WAS BORN WITH A SEVERE HEART
DEFECT. THE HOSERS FIRST TRIED THE SURGICAL ROUTE BUT HIS HEART
COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, AND TRANSPLANTATION BECAME THEIR ONLY
OPTION.
>>
TO US IT WAS SCIENCE FICTION. WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE THAT HAD
EVER HAD A TRANSPLANT.
>>
Jennifer: ACROSS THE NATION, THERE ARE ABOUT 135 CHILDREN WAITING
FOR A NEW HEART. LESS THAN 30 OF THOSE 135 ACTUALLY RECEIVE
ONE.
>>
WE HAD BEEN TOLD ORIGINALLY THAT A YEAR WAS A PRETTY TYPICAL
WAIT. IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.
>>
IT'S A LONG WAIT.
>>
I WOULD BE LYING IF I DIDN'T SAY I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBLE
OUTCOMES MILLIONS OF TIMES.
>>
THE OPTIMISTIC PERSON IN ME COMES OUT, THOUGH, AND I REFUSE
TO BELIEVE ANYTHING BUT THE BEST FOR MY SON. SO I SEE HIM AS
A HEALTHY LITTLE 4-YEAR-OLD, GETTING ON THAT SCHOOL BUS AND
GOING TO PRESCHOOL AND WAVING GOOD-BYE TO ME (sniffling) AND
I THANK GOD, AND I'M GOING TO THANK HIM SO MUCH BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT I WANT SO MUCH WITH ALL MY HEART AND ALL MY SOUL, SO BAD
THAT IT HURTS. THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
>> Jennifer: ANOTHER YEAR WENT PAST, BUT ON FEBRUARY 23rd, 2001,
THE HOSERS GOT THE CALL THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR. IT WAS A
PERFECT MATCH. JONAH BEAT THE ODDS AND GOT HIS NEW HEART. BUT
THE CELEBRATION IS BITTERSWEET.
>> IT WAS A REAL STRUGGLE WITH ME AT FIRST. I HAD TO COME TO
GRIPS WITH THE IDEA THAT ANOTHER FAMILY WAS GOING TO HAVE TO
LOSE THEIR CHILD SO THAT MINE WOULD LIVE. IT DOESN'T SEEM VERY
FAIR, YOU KNOW. IT'S REALLY HARD.
>>
IT'S THE OPTION OF THE DONOR FAMILY TO REVEAL THEMSELVES IF
THEY CHOOSE AND HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH US. >> ONE SPECIAL THING
THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THOUGH, IS WE'D LIKE TO FIND
OUT WHAT THE CHILD'S NAME IS AND WE WANT TO RENAME OUR SON WITH
THAT NAME.
>>
INCLUDE THAT NAME WITH HIS CURRENT NAME. \M Happy birthday to
Jonah \M
>>
Jennifer: JONAH, WHO IS NOW FOUR YEARS OLD, DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE DOES UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO
HAVE A HEALTHY HEART AND A VERY HAPPY FAMILY.
>>
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HOPE TO OTHER COUPLES BY SHOWING
HOW GOOD HE'S DOING. THAT'S ONE THING THAT CERTAINLY ALWAYS
UPLIFTS OUR SPIRITS IS WHEN WE CAN FIND A SUCCESS STORY THAT
WE CAN SORT OF LATCH ONTO AND PULL US THROUGH SOME OF THE VALLEYS.
>>
Jennifer: IT'S STILL A LONG ROAD FOR THE HOSERS. JONAH NEEDS
TO TAKE SEVERAL MEDICATIONS DAILY TO HELP WARD OFF INFECTION
AND REJECTION, BUT TAKING CARE OF JONAH'S NEW HEART IS A WELCOME
CHALLENGE, SOMETHING THEY HOPE TO SHARE WITH THEIR DONOR FAMILY.
>>
I JUST WANT THEM TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO AND HOW THE
SPIRIT OF THEIR CHILD CAN LIVE ON IN JONAH.
>> Gary: THE HOSERS HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH THE DONOR FAMILY
THROUGH THEIR TRANSPLANT CENTER, BUT AT THIS TIME THE DONOR
FAMILY HAS NOT COME FORWARD. THE HOSERS HOPE THAT, IN TIME,
THEY WILL. THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEED
TO KNOW." NEXT WEEK, JOIN US FOR COMPUTER CRIMES. WE'LL TELL
YOU HOW TO STAY SAFE WHILE SURFING ON-LINE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
(Music)