Budget Cuts To Be Enacted

On Tuesday, January 27, Governor Paterson, Speaker Silver and Majority Leader Smith announced that the legislature would vote next week on a Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP) for the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2009). The legislation (A.163/S.250) identifies programs that will be cut by nearly 50%. These include child care programs, HIV/AIDS programs, services for older adults, services for runaway and homeless youth, after school programs, newborn home visiting, and funds for CUNY.