Most New Yorkers are not happy with the $131 billion budget ripe with new taxes and spending, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released on Tuesday, April 7.
Sixty percent of those polled disapprove of the budget the State Legislature passed on Friday, April 3, compared to only 16 percent who approved of the budget.
“The brand new New York State budget gets panned,” said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Nobody likes it, Republicans least of all. ‘Necessary’ or ‘wasteful,’ we asked of the budget. ‘Wasteful’ leads.”
The budget, which Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver agreed to on Sunday, March 29, took five extra days to pass because Republicans delayed the process after feeling they were shut out of negotiations.
The budget, which is an increase of $10.5 billion or 8.7 percent over last year, attempts to close a $17.7 billion gap for 2009-2010 – the largest in state history. However, that $10.5 billion increase includes $7.2 billion in federal funds from the stimulus package that the state must spend this fiscal year.
One part of the budget that voters approved of was the decision to raise state income tax rates on families making more than $300,000 per year. Voters approved of the measure by a 62 to 34 percent margin, with the strongest approval ratings amongst Democrats at an 81 to 16 positive rating.
Still, Republicans including Senator Frank Padavan, the only Queens Republican in state government, harshly criticized what he called a reckless and fiscally irresponsible state budget.
“These challenging times require fiscal responsibility and strong leadership,” Padavan said. “On each of these traits, Governor Paterson and the Legislative Majorities have failed at the expense of New Yorkers everywhere. Anyone who supports this budget is out of touch with reality and refuses to seek real and lasting solutions that will help middle-class families and small businesses throughout our state.”
However, Democrats criticized Padavan for voting against all parts of the budget, including some they say provide extra aid to city residents.
“Republican Senator Frank Padavan voting against full restorations of state aid to New York City is yet another example of how he says one thing to his constituents in Queens, then goes to Albany and votes against them hoping no one will notice,” Democratic Senate Campaign Committee spokesman Shams Tarek said.
Democrats struck a different chord, citing victories including increasing education funds, restoring money to City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) institutions and staving off some of Paterson’s proposed health care cuts.
“Despite the serious fiscal challenges we faced with this budget, we were able to restore more than $1 billion in cuts to health care programs, while instituting reforms to advanced primary and preventive care,” said Queens Democratic State Senator George Onorato.
