“The platform will always be the same, promise everything, deliver nothing.” —Will Rogers
“Well, Bart, your uncle Arthur used to have a saying: ‘Shoot ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out.’ Unfortunately, one day he put his theory into practice. It took 75 federal marshals to bring him down. Now let’s never speak of him again.” — Marge Simpson
These two quotes, one from a real American and one from a fictional American mom, sums up my attitude towards the state Legislature’s approach to cutting $2.7 billion in their so-called “deficit reduction plan.” Our state lawmakers slashed $2.7 billion, but the cuts amount to nothing more than a scratch.
There may be some real spending cuts in what was passed Wednesday, but as usual there was too much smoke and mirrors that do nothing to assuage fears we won’t be in the same boat in December 2010. The Albany Times-Union noted that the plan “does little to address the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis.” There are no cuts to education, minimal cuts to health care and includes using ALL the state’s federal stimulus money.
Still, Wednesday’s action was followed by the usual self-congratulatory remarks, such as this beauty from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
“We remain committed to making the same sacrifices that everyday New Yorkers have been making already.”
Oh, really?
Salaries and benefits make up nearly 70 percent of all public budgets. Where are the cuts, or at least action that will force local governments to curb their own spending? Where are the sacrifices that these public employees will make?
Here’s a quote that would have been closer to the truth: “We remain committed to special interests and public unions while forcing everyday New Yorkers, particularly those in the struggling private sector, to give us even more.”
Of course, with public salaries there’s a trickle-down to counties, municipalities and school districts. Public salaries continue to rise while most private salaries remain stagnant. However, Albany is where pension contributions are set. In the late 1990s then-Governor George Pataki, then-Comptroller Carl McCall and the Legislature agreed to give a boost to public pensions. We’re still paying for this bone-headed move today.
Silver also indicated the Assembly had “difficult decisions to make.”
The Times-Union noted that there are several “one-shot” cuts; short-term solutions that will be back in the budget next year. The paper listed four of these one-shots, totaling $326 million. There’s also, according to the Associated Press, $200 million anticipated in upfront payments for a yet-to-be selected vendor that will build and operate video slot machines at the Aqueduct race track.
By the way, the approved plan includes $1.6 billion in cuts and temporary cash transfers from agencies to the general fund, something that Gov. David Paterson had already ordered. In other words, the legislature only found $1.1 billion in cuts, or creative maneuvering.
Difficult, indeed.
To paraphrase Will Rogers, the Legislature — Republicans and Democrats alike — pledged to do the right thing, then delivered nothing.
Oh, Marge Simpsons’ quote? It explains what many New Yorkers probably feel like doing, but won’t because of the consequences they would suffer.
•••
Congratulations to the NT Lumberjacks on their state football championship. They had high expectations from the start, and re-reading some of the stories written about them in the pages of the Tonawanda News, it’s clear to see why they won. Hard work. Dedication. Teamwork. Selflessness. Respect. Poise and character. They have set a standard that should be emulated by every other football program in the area.
•••
How long does it take in tonight’s Bills game for the Toronto fans to drum up a chant of “Arrrrrrrrgooooooos?”
John Hopkins is the night city editor of the Tonawanda News. His column appears Thursdays. Contact him at john.hopkins@tonawanda-news.com.
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