News

Paterson turns to president-elect for support

By Tom Wanamaker

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson on Monday offered President-elect Barack Obama year-end “wish-lists” of items to include in any congressional economic stimulus package.

The governor seeks both direct aid for public assistance and education programs, as well as for near-term and longer-term infrastructure improvements. He told Obama that at least 180,000 New Yorkers are expected to lose their jobs during the “economic downturn,” which will raise the state’s unemployment rate to 7.1 percent.

“No state has been more severely impacted by this crisis than New York, the home of Wall Street and the global capital of business and finance,” Paterson wrote in his letter to Obama. “Our recovery plan includes initiatives that the Empire State needs the most right now — not only to overcome the current crisis, but to begin laying the foundation for the economy of the future.”

The governor pointed out that with New York facing a three-year budget deficit estimated at $51.1 billion, his budget proposal for next year contained zero growth in General Fund spending which forced cuts in “virtually every sector” of the budget.

“We are quickly reaching the point where further cuts to vital programs will jeopardize our fundamental responsibility to preserve critical core services to our citizens,” Paterson wrote. “Targeted assistance from the federal government is desperately needed. Accordingly, the most essential item in any economic recovery package is direct and immediate aid to states and working families.”

Key points of the governor’s letter to Obama include:

$500 billion in aid to states: $250 billion for programs like Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages, unemployment insurance, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and child care; and $250 billion for flexible education block grants to states.

$300 billion for infrastructure investments, including funds for “ready-to-go” projects to rehabilitate and build transportation, water, schools, housing, broadband and health information technology infrastructures; along with funds for longer-term regional projects, including those that create green jobs and support national goals for energy efficiency, environmental conservation and smart growth.

Paterson, citing an estimate that every $1 billion invested in infrastructure results in the creation of 30,000 jobs, concluded that 351,000 new jobs could be created in New York.

The governor said that New York has more than 1,900 “ready-to-go” projects — for which federal funds can be obligated within 180 days — valued at almost $11.7 billion. These include:

481 “traditional” transportation and water-related projects totaling $5 billion.

1,231 projects for school modernization, affordable housing, rural broadband, state parks and health information technology, totaling $5.3 billion.

210 energy-related projects totaling $1.4 billion.

Paterson promised to work with both local leaders and the state’s congressional delegation to develop a prioritized list of development and infrastructure projects. A first draft of such a list is expected “later this week,” but a final list would not be developed until any stimulus legislation is signed into law.

Reader Comments

Submit a Comment