The New York State Assembly and Senate are each rejecting key proposals in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget. Both chambers are submitting what's called one-house budgets -- their counter proposals to the governor's spending plan.
In the Assembly, where Democrats hold the majority, the one-house budget does not include Cuomo’s education tax credit, which would allow donors to give money to the private or public school of their choice and receive nearly full credit for the donation on their state taxes.
Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, an Ithaca Democrat, says the measure has not been popular with her colleagues.
“Certainly, there’s strong feeling that this is a very bad idea,” said Lifton, who compared the proposal to vouchers.
Lifton later said that there is also “clearly some strong support” for the education tax credit, and 50 Democrats are on record backing the measure. Supporters of strengthening charter schools say they offer children at failing public schools a chance out of poverty.
In the Senate, Republicans, who control that chamber, left in the tax credit but took out the Dream Act, which would provide college aid to undocumented immigrants.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos noted that the Senate passed the tax credit earlier in the session, and says he believes it should be in the final budget.
The Assembly has already passed the Dream Act. Cuomo has linked both the education tax credit and the Dream Act, saying both need to be in the final budget.
The deadline for the legislature to pass a state budget is April 1.
