It was during the early part of 2014 when Gov. Andrew Cuomo first announced his “college for cons” scheme. He wanted to reinstate a defunct program, that was abolished more than 20 years ago, which used public funds to pay college tuition for incarcerated criminals. Here we are, two years later, and the governor names […]
It was during the early part of 2014 when Gov. Andrew Cuomo first announced his “college for cons” scheme. He wanted to reinstate a defunct program, that was abolished more than 20 years ago, which used public funds to pay college tuition for incarcerated criminals.
Here we are, two years later, and the governor names his college-for-cons scheme as one of his “Right Priorities” for the year. Considering the pressures faced by the hard-working families of this state and our local communities, it is utterly disheartening that the governor’s priorities contradict theirs. Families are worried about their children’s education and how they will pay for college tuition.
Let’s look at the governor’s priorities a little more closely. In his state budget proposal, he would allow State University of New York (SUNY) tuition to be increased, he does not restore the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) funds this year that were taken from our public schools, and he wants to provide free college tuition for convicts and illegal aliens. The governor fails to support New York’s hard-working families who pay for the costly programs and projects he so flagrantly and wastefully imposes on taxpayers.
The governor would like the public to think that this time around his college-for-cons plan is different because it uses case-settlement money, rather than “taxpayer” money. What a line he is trying to feed the people. The case-settlement money belongs to taxpayers in the first place. That’s $7.5 billion that should be used to support the lives of law-abiding citizens and residents.
This governor would rather treat law-abiding citizens like criminals with his Second Amendment-violating gun laws. This governor would like to use taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns. This governor has, time and time again, passed the buck on things that matter most to the New York taxpayer, only to use his energies to reward those who do not deserve it and use public dollars to benefit his agenda, which is entirely out-of-step with the people.
I pledge to tell the governor what New Yorkers’ priorities are, and I will stop any efforts that fly in the face of what is right for the hard-working people of our state.
Marc W. Butler (R,C,I–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us
