Federal Budget Help The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a $26 billion measure to help states and counties deal with budget problems — a move that will help avoid layoffs of public employees and teachers in Central New York. Under the bill, six Central New York counties will share about $14.7 million in direct federal aid to help pay...
The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a $26 billion measure to help states and counties deal with budget problems — a move that will help avoid layoffs of public employees and teachers in Central New York.
Under the bill, six Central New York counties will share about $14.7 million in direct federal aid to help pay the local share of Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor and disabled.
Onondaga County will receive the largest local share, about $7.1 million, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, who authored the provision that sends the money directly to county governments.
All told, New York will receive about $2.2 billion through the legislation, including about $530 million in Medicaid assistance directly to the counties and $607 million to help school districts avoid layoffs.
“The state that does best in this bill is New York state,” Schumer said after the Senate passed the bill, 61-39. “This is one of those rare moments that New York gets back a lot more than we put in.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would call the House, which just started its six-week recess, back into session next week to approve the package and send it to President Obama for his signature.
Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney said the money will provide critical aid to avoid layoffs as the county continues to cope with a potential $50 million budget deficit.
“It is relief that is absolutely necessary right now to limit the number of layoffs we are going to have in Onondaga County,” Mahoney said.
The county expects up to 300 of its employees to accept early retirement packages, of which about 150 positions would be permanently eliminated.
Gov. David Paterson called the Senate bill an “exciting and significant step forward in the process to bring critical Medicaid and education dollars to New York state.”
He urged the House of Representatives to quickly pass the bill next week “and to recognize that inaction is not acceptable during times of crisis.”
Schumer said the Senate bill will not add to the federal budget deficit because the legislation cuts spending in other areas and closes some corporate tax loopholes.
“It doesn’t increase the deficit a nickel,” Schumer said. “It doesn’t raise taxes on any citizen or any American worker. The vast majority comes from cutting other programs.”
Contact Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.