Assembly Dems Push Back Against Cuomo Education Cuts

This is good to see:

ALBANY - Nearly 70 Assembly Democrats have signed on in opposition to Gov. Cuomo's plans to slash $1.5 billion in school aid.

They're calling for a renewed tax on the wealthy to fill the funding gap.

In a letter written by Assembly Education Committee Chairwoman Catherine Nolan (D-Queens), she and 67 other Assembly members said Cuomo's proposed budget cuts represented a "retreat" from the state's obligation to educate its students.

"We need to take a more balanced approach to the state's fiscal challenges," Nolan wrote in the letter to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Nolan said the state must seek alternatives to budget cuts, especially a restoration of the state's so-called millionaire's tax - which Silver supports.

The tax, which is a surcharge on people earning more than $200,000 annually, is set to expire at the end of the year. It produces up to $5 billion in revenues.

Cuomo defended his budget cuts on Monday, saying "these are tough economic times, but our point is we all have to pitch in."

"We all have to do our fair share," he added.

Sure, we ALL have to do our fair share, which is why rich people are getting a tax cut and the state STILL won't raise taxes on rich condo owners so that an elderly couple in Mill Basin with a tiny house pay more in taxes than A-Rod does on his 3,000 square foot UWS luxury condo.