In the First Week of the New Obama Administration: Schumer Discusses New Obama Administration, Congress & Its Effect on Upstate NY; Addresses Presidential Inauguration and President Obama's Speech

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In the First Week of the New Obama Administration: Schumer Discusses New Obama Administration, Congress & Its Effect on Upstate NY; Addresses Presidential Inauguration and President Obama's Speech

Schumer Outlined Issues Such as the Federal Economic Stimulus Package, Aid to New York State & Localities, Law Enforcement, Health Care, Education, And More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today discussed the new Obama Administration and the new Congress' agenda and outlined the effect it could have on Upstate New York. Schumer said there are critical challenges ahead, including the economic and housing crisis, rising crime in Upstate cities, and ailing health care and education programs, and discussed how the Obama Administration is working to address these issues. Schumer also discussed in detail the federal economic stimulus package, one of the first priorities of the new administration and Congress. Schumer said he is pushing for direct aid to New York State and its localities to help ease budget gaps and help to stave off property taxes; as well as his push for education funding for New York State.

"We made history on Tuesday when Barack Obama raised his right hand to take the oath of office as the first African-American president and when he laid out an ambitious agenda for change. This is the kind of change that only happens once in a generation and I am excited to get to work on an ambitious agenda that focuses on bringing government back as an ally of the middle class. President Obama is focused on making health care and college costs more affordable, improving our schools and crafting a 21st Century energy policy.

"One of our first orders of business will be the new economic stimulus package. Everyone - from New York State, to its localities, to its families - is feeling the economic pinch right now and it's time for the federal government to step up to the plate. We have to do something to help ease our budget gaps and stave off property tax hikes and the economic stimulus package will be just what the doctored ordered."

The economic downturn has strained New York State county, state and school budgets alike. While state budget concerns have been well publicized, counties have also been faced with huge budget gaps and have been forced to raise local property taxes and make severe budget cuts. At the same time, the downturn has triggered declines in tax revenue that inhibit states' and counties' ability to meet rising Medicaid program costs as enrollment spikes during economic hard times. Additionally, school budgets are so strained that many schools are at risk of massive teacher layoffs and programmatic cuts. New York State also has an ailing water, sewer and transportation infrastructure system that is in dire need of repair.

Schumer today said that the Obama Administration and the new Congress will work to alleviate these problems, and said that one of the first orders of business will be the new federal economic stimulus package that is currently being crafted in Congress. Schumer said the measure, which could be as large as $850 billion dollars, would include billions of dollars that would go toward alleviating the dramatic crunch facing state and local budgets. From large cities like New York City to smaller municipalities in Upstate New York, many local governments are considering or have already imposed significant property tax hikes to close historic budget gaps. Schumer said that the last thing New York homeowners can afford during these difficult times is jump in already sky high property taxes.

Schumer is pushing for funding that would be used to upgrade water, sewer and transportation infrastructure and for direct injections of aid to New York State through FMAP and investments in education. Schumer stressed, however, that this money will only alleviate but not eliminate the tough choices state and local officials have to make in order to get their fiscal houses in order. In addition to helping to prevent property tax hikes, programmatic cuts and massive teacher layoffs, this funding would create thousands of new jobs and help the state's ailing infrastructure systems.

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