Governor To Cut Billions From School Funding, Medicaid
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Governor David Paterson is gearing up for a battle with some powerful labor unions as he looks to close a looming $12.5 billion budget deficit.
The governor says he is preparing to cut billions of dollars from school funding and Medicaid.
Those cuts will likely draw sharp protests from the unions representing teachers and hospital workers.
Paterson also plans to ask labor unions to reopen contracts for public employees as a way to avoid or minimize layoffs.
He will ask for some of the cuts when lawmakers return to Albany next week for a special session to help close a $1.5 billion budget gap for the current fiscal year.