Politics on the Hudson

While health-care groups decried Gov. David Paterson’s proposed budget cuts today, the Citizens Budget Commission of New York City had the opposite reaction. The governor laid out ways the state could reduce spending by more than $1 billion, including cuts to Medicaid and local governments.  

Carol Kellermann, president of the non-partisan watchdog group, said the governor deserves credit for offering a specific plan. Cuts to Medicaid, a health-care program for the poor and disabled, should be the first made, she said in a statement. These are her other comments:

   “New York spends far beyond national norms for Medicaid, and its costs should be reined in.   “While the governor’s proposed cuts in local aid may be admirably intended to spread the pain broadly, the CBC’s proposals to eliminate ineffective economic development programs and close unneeded prisons would save far more money with no harm to public services.

   “We applaud the governor for coming forward with a set of options that encourages debate on how to curb spending. The governor is right to keep pressure on the state Legislature and to insist that tax increases be considered only as a last resort.”