Politics on the Hudson

   The $131.8 billion 2009-10 state budget lawmakers are voting on rejects a number of cuts that were recommended by Gov. David Paterson. They would have:

  — Delayed implementation of a law that prohibits prisoners with serious mental illness from being placed in solitary confinement in most cases. Many of the changes required by the legislation would have been delayed three years, until July 1, 2014, under the governor’s budget. The negotiated budget that lawmakers are voting on restores $8.6 million in cuts that originally were proposed.

  —Eliminated funding for Teacher Centers, which receive grants for online and classroom-based professional development. The budget provides $40 million for the centers.

  — Changed the Early Intervention Program for young children with special needs. The governor wanted to exempt children with certain speech-only delays from participation and establish parental and provider fees for participation.

    — Cut the Neighborhood Preservation and Rural Preservation programs, which provide support to citizen-led, not-for-profit housing and community-based organizations that create and preserve affordable housing.

  —Reduced funds for libraries by $10.6 million.

  —Reduced funding for the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program by $49.9 million and $2.8 million for the Medicaid program to restore coverage for drugs denied by Medicare Part D. EPIC reduces the cost of prescription drugs for senior citizens living on fixed incomes.