Governor Paterson Calls on State Congressional Delegation to Vote to Pass FMAP/Education Jobs Bill
August 9, 2010
Governor David A. Paterson today sent the following letter to New York’s Congressional delegation:
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August 9, 2010
Dear Representative:
I am writing to urge you to vote in support of critical legislation for New York State: The FMAP/Education Jobs bill.
The short-term extension of FMAP will provide approximately $1.4 billion to the State over two budget years, with $800 million of that funding coming in the current fiscal year. The counties will receive more than $500 million in FMAP funding. In addition, New York is expected to receive more than $600 million in funding to retain and create teacher jobs across the State in the 2010-11 school year.
The federal assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been critical to New York’s ability to weather the steep declines in revenue and sharp increases in the demand for services caused by the recession. Under ARRA, New York received a temporary FMAP boost that yielded more than $11 billion in additional funding that was used to mitigate the deep cuts to essential services that would otherwise have been necessary.
In New York, we have made the difficult decisions. We have made deep cuts across every area of our State budget, including substantial cuts to health care and education. We have worked hard to balance our budget while still providing the resources necessary to maintain critical health and education services, but these were not easy reductions and they are undoubtedly felt by everyday New Yorkers. This federal funding will help to mitigate the effects of these cuts in health and human services and to support our teachers.
I appreciated working with you over these past 10 months to secure this essential funding. I applaud Speaker Pelosi for reconvening Congress and I thank you for taking the time to come back from your districts to take this important vote to help our fellow New Yorkers and to protect an emerging economic recovery in New York State and nationwide.
Though I am confident that our economy is improving, federal and state government must continue to work together to ensure that Americans who have been hurt by this economic downturn receive the support they need and states do not become a drag on the economy. I greatly appreciate your support and urge you to vote YES tomorrow on H.R. 1586.
Sincerely,
David A. Paterson
