Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751
"Any agreement that fully restores funding for disabled New Yorkers is welcome news. I am extremely proud of the members of the Assembly Minority Conference who began the fight to preserve these much-needed resources as soon as the egregious cuts were proposed. The Assembly Minority's budget amendment restoring $90 million was rejected by the Assembly Majority. However, our conference members continued their efforts even after the $90 million cut was included in the final spending plan. Finding a way to avoid any reduction of these critical resources is a well earned victory for all of New York's developmentally disabled.
I sincerely hope that the reported tentative agreement to restore funding for our disabled community becomes a reality in the immediate future, and until it is, we will diligently support this cause. New York's most vulnerable population has waited far too long to find out whether or not vital programs and services would be allowed to continue. It was an unfortunate position - created by an irresponsible budget proposal - that disabled individuals, their families and caregivers should never have been forced to deal with."