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New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton met with close to 60 people at Kendal At Ithaca last Friday, where she spoke about the proposed state budget,education, Medicaid, hydrofracking, and other issues.  The event is part of a series of 'town hall' meetings Lifton periodically holds to meet with constituents and keep them up to date with goings-on in the State Legislature.

"The Governor's budget proposal is $132.7 billion total funding," she said.  "When you put the federal money together with the money New Yorkers send to Albany in different forms you get the total state budget.  That number is actually down from last year, a slight decrease of .2%, $200 million lower than last year.  That is extremely unusual to see a real cut in the state budget."

Lifton said the wealthiest 1% of households pay a smaller share of their income in state and local taxes than all other New Yorkers, despite a temporary tax increase that was in effect from 2009 through 2011.  She said that information begs for more progressive income taxes to level that out and help pay for schools, elder care and other programs.

"This is what we've ended up with after thirty years -- a glaring inequality," Lifton said.  "The bottom 50% of New Yorkers are worse off in real income than they were 30 years ago.  The middle clase is just barely creeping up a bit.  The next 4% is doing pretty well, and the top 1% of New Yorkers has gone from an income of $446,000 in 1980 to an average of $2.7 million a year.  We have a picture here of vast income inequality.  We're the worst state.  We're number one in inequality."

Lifton reported that the governor's budget increases funding for transportation.  She said a $5.1 billion capital plan will improve roads and bridges across the state.  She said education also sees modest gains in the new budget.


Maybe technically the recession is over, but many people are still feeling the effects of this recession," she said.  "There are still a lot of people out of work.  The state unemployment rate is 8.3%.  We have infrastructure that needs fixing and we have people who need jobs, so it seems like a perfect match."

Lifton said she was pleased by the state Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Town of Dryden last week.  If upheld that ruling will allow the town to ban natural gas drilling within its borders.  Lifton said she supports home rule, and is watching a similar case between a drilling company and Middleton, New york that is expected to yield a decision this week.

Residents had a chance to ask questions, and to talk to Lifton after the presentation.  She fielded questions and comments on whether she intends to run for Congress (see accompanying story), taxes, hydrofracking, and state support for higher education.

"We're still by far the wealthiest country by far," she said.  "We're the third wealthiest state in the country.  Our state GDP is about $1.14 trillion per year.  I don't understand why we don't want to more fully support our state university system and not have our kids come out of college with crushing debt."

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