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Milk decision by Cuomo a real spoiler

Was the governor’s incipient 2020 presidential campaign dealt a death blow when he failed to come up with all of a $90,000 subsidy in order to save a 25-cent glass of white or chocolate milk at the New York State Fair’s dairy bar?

His failure has also left a bitter taste in the mouths of many milk drinkers. The governor’s failure to secure the subsidy has moved the non-profit organization that has run the dairy bar at the State Fair for years to sever relations with the Fair until Cuomo vacates the governor’s office.

This controversy begs this question; if the Governor can’t secure a subsidy to save a 25-cent glass of milk, especially in a major dairy state like New York, what does this say about his attitude toward the dairy farmers of New York and agriculture in general? Bear in mind that when the governor was growing up his idea of agriculture was most likely a potted tomato plant on a patio in Queens.

If a man cannot save the 25-cent glass of milk at the State Fair’s dairy bar, how would he react in a major crisis as president? Further, can a man who cannot come up with a subsidy to save a simple glass of milk be trusted, as president, with access to the nuclear “football?” You really have to wonder.

Recently the governor did get a win of sorts in the budget battle although I’m not sure the taxpayers of New York state will have a lot to be happy about when they realize what is in the budget. In negotiations with legislative leaders he was able to get their agreement with his plan to provide free tuition at state schools. This plan will provide free tuition for students from families making $125,000 or less when attending state schools and up to $3,000 in tuition grants for students at private schools.

When Cuomo announced his tuition plan earlier this year with socialist U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at his side the reaction of many was, where will the money come from? Has the governor taken up counterfeiting? Sensible people dismissed the idea as a gubernatorial pipe dream. But state politicians, who never miss an opportunity to pander to voters and know a slick scheme to scare up votes when they see it, got behind the idea and so now it’s becoming reality. I’ll bet though that any legislators who brought up the issue of higher taxes to pay for free tuition were told to shut their mouths in no uncertain terms.

Of course we’ve since found out that the free tuition comes with strings, or in this case ropes, attached. Students must remain in the state for the same number of years they received the benefit after graduation or pay the benefit back. This might be fine if New York were a center of technical jobs or of jobs providing a stable middle-class lifestyle. The problem is that the higher taxes necessary to pay for free tuition and tuition grants will make New York’s jobs picture even more dismal than it already is. Perhaps graduates can get jobs at the Dairy Bar at the State Fair if they can’t find anything else.

Referring to the budget agreement Senate Republican leader John Flanagan issued a statement that only a state politician could make with a straight face, saying in part that, “… state spending meets the needs of middle-class taxpayers and their families and advances key initiatives to make our state more affordable.” Only in New York can we raise spending, raise taxes and somehow make the state a more affordable place to live and do business in.

A really scary element in the budget is one that gives the governor the power to adjust state spending in the face of proposed federal funding cuts by the dreaded Trump administration. I suppose that means if the Feds cut funding for New York’s bloated Medicaid program the governor can raise state spending and taxes to make up the difference. That is like giving an addict access to free drugs.

Finally, I hope that a good time was had by all at the second annual Open House and Easter Egg hunt last Saturday at the Executive Mansion in Albany. In the spirit of the times, guests were reminded that weapons and controlled substances were prohibited from the event.

Originally it was reported that the governor, dressed as the Easter Bunny, distributed Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs to children at the event. This was later denied categorically with aides to the Governor insisting that Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul played the Easter Bunny. The lieutenant governor’s spokesperson offered a terse “no comment.”

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com

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