Senators Schumer, Gillibrand Ask Obama to Send Unwanted Funds to New York

Press Release

New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer are asking President Obama to direct unwanted funds from the economic recovery package to New York. A number of Republican Governors have recently stated that they planned to refuse money from the Economic Recovery plan for their state.

"New York receives 78 cents from the federal government for every dollar we send to Washington," wrote the senators. "If other states are willingly refusing federal support in this time of economic crisis, New York should benefit given our ‘donor state' status."

In the past week Governors Mark Sanford of South Carolina, Rick Perry of Texas, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Haley Barbour of Mississippi and Sarah Palin of Alaska have all discussed plans to refuse economic recovery funds for their state.

"If any governor - Democrat or Republican - leaves stimulus money on the table, then we respectfully request that funds be distributed to New York," wrote the senators. "We will put the money to good use, investing in education and new infrastructure, such as health care IT and high speed rail."

The Economic Recovery package is already a great win for New York State. The plan will:

· Help lower energy costs by investing $404 million in New York to help families lower their heating and cooling bills;

· Keep our communities safe by providing $112.7 million to New York to fight crime and hire law enforcement in our local communities;

· Ensure educational opportunities by investing $2.5 billion this year in New York schools; and

· Cut taxes for 7.1 million middle class New Yorkers.

Source