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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Impact of Governor's Budget Vetoes on SUNY


Last week, Governor Pataki vetoed many aspects of the state legislature's budget, including:
 
*Legislative changes to TAP. The veto returns TAP to the Governor's original proposal, including defining a full-time student as taking 15 credits, not 12.

*$56.7 million for SUNY state-operated colleges, negatively impacting these colleges from meeting the needs of growing enrollments and mandated costs.

SUNY System Administration urges friends of SUNY to use its online advocacy tool to ask legislators to override the Governor's vetoes. The web site, "https://www.supportsuny.org/" provides a suggested letter that you can personalize to express your individual opinion. Legislators notice when issues inspire large volumes of correspondence from their constituents. If state support for public higher education is important to you, consider taking a moment to let your legislators know.

With that said, please remember that state law prohibits the use of public resources to influence public policy, including the state budget. If you would like to use "https://www.supportsuny.org/", please do so from your personal (i.e. not office) computer, using your personal e-mail account. According to SUNY System Administration University Counsel, only officers of student governments, faculty senates, unions and foundations, and college employees whose job duties include legislative advocacy may use college resources for lobbying purposes. 

If you have any questions on the state budget, "https://www.supportsuny.org/" or lobbying law, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Cynthia Cooper
Public Affairs
04/18/2006