I’m convinced that New York has some of the best and brightest students in the nation. However, New York State is constantly making a challenge out of their education. Reviewing the governor’s budget proposal, I am pleased to see a school-aid increase of $651.4 million. Yet, I see several areas where there is room for improvement in our policies.

New York must invest in the education of children from kindergarten to 12th grade, but we must review why students aren’t finding the success that they all deserve. Even though New York is ranked highest in terms of education spending, we only have just over a 78 percent graduation rate, which is roughly 4 points lower than the national average. Also, less than 40 percent of our students in 3rd through 8th grade met or exceeded the English language art proficiency, and just 40 percent met or exceeded the state’s math-proficiency standards. It has been a tumultuous several years for our education community with state education policies interfering with the education of our children. 

I believe in creating opportunities for children. The budget proposal includes measures to expand advanced placement for low-income students and early college initiatives in high-needs schools but does not do enough to support and expand the interest and student success in BOCES and career-vocational programs. One of the greatest needs in the workforce is highly skilled workers knowledgeable in electrical, machining, and other technical skills. 

I’ve always advocated for investment in our schools and more grass-roots governing of our educational institutions. I know that educators and administrators on the ground working with students and parents have the best grasp of what works for their school. I encourage the state to take this approach as well. 

Additionally, I am concerned by the governor’s cuts to our local libraries. In his proposal he would cut $4 million in library aid. Libraries are invaluable local institutions of early education, educational support and continued education for adults. I find his annual efforts to cut aid to our local libraries troubling.

Lastly, as ranking Republican member of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, I am making it my priority to fight for better funding for our local community colleges. I have been advocating for an update to the aid formula per student funding or a more stable funding source for our community colleges. These important centers for higher education offer training and associate degrees and help many to later pursue a four-year degree. They play an important role in serving our rural communities and students of all backgrounds. Furthermore, community colleges are an economic benefit to a region. Herkimer College, for example, has an estimated $75 million impact on Herkimer County.

Throughout our negotiations we must remember that education is for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Those in pursuit of bettering themselves through education have my support, and I will be fighting for our state spending to reflect the needs for all varieties of students.             

Marc W. Butler (R,C,I, Ref–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@nyassembly.gov

Why don’t we trust our politicians?

For the answer, look no further than a recent column by Larry Elder in Investor’s Business Daily (www.investors.com).

He began with a quote from a politician. The pol railed against illegal immigrants. They disrespect the rule of law, he said. “We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented (and) unchecked …” The politician was Barack Obama as a U.S. senator in 2005.

Another politician bragged about securing our borders. And about hiring more border guards. He boasted about deporting twice as many criminal aliens as ever before. And about barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens. His name was Bill Clinton. He made these remarks in his 1995 State of the Union address. He went on and on about illegal immigrants in that address.

Meanwhile, Sen. Obama declared we needed to make employers verify the legality of their workers. We needed to punish those who don’t. “We need to start by giving agencies charged with border security new technology, new facilities and more people to stop, process and deport illegal immigrants.”

Sen. Harry Reid blasted a system that rewarded illegals and their offspring with full access to social services.

Sen. Obama was upset, saying, “Right now, we’ve got millions of illegal immigrants who live and work here without knowing their identity or background.”

Bill Clinton declared, “It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and we must do more to stop it.” This was also in his State of the Union address. Democrats leapt to their feet for the TV cameras and applauded wildly. That was then. 

In the 2018 State of the Union address, given by President Trump, they sat on their hands when the president made similar remarks.

These days, the politicians who once called for stronger borders now praise sanctuary cities. They once called for barriers and walls and more border patrol officers. Now they fight Trump’s wall. They say it will have no effect. They declare we should welcome anyone who makes it into this country.

Since the time they made their remarks, millions more immigrants have arrived illegally. The pols saw problems back then. Today, the problems they described have mushroomed. But today they see no problems. Go figure.

Wait. There is no need to go figure. What we see here is why we don’t trust politicians. We don’t trust them because they lie. They say one thing. And then, a few years later, they say the opposite.

They do more than “say things.” They get melodramatic about it. They try to stir us up. They use the theatrical production known as the State of the Union address, no less. Or the hallowed chambers of Congress.

We don’t trust them because they say one thing, but do another. For years politicians said they would control our borders. “Comprehensive immigration reform.” That is what they promised. They lied. This is what they said. What they did was nothing.

For years Republicans promised they would deep-six Obamacare. They lied. They said one thing, they did another.

It seems clear that politicians stand on principles. The principle that they will say whatever will win votes. The principle that what they promised on the campaign trail should never get in the way of how they vote in Congress.

Can you come up with any other reason for their perfidy? Their duplicity? Those are big words. The simple word is “lies.”

Maybe they now figure if they oppose immigration controls they will win minority votes. Maybe they have been born again. Maybe they just oppose anything and everything Trump favors.

It does not matter, really. What matters is that they lie. And that, sadly, is the truth.

From Tom…as in Morgan.                          

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta. Find him on Facebook or contact him at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com