It’s not easy being a Democrat these days. The president may be one, but the country is being run by Tea Party sympathizers. President Obama spends most of his time responding to the demands of a wild and crazy group of Congress members who want to turn America upside down. more

The East Rockaway Board of Education unanimously approved a $34.3 million proposed budget at their April 12 meeting. The plan, which calls for a 2.94 percent increase and 3.77 percent tax levy, which must still be approved by voters on May 17, includes keeping all current clubs, sports teams, the district’s enterprise program, and new programs for students with autism and disabilities, among other items. “At a certain point, it’s really up to the community what they want for their schools,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Roseanne Melucci. more

It’s time for the Republican Party to call the police and report a kidnapping. A few months ago, the party was basking in the glow of a big victory in Washington and victories around the country. Now it seems that wherever you look, there’s chaos and confusion. more

Depending on your point of view, Governor Cuomo’s proposed superintendent salary cap is either a good start on the road to reining in exorbitant taxes across New York state or, at best, a symbolic gesture. more

State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says he is optimistic that despite the difficult choices they face, this is the year when Albany lawmakers will finally make the structural changes to the state budget needed to rein in spending. more

I have to admit, I’m having a problem understanding how, in just 33 working days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team was able to recommend 79 cost cutting measures to save $2.3 billion in the upcoming budget. I’ll address this concern from three viewpoints. 
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It is time for leaders to take strong, firm stances. That goes for lawmakers in Washington and Albany, our county, town and village representatives and the elected members of our own boards of education. more

The Bellmore-based Long Island Crisis Center is facing a crisis of its own: Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget cuts mean that the center could lose nearly one-third of its budget, possibly shutting … more

My last column, “Stop playing games with the budget deficit” (Feb. 3) was written one week before New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued his analysis of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget draft. The irrationality I outlined fell short of anticipating the following mea-culpa expressed in the comptroller’s analysis. “The SFY 2010-2011 enacted budget relied on $16.7 billion in non-recurring or temporary budget resources; and overly optimistic tax revenue projections, causing a dramatically worsened state structural deficit.” How dramatic? These tenuous entries constituted 30 percent of all the monies in the state’s operating fund. more

There are times when I wish it was 2012. Not because I’m wishing my life away but because I’d love to see how today’s crop of politicians worked their way out of the worst financial crises in federal, state and local history. more