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Submitting News If you have any news, send an email to my Press Liaison, Jordan Isenstadt, or call him directly at 212.490.9535. Contact Me Welcome to LizKrueger.com I'd love to hear from you. You can contact me by clicking here.	Press Releases For Immediate Release: August 5^th, 2004 Contact: Brad Usher (c) 347-693-4640 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS RELEASE*** State Senator Liz Krueger Praises Court Action on Education Equity Says Failure of Governor and Legislature to do their Job Forced Court to Intervene New York, NY – In yet another example of New York’s dysfunctional State government, New York State Supreme Court Justice Leland DeGrasse yesterday was forced to appoint three special masters to oversee the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case. “I am gratified that Judge DeGrasse has taken this action,” said State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan). “Since the legislature and governor have failed to meet the courts’ mandate to approve a plan for providing New York City schoolchildren with a sound basic education, it will be up to the courts to meet the needs of our students.” In a ruling last year, New York’s highest court had given State government until July 30^th to 1) determine the actual cost of providing a sound basic education for public school children in New York City; 2) reform State finance measures to ensure full implementation of findings; and 3) create a system of accountability to track and ensure sufficient education funding. Despite the risk of being held in contempt of court, Governor Pataki, the Senate and the Assembly have yet to reach an agreement on how to reform the archaic and unnecessarily complex State funding formula for education. “The Legislative branch of New York State government has yet again failed to do its job,” said Senator Krueger. “This time, it was to create an equitable funding structure for public schools in our State. Our inability to fulfill the Court of Appeals mandate is truly appalling and yet another example that Albany’s three men in a room legislative process is ineffective and inefficient. Because of this failure of the Albany process, New York City schoolchildren will start yet another school year without receiving the qualified instruction, adequate tools for learning and much-needed extra support they deserve.” The three individuals appointed by the court are: the Honorable E. Leo Milonas, former state appellate judge and former president of the City Bar Association; the Honorable William C. Thompson, also a former state appellate judge, state senator and father of the city’s comptroller; and John D. Feerick, former dean of Fordham Law School and also past president of the City Bar Association. Judge DeGrasse charged the Special Masters with producing a report with recommendations as to how the state should meet its obligations to provide a sound basis education in New York City. The report is to be completed by November 30, 2004. Based on the recommendations of the Special Masters, Judge DeGrasse will issue a final decision as to the appropriate remedy in the case. “Judge DeGrasse has chosen a truly distinguished panel,” said Senator Krueger. “I place trust in their judicial expertise and urge them to consider all plans and studies that have been completed, including CFE’s extensive costing out study and the proposal put forth by the Board of Regents.” -30-
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