LETTERS: Passing the buck, passing the budget and more

Borrowing plan just passes the buck

In describing the latest Albany gimmick to deal with the budget deficit by borrowing from the state pension fund to fund the state pension fund "Looking to lend a helping hand," News, June 13], your article stated: "The plan would save New York more than $200 million in the 2010-11 fiscal year, helping to close a projected budget deficit of $9.2 billion." Are you kidding me? How does this save anything?

One saves by cutting expenses, not by borrowing from the future and having someone down the road deal with the problem, the usual modus operandi in Albany. The state pension system, like Social Security, Medicare and the federal budget, is broken. The math simply doesn't add up, yet nobody has the guts to do anything about it.

Why should the New York State taxpayer guarantee the New York State pension fund against stock market losses? The situation is unsustainable, insane and depressing, all at the same time. Let's describe this situation accurately and not for an instant make it appear that Albany is doing something right when all they are doing is passing the buck to the next guy.

Ray Xerri

Oceanside

Fine legislators every day budget is late

If Gov. David A. Paterson wants to get this budget passed, there is a very simple solution .

Simply fine the legislators one day's pay for every day the budget is late.

You will see immediate cooperation between the legislators and all future budgets passed on time.

Philip Santoiemma

Hicksville

Long Island needs a clean energy vision

This is an exciting time for Long Islanders . We have the opportunity to develop a clean energy vision that will transform the Island's electricity grid to a more dynamic and decentralized system that is able to significantly increase the amount of renewable sources of electricity.

The five central station power plants on Long Island are dinosaurs, and we need the civic, political and utility leadership to develop a solid, comprehensive plan that prescribes the future of these plants - for the short-term, most likely a combination of plant retirement, repowering of one or two plants (to much more efficient facilities), and much greater reliance on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

For the longer term, serious consideration must be given to a Long Island energy future without fossil-fueled (or nuclear) power plants. The benefits of such a plan include improved environmental quality, more reasonable electric rates and a stronger economy.

Kyle Rabin

Manhattan

Editor's note: The writer is director of the Network for New Energy Choices.