New Guv's got many budget hurdles to clear

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo says he will target numerous budget cuts needed for the long-term survival of fiscal responsibility ["Selling a tough budget," News, Jan. 23]. His talk about worker layoffs in the thousands, agency consolidations, Medicaid and educational cuts and the establishment of a Tier 6 benefit package have the special interest groups raiding their coffers for an all-out blitz in opposition.

Could special interest money be better spent elsewhere? Wouldn't those funds be more effective retraining displaced workers, eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies and developing industries that will increase employment?

If America is the land of opportunity and a true capitalistic economy, then we must get away from being overly dependent upon government supplying a disproportionate number of jobs and retirement benefits. Otherwise, we have socialism rather than capitalism.

John Connors

Massapequa Park

The destiny of Gov. Cuomo is in the hands of fellow Democrat and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan). With 100 of 150 votes in the Assembly, Silver is in the driver's seat. He rewards his own members via stipends for chairing committees, support for their legislation, pork-barrel member-item money and office budgets for staffing and mailings. Republican State Senate majority leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) has similar powers, but only has a majority of 32 votes to 30. With Silver's overwhelming majority, he can let many members off the hook when controversial budget bills come up for a vote and still stop whatever he desires.

Cuomo has to deal with Silver and Skelos along with their respective loyal members who have powerful backing. Successful implementation of Gov. Cuomo's agenda clearly depends on the cooperation of both Silver and Skelos.

Larry Penner

Great Neck