MTA Bailout May Mean Giving Senate GOP Highway Aid

With the Democrat-controlled State Senate holding up any hope of an MTA bailout, it may come down to the Republicans in the Senate to help out. Naturally, though, the NY Times reports that Republicans senators want highway and bridge projects financing. Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) told the paper, "To just ignore the highway, road and bridge plan and go to trying to negotiate a schedule for a new M.T.A. capital plan was just not the right thing to do." While Republicans have been letting their Democratic counterparts fight out the bailout proposal, some would be affected if the MTA is stranded without some form of support—for instance, contracting jobs would be lost upstate. Still, they are happy to blame the dysfunction on the whole Paterson administration; Sen. Better Little (R-Queensbury) tells Newsday, "It's interesting that they're reaching out to us now, not when they were constructing a plan" (she also suggested the administration was "New York City-oriented").

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By Jen Chung in News on April 13, 2009 12:10 PM

Comments [rss]

tnturner

ha. Better Little...

hotstepper

some serious provincial chest-thumping going on. i mean i live here too but definitely appreciate the water from upstate, the power-lines that serve us but cut through their forests and properties, the produce, cheese, meats, and beer that are produced up there, just to name a few.

wake up and smell the interdependence people!

MT

Damn straight it's New York City-oriented. Who do you think funds this state?!?

ma bell

sadly i'd say washington funds this state...i mean since they had to bail out all the banks and all

fugothamist

secede now. not only form the state, but from the union.

Sleepy

Is it time to secede yet?

JenChungsBaby

The whole state is "New York City-oriented," Senator Little. That's because half the population and most of the taxes come from here. Without this city upstate NY would be more like Appalachia.

nicemarmot

she also suggested the administration was "New York City-oriented

What a concept! You mean the lawmakers actually care about the part of the state where the vast majority of their constituents live? How DARE THEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!