7,000 New Yorkers Join Senator Golden In Albany To Call For Education Tax Credit

ALBANY- State Senator Marty Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) yesterday hosted a rally in support of the establishment of an education tax credit here in New York State on the steps of the New York State Capitol which was attended by over 7,000 teachers, parents, principals and New Yorkers, urging the legislature to act now.

Governor George Pataki, Assemblyman Matthew Mirones, and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the legislation’s Assembly sponsored, Edward Cardinal Egan, and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, joined Senator Golden. Students from St. Anselm’s School, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Bernadette’s School, St. Ephrem’s School, Good Shepherd School, Our Lady of Grace, St. Patrick’s School, and other schools throughout Brooklyn and New York participated in the Valentine’s Day Rally. Students and parents attending the rally held posters reading, "Education Tax Credits Make Sense" and "S.O.S., Save Our Schools."

An education tax credit would significantly help all parents of school-aged children to pay for school tuition and other educational expenses including textbooks, tutoring, personal computers and educational software. Governor George Pataki included in his annual budget address a proposal that mirrors legislation (Senate Bill 1939) introduced by Senator Marty Golden and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, that seeks to establish an educational tax credit here in New York State.

Senator Marty Golden at the rally stated, "We have come to recognize the value of an educational tax credit here in New York State and we are on the path to creating one. Your coming here to Albany today has helped to pave the way even further."

Golden continued, "This tax credit is a win-win plan which will bring the education of all students of New York to greater heights. This law is needed in New York. It is the right thing to do at the right time for the right cause. We have sparked a movement here in Albany today and have lit a fire that will be very difficult to extinguish. We must keep moving forward and settle for nothing less that an education tax credit this year."

Jim Cultrara, Director for Education, New York State Catholic Conference stated, "We are very encouraged by the tremendous showing of parents, teachers and children at yesterday’s rally in Albany. Nearly 7,000 participants demonstrates the wide spread support for Education Tax Credits and the need for financial assistance to these families. While the rally was a positive step forward, it is important that families, teachers, Principals and others continue to express their concerns to their legislators to insure that tax credits are enacted this year."