My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
Last week, I traveled to Albany with my brother bishops of New York State for the annual Catholics at the Capitol lobbying day event. Although every year is successful in building on the foundation of our relationships with our state officials, this year was particularly gratifying for me as we stood in unison with over 65 Assembly members and 55 State Senators and over 20 union leaders as we rallied for the Education Investment Tax Credit.
As Catholics, we have a moral duty and obligation to be active and involved in the public square. America and our great State of New York are at their best when religious voices have a platform from which to participate in public policy debate. This is why we make sure to attend Catholics at the Capitol each year.
Our efforts last week were well spent. Joining me to represent the Diocese of Brooklyn were Auxiliary Bishops Raymond Chappetto and Paul Sanchez, as well as Albany’s own Bishop-elect Edward Scharfenberger. We had very productive meetings with Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, where, along with Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre and other bishops of New York, we explained the importance of the Education Investment Tax Credit and what it means for the many hard-working families in our great Diocese and the seven other Dioceses in New York State.
In Brooklyn and Queens, where the average annual household income of our 6,000 scholarship recipients is less than $27,000, we must do something to help our families. Futures in Education disperses nearly $8 million in scholarship aid each year. In reality, for Futures to meet the needs of all of the families in the Diocese, it would need an additional $11 million. It is a struggle for families to pay tuition, where the average in our Diocese is $4,022 per year, but parents choose these schools for their children because of the solid test scores, superior graduation rates and high levels of entry into four-year universities, which our schools provide, along with a firm faith formation.
I would like you to join me in personally thanking the following members of the State Assembly who have courageously sponsored and co-sponsored this legislation in support of both public and non-public education:
From Brooklyn: Alec Brook-Krasny, Karim Camara, William Colton, Steven Cymbrowitz, Maritza Davila, Dov Hikind, Rhoda Jacobs, Joseph Lentol, Walter Mosley, Felix Ortiz, Nick Perry and Helene Weinstein.
From Queens: Jeffrion Aubry, Edward Braunstein, Barbara Clark, Vivian Cook, Michael DenDekker, Phillip Goldfeder, Andrew Hevesi, Ronald Kim, Margaret Markey, Michael Miller, Francisco Moya, Nily Rozic, Michael Simanowitz, Aravella Simotas, Michele Titus and David Weprin.
This has been an issue for which we have been advocating for more than two years. This year, the proposed legislation has been worded in such a way that it can help all students, including those in public and non-public schools. I truly believe that this is an issue that all of us should be able to get behind.
In some places, this is true. In the most recent Senate vote, the Education Investment Tax Credit passed 55-4. This lopsided margin demonstrates our overwhelming bipartisan support. In the Assembly, however, we have not had the same success.
The next couple of days are critical if the Education Investment Tax Credit is to become law. Gov. Cuomo, Speaker Silver and Sens. Jeffrey Klein and Skelos are currently determining whether children in non-public school will benefit from this proposal. The children in public and non-public schools will benefit from this tax credit. I urge you to call Gov. Cuomo today and make your voice heard, because on April 1, the decisions will all have been made.
Next week, I ask you to call and thank those members who supported us and who had the courage to stand with us. For the Assembly, you may reach the Public Information Office at (518) 455-4218. The phone number for the N.Y.S. Senate switchboard is (518) 455-2800. Finally, the Governor’s office line is (518) 474-8390.
Right now, I am also including a list of those who have not indicated their support of this important legislation and ask you to call them and inquire how they can ask you to stand with them when they will not stand with all of the children of our city.
From Brooklyn: Peter Abbate, James Brennan, Joan Millman and Annette Robinson.
From Queens: Catherine Nolan and William Scarborough.
We would not be where we are today on the Education Investment Tax Credit without the support of so many organizations, which have all endorsed the legislation and given their full support. We extend our sincere thanks to all who understand the importance of this legislation.
As we put out into the deep in this landmark legislation, let us reach out to our legislators and also pray that they will keep our children in mind as they cast their votes on April 1 for the state budget.
