State Senate Leaders Say DREAM Act Not Being Discussed In Budget Talks
GLENN BLAIN
State Senate leaders say the DREAM Act is not a topic that's being discussed as budget negotiations head into their final week.
“We didn’t discuss that today and I think that what we need to do is really focus on the issues at hand,” said Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein, leader of the Independent Democratic Conference, after emerging from a meeting with Gov. Cuomo and Senate GOP leader Dean Skelos.
“I think universal pre-K is something that’s very, very important, property tax relief, renter relief,” Klein said. “We’re also looking to develop a statewide housing program.”
Skelos agreed that the DREAM Act – which would make state tuition assistance available to the children of illegal immigrants – was not part of the discussions. He also shrugged off reports that the DREAM Act could be included in the budget as part of a legislative deal that also included education tax credits sought by GOP lawmakers and Cardinal Dolan.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2014/03/state-senate-leaders-say-dream-act-not-being-discussed-in-budget-talks
