George E. Pataki
PER
George E. Pataki Pataki
Governor Pataki appealed the ruling and the leaders of the Senate and the Assembly held off on trying to hammer out a solution. Mr. Pataki so far made no promises to deal this year with the lawsuit, filed by a group called the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, or C.F.E., more than 12 years ago.  In outlining Medicaid savings for local governments, Mr. Pataki said that New York City stood to save an estimated $775 million and urged the city to spend the money on education. Mr. Pataki argued that the latest court ruling ordering billions of dollars in state aid was flawed, since elected officials determined spending, not the courts. Governor George E. Pataki hasn't made any promises to deal with the lawsuit this year that was filed by a group called the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, or C.F.E., more than 12 years ago. In his opening address to the Legislature, he made a brief statement saying he would provide "additional funding to high-needs schools, in New York City and across the state. Mr. Pataki has always considered education to be a top priority and has provided record amounts of additional aid to New York schools in his past budgets. Last year, education spending increased by $864 million, or 5.5 percent, from the previous year, with much of the additional money sent to districts outside New York City.