De Blasio celebrates symbolic vote on pre-K
Andrew J. Hawkins
Mayor Bill de Blasio praised an announcement by the state Senate Thursday that it will pass a one-house budget resolution that includes funding for free, full-day prekindergarten and after-school programs in New York City.
Earlier, the Assembly passed its own budget bill that included Mr. de Blasio’s proposal to raise taxes on city residents who earn at least $500,000 to fund universal pre-K. The Senate bill, while including $540 million for the expanded education programs (as reported by the Wall Street Journal), does not include the tax, which Senate Republicans oppose.
In recent weeks, facing steady opposition from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos, Mr. de Blasio has dialed back his advocacy for the tax hike, and instead displayed an openness to any plan that reliably funds pre-K and after-school programs.
On Thursday, he thanked Mr. Skelos and Senate co-leader Jeff Klein for including the exact amount that he originally sought. He made no mention of the tax hike.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140313/BLOGS04/140319925/de-blasio-celebrates-symbolic-vote-on-pre-k