Trunzo Finito
03-21-2006, 10:35 PM
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BRENTWOOD
Trunzo targeted by education group
BY RICK BRAND
Newsday Staff Writer
March 21, 2006
A group that advocates more government funding for schools has expanded its televised attacks on Republican state senators in Queens and Yonkers to target Suffolk State Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood).
The Washington-based League of Education Voters in America begins a week of cable TV spots today warning that Trunzo "is about to vote for another Albany budget that shortchanges Long Island kids."
"Trunzo's votes mean overcrowded classsrooms, lower test scores and poor graduation rates," the ad states.
An irate Trunzo responded late yesterday from Albany by labeling the TV spot a "doggone lie," saying he has delivered more aid for his school districts than any others in the state. He cited $156 million for Brentwood, $102 million for Sachem, and $98 million for William Floyd in the most recent state budget.
Trunzo said the group's claims about crowded classrooms, low test scores and low graduation rates are also bogus. "They are using the big lie because they think I'm weak," said Trunzo, who has three Democrats vying for his seat in November. "But they are wrong."
The anti-Trunzo spots follow similar attacks last week against GOP senators Nicholas Spano of Yonkers, who won his last election by 18 votes, and Serphin Maltese of Queens, who is facing heat from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over the Republican-controlled Senate's reluctance to overhaul state school aid.
Some senators deride the league as a front group for Democrats - noting that its spokesman, Jonathan Rosen, worked for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee in 2004.
The group says it wants the Senate to comply with last year's state Supreme Court edict, ordering $5.63 billion more operational aid to city schools over the next four years and $9.18 billion more in building aid over the next five years. The state has appealed the ruling.
Trunzo warned that if the Senate bows to the court order, it will mean school aid losses for Long Island and other suburban areas.
Rosen insists the group backs proposals to increase aid for all schools. He said: "We are trying to call the bluff of senators who are trying to claim there is only an 'either/or' solution. We want a school aid formula that makes sense for everyone ... "
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BRENTWOOD
Trunzo targeted by education group
BY RICK BRAND
Newsday Staff Writer
March 21, 2006
A group that advocates more government funding for schools has expanded its televised attacks on Republican state senators in Queens and Yonkers to target Suffolk State Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood).
The Washington-based League of Education Voters in America begins a week of cable TV spots today warning that Trunzo "is about to vote for another Albany budget that shortchanges Long Island kids."
"Trunzo's votes mean overcrowded classsrooms, lower test scores and poor graduation rates," the ad states.
An irate Trunzo responded late yesterday from Albany by labeling the TV spot a "doggone lie," saying he has delivered more aid for his school districts than any others in the state. He cited $156 million for Brentwood, $102 million for Sachem, and $98 million for William Floyd in the most recent state budget.
Trunzo said the group's claims about crowded classrooms, low test scores and low graduation rates are also bogus. "They are using the big lie because they think I'm weak," said Trunzo, who has three Democrats vying for his seat in November. "But they are wrong."
The anti-Trunzo spots follow similar attacks last week against GOP senators Nicholas Spano of Yonkers, who won his last election by 18 votes, and Serphin Maltese of Queens, who is facing heat from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over the Republican-controlled Senate's reluctance to overhaul state school aid.
Some senators deride the league as a front group for Democrats - noting that its spokesman, Jonathan Rosen, worked for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee in 2004.
The group says it wants the Senate to comply with last year's state Supreme Court edict, ordering $5.63 billion more operational aid to city schools over the next four years and $9.18 billion more in building aid over the next five years. The state has appealed the ruling.
Trunzo warned that if the Senate bows to the court order, it will mean school aid losses for Long Island and other suburban areas.
Rosen insists the group backs proposals to increase aid for all schools. He said: "We are trying to call the bluff of senators who are trying to claim there is only an 'either/or' solution. We want a school aid formula that makes sense for everyone ... "
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