Funding Freeze Threatens Jobs
Funding Freeze Threatens Jobs
Gov. Paterson announced on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 that he would institute a funding freeze which impacts highway project funding. Paterson officials say the construction freeze could impact as many as 500 projects around the state.
A coalition of contracting groups has vowed to file papers in state court calling on Governor Paterson to lift his funding freeze, which they contend threatens some 5,000 blue-collar jobs. The lawsuit threat came as fuming contractors blasted the embattled governor, who announced the unusual action on March 30,2010 after failing to agree with lawmakers on how to close a $9.2 billion budget gap.
"Candidly, we believe this governor has lost his ability to make rational decisions," said Mark Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors' Association.
NYSAOTSOH and NYSCHSA are looking to complement this protest with our own letter writing campaign to put significant pressure on legislators to get money flowing for transportation projects as soon as possible. We are asking the entire membership to contact legislators with letters and phone calls.