State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) has announced that the New York State Department of Correctional Services is currently recruiting Correction Officers and is now accepting applications from anyone interested in taking the Correction Officer Trainee Exam. The examination for the position of Correction Officer trainee with the New York State Department of Correctional Services is scheduled for October 18, 2008.

The Senate returned briefly to the Capitol today to pass the spending cuts agreed on yesterday by the governor and legislative leaders and approved by the Assembly in the wee hours of the morning.

Six Democrats voted "no." They were: Shirely Huntley, Efrain Gonzalez Jr., Marty Connor, Kevin Parker, Bill Perkins, and Ruben Diaz Sr.

      State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District) announced today that Saul Lerner, Director of Physical Education, Athletics, Driver Education, and Health at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, has been appointed to a statewide advisory panel on driver education. Senator Fuschillo recommended Mr. Lerner to the Senate for appointment to the position.

The Working Families Party and the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) are launching a $1.5 million tv ad campaign against Gov. David Paterson's property tax cap.

The ad – titled "Wrong Answer" – quotes the New York Times' description of Paterson's tax cap "gimmick"  and argues that the tax cap "is the wrong answer to the serious problem of property taxes.  Similar caps have devastated public education in states like California, Massachusetts and Illinois."

The New York State Senate today passed legislation (S.8738) to enact a constitutional spending cap that would limit year-to-year State spending increases to no more than four percent and force both houses of the Legislature and Governor to live within its means. The spending cap is needed more than ever given concerns about the State’s economic climate and the spending cuts being made to close budget deficits.

August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month   Calling it "one of the most important things you can do to prepare your child for school," State Senator Martin Malave Dilan (D-Brooklyn) today reminded New Yorkers that as summer draws to a close, it's time to make sure their child's back-to-school immunizations are up to date.  Immunizations protect children against serious, vaccine-preventable diseases.

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