My state is in financial melt-down. After years of spending a budget surplus like it was water, the state blindly ignored all the signs of a pending recession, and kept spending, until one day--oh dear, they ran out of money. Surprise, surprise. Only to politicians, conservatives and others of the upscale set--the rest of us saw it coming ages ago.

Thing is, Americans such as myself, with little-or no, health care already sometimes must decide between buying food, and buying medicines. New Yorkers lose their homes, go hungry, go without heat even, thanks to unreasonably high costs in regards to medical care and medicine. Even those of us on state or federal health care plans for the poor, elderly and disabled, often have to--and I'm being 100% literal here-- choose between getting medical care and medicines, and keeping a roof over their head and/or food on the table.

I think that arts are hugely important. I think parks and recreational activities are important, as well---but sorry, I would rather see a cut in an theater or music programme, or in a parks or sports programme, than see someone get sicker or suffer pain, or even die, because some fat-cat politician didn't have the guts--or the basic sense of human decency, not to cut any health care programmes. They say that aid to health care will be okay--but what does "mostly" mean? That "mostly" makes me very, very nervous....it tells me that someone, somewhere is still going to suffer. Because even one cut to health care, to a poor and vulnerable person, is one cut too many.

And, what about food and community programmes? Heating assistance? How many will die this winter from lack of heat, in a part of the world where temps can get to as much as minus 20 to minus 40 C, for days--or even weeks on end?

Here's part of an article in my local paper:

ALBANY -- The New York Legislature agreed late Tuesday on a plan to cut state spending by about $1 billion over the next few years.

They were expected to pass the legislation late Tuesday. Lawmakers hadn't finalized plans for cutting health care.

The deal was expected to include 6 percent cuts across the board. The bill would not cut basic school spending, but the City University of New York was expected to have as much as $50 million shaved from its budget.

Gov. David Paterson had targeted $600 million in cuts for the current $122 billion budget. But the rare cut during a fiscal year is expected to be part of a broader agreement to commit to cutting as much as $600 million in state spending in each of the next two years.

Assembly Majority Leader Ronald Canestrari, an Albany County Democrat, said the deal in the works would cut about $1 billion in spending over two years, including $500 million to $600 million in the current year. He said aid to local governments and Medicaid aid to hospitals and health care facilities would be mostly protected. Local officials had said cuts to their state aid would likely trigger local property tax increases, and health care lobbyists said cuts would increase patient costs.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said negotiations continue.

Cameras wait silently near the steps of New York's capital building in Albany, while journalists await the outcome of an important legislative vote.

A legislative session in progress: