Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Inaction could put state out of 'race' -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY


Inaction could put state out of 'race' -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY:

"ALBANY -- The Race to the Top has become a race against the clock in the state Legislature.

In classic Albany style, lawmakers are waiting until the last possible moment to act on legislation that proponents say would greatly enhance the state's chances to secure up to $700 million in federal education reform grants.
The deadline to apply for the federal Race to the Top program is Jan. 19.

But with only today and the date of the deadline currently scheduled as legislative session days (Jan. 18 is Martin Luther King Day), lawmakers are cutting it extraordinarily close -- especially in light of a consensus from lawmakers that the issue is unlikely to come up today.

Indeed, some have suggested Gov. David Paterson might keep legislators later this week in order to pass laws he says are needed to compete for the money."