Policy

Not On My Dime

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has vetoed legislation that would have allowed disabled children to be educated at private schools on taxpayers' money.

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ALBANY, N.Y. — A push by Orthodox Jewish, Catholic and other religious leaders to allow disabled children to be educated in private schools at taxpayers' expense failed on yesterday, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed legislation that would have authorized school districts to reimburse parents for tuition costs.

Public school funding advocates, who opposed the measure, called it an expensive step toward a voucher program, which isn't allowed in New York.

"This bill unfairly places the burden on taxpayers to support the provision of a private education," Cuomo said in his veto message. He said far more special education students would be placed in nonpublic schools under the bill at considerable cost to taxpayers.