Unorthodox Deal: Jewish Group In New York May Have Traded Political Support For State Aid

[Adsos Letter]

SOURCE: The Wall of Separation
April 6th, 2011
By Rob Boston

The state of New York faces a daunting budget shortfall of $10 billion. The state’s public schools and universities have been told to expect a 10 percent across-the-board funding cut.

So naturally it’s time for state legislators to approve an $18 million appropriation for Orthodox Jewish seminary students.

The funding measure, buried in an 800-page state budget, will affect about 5,000 students attending 50 ultra-conservative rabbinical schools in the state. Previously, these students had not been eligible for funding under New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Now they will – even though their training is strictly religious.

The allocation, New York Jewish Week reported, appears to have been part of a larger effort by political forces in the state to woo members of the conservative Jewish community. State Sen. Dean Skelos, who serves as Republican Senate majority leader, represents a district that includes several areas of Nassau County where many Orthodox live.

LINK: http://blog.au.org/2011/04/06/unorthodox-deal-jewish-group-in-new-york-may-have-traded-political-support-for-state-aid/?utm_source=au-homepage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Recently-on-homepage
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caveat emptor: These are allegations; I haven't had time to check the New York Jewish Week article.

For clarity and integrity's sake, I would welcome the input of any New Yorkers with insight into this story.

Also: this is not intended to paint the Jewish community of New York, or any portion thereof, as either more or less involved in political influence than any other group; at the bottom of the linked article, the author calls-out Liberty University's massive governmental funding support. Many, many, many groups swap political support in return for favorable legislation, as we are well aware. The issue is in the Constitutionality of the desired legislation.