Numerous human service, education and community groups faulted Gov. Paterson today for failing to make the rich bear a fair share of the burden of resolving the state budget deficit. "Increasing fees and enormous cuts in state spending on education, healthcare, and state services could be mitigated if the Governor had simply chosen to listen to the people of New York State who have been calling for an income tax increase on the wealthiest 5% of New Yorkers," said Ron Deutsch of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness. Mark Dunlea of Hunger Action Network said "We appreciate the Governor's leadership in proposing the first increase in the basic welfare grant in 18 years, even though the proposed hike will keep them in severe poverty. But we have to oppose taking money away from disabled and poor senior citizens by cutting SSI benefits." Medicaid Matters NY strongly supports the health care reforms proposed by the Governor today. MMNY applauds the Governor's continued commitment to improving health care for all New Yorkers, including expansion of Family Health Plus and elimination of some of the barriers to getting and keeping coverage, particularly in tough economic times. Karen Scharff of Citizen Action said: Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. “President-Elect Obama is leading the way by proposing a bold stimulus package to jump-start the economy. Unfortunately, Governor Paterson is taking a very different approach: cutting education, and other critical state investments, while refusing to ask the wealthy who benefited from the boom to make any contribution.”