By Jimmy Vielkind

Making good on his threat yesterday, Gov. David Paterson vetoed additional education funding and other additions slid into a budget passed today by legislators.

“Rather than act in the interests of the people of New York state, they have engaged in legislation that is in self-interest and presented us with a series of bills that have the same gimmicks, chicanery and avoidant conduct that has characterized fiscal management in this state for far too long,” Paterson told journalists in the Red Room. He said legislators were sending a message to New Yorkers that they wanted “mediocrity” in higher education by not allowing SUNY campuses to charge more tuition and that their rejection of a property tax cap he proposed means “property tax relief will have to give way to an election year gimmick.”

Using a stamp and black ink, he vetoed a line in the budget that added $419 million in school aid this fiscal year (or some $600 million continued over the next school year.) Paterson said he will repeat the process 6,900 times — and his aides say he must personally initial each veto, so there could be some logistical headaches — to nix $80-100 million in restoration to the Tuition Assistance Program and other educational subsidies as well as $185-190 million in re-appropriated pork.

The legislature’s budget was about $400-500 million more than an omnibus extender bill unveiled Friday by Paterson, according to Budget Director Bob Megna.

Paterson said he was “disappointed, stunned, and frankly chagrined” that legislators did not create a contingency fund, in case some promised Medicaid assistance from the federal government fails to materialize. He said legislators are “fantasizing” that the monies will come through, and are engaging in “distraction and rumor-mongering” when they claim action in New York might push federal senators not act.

“If they’re restorations that involve additional spending, I’m going to have to veto them,” Paterson said. “I never get any joy in vetoing education money…it breaks my heart to do this. The only reason I’m doing this is I think that other wise we are, proverbially, kicking the can down the road and creating a greater problem.”

An override of the vetos is unlikely in the Senate, where Democrats control a narrow majority in the 32-30 house. All of the Republicans voted against the budget bills adopted today, and Minority Leader Dean Skelos cast serious doubts on the possibility of an override.

Austin Shafran, a spokesman for Senate Democrats said Paterson’s veto was a “typical Albany power play with school children and taxpayers caught in the middle. We passed a balanced budget that makes tough cuts and smart restorations to protect education and health services.”

He said a veto override is “under discussion.”

Dan Weiller, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, said he will discuss an override with the 107 members of his conference. That’s more than the 2/3 threshold of 100 votes. Silver released this following statement:

The budget passed by the Legislature would dramatically reduce state spending, restore funding for our schools and maintain our fundamental commitment to ensuring that SUNY and CUNY remain affordable for all New Yorkers.

Our financial plan is consistent with the plan the Governor proposed in his latest emergency bill, and provides adequate revenue to fund these critical restorations.

The Governor’s decision to veto these bills will mean larger classes, higher property taxes and more expensive tuition for SUNY and CUNY students.