April 12, 2008

Because we all know if there's anything New York needs to subsidize, it's the creation of more lawyers: In the bloated new state budget, Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) managed to insert $45 million for the purchase or construction of a new law school at SUNY Stony Brook. Touro Law School, a private school, had been in talks (now discontinued) over a possible affiliation with Stony Brook; the new budgetary move "could put pressure on Touro because a Stony Brook-created law school could undercut Touro, which charges much more in tuition than a state school would, and take away its student base." (Long Island Business News). And Sen. Joseph Robach (R-Greece) got $2.25 million in state funds to support a proposed new law school at St. John Fisher College in Fairport, which would be the first law school in the Rochester area. The future lawyers of New York thank you, taxpayers! (Rochester Daily Record/RedOrbit, Democrat and Chronicle). More Apr. 15: SUNY Binghamton, too, which will get $3 million.