What is six-year incumbent Assemblyman Lavine's complete record on education reform?  

The assemblyman, who is also my opponent in the upcoming election for New York State Assembly, deserves credit along with many others for joining the fight to bring more federal tax dollars to the 13^th Assembly District; however, he is to be blamed for burdening the Glen Cove School District with the MTA payroll tax. He was the only non-New York City representative in the assembly who sponsored this legislation (A8180).

While upstate school districts do not pay this tax, it cost Glen Cove schools $140,000 and all school districts in the 13^th Assembly District over $2.1 million thus far.

His legislation promised "reimbursement to public school districts for the full amount of their mobility tax payments"—a phantom pledge as Albany cut $611,164 in school aid to Glen Cove schools.   

Furthermore, Assemblyman Lavine's MTA tax siphoned precious education dollars to the dysfunctional MTA while passing on this cost to the property owners who ultimately pay for it. It's time for a change. 

As your assemblyman, I will support legislation that repeals the MTA payroll tax. It is time that the MTA accepts mandatory reforms, such as mandating a wage freeze and ending overtime abuse, and not continue to make us its ATM. 

I will not support unfunded and arcane mandates. The Wicks Law, for example, increases the cost of public construction projects up to 30 percent. Both the New York State School Boards Association and the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials oppose this mandate. Their pleas for relief, however, did not sway Assemblyman Lavine from joining Speaker Sheldon Silver in blocking efforts to repeal it in 2009. This is unacceptable. 

If you elect me on November 2nd, I will fight for quality, cost-efficient education. We owe our children and taxpayers no less.