Lawmakers meet with Cuomo over Dream Act in budget

Bill supports financial aid to students in the county illegally

Published 6:06 AM EDT Mar 22, 2014

ALBANY, N.Y. —Lawmakers have met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the latest push for a bill that would open state financial aid to students in the country illegally.

Supporters of the Dream Act met with Cuomo for nearly an hour Friday and came away encouraged they have his support as budget talks continue.

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, a Democrat from Brooklyn who attended the meeting, says the Senate and Assembly must come to agreement about how to pay for the initiative without using taxpayer money, a condition imposed by Senate Republicans. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the measure would cost $25 million a year if approved.

The meeting came hours before this weekend's Somos El Futuro conference of Hispanic lawmakers was set to start.

http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/plattsburgh/lawmakers-meet-with-cuomo-over-dream-act-in-budget/25103388