State Sens. Darrel Aubertine and Joseph Griffo are to be congratulated for their failure to achieve the endorsement of the New York State United Teachers union. The senators make us proud in voting their consciences and the will of most New York state taxpayers. The NYSUT union is a sad example of lobbying at its very worst. Rather than providing leadership, they resort to blackballing those who speak for reasonable reforms.

What lessons are we teaching our children when in the face of a worsening economy, real fears that people will not be able to cover winter fuel costs, rising food costs, unbridled federal deficit (that will be the inheritance of these children) and state deficit, they (NYSUT) would have us continue the insanity of unchecked school budgets.

In my school district the voters needed to vote down the proposed budget twice before it sank in to the district administration that people can't afford the extravagant budgets advanced yearly. Last year they managed to convince people that a major school renovation was necessary, including artificial football turf and night lighting that could well illuminate Yankee Stadium. Where was the leadership from educators and administrators to see this as folly when we should be thinking green and conserving energy? NYSUT should be promoting this type of leadership and advancing creative ways to educate children by reallocating resources and changing systems to do this within the means of struggling communities, given all their other obligations.

State legislators don't need the endorsement of any group that fails to recognize the reality of our times and provide true guidance. My hope is that all our legislators would recognize that NYSUT offers nothing presently than a continuation of policy that has gotten us into this mess and given school districts a false sense of entitlement that can't continue. Sens. Aubertine and Griffo are providing true leadership in supporting school funding caps.

George Trejos

Hannawa Falls