“The Assembly’s passage of the DREAM Act today demonstrates that we are still not putting the needs of New York citizens first. At a time when school districts are still struggling with the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) cuts and cannot properly formulate budgets because school aid runs have not been released, we chose to focus on funding for illegal aliens. The Assembly leadership and the governor are sending the message that legal New York taxpayers are less important than illegal aliens. Our priorities should be to fully fund and protect New York parents, teachers and students who are here legally before we give money to those who are not.”