New York State Cuts Special Olympics Funding, Gives Raises To Lawmakers

Democrat-controlled New York is cutting funds to the Special Olympics and giving a raise to lawmakers a week after Democrats in Washington, D.C., expressed outrage after the Trump administration proposed cutting funds to the Special Olympics.

“New York’s budget for the Special Olympics decreased from $200,000 in 2018 to $150,000 for this year,” The Daily Caller reported. “Meanwhile, every one of the state’s 213 lawmakers will ultimately receive a raise that is almost the same amount cut from the games for disabled athletes.”

Following the announcement, Special Olympics New York CEO and President Stacey Hengsterman said in a statement:

Special Olympics New York is thankful to the Governor and Legislature for securing $150,000 in State Budget to support our Unified Champion Schools program, which is creating inclusive school communities throughout New York State. The budget process is always difficult and we are grateful we had so many champions advocating on our behalf. We will continue to work with our representatives in state government to hopefully increase these funds and continue to grow this important program.

The budget, which was decided on Sunday, increases New York state lawmakers’ salaries from $79,500 to $110,000 and raises Governor Andrew Cuomo’s salary by $70,000, increasing it to $250,000.

The Trump administration faced intense backlash last week after it decided to cut funding the Special Olympics, which led to President Donald Trump overruling the decision.

“I heard about it this morning,” Trump said on Thursday. “I have overridden my people. We’re funding the Special Olympics.”

One of the loudest voices against the decision was socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who seized on the opportunity to attack the administration.

“I see Betsy DeVos and the GOP are doubling down on their Anti-Everybody agenda by working to cut Fed funding for *the Special Olympics,*” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “The good news? You elected a House Dem majority, so we can halt it. Now: who are your favorite disability advocates to follow?”

“Betsy DeVos ‘loves’ the Special Olympics so much, she wants to cut federal funding for it,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “She ‘loves’ students so much, she changed rules to make campus sexual assault victims more vulnerable. And she ‘loves’ teachers so much she wants to cut student loan forgiveness, too.”

The Daily Wire reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office multiple times for comment and received no response.

“The Trump administration’s education budget proposal called for the elimination of $17.6 million in funding for the Special Olympics, amounting to roughly 10 percent of the group’s overall revenue,” The Daily Mail reported. “Most of its funding comes from individual and corporate contributions and other fundraising efforts. The Special Olympics is the largest sports organization in the world for people with intellectual disabilities, with over 5 million athletes from 174 countries participating in competitions while spreading a global message of inclusion and empowerment.”

Trump 2020 Deputy Communications Director Matt Wolking slammed Democrats last week over their faux outrage surrounding the cuts to the Special Olympics.

“I’m sure Democrats who see abortion as the cure for Down syndrome and other disabilities are sincerely concerned about kids having the chance to be in the Special Olympics,” Wolking tweeted. “The Special Olympics, by the way, is a private charity with $61.3 million in net assets that gets only 10% of its funding from taxpayers and enjoyed a $1.8 million surplus in FY2016.”