By Mark Scott
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer says New York and its counties are in line to get $2 billion in Medicaid funding from Washington that was feared lost.
Senate Democrats broke a filibuster to free the bill for a vote. Schumer says the funding, long considered uncertain, is a major breakthrough.
The State Legislature had approved a contingency plan Tuesday for the potential loss of that Medicaid funding.
Schumer also says the federal government will provide the state with more than $600 million to preserve more than seven thousand teaching positions. It's uncertain whether that could happen in time for the start of the new school year next month.
The State Legislature would have to pass a bill that would allow school districts to reopen their budgets so that teachers can be rehired.