Pataki?s budget could mean $30M loss for Bronx hospitals

? Community leaders and residents are speaking out about Governor George Pataki?s (R-NY) proposed $30 million budget cut to three Bronx hospitals.
If the state Senate approves the governor?s proposal, Lincoln Hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital and Jacobi Medical Center would all have to re-work their budgets. Some Bronx residents and lawmakers fear that means poor quality health care will follow. State Senator Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx) says with 38 percent of Bronx residents employed in the health care profession, Governor Pataki's proposal would also hurt the local economy.
The NYS Division of the Budget says more funding goes to the health industry than any other and that the cuts have to come from somewhere.