Kudos as well to the WSJ editorial page yesterday for calling attention to the need to lift the charter cap in NY state and the deal that should be cut:

The Republican governor's proposal to lift the charter limit to 250 schools is a modest attempt to match supply with school choice demand. In return, reports the New York Post, Mr. Pataki is offering to sign off on a raise for state lawmakers, whose base pay is $79,500 and hasn't increased since 1999.

PS--The special session ended without a deal, but rumor has it that the legislature will come back into special session on Dec. 27th, at which point a deal might be struck (I'm crossing my fingers!).

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Merit Pay
December 14, 2006; Page A20

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116606951810449907-search.html

'Tis the season for wish lists, so it's only appropriate that soon-to-depart New York Governor George Pataki have one of his own.

Among other things, Mr. Pataki wants the state legislature to raise New York's limit on charter schools, which are public schools that operate independent of union work rules that so often compromise the quality of instruction. The need for more charters is clear; the state's current cap of 100 was reached in January, and more than 10,000 kids are on waiting lists.