State Assembly acts on school aid.

Bronx lawmaker Michael A. Benjamin and others have expressed strong support for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity school aid proposal, which was unveiled recently. The plan, approved by the State Assembly, appropriates $1.3 billion for New York City which is more than the expected total of $6.1 billion, which the governor hopes to raise though gambling for distribution across the state. Benjamin said that while the Assembly's plan is far from perfect, it is preferable to the governor's "sleight-of-hand" school funding formula, which relies on uncertain federal aid and expanded gambling venues. City Council Deputy Majority Leader Bill Perkins said that the Assembly plan is the best alternative, but said that New York City students need more.