“Buon Giorno,” the Italian-American, Governor Cuomo said beginning a news conference announcing his executive order.

Italian will be one of the six languages that will be available for state government on-line information, in addition to Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French and French Creole, says Governor Cuomo, who says translators will also be available, through a contract service, at state agencies.

“It’s government’s responsibility to figure out how to communicate with the person,” said Cuomo. “Government serves the person. The person doesn’t serve the government.”

Cuomo says he expects the federal government to pick up part of the tab, but says even with a budget deficit projected at $2 billion dollars or more, he thinks the one and half million dollars to finance the increased access can be found.

The governor is refusing to be drawn into the larger national debate on immigration, saying New York “welcomes immigration”, and that undocumented immigrants will not be barred from using the translation services.