ALBANY - Gov. George Pataki said Thursday he will release $100 million to fund housing, child care and welfare-to-work programs that had been left out of the state budget in a political standoff.

The Legislature earlier this year had sought $1.1 billion for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, but wanted the funds earmarked for specific projects. TANF is a state and federal program that provides jobs training, education, day care and other services to help families out of welfare. It also provides emergency funding for the homeless.

“The release of this money is a long overdue victory ... These programs have a direct impact on the ability of New Yorkers to raise their families above poverty,” Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a written statement. “We are pleased that the governor has finally conceded that the resolution offered by the Legislature in March was the best course of action.”

Republican Pataki wanted the money to be a block grant to counties, giving them the flexibility to decide how to spend it.

Some lawmakers feared not all the programs would receive adequate money under the system.

As a result of the disagreement, the Legislature removed TANF from its 2006-07 budget passed March 31.

Legislative leaders had hoped to negotiate the issue with Pataki.

Instead, Pataki said he was funding the program as a re-appropriation of an existing program and didn't need the Legislature's approval.

About $1 billion had already been released to counties by the governor.

AP-ES-08-03-06 1930EDT