Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Friday announced an agreement on a $153.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2017-2018. State operating funds spending is $98.1 billion for the 2017-2018 fiscal year — an increase […]
Month: April 2017
As “Trumpcare” looms, some say it’s time for single-payer health care in NY
“Your wealth should not determine your health,” advocates tell lawmakers As President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers seek to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pass their American Health Care Act, a universal single-payer health program for New Yorkers could pick up more support this session. The New York Health […]
Remembering Lester ‘The Lion’ Shulklapper, king of Albany lobbyists
Lester “The Lion” has passed at 82. Lester Shulklapper was the king of the lobbyists in Albany. He and I philosophically disagreed about pretty much everything but I loved the man dearly. He represented just about everyone who had power and money. We are talking about the banking industry […]
Lawmakers hope to give teachers more training to recognize dyslexia in the classroom
As someone who struggled with dyslexia from kindergarten through college, Senator John Brooks is supporting legislation he says would give dyslexic students the assistance he didn’t have when he was in school. Brooks, D-Seaford, is a cosponsor of bill S.2534 that would require training of teachers in the area of […]
NYCLU asks legislators to spin “Wheel of Justice” to garner support for funding public defense
The NYCLU broke out its “Wheel of Justice” and asked legislators to give it a spin and test their fate in New York’s “broken criminal justice system,” as a way to raise awareness and promote support for the Justice Equality Act. The bill, (A.1903) which would provide full state […]
‘Raise the age’ is among a handful of budget sticking points
Senate Democrats hope to prevent a quorum to pass budget extender until raise the age is settled Despite the weekend extension on the now-late state budget, lawmakers still disagree on the hot button issue of “raising the age” of criminal responsibility, which is holding up the 2017-2018 budget, originally […]
Gov. Cuomo’s statement on the late budget: “These are difficult times”
Governor, legislative leaders poised to pass extender budget until compromise is reached on difficult issues Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement late Sunday night, April 2, after it became clear the Legislature would not reach a compromise on several difficult issues before Monday morning. Cuomo has presented an “extender”to keep […]