Following contradictory news reports that President Donald Trump might reinstate a policy that separates children from their immigrant parents at the southern U.S. border, two dozen state lawmakers are pushing back with a bill to help keep track of displaced children in New York. Assemblyman Harvey Epstein and Sen. Brian […]
Month: April 2019
In the post-budget session, marijuana reformers look for a legislative path
With recreational marijuana dropped from budget in the final days of negotiations, the Drug Policy Alliance and other legalization advocates are focusing their efforts on the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (S.1527/A.1617). The legislation would make more than 50 changes to current drug laws in order to legalize, tax and […]
Sen. Metzger highlights environmental victories in new state budget
Senator Jen Metzger held a press conference outside the Village Hall in New Paltz Thursday to detail several initiatives in the new state budget aimed at advancing environmental protections and energy conservation efforts. One of the biggest budget wins for green groups this year is a $300 million allocation for […]
Republican lawmakers calling new budget “criminal, a monstrosity and a joke”
Republican lawmakers say the 2020 budget adopted earlier this week will make it even more difficult for “hardworking, middle-class taxpayers to provide for their families and make ends meet.” Some have gone so far as to label the new budget an “April Fool’s joke,” a “monstrosity,” and even “criminal.” Senate […]
Governor Cuomo sees the 2020 budget as a “strong progressive statement”
The state’s new $175.5 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2020 achieves many of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s goals outlined earlier in the session, including eliminating cash bail for many non-violent crimes, a permanent 2 percent property tax cap and an MTA funding plan that includes tolling in lower Manhattan. “From […]
Mental health training center for schools gets $500,000 in budget
In the final budget passed April 1, the governor and the Legislature allocated $500,000 for a training center designed to help educators develop curriculum for teaching about mental health awareness in public and private schools. The School Mental Health Resource and Training Center, operated by the Mental Health Association of […]
Funding restored for program to assist veterans with brain injuries and PTSD
Service men and women, along with their allies in the state Legislature, are celebrating the restoration of $4.8 million for mental health services for vets in the final budget, which was adopted on April 1. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz and Assemblyman Michael Reilly, had been vocal about […]
Budget allocates $24.7M to improve voting process — publicly funded elections delayed
Election reformers are seeing mixed results in the new state budget passed this week. On one hand, New Yorkers will now be able to vote before Election Day, register to vote online, and polls will open earlier for upstate primaries. Additionally, employers will be required to give all workers three […]