A bill that would require insurance companies to pay for nearly 20 forms of FDA-approved contraception has passed the Assembly, but is languishing in the Senate, where it sits in the Insurance Committee since January 19. “New Yorkers cannot succeed at home, or on the job, without access to comprehensive […]
Politics
NYS Bar Association urges “quick action” on Supreme Court nomination
President Barack Obama has tapped a prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case for the vacant seat on the Supreme Court. Obama on Wednesday nominated Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Washington D.C. Circuit, to fill the seat left vacant after the sudden death […]
Lawmakers say funding needed for walking, biking infrastructure
Six members of the Assembly on Wednesday were joined by members of AARP and others to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Senate to set aside $20 million and create the state’s first-ever Complete Streets fund. Speakers at a press conference in the Legislative Office Building say dedicating $20 […]
Cuomo cheered at minimum wage rally
By EMILY DEMIRJIAN and MICHAEL PUGLIESE Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued to fight for a $15 minimum wage Tuesday at a large rally at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. He has been traveling the state on a bus tour with elected officials and union leaders, which started in Manhattan at […]
Fight over GMO labeling heats up
The Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase was abuzz on Tuesday, March 8 as a coalition of politicians, lobbyists and advocates called for labeling of genetically modified foods. Close to 100 people rallied on the majestic staircase to fight for a bill (A.617-b/S.485-b) that would require companies to label their products containing […]
DiNapoli: NY slow to penalize nursing home violations
New York needs to change how it fines nursing homes in violation of state laws to protect some of New York’s most vulnerable, according to the Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, DiNapoli recently met with senior citizen advocates in Albany to address the need to improve enforcement of nursing home violations. […]
Final push to “Raise the Age” before budget deadline
With just days to go before the state’s budget deadline, the coalition pushing for a higher age of criminal responsibility is trying to get the attention of lawmakers to convince them a change is needed. Gov. Andrew Cuomo included legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility in his Executive […]
Coalition fights aid-in-dying bill
The controversial aid-in-dying legislation is facing opposition from an alliance of groups that oppose the bill for both moral and pragmatic reasons, arguing that the legislation would put elderly and disabled people at risk of being abused. The bill, titled the “Patient Self-Determination Act” (S.5814-a/A.5261-c) would allow people with terminal […]