Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
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 […]
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 […]
Legislators from both parties joined neonatal doctors and advocates to call for Medicaid funding of donor breast milk for premature infants to be included in the final enacted budget. The bill, (A.6481/ S.4526) sponsored by Senate Health committee chair Kemp Hannon, R- Garden City, and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, D-Elmont, […]
New York state has made significant strides in recent years to improve our business climate. From voluntary adherence to a two-percent spending cap, to the enactment of the tremendously successful property tax cap, lawmakers and the governor have shown a recognition that we need to make significant changes to […]
Legislative column by Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino, R-Sayville Gov. Cuomo has proposed a $152.3 billion state budget, a spending plan that I believe needs improvement. Considering that the state is funded by the hard-earned dollars of New York residents, the state needs to be better stewards of these funds. More must […]
Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined legislators and hundreds of direct care advocates, workers, and the patients they care for to announce the inclusion of $55 million in the state budget to provide wage increases for professionals caring for New York’s developmentally disabled. Direct care workers and direct support professionals help […]
A group of lawmakers is asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to re-think his plan to cut visitation days at maximum security prisons as a cost-saving measure. Included in Cuomo’s 2017 budget proposal is a plan to cut visitation days by more than half at some prisons, thus eliminating the need […]
On Tuesday evening at the state Capitol, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled the proposed 2017-2018 Executive Budget, which for the seventh consecutive year, would hold spending growth below 2 percent. Highlights of the proposed budget, which must be adopted by March 31, include: State Operating Funds spending is $98.06 billion […]