Karen Dewitt

NY State Assembly Speaker Silver moves on from Lopez controversy

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:34:00 +0000

One day after the state’s powerful Assembly speaker admitted “glaring failures” in his handling of a sexual abuse case, the Albany establishment seemed to be moving on, with the usual round of press conferences, bill passage, and leaders meetings.

Most school budgets expected to pass

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:09:10 +0000

Voters in New York state go to the polls Tuesday to approve new school budgets. The New York State School Boards Association finds that many school districts are living within the limits imposed by a property tax cap enacted two years ago.

Cuomo says Lopez should be expelled, stops short of criticizing Speaker Silver

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:09:19 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling on Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the subject of a scathing ethics commission report on sexual harassment, to resign from office or be expelled.

Lopez report details disturbing allegations of sexual harassment

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:58:34 +0000

The Legislative Ethics Commission released its report on the sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. It’s conclusions have New York City’s National Organization for Women calling for a vote of no confidence against the still-serving assemblyman, and the Republicans calling for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to resign.

Cuomo details local government bailout plan

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:55:21 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined his proposal for a new local government restructuring board to help financially distressed communities deal with long term budget problems.

State lawmakers carry on in face of scandal

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:12:14 +0000

Lawmakers in Albany tried to continue business as usual in the wake of one of the worst scandals in recent decades, that has overshadowed most other news coming out of the Capitol. Much of this week’s legislative session has been canceled, but politicians who were in town insisted that their agendas are not being derailed.

Cuomo details his plan for upstate casinos

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:05:30 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined the details of his plan to site three gambling casinos upstate Thursday. Cuomo, joined by union and business leaders, and representatives from county governments, offered more details of his plan to build three new gambling casinos. Cuomo says he wants to limit the locations to upstate regions for now, to prop up the failing economy. The governor says upstate needs jobs like it needs oxygen. And he says having a downstate location would devalue the upstate centers.

Names of officials secretly recorded released

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:38:00 +0000

Nine more names of state Senators and others potentially involved in corruption were made public Wednesday, when a judge ordered prosecutors in the case of convicted former Sen. Shirley Huntley to make public the names of her colleagues that she secretly recorded.

Controversy over access overshadows state Senate hearing

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:03:18 +0000

A hearing by state Senate Republicans on New York City’s public campaign financing system was overshadowed by protests, as government reform groups and other members of the public were denied entry, and noisy protests ensued.

Another state senator arrested

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:44:45 +0000

Former Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson turned himself in to federal authorities Monday, after being accused in a nine-count indictment of embezzling nearly half a million dollars from mortgage foreclosure accounts, and then trying to cover it up.

Senate leader says he won't repeat mistakes made when passing gun control laws

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:10:51 +0000

The leader of the New York State Senate Republicans says he regrets the way gun control legislation was rapidly approved earlier this year, and he hopes what he now says was a mistake won't be repeated at the end of the session.

Senate GOP hearings will examine NYC's public campaign financing system

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:57:45 +0000

Republicans in the New York State Senate plan to hold hearings Tuesday, May 7, on what they say are abuses in New York City’s public campaign finance system.

Lawmakers consider delaying vote on allowing casinos

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:48:00 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have tried to jump start negotiations over siting several new gambling casinos in New York. But they also conceded that the plans might be delayed for another year.

Cuomo's abortion rights proposal stalls in Senate

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:12:00 +0000

A key component of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2013 agenda appears in jeopardy, as the governor concedes he does not currently have enough votes in the State Senate to bring an abortion rights bill he has championed to the floor.

Assembly, attorney general, press for early voting

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:24:00 +0000

The state’s attorney general and Assembly speaker have proposed an early voting system for New York that they say can improve voter participation and democracy.

Governor to push for local government restructuring board

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:56:36 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he hopes to soon create a statewide board to help fiscally strapped local governments restructure.

Controversy causes fracking consultant to resign from industry lobby group

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:52:32 +0000

Opponents of hydrofracking are charging there’s a potential conflict of interest with a consultant to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s environmental agency. They are asking that the years-long review of fracking in New York state be restarted. The controversy caused the consultant in question to sever all ties with a gas industry lobby group.

State GOP leader not happy with potential abortion law reform

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:57:31 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to update New York’s antiquated abortion laws to reflect rights affirmed in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. But Senate GOP leader Dean Skelos says it goes to far.

Fracking overshadows other issues on Earth Day

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:16:00 +0000

On Earth Day lobby day at the state Capitol, whether or not to allow hydrofracking in New York continues to be the dominant issue.

Corruption still dominates discussion in Albany

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Anti-corruption is the dominant topic at the New York state legislature for the second week in a row, following bribery charges against two state lawmakers, including a former Senate leader. A new poll finds 81 percent of voters expect more Senators and Assembly members will be arrested.

Corruption still dominates discussion in Albany

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Anti-corruption is the dominant topic at the New York State Legislature for the second week in a row, following bribery charges against two state lawmakers, including a former Senate leader. A new poll finds 81 percent of voters expect more senators and Assembly members will be arrested.

Board of Elections reform discussed in Albany

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:52:00 +0000

Anti-corruption proposals are proliferating in Albany, following two high-profile bribery scandals. Some of them focus on the long-neglected New York State Board of Elections, which hasn’t even had an investigator on staff in over a year.

Poll finds New Yorkers want more action against corruption

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:31:00 +0000

A poll finds New Yorkers are upset about recent corruption scandals in Albany, and think that Gov. Andrew Cuomo should take the lead to clean things up.

Cuomo, Assembly Democrats roll out reform ideas

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:10:21 +0000

At the New York State Capitol, lawmakers are scrambling to put forward plans to react to the recent twin corruption scandals involving bribery charges against a state Senator and Assemblyman. On Tuesday, it was the Assembly Democrats’ turn to weigh in. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also rolled out two more components of his own reform plan.

State lawmakers return to confront scandals

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:06:32 +0000

New York state lawmakers returned to work after a two-week spring break. It’s their first meeting since two lawmakers have been charged with bribery in separate corruption scandals.

Second half of legislative session overshadowed by new scandals

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:41:58 +0000

The second half of New York’s legislative session begins today and it’s likely to be dominated by the response to on going bribery and corruption scandals that came to light while lawmakers were on spring break.

New York state still awaiting fracking decision

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:40:00 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s health commissioner is expected to release a health report on hydraulic fracturing soon, at least according to a timetable announced in late February. But the Cuomo administration has already missed several deadlines on fracking.

Reform groups say Cuomo's plan to empower DAs is a good first step

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:09:40 +0000

Government reform groups say they are pleased that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has now proposed step one in his plan to clean up corruption in state government, following two high profile arrests of state lawmakers.

Cuomo proposes empowering DAs to help fight political corruption

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:50:00 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state’s district attorneys are pushing for laws to make it easier to prosecute bribery and public corruption cases, in the wake of recent scandals in Albany.

Comptroller warns local governments that fixing fiscal crises won't be easy

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:10:00 +0000

New York state’s comptroller kicked off a week long forum at SUNY’s Rockefeller Institute to examine the plight of economically stressed local governments and school districts across the state.