New York state legislature

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.

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.

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.

Small businesses push for further reform in New York state, including immigration

Kate O'Connell — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:50:09 +0000

Small businesses from around the state took their concerns to legislators in Albany Wednesday. The message from leaders in the agricultural industry particularly highlighted the need for reforms to support small farms, and boost local economies upstate.

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.

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.

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.

Second state legislator accused of corruption

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:11:38 +0000

Two days after a state senator was arrested for trying to bribe his way onto the New York City mayoral ballot, a state assemblyman has been accused of accepting payments to sponsor legislation that would benefit developers of an adult day care center in the Bronx.

How the "innovation agenda" faired in the state budget

Ryan Delaney and Kate O'Connell — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:23:29 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out an ambitious agenda around economic growth, innovation and clean energy in his proposed 2013-2014 Executive Budget.

New York state legislature passes budget

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:58:18 +0000

The state legislature is finished voting on a $141.3 billion state budget, with the Assembly completing it's work shortly before midnight on Thursday. The final passage occurred one week past lawmakers’ s self-imposed deadline, but three days before the spending plan was actually due to be finished.

Senate passes some budget bills, Assembly waits until Thursday

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:49:26 +0000

The New York State Senate held a rare Sunday session at the Capitol, in an attempt to get the state budget finished on time in the midst of major religious holidays.

Assmbly speaker says gun law provision could be postponed

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:05:00 +0000

The speaker of the New York State Assembly says a portion of New York’s gun control laws, scheduled to take effect April 15, may be postponed while talks continue on how to amend the provision.

State budget talks to go another day

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:12:47 +0000

New York state lawmakers are close to agreeing on a new spending plan that would include a deal to raise taxes on the wealthy and raise the minimum wage. They failed to seal a pact Monday night, but say they will be back Tuesday morning to try again.

Disabled lobby for funding restoration

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:11:10 +0000

One of the areas of disagreement in the state budget centers on funding for services for New York’s developmentally disabled people.

Senate co-leaders offer different accounts of minimum wage budget provision

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:14:10 +0000

The New York State Senate has included raising the state’s minimum wage in its one-house budget resolution. But that’s not necessarily a signal that a wage increase is moving forward in the state spending plan.

DeFrancisco thinks state lawmakers can deliver budget on time - again

Ellen Abbott — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:42:06 +0000

The hearings are over; the New York State Assembly and Senate have put together their respective spending plans. Now this week, lawmakers in Albany get down to the details of hammering out a state budget that both chambers can agree on. Senate Finance Committee Chairman John DeFrancisco of Syracuse believes it can be done before the April 1 deadline.

Lawmakers seek ban of dangerous supplement

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:41:00 +0000

A push to ban the fitness supplement DMAA brought a sports hero and parents who say they lost their son to the substance to the state Capitol.

Cuomo, lawmakers meet on budget

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:44:00 +0000

With just three weeks and one day to go before a state budget deadline, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders met to assess how far they have to go to reach a deal.

State Assembly proposes to ban fracking for another year

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:58:04 +0000

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is one of the sponsors of a bill to ban fracking in New York state at least until May of next year.

Advocates say public financing of campaigns could close corporate tax loopholes

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:55:04 +0000

A group pressing for public campaign financing has compiled a list of large corporations who gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to some New York lawmakers. They charge that the donations are preventing the legislature from closing what they say are corporate tax loopholes.

Bill Fitzpatrick on the Campbell Conversations

Grant Reeher — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:31:00 +0000

This week the State legislature passed and the governor signed into law a far-reaching set of prohibitions, restrictions, and tracking mechanisms regarding guns, making New York the first state to change its policies in reaction to the Sandy Hook school shootings.

In this edition of the Campbell Conversations, Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick discusses how effective some of the provisions could be, some possible problems with their implementation, and which ones might be overturned through subsequent court challenge.

New York has toughest gun control law in nation

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:42:28 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo swiftly signed New York’s new sweeping anti-gun measures into law, just minutes after the Assembly finished an over four-hour long debate and voted for the bills.

Gun control deal close in Albany

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:32:45 +0000

New details are emerging on gun control legislation that lawmakers say could be passed as early as today.

Cuomo, legislature talk about gun control legislation

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:51:12 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in talks with legislative leaders on a gun control package that he could introduce as part of his State of the State message on January 9.

NY leaders react to Newtown shooting, call for gun measures

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:33:26 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo is pledging to work for gun control in the wake of the shooting at the elementary school in Newtown Connecticut, calling it “yet another senseless and horrific act of violence involving guns.”

Advocates urge minimum wage hike

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:42:00 +0000

Advocates for a minimum wage hike rallied at the state Capitol Monday, amid growing signals that there might not be a special session to deal with the issue, or any items at all this year.