Women's Equality Act

Cuomo's abortion rights bill to be amended

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:01:41 +0000

Women’s groups have agreed to amend abortion rights language in a women’s equality bill to clarify that the late-term abortion procedure known as partial birth abortion will continue to be illegal in New York.

Several Republican senators said they couldn’t support a proposal to codify into New York state law the abortion rights afforded to women in the federal Roe v. Wade decision. They said they feared it would promote late term abortions, including partial birth abortion, which are currently illegal in the U.S.

Cuomo campaigns across state for agenda with one week to go in legislative session

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:58:54 +0000

It’s getting down to the wire for major pieces of legislation as the end of session approaches in Albany, including women’s rights and campaign finance reform. There are no agreements yet, but that’s not unusual in a government that operates on last-minute deals.

DeFrancisco: Cuomo's abortion rights provision a "non-starter"

Karen Dewitt and Ryan Delaney — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:37:57 +0000

A top Senate Republican says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s abortion rights provision in a women’s equality bill stands little chance of passage in the chamber.

Senate Finance Committee Chair John DeFrancisco, from Syracuse, is one of the leading members of the Senate GOP conference. He says it’s unlikely that his house will pass Governor Cuomo’s proposal to codify into New York law the abortion rights in the federal Roe v. Wade decision.

Women's groups targeting state Senate over abortion provision

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:01:00 +0000

Women’s groups are putting pressure on the state Senate’s ruling coalition to take up Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act, which includes an abortion rights provision.

Cuomo pushes for women's rights in Seneca Falls

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:05:13 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo used the spot where the women's rights movement was born to lobby for his proposed Women's Equality Agenda.

Cuomo, a Democrat, concentrated on the nine parts of the plan that attacks things like workplace discrimination and the pay inequity between men and woman, while protesters outside focused on the abortion portion of the plan.

The Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls is a noteworthy place in the history of the women's rights movement, and it was here the governor won a standing ovation from the women's groups supporting his agenda.

After weeks of waiting, Cuomo releases women's equality bill

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:38:00 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is finally releasing legislation for his 10-point women’s agenda. It includes a provision to codify the abortion rights in the federal Roe v. Wade decision into New York state law. The governor says he’s been offered no assurances that it will pass the legislature.

Hundreds of women from a long list of women’s groups came to the Capitol for rally featuring actor Cynthia Nixon, among others. The governor’s plan includes a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment, equal pay provisions, and greater protections for victims of domestic violence and women forced into sex trafficking.

Public campaign financing, abortion, tax free zones top end-of-session list

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:33:00 +0000

There’s three weeks to go in the legislative session, and advocates are pushing hard for two of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s agenda items -- translating the federal abortion rights in the Roe v. Wade decision into New York state law, and enacting public financing of statewide political campaigns.

The governor, meanwhile, is focusing on his proposal to bring tax free zones to upstate public college campuses.

Advocates for public financing of campaigns and advocates of abortion rights are entering the final push for passage of the measures, and are using a variety of tactics to spur action in the state Senate.

Questions over what will get done in last four weeks of session

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 29 May 2013 12:59:43 +0000

The steady drumbeat of scandal after scandal in the New York State Legislature has led many to wonder whether lawmakers can focus on passing any major bills by the end of the session, which is fast approaching.

The legislature returns Wednesday and has just four work weeks to act on items ranging from campaign finance reform to abortion rights, to economic development plans.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, before the legislature even returned from its Memorial Day break, gathered local government leaders from across the state to ask for help in passing a plan to create tax free zones for new businesses at college campuses.

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.

Central New York group pushing for Women's Equality Act

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:16:33 +0000

Supporters of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 10-point Women's Equality Act are ramping up efforts to get support for the proposed legislation. The Women's Equality Coalition just launched a statewide television ad to raise awareness about the agenda, and supporters in one small central New York County are also raising their voices.

Local and state groups work to end sex trafficking

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:08:00 +0000

It may sound like the stuff of Hollywood, but the sex trafficking trade is alive and well in the United States, and that includes central New York. Forcing young women and men into a life of prostitution is a very lucrative business, but there is a move afoot to end it in New York state.

Cuomo poll ratings down, but still higher than most pols

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:58:59 +0000

A new Siena College poll finds a slight drop in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s popularity for the third month in a row. The poll finds the governor’s popularity has dropped to 64 percent -- still higher than most politicians in the country -- but an eight point slide from a 72 percent approval rating in December.

Catholics worry about provisions in women's equality act

Karen Dewitt — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:53:00 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal for a Women’s Equality Act has been praised by many legislators and women’s groups. But not everybody is applauding.