Politics and Government

The New York state Capitol has been the scene of numerous noisy demonstrations on hydrofracking. But on Monday, it was supporters of gas drilling, not opponents, who were protesting.

Except for a brief stint with Darrel Aubertine, the 48th State Senate district has been a Republican stronghold.  Amy Tresidder is trying to upset that pattern this fall, and in this week’s edition of the Campbell Conversations Grant Reeher engages both Tresidder and the incumbent Senator Patty Ritchie in a debate-style conversation.

Vice President Biden and his Republican opponent, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, had a lively debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., this evening — one marked by Biden's aggressive challenges to many of the Republican vice presidential nominee's claims and Ryan's oft-repeated message that the Obama-Biden administration's policies aren't working.

The discussion was steered by ABC News' Martha Raddatz. It's the only vice presidential debate of the campaign.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is skeptical about the latest compromise being discussed in Washington to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Schumer expects a deal to be done by the end of the year, but says he won't support what's under discussion now.

Congressional hopeful Dan Maffei has the support of one of the state's top democrats as he tries to unseat incumbent Republican Ann Marie Buerkle.

Profits on Wall Street are going to be up this year, according to a new report from the New York state comptroller, but are still below their pre-recession highs. The report also finds fewer job losses in the securities industry, and many economic uncertainties ahead.

The race for New York’s 24th congressional district seat is one of the most hotly contested and closely watched contests in the country. In an interview that took place on September 18th, Democratic challenger Dan Maffei -- the former holder of the seat who’s challenging Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle in a rematch -- looks back on his previous campaign.

On October 9, the Onondaga County Legislature will vote on its 2013 budget. The budget totals $1.24 billion, approximately two million dollars larger than last year. The controversy that surfaced at the budget’s public hearing Thursday evening was about ownership changes for Van Duyn Home and Hospital, the county’s nursing home.

A group of public health experts are questioning whether Governor Andrew Cuomo’s health officials can do a credible job reviewing a health study on hydrofracking, saying independent reviewers would be a better choice.

An environmental group, out with its annual voters’ guide, is grading state lawmakers harshly this year.

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