Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – May 15, 2018

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

  • Attorney General Schneiderman Resigns After Assault Allegations
  • Governor Announces Funding for Airport Modernization and Safety Enhancement Projects
  • Senate Approves “Affordability Package”
  • Assembly Speaker Plans Third Statewide Tour Later This Month
  • Senate Majority Leader Flanagan: ‘Why We’re Going To Win In November’
  • Profiles of Newly Elected State Legislators
  • Former Assembly Speaker Convicted of Corruption Charges in Retrial
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

Attorney General Schneiderman Resigns After Assault Allegations

Last Monday night, the New Yorker posted an article reporting that four women had accused him of physically assaulting them. The article quotes two women, both of whom dated Schneiderman, who said he had choked and hit them repeatedly and threatened to kill them.

Schneiderman has denied the allegations, but announced his resignation soon after the news broke, effective on Tuesday.

The State Constitution provides that the Legislature, by joint ballot, will choose a replacement who will serve through the end of the year. The Assembly Democrats hold nearly all of the votes required to choose a successor. Whoever is selected by the Legislature will have to run for re-election this fall, and could face one or more challengers in a Democratic primary.

A bi-partisan committee of legislators from both houses will interview candidates to replace Schneiderman this week.

Barbara Underwood, New York’s solicitor general, will lead the Attorney General’s office until the Legislature chooses a replacement for Schneiderman.  Gov. Cuomo, who appointed Underwood as the state’s solicitor general he was attorney general, said he wants Underwood to serve out Schneiderman’s term. She said that she plans to interview for the position.

Governor Announces Funding for Airport Modernization and Safety Enhancement Projects

Last Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that $20 million in new state funding is available to support safety improvements, modernize operations and enhance the economic competitiveness of New York airports through the Airport Capital Grant Program.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York’s airports are the front door to diverse destinations, attractions and culture found across this great state. By making funding available for New York’s aviation industry, we are supporting the state’s thriving tourism sector, helping businesses expand to boost our regional economies, and ensuring our transit hubs are modernized to provide safe, reliable travel for everyone.”

Senate Approves “Affordability Package”

Last week, the Senate approved an “affordability package” that “focuses on property taxes, energy costs, unfunded mandates, and other drivers that are making it harder for middle-class families to succeed.”

The package includes:

  • requiring the state to assume the local share of Medicaid payments (S.8411 and S.8412);
  • expanding STAR property tax relief (S.8398);
  • eliminating the base underlying 18-A assessment on utility bills and shifting the cost of the Public Service Commission to the General Fund (S.8399);
  • establishing a senior school tax rate that phases in a yearly 10 percent reduction of school taxes, based on age of the eligible senior, starting at age 70 to reduce the burden that seniors face when paying the school tax portions of their real property tax bills (S.8406); and
  • requiring a supermajority for tax increases (S.8401).

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said:

“Time and again, my colleagues and I hear about how taxes are preventing New Yorkers from getting ahead and making it more attractive to leave this great state for seemingly better opportunities. The Senate Republican Majority Conference is once again acting in the best interests of taxpayers by putting forth a multi-billion-dollar tax savings package that helps them keep more of their hard-earned money and makes them want to stay here to invest in a brighter future.”

Senate Approves “Good Government” Reforms

On Wednesday, the State Senate approved a package of bills that are intended to “ensure taxpayer monies are invested in effective programs, prevent real or perceived conflicts of interest and enhance transparency in government dealings, and increase the accountability of public officials.”

The Senate approved bill that prohibits appointees who are appointed by the Governor to make political contributions to the Governor or his or her political campaign (S.8404); enact the Comptroller’s New York State Procurement Integrity Act (S.3984-A); creating an Independent Budget Office (S.2325); and creating a database of state subsidies (S.6613-B), among others.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said:

“It is imperative that the public trusts the actions of their public officials, especially when it comes to spending the people’s money. This extensive package would help fix many of the issues that lead to corruption and the misuse of taxpayer funds and will create a system where sound investments will be better able to grow our economy and create more opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

Assembly Speaker Plans Third Statewide Tour Later This Month

Last week, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced plans for a statewide tour later this month, his third since becoming speaker in 2015. It will include stops in Long Island, the Capital Region, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, the Southern Tier, Central New York and the North Country.

Speaker Heastie said:

“These statewide tours offer a unique opportunity to see firsthand the critical issues facing different communities across the state, as well as the potential for growth.  They play a critical role in shaping the Assembly Majority’s legislative agenda to address the specific needs of each and every community across the state.”

Senate Majority Leader Flanagan: ‘Why We’re Going to Win in November’

Last week, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) published an editorial on the State of Politics blog titled ‘Why We’re Going to Win in November.’ In it, he said that the Republicans will maintain control of the Senate after the 2018 elections and will grow its narrow majority in the chamber in part by targeting seats held by members of the defunct Independent Democratic Conference. He also criticized Gov. Cuomo for emphasizing liberal-friendly issues such as allowing those on parole to vote.

He wrote:

“I expect every single one of [our incumbent Senators] to be re-elected. There are a number of Democrat seats that present opportunities for pickups, both on Long Island and in Upstate districts once represented by members of the now dissolved Independent Democratic Conference. We have never contested those seats, but now they are very much in play.”

The State Senate will once again be the key political battleground in this year’s down-ballot elections with Democrats seeking to regain the majority that they held in 2009 – 10.  With the IDC rejoining the mainline Democratic conference, the Democrats now hold 32 seats in the 63 seat Senate.  But the Republicans are maintaining control of the Senate because of Senator Simcha Felder (D- Brooklyn), a registered Democrat who sits with the Republican Conference.

Profiles of Newly Elected State Legislators

Eleven legislative vacancies were in special elections held on April 24th.

In the 32nd Senate District in the Bronx, Democrat Luis Sepulveda was elected to replace Ruben Diaz.  Sepulveda previously served in the Assembly, where his legislative priorities included criminal justice reform, local economic development and economic justice.  He has been appointed to serve as the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction.

In Westchester’s 37th Senate District, Democrat Shelley Mayer was elected to replace fellow Democrat George Latimer.  She previously served in the Assembly, where her legislative priorities included protecting property taxpayers; gun control; preventing sexual harassment; and ensuring fair funding for public schools.  She has been appointed to serve as the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Education Committee.

Republican Doug Smith won the race for the 5th Assembly District in Suffolk County, replacing fellow Republican Al Graf. His legislative priorities include supporting public education; addressing the opioid crisis; and supporting law enforcement.

Democrat Steve Stern won the race to replace Republican Chad Lupinacci, who now serves as Huntington Town Supervisor.  He represents the 10th Assembly District in Suffolk County, and has worked as an elder law attorney representing seniors and people with special needs. His legislative priorities include supporting veterans and protecting seniors while holding the line on taxes.

Democrat Ari Espinal was elected to replace Francisco Moya, who now serves on the New York City Council, to represent the 39th Assembly District in Queens. A former legislative staffer and community organizer, her legislative priorities include supporting immigrants, women’s rights, and union laborers.

Erik Bohen, a Democrat who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines, won the race to replace Democrat Mickey Kearns in Erie County’s 142nd Assembly 142nd District.  A former special education teacher in the Buffalo Public School District, his legislative priorities include enhancing the education opportunities and supports available to students and families; holding the line on property taxes; and workforce development.

Former Assembly Speaker Convicted of Corruption Charges in Retrial

On Friday, jurors found former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) guilty of corruption charges in Manhattan federal court.  He was convicted on seven counts related to two separate schemes in which he enriched himself by steering work toward two law firms for payments, while using his office to provide benefits to those employing those firms.

Silver was convicted of the same charges in 2015, but his conviction was reversed on an appeals court reversed the conviction.

The court set his sentencing for July 13.

Read the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York’s statement here.

Political Update

Orange County Clerk to Run for State Senate

Last week, Republican Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt announced that she is running for the State Senate that John Bonacic is vacating. She served in the Assembly from 2005 through 2014, when she was elected Orange County Clerk.

In announcing her candidacy, Rabbitt said:

“The issues facing our district are problems that can be solved. When in the State Senate I will fight to ensure we receive our fair share of school aid, to deliver property tax relief, be a champion for job growth and economic development including downtown redevelopment, community revitalization and small businesses empowerment.”

The 42nd Senate District includes parts of Orange, Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware counties.

 

Alicandro Launches Campaign for Attorney General

Last week, Republican Manny Alicandro announced that he is running for state Attorney General this fall. Alicandro, a financial services regulatory lawyer who has never before run for public office or worked in government, has promised to address corruption in Albany.

Alicandro expected to run against Democratic incumbent Eric Schneiderman.   With Schneiderman out of office, other Republicans may consider getting into this race.

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read last week’s list here.

Coming Up

The Legislature is in session through Wednesday this week.

On May 16, the Senate Consumer Protection Committee is holding a public hearing on lawsuit lending.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on May 17.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on May 22.

Also on May 22, the Senate Health and Insurance committees and the Senate Heroin Task Force are holding a public meeting in Albany to explore access to and coverage of opioid antagonists, such as Naloxone.

On May 23 and 24, both major political parties are holding their respective conventions to designate candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller. The state Republican Party will meet in Manhattan, while the state Democratic Party will meet in Uniondale, Long Island.

On May 24, the Assembly committees on judiciary and Health are holding a public hearing “to examine the issue of compensated gestational carrier surrogacy agreements.”

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on June 11 and 12.

The 2018 state legislative session is scheduled to end on June 20.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on June 25.