Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – June 19, 2018

What’s Inside

  • End of 2018 Legislative Session Looms
  • Governor Pushes ‘Red Flag’ Gun Control Legislation
  • Assembly Approves Single-Payer Health Care Bill
  • State Attorney General Sues Trump Foundation
  • Governor Announces Pedestrian Safety Projects, Enforcement Blitz and Education Campaign
  • Assembly GOP Calls for Economic Development Reforms
  • Siena Poll: Gov. Cuomo Holds Strong Leads Over Nixon, Molinaro
  • Nixon Releases Education Plan
  • Former Assemblymember Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

End of 2018 Legislative Session Looms

There are just two scheduled working days remaining in the state’s 2018 legislative session (though lawmakers have remained in session beyond the scheduled end date before).

Historically, the two houses pass hundreds of bills in the waning days of the legislative session.  High-profile issues that are being discussed in the Capitol include expanding the state’s sports wagering law; the Child Victims Act; economic development oversight; a “red flag” gun control law; increasing security at public schools; teacher evaluations; extending wage requirements for construction workers on public projects; creating a commission to review the conduct of prosecutors; New York City school zone speed cameras and school bus cameras, among many other issues.

But there appears to be a great deal of uncertainty as to whether some of these bigger issues will be addressed before the Legislature adjourns for the year.  As of this writing, Gov. Cuomo has not been engaging with lawmakers in an effort to broker any end-of-session agreements.

Governor Pushes ‘Red Flag’ Gun Control Legislation

Last Monday, Gov. Cuomo’s re-election campaign launched a digital ad and petition campaign supporting the passage of a so-called “red flag” bill meant to keep firearms away from those deemed to be an extreme risk to themselves or others. The bill would empower teachers, school officials and police officers who suspect a student may be a threat to go to a judge who could block the student’s access to firearms.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York will not stand idly by while Washington remains gridlocked on gun reform – hopelessly beholden to the gun lobby and the NRA. We want to take the next step in New York and continue to make this state safer for everyone, while setting an example for the nation. The time for action and common-sense reform is now. Call your legislator today to pass the Red Flag bill to save lives.”

Senate Majority Leader Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) criticized the Governor for his statewide campaign-like tour to promote the bill. He said Cuomo was campaigning on the issue instead of negotiating with lawmakers.

Later in the week, the Governor’s re-election campaign released a series of digital ads on the issue that target seven suburban State Senators – Senators Boyle and LaValle of Suffolk County, Senators Hannon, Marcellino and Phillips of Nassau County, and Senator Murphy of Westchester County, along with Senator Marty Golden of Brooklyn.

The Assembly approved the bill on Wednesday.

Assembly Approves Single-Payer Health Care Bill

For the fourth time, the Democratic-controlled Assembly has approved a single-payer health care bill. While there is no chance that the Republican-controlled Senate will take up the bill this session, supporters are hoping that their efforts can move forward in 2019 if the Democrats take over the Senate. 

The bill (A.4738) would abolish the state’s health insurance industry and impose a progressive income tax and payroll assessment that would raise $91 billion to pay for the program. 

There is also strong opposition to the bill in Albany.  The New York State Conference of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans (NYSCOP) said that the bill “will lead to new taxes, job losses and government run healthcare in New York.”

State Attorney General Sues Trump Foundation

On Thursday, the New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced that the state has filed a lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation and its directors, President Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump, accusing them of violating campaign finance laws, self-dealing and illegal coordination with the presidential campaign, and violations of basic legal obligations for charities.

The lawsuit alleges that the Trump Foundation’s charitable assets were used to pay the President’s his legal obligations; to promote Trump hotels and other businesses; and to purchase personal items. It also alleges that the Trump Foundation illegally provided extensive support to the President’s 2016 presidential campaign by using the Trump Foundation’s name and funds it raised to promote his campaign for presidency.

The lawsuit seeks restitution of $2.8 million plus penalties, and seeks to dissolve the Trump Foundation under court supervision and bar President Trump and the other members of the Trump Foundation’s Board of Directors from serving on the board of any other New York charity.

Attorney General Underwood said:

“As our investigation reveals, the Trump Foundation was little more than a checkbook for payments from Mr. Trump or his businesses to nonprofits, regardless of their purpose or legality. This is not how private foundations should function and my office intends to hold the Foundation and its directors accountable for its misuse of charitable assets.”

Governor Announces Pedestrian Safety Projects, Enforcement Blitz and Education Campaign

Last Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo announced $62 million in funding to support the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, a multi-agency initiative to utilize engineering, education and enforcement campaigns to enhance pedestrian safety.  The effort also includes a public service announcement that highlights the rules of the road for both pedestrians and motorists at intersections.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Pedestrian safety impacts residents of all ages and in all communities, and it is critical that we make our roads safer for everyone.  By making significant investments in our roads, educating the public, and cracking down on lawbreakers, New York is supporting eco-friendly transportation in our downtowns while enhancing pedestrian safety in all corners of the state.”

Assembly GOP Calls for Economic Development Reforms

On Wednesday, the state Assembly’s Republican minority called for passage of two bills to make the state’s economic development programs more transparent.  Both measures have been approved by the Senate.

One bill, the New York State Procurement Integrity Act (S.3984-A, DeFrancisco), would restore the state comptroller’s authority to independently review the certain economic development project, and would enhance ethical requirements for state procurement officials. The other bill (S.6613-B, Croci) would create a “database of deals” that lists details of all economic development projects that receive taxpayer funds.

Siena Poll: Gov. Cuomo Holds Strong Leads Over Nixon, Molinaro

A Siena poll released on Wednesday show Gov. Cuomo with healthy leads over his Democratic primary opponent and, should he win that race, his general election opponent. (Read the poll crosstabs here.)

The poll shows Gov. Cuomo leading Cynthia Nixon 61% – 26% in the Democratic primary, and leading Marc Molinaro 56% to 37% in the general election.

Nixon Releases Education Plan

On Wednesday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon released her education platform, which outlines her vision for public education if she is elected governor.  Public education is central to her campaign for governor, and this proposal is intended to illustrate her differences on the issue with Gov. Cuomo.

Nixon is proposing $4.2 billion in additional funding for K-12 education through Foundation Aid; a $700 million expansion of child-care subsidies; and $600 million to expand the state’s program for free tuition for SUNY and CUNY students.

To pay for these initiatives, she proposes generating $5.5 billion in new revenue annually by raising taxes on high earners (families earning more than $300,000 per year); raising corporate income tax rates; and charging an income tax surcharge on corporations that buy back their own stock.

She published a guest editorial in the Poughkeepsie Journal explaining her proposal.

Former Assemblymember Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges

Last Tuesday, former state Assembly member Pamela Harris pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one count of making false statements to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), and one count of witness tampering. (Read the U.S. Attorney’s press release here.) She faces up nearly five years in prison at her sentencing on Sept. 26.

Harris was indicted in January for falsely claiming that her home was rendered inhabitable by Superstorm Sandy and that she took discretionary funds appropriated by the New York City Council meant for nonprofits for her own use.

She was first elected to the Assembly in 2015, representing Brooklyn’s 46th Assembly District. She resigned her seat in April; it will be filled in the November general election.

Political Update

Democrat to Challenge Jacobs in Buffalo-Area Senate Race

The Erie County Democrats have nominated business consultant Carima El-Behairy to challenge freshman Republican State Senator Chris Jacobs in the 60th Senate District.

She is co-founder of P22 Type Foundry, a software and publishing company. She is also a founding trustee of the Western New York Book Arts Collaborative, Oracle Charter School and the Western New York Charter School Coalition.

The district, which includes parts of the City of Buffalo, the City of Tonawanda, and the towns of Brant, Evans, Grand Island, Hamburg, Orchard Park and Tonawanda, has 35,000 more Democrats than Republicans.

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 scheduled to be in through Wednesday this week, when the 2018 state legislative session is scheduled to end.

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

The state’s congressional primary elections will be held on June 26.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on June 26.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on July 12.