Plugged In @ Hinman Straub
Coverage of Albany and New York State government – January 15, 2016
What’s Inside
- Governor Delivers State of the State/Budget Address
- Governor Cleared By US Attorney in Moreland Commission Shutdown
- Governor Announces Administration Appointments
- SUNY Chancellor Delivers ‘State of the University’ Address
- Legislature Announces Joint Budget Hearing Schedule
- Daily Fantasy Sports Sites Can Continue to Operate During Appeal
- Political Update
- Coming Up
Governor Delivers State of the State/Budget Address
On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo released his 2016-17 Executive Budget proposal, a $145 billion spending plan that he said would increase spending by 1.7% over last year. The theme of the Governor’s 2016 agenda is “Built to Lead.”
The $145.3 billion spending plan would increase school aid by just under $1 billion, provide $8.3 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, spend $22 billion on upstate roads and bridges, reduce taxes for small businesses, create a tax rebate for Thruway toll payers and legalize ‘mixed martial arts’ (MMA) in the state. It would also increase the state’s minimum wage, in phases, to $15 per hour and put in place a paid family leave plan.
The Governor also proposed a number of ethics and campaign finance reforms, including closing the LLC loophole; limiting state legislators’ outside income to 15% of their $79,900 base salary; create a voluntary system of public campaign financing; reducing campaign contribution limits; and requiring political consultants and those seeking state contracts to register as lobbyists.
Gov. Cuomo said:
“In five years we have accomplished much for New York State. Yet with all that we’ve done, we are not immune to the problems vexing our nation. From crumbling infrastructure to climate change to the widening gap between the wealthy and everyone else, we too are faced with significant challenges. I know that New York can conquer these issues, however, because we have done it before. We have proven the capacity to take on the toughest issues of the day, and done what was once dismissed as impossible. Together, we will build an even smarter, stronger and fairer New York than ever before – and we will show the nation the way forward once again.”
Read the 2016 State of the State Policy Book and speech.
Legislative budget hearings begin next Wednesday, January 20. State legislators face an April 1 deadline to act for a budget to be in place for the start of the 2016-17 state fiscal year.
Governor Cleared By US Attorney in Moreland Commission Shutdown
On Monday, Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, issued a statement which said that there is “insufficient evidence to prove a federal crime” after his office investigated Gov. Cuomo’s decision to shut down the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption in 2014.
But the statement also indicates that the office is still investigating cases that were brought to his office from the Moreland Commission.
Gov. Cuomo established the Moreland Commission in July 2013 to investigate corruption in Albany after lawmakers refused to enact the ethics reforms he sought during that legislative session. The Commission held one public hearing and issued a preliminary report in December 2013. In March 2014, Gov. Cuomo said that he would disband the commission in the wake of the Legislature’s approval of stronger laws against bribery and improved enforcement of election laws accomplished his goal of “systemic reform” of Albany.
Mr. Bharara, the federal prosecutor based in Manhattan, questioned the panel’s abrupt closing, and demanded its records. The commission’s files were later turned over to the U.S. Attorney.
Governor Announces Administration Appointments
Earlier today, Gov. Cuomo announced the following Administration appointments:
- Kevin John Bishop as Assistant Counsel to the Governor;
- David Perino as Assistant Counsel to the Governor;
- Terrance Pratt as Assistant Counsel to the Governor with a focus on education;
- Rosemary Powers as Deputy Director of State Operations for Programs;
- Brenda Torres as Assistant Secretary for the Environment;
- Andrew Ball as Director of Scheduling for the Governor;
- Reid Sims as Deputy Director of Executive Chamber operations;
- Camille Joseph Varlack as the Executive Chamber’s Deputy Director for Ethics, Risk and Compliance;
- Kevin Amien Younis as Empire State Development Chief operating Officer;
- Maria Lehman as Chief Operating Officer for the New York State Thruway Authority;
- Lindsey Boylan as Chief of staff at the Empire State Development;
- Richard Zahnleuter as General Counsel at the state Department of Health;
- Karen Hunter as Chief of Staff at the Thruway Authority;
- Stephanie Davis as Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Communications at the Division of Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR);
- Janet Ho as Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Motor Vehicles;
- Maria Knirk as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets;
- Raymond LaMarco as Assistant Commissioner for Administrative Services at the Department of Transportation;
- Thomas Pohl as deputy counsel for the Office of General Services;
- Patrick Meredith as Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations at the Department of Transportation;
- John McCarthy as special advisor for agency operations and initiatives at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA);
- John McKay as executive officer of corporate communications, branding and marketing at the MTA; and
- Kelli Owens as legislative coordinator at the Office of Child and Family Services.
SUNY Chancellor Delivers ‘State of the University’ Address
On Monday, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher delivered her annual ‘State of the University’ address.
She said that SUNY is seeking an extension of the SUNY 2020 law, which has allowed SUNY to increase tuition by $300 annually for each of the last five years. . Some legislators have expressed concerns about reauthorizing that law, which has led to a $1,500 tuition increase, 30%, since at SUNY’s four-year schools since 2011.
Chancellor Zimpher’s speech referenced a number of programs that are intended to help students succeed academically and graduate in a timely manner. She said campuses will receive $18 million to improve programs aimed at helping students finish degrees, including improved tracking systems to follow student progress in ways that let them quickly see how many more courses or credits they need for their degrees.
Legislature Announces Joint Budget Hearing Schedule
The Assembly Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have announced the schedule of Joint Budget Hearings to review and hear public comment on the Governor’s 2016-17 Executive Budget proposal:
| Date | Time | Topic |
| Jan. 20 | 9:30 | Transportation |
| Jan. 25 | 9:30 | Health/Medicaid |
| Jan. 26 | 10:00 | Local Government Officials/General Gov’t |
| Jan. 27 | 9:30 | Elementary/Secondary Education |
| Jan. 28 | 9:30 | Environmental Conservation |
| Feb. 1 | 10:00 | Housing |
| Feb. 2 | 9:30 | Taxes |
| 1:00 | Economic Development | |
| Feb. 3 | 9:30 | Mental Hygiene |
| 1:00 | Workforce Development | |
| Feb. 4 | 9:30 | Public Protection |
| Feb. 8 | 10:00 | Higher Education |
| Feb. 9 | 9:30 | Human Services |
Daily Fantasy Sports Sites Can Continue to Operate During Appeal
On Monday, an appellate court ruled that DraftKings and FanDuel, the nation’s two largest daily fantasy sports sites, continue to operate in New York as a case to determine whether the games constitute illegal gambling goes to trial.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman had sought to bar DraftKings and FanDuel from operating as he sues them for allegedly violating state gambling laws. The DFS websites have maintained that they host games of skill, not games of chance, and are therefore not prohibited under state law.
Political Update
GOP Assemblyman Will Not Run For Congress
Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R-Schoharie) said this week that he will end his run for Congress in the 19th Congressional District. He said that he will instead seek re-election to the 102nd Assembly District seat that he currently holds.
Town Supervisor Will Challenge GOP Senator
On Monday, labor advocate and Palantine town supervisor Sara Niccoli announced her exploratory bid for the state Senate seat held by first-term Republican Senator George Amedore. She also serves as Executive Director of the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State.
Winners & Losers
Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.” Read this week’s list here.
Coming Up
The Legislature is in session next Wednesday and Thursday, January 20 and 21.
On Wednesday, January 20, the Assembly committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry will hold a public hearing “to examine the telecommunications marketplace and the ability of consumers to obtain affordable and high quality cable, broadband, and telephone service.
Also on January 20, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing to consider Gov. Cuomo’s nomination of Janet DiFiore, the Westchester County district attorney, as the state’s next chief judge.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on January 21.
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on January 26.
The Conservative Party of New York State is holding its annual political action conference in Albany on January 31 and February 1.
The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on February 22 and 23.