Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – April 24, 2018

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

  • Working Families Party Leaders Endorses Nixon For Governor
  • Governor Signs Executive Order Restoring Voting Rights to Paroled Felons
  • State Senate Democrats Reunify
  • Siena Poll: Governor’s Favorability Low, But He Holds Strong Lead Over Nixon
  • Attorney General Launches Inquiry Into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”
  • Attorney General Urges Lawmakers to Close State’s Double Jeopardy Loophole
  • Assemblyman Skartados Dies at Age 62
  • Advocates, Lawmakers Call for Drivers’ Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants
  • Good Government Groups Continue Reform Push
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

Working Families Party Leaders Endorses Nixon For Governor

Last weekend, the Executive Board of the state’s small but influential Working Families Party (WFP) voted to endorse Cynthia Nixon in the race for Governor.  The WFP also endorsed New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams for Lieutenant Governor. Both Nixon and Williams are also running in their respective Democratic primaries, hoping to unseat incumbents Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.

The party’s decision came after days of backroom political jockeying in which the Governor and his labor allies sought to forestall the vote.  It reflects a growing discord among the state’s liberal voters and could create an opportunity for the Republican candidate to win in November.

Gov. Cuomo has governed as a centrist during much of his seven-plus years in office. Ms. Nixon has laid out a series of priorities that include a single-payer health plan, legalizing recreational marijuana and ending corruption in state government.

Cynthia Nixon said:

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Working Families Party and inspired by the enthusiasm of progressive working-class members of the party. WFP activists and voters are the heart and soul of our movement to make New York a place that belongs to all of us– a place with great schools for every child, good jobs, health care for all, and an end to mass incarceration. I’ve been a supporter of the WFP for years. It’s the party that I’ve always looked to as the political home for progressives in New York State, and a source of grassroots muscle for the movement.”

A spokesperson for Cuomo 2018 said:

“The governor’s record of progressive accomplishment is unmatched from delivering a $15 minimum wage, marriage equality, the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, free college tuition, paid family leave, ending finger printing for food stamps, and a record $27 billion in funding for education. After nearly a decade of discord, we have a united democratic party and the governor is 100 percent focused on maintaining that unity to fight Trump in Washington, take back the House and win the state Senate. The schism between the progressive unions who founded the WFP and some of its member organizations is unfortunate, but in that divide the governor stands with the unions who have left the WFP and no longer feel it represents the interests of middle- and working-class New Yorkers.”

Governor Signs Executive Order Restoring Voting Rights to Paroled Felons

Last Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that he has issued an executive order that restores voting rights to individuals on parole. The order will impact about 35,000 people, as well a future offenders who are released on parole.

The order does not change state law.  It would requiring the commissioner of the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to submit a list of every felon currently on parole, as well as a list of those newly eligible for parole, beginning May 1. The commissioner would continue to submit an updated list each month, with each parolee “given the consideration of a pardon that will restore voting rights without undue delay.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“I am issuing an executive order giving parolees the right to vote. It is unconscionable to deny voting rights to New Yorkers who have paid their debt and have re-entered society.  This reform will reduce disenfranchisement and will help restore justice and fairness to our democratic process. Withholding or delaying voting rights diminishes our democracy.”

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan charged the Governor with side-stepping the Legislature, and said that he is “exchanging votes at the expense of public safety.”

State Senate Democrats Reunify

Last week, eight Democrats who were members of the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) formally rejoined the mainline Democratic Conference. Gov. Cuomo helped to broker the merger earlier this month after being criticized by some Democrats that he did not do enough to help the Democrats gain control of the State Senate.

Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) gave up his position as Deputy Senate Minority Leader to former the IDC Leader, Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx).

The Senate Democratic Conference now has 29 seats, to the Republicans’ 31. One other Democratic Senator, Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, has caucused with the Republicans, giving them the 32 votes that they need to form a majority in the Senate.

There are two vacant Senate seats that will be filled in today’s special elections.  Democrats are favored to win both seats.

The big question is whether Senator Felder will join the Democrats as the IDC members did, which would give the Democrats control of the Senate for the remainder of the 2018 legislative session.

Siena Poll: Governor’s Favorability Low, But He Holds Strong Lead Over Nixon

A Siena poll released last week shows Gov. Cuomo with his lowest favorability among voters since taking office in 2011.  But it also shows his with a healthy lead over his primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon.

The poll shows Gov. Cuomo being rated favorably by 49 percent of all voters polled, while 44 percent view him unfavorably. Among Democrats, Gov. Cuomo has a 62 percent favorability rating, with 32 percent of Democrats viewing him unfavorably.

The poll also shows that Gov. Cuomo leads Cynthia Nixon 58 percent to 27 percent in the Democratic primary race.

Read the poll cross tabs here.

Attorney General Launches Inquiry Into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

Last Tuesday, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the launch of the Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative, “a fact-finding inquiry into the policies and practices of platforms used by consumers to trade virtual or ‘crypto’ currencies like bitcoin and ether.”

The Attorney General’s office sent letters to thirteen major virtual currency trading platforms requesting information on their operations, internal controls, and safeguards to protect customer assets. The purpose of the Initiative is to increase transparency and accountability as it relates to the platforms retail investors rely on to trade virtual currency, and better inform enforcement agencies, investors, and consumers.

Attorney General Schneiderman said:

“With cryptocurrency on the rise, consumers in New York and across the country have a right to transparency and accountability when they invest their money. Yet too often, consumers don’t have the basic facts they need to assess the fairness, integrity, and security of these trading platforms.  Our Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative sets out to change that, promoting the accountability and transparency in the virtual currency marketplace that investors and consumers deserve.”

Attorney General Urges Lawmakers to Close State’s Double Jeopardy Loophole

Last Wednesday, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent a letter to state lawmakers urging them to close a loophole in the state’s double jeopardy law that would “ensure that individuals who broke New York law could not evade accountability for any state crimes as a result of a strategically-timed pardon by the president.” (Read the letter here.)

Current state law prevents people from being prosecuted more than once for crimes related to the same act, even if the original prosecution was in federal court. There are a number of exceptions to the law, the Attorney General is proposing to add a new one that would apply to someone who has received a federal pardon.

Attorney General Schneiderman said:

“Long ago, the Supreme Court made clear that presidents cannot pardon for state crimes—now it’s time for New York law to do the same. By closing New York’s double jeopardy loophole, lawmakers can ensure that no one accused of breaking New York’s laws will escape accountability merely because of a strategically-timed presidential pardon. We are disturbed by reports that the President is considering pardons of individuals who may have committed serious federal financial, tax, and other crimes—acts that may also violate New York law. We must ensure that if the President, or any president, issues such pardons, we can use the full force of New York’s laws to bring such individuals to justice.”

Assemblyman Skartados Dies at Age 62

Assemblyman Frank Skartados (D – Ulster County) has died at age 62 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. A Greek immigrant, he was first elected to the Assembly in 2008.  He lost in 2010, but then regained the seat in a 2012 special election.

The 104th Assembly District includes parts of Orange and Ulster counties, and the cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie.

Advocates, Lawmakers Call for Drivers’ Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Last Wednesday, advocates for immigrant communities and state lawmakers held a rally at the Capitol to push for allowing undocumented residents to obtain drivers’ licenses.

The Green Light NY coalition called on state lawmakers to approve the Driver License Access and Privacy Act (A.10273, Crespo), which would enable undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers’ licenses. Currently, 12 states and Washington D.C. allow residents to apply for drivers’ licenses regardless of their immigration status.

Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said:

“Our legislature needs to pass Assemblymember Crespo’s landmark bill to allow all New Yorkers to move safely– on our roads and in their lives. When this bill is enacted, it will be a major step for New York’s immigrants, who will be able to drive to and from work, open bank accounts, sign up for car insurance, and feel less afraid when reporting crime. We look forward to working with our state and the Governor on the road ahead.”

Good Government Groups Continue Reform Push

Last Monday, good government groups Reinvent Albany, Common Cause/NY, the Fiscal Policy Institute, the League of Women Voters and NYRPIG called on the Governor and the Legislature to “put additional safeguards in place” to prevent corruption in state government.

The groups are calling for lawmakers to:

  • create a “database of deals” (A.8175-A/S.6613-B)
  • require economic development entities to follow ethics, FOIL and the Open Meetings Law;
  • limit campaign contributions by vendors doing business with the state (A.9924/S.8039);
  • enact the Comptroller’s Procurement Integrity Act (S.3984/A.6355);
  • prohibit state vendors from making campaign contributions; and
  • closing the LLC loophole.

Most of these items were considered during the state budget process, and are considered unlikely to be acted upon by both houses before the end of the legislative session.

Political Update

Conservative Party Leaders Vote to Support Molinaro in Governor’s Race

Last weekend, the state Conservative Party’s Executive Committee voted to recommend that the party support Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro in the race for Governor over State Senator John DeFrancisco.

Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long said:

“This was not an easy choice. Both candidates have had our endorsements in the past…. [Molinaro] provides the vision to mount a good campaign to take on Andrew Cuomo.”

The Conservative Party will hold its nominating convention next month.

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 today and tomorrow.

Special elections are being held today in two State Senate districts and nine Assembly districts to fill vacancies.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting later today.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on May 3.

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on May 7 and 8.

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

The state Republican Party will hold its convention to designate its candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller in Manhattan on May 23 and 24.

The state Democratic Party will hold its convention to designate its candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller on Long Island on May 23 and 24.