Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – March 7, 2018

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

  • Governor, Lawmakers Agree On At Least $675M in Additional Revenue
  • Lawmakers Push Gun Laws, School Safety
  • Governor Announces 3rd Round of Broadband Awards
  • Lawmakers Propose Plastic Bag Ban
  • Comptroller Critical of SUNY Foundation Oversight
  • Comptroller Sues Wynn Resorts
  • Governor Announces 2018 Regional MWBE Opportunities Expo Series
  • 4201 Schools seek Funding Increase
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Governor, Lawmakers Agree On At Least $675M in Additional Revenue

According to the Consensus Economic and Revenue Forecast Report released on Friday, the Division of Budget and the legislative fiscal committees have agreed that there will be between $675 million and $750 million in additional revenue than originally projected in the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal.

The report cites several “risks” to the state economy (and thus state revenues), including the potential impact of federal tax law changes, but found that household spending, employment and net worth are due to increase in 2018.

Reaching agreement on state revenues is a key step toward enactment of a state budget for the fiscal year that beings on April 1.

Lawmakers Push Gun Laws, School Safety

In the wake of the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Albany lawmakers spent much of last week arguing about gun-control and school security.

Democrats in the state Legislature called for a new package of gun-control laws, including “extreme risk” protective orders against people who have guns; banning bump stocks; expanding background checks; and banning individuals who been convicted of hate crimes from purchasing or possessing guns.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) said that the Senate is working on a “comprehensive school safety plan that will ensure the state provides the support necessary to strengthen school security and keep students safe.”  The Senate’s plan will include security cameras, hardening of school doors, a police officer or an armed resource officer in every school that wants one, and better emergency response plans and greater coordination by law enforcement.

Governor Announces 3rd Round of Broadband Awards

Last Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced the third and final round of awards under the New NY Broadband Program.  The awards were announced on a regional basis, and total $225.5 million in grants. According to the Governor, the state’s investment and private funding will result in a total of $385.5 million in broadband infrastructure and support connections for nearly 129,000 locations. (Read press releases for the North Country, the Capital Region, Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, the Mid-Hudson Region, the Southern Tier, Western New York and the Finger Lakes.)

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Access to high-speed internet has never been more important for New York residents and businesses. By leveraging state investments with private and federal funding, we are building a stronger, smarter and more competitive New York poised to lead the nation as the first state to achieve total connectivity.”

Lawmakers Propose Plastic Bag Ban

Three Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that would address plastic bag pollution.

The bill, which is sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D – Suffolk County) and state Senator Liz Krueger (D – Manhattan) would ban plastic carryout bags and impose a fee of between 10 and 25 cents on paper and reusable bags, with the revenue going into the state’s Environmental Protection Fund.

In January, the state’s Plastic Bag Task Force released a report which included a series of recommendations that would address plastic bag litter; this bill mirrors one of the task force’s proposals.  The task force was formed in 2017 after Gov. Cuomo approved legislation that blocked a New York City law would have charged consumers a 5-cent fee for single-use plastic bags.

Senator Krueger said:

“Because of Albany’s failure to act, cities, towns and counties across our state have been forced to take matters into their own hands.  Worse than that, the legislature and the governor took the unprecedented step of overturning New York City’s own proven, effective solution. At the time the governor called for a statewide solution — and that’s just what this bill provides.”

Comptroller Critical of SUNY Foundation Oversight

Last week, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report on State University of New York (SUNY) campus foundations which found that 10 of the 30 entities were operating without required contracts; more than half have not been audited by SUNY in the last decade; and the two largest — the University at Buffalo Foundation and the Stony Brook Foundation — had not established required policies and procedures for key business functions.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“We found numerous problems with SUNY’s oversight of its campus foundations. SUNY does not regularly examine the foundations’ books, and my auditors found instances of questionable expenses.  SUNY administrators need to improve their oversight efforts to make sure billions of dollars are being handled properly.”

SUNY officials said that the report is “not fair and balanced.” They disputed its findings, question its methodology and cited factual errors.

Comptroller Sues Wynn Resorts

Last week, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, alleging top officials at the company knew of sexual misconduct and harassment by ex-CEO Steve Wynn, but failed to investigate or hold him accountable.

He took the action on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, which holds 183,800 shares in Wynn Resorts with an estimated value of $30,435,442.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“These board directors and officers were duty-bound to protect employees and the company, yet they failed to confront allegations of predatory behavior.  We are asking the court to hold accountable the company officers and directors who allowed this behavior to go unchecked. The deeply disturbing revelations underscore that this board was loyal to Mr. Wynn at the expense of the safety of the company’s employees and the company’s shareholders.”

Governor Announces 2018 Regional MWBE Opportunities Expo Series

Last week, Gov. Cuomo announced the 2018 Regional Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Opportunities Expo Series, which are intended to connect MWBEs with state agencies, expert resources, information on state projects and tools to access state opportunities.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York leads the nation in building access, opportunity and tools for minority and women owned businesses to thrive because our economy and our workforce are strongest when we rise together.  The 2018 MWBE Opportunities Expo builds on our ongoing efforts to grow an inclusive, vibrant economy that represents the great diversity of our state, and I urge any eligible entrepreneur to attend a workshop in their community.”

4201 Schools Seek Funding Increase

The 4201 Schools Association, a group of nine private, state-supported schools that serve students who are deaf, blind and severely physically disabled, is calling on state lawmakers to provide funding parity with public schools in the 2019 state budget.

The Association is pursuing three goals in this year’s budget: funding parity with the state’s public schools; $5 million for short-term maintenance projects that most schools have deferred in order to concentrate on more immediate needs for their students; and the opportunity to engage existing Dormitory Authority authorization for another series of long-term capital projects that would improve the health and safety for all 4201 students and staff.

Political Update

Giambra Drops GOP Bid, Will Run for Governor as Independent

Former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra announced last week that he is no longer seeking the Republican nomination for governor and that he will instead run as an independent. He said that he may seek to run on the Reform Party line.

Giambra said:

“My message of reforming and changing the way business is done in New York has been resonating with voters across the political spectrum and while I remain a Republican, I don’t think my independent message has connected with state Republican leaders who seem intent on continuing the losing formula that all but guarantees a third term for Democrat Andrew Cuomo.  It is definitely time for a change in Albany. The two major parties are resistant to the idea of change despite the corruption and high taxes that have become a way of life in this state.”

September Primary Election Date Changed

On Friday, Gov. Cuomo signed legislation changing the date of the state’s primary election for statewide and state legislative offices from Tuesday, Sept. 11 to Thursday, Sept. 13.

A September 11 primary would have coincided with the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks and the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

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

Lawmakers are scheduled to be in Albany on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

On March 13, the Senate and Assembly will meet in joint session to elect members of the Board of Regents.

The Senate and Assembly are scheduled to approve their respective one-house budget proposals on March 14.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on March 15.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on March 27.

The state’s 2018-19 State Fiscal year begins on April 1.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on April 5.