Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – July 5, 2017

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

  • State Lawmakers Reach Agreement on Outstanding Issues
  • Governor Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for MTA
  • Governor Calls on State Congressional Delegation to Stop Senate Health Care Bill
  • State Highest Court Limits Education Lawsuit
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

State Lawmakers Reach Agreement on Outstanding Issues

With several issues remaining unresolved from the regular legislative session, Gov. Cuomo brought legislators back to Albany on Wednesday.  Late Wednesday night, the Senate and Assembly reached agreement on a two year extension of mayoral control of the New York City schools and a three year extension of county sales taxes that would otherwise expire later this year.

The Assembly approved the omnibus bill shortly after midnight Thursday morning.  The Senate passed the bill on Thursday afternoon.  The measure also extends New York City’s personal income tax through 2020; provides $50 million in flood assistance for people living near Lake Ontario; and names the new Tappan Zee Bridge after former Governor Mario Cuomo.

State legislators are not scheduled to return to Albany until January 2018.

Governor Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for MTA

Last Thursday, in response to increasing delays and unreliable service on the city’s subways and commuter trains, declared that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is in a “state of emergency.”

The Governor announced the state will contribute an additional $1 billion to the MTA Capital Plan. He also signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency to suspend the MTA’s procurement rules, which he said will allow the MTA to speed repairs and the purchase of material and equipment to replace outdated infrastructure.

In addition, the Governor has directed Joe Lhota, the MTA’s new chairman, to complete a series of urgent reviews of the agency’s management and aging infrastructure that are intended to reduce red tape and expedite system improvements.

Governor Calls on State Congressional Delegation to Stop Senate Health Care Bill

Last Monday, Gov. Cuomo wrote to the members of the state’s Congressional delegation and called call on them “to stop the destructive Senate Republican Health Care bill.”

In the letter, the Governor said the bill will have a “catastrophic impact on New Yorkers and our economy.” He said that the proposal, if enacted, will strip millions of New Yorkers of health care coverage; cuts billions of dollars for the state’s Medicaid program, which would results in cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, and home care providers; and defund Planned Parenthood.

The Governor also criticized the Senate’s bill because it would cut Medicaid funding that the state is using to address the opioid epidemic.

State Highest Court Limits Education Lawsuit

Last Tuesday, the state Court of Appeals largely dismissed a claim by an education advocacy group that the state has failed to adequately fund that state’s public schools.  But the Court said that such claims can be brought by individual school districts. (Read the decision in New Yorkers for Students’ Educational Rights v. State of New York here.)

New Yorkers for Students’ Education Rights (NYSER), an advocacy group, filed the lawsuit in 2014.  The lawsuit claims that the state has not fulfilled the requirements of the 2006 Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision in which the Court of Appeals ruled that the state was underfunding New York City schools and not meeting its constitutional mandate to provide a “sound, basic education.”

The Court said that the lawsuit can proceed with funding claims for the New York City and Syracuse schools, but that the claims made on behalf of the state’s other school districts were not made with sufficient specificity.

Political Update

Assemblyman Announces Run for Congress

Last Wednesday, Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) announced that he plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-New Hartford) in the 2018 election to represent the state’s 22nd Congressional District. The district includes all of Madison, Oneida, Cortland and Chenango counties, and parts of Oswego, Broome, Herkimer and Tioga counties.

Brindisi is expected to receive strong backing from the state and national Democrats in his bid for the 22nd Congressional District seat, which Democrats have targeted as one of their top national priorities in 2018.

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 Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on July 13.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on July 17 and 18.

The State Board of Elections holds its next meeting on August 2.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on August 8.