Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – March 1, 2017

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

• Governor Vows to Defend Affordable Care Act
• Governor Touts Growth of Solar Power in State
• Governor Announces Proposed Regulations to Governor State’s Paid Family Leave Program
• Governor Announces Actions to Address Hate Crimes
• State Attorney General Finds No Voter Fraud in New York in 2016
• Chief Judge Delivers ‘State of the Judiciary’ Address
• Group Launches Campaign for Clean Water Infrastructure
• Political Update
• Coming Up

Governor Vows to Defend Affordable Care Act

At a rally in New York City last Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo promised to fight Republican efforts to repeal the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), and he called on fellow Democrats to do so as well.  The Governor was joined by labor leaders, health care workers and other elected officials at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.

The Governor has previously released estimates that the repeal of the ACA could cost the state $3.7 billion in healthcare funding, while as many as 2.7 million residents could lose their health coverage.

Governor Touts Growth of Solar Power in State

Last week, Gov. Cuomo announced that state-supported solar power in New York State has increased nearly 800 percent from December 2011 to December 2016. He said that the number of solar power projects increased from 8,989 at the end of 2011 to 64,926 at the end of 2016, totaling 744 megawatts of solar power, generating enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 121,000 average homes.

Governor Cuomo said:

“New York is a national leader in clean energy, and the tremendous growth of the solar industry across this state demonstrates this renewal technology’s increased accessibility and affordability for residents and businesses.  Our investments in this clean energy resource create jobs, reduce carbon emissions, support economic growth, and help build a cleaner, greener New York for all.”

Governor Announces Proposed Regulations to Governor State’s Paid Family Leave Program

Last Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced the release of proposed regulations for the implementation of New York’s paid family leave program, which will begin operating in January 2018.  The draft regulations are intended to provide guidance to employers, insurance carriers and employees about their rights and responsibilities under the law.

The state has also launched a web site to educate the public and employers about the program.

Once the state’s Paid Family Leave program is fully phased-in in 2021, employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave (at 67% of their salary, capped at 67% of the state’s average weekly wage) to care for a new child, a close relative with a serious health condition or relieve the pressures created when a family member is called to active military service.

Governor Announces Actions to Address Hate Crimes

Last Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced a series of actions to “to combat hate crimes and anti-Semitism across New York State” after a roundtable with more than 50 religious leaders from throughout the state. The Governor cited law data which shows that number of hate crimes more than doubled after the November 2016 presidential election after being on the decline before the election.

The Governor said that the state will respond to an increase in post-election anti-Semitic violence with a text-message tip line for reporting hate crimes; offering a $5,000 reward for a perpetrator’s conviction; and a proposal for $25 million to secure religious schools and day care centers.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York must always be the beacon of tolerance and hope for all, and with the recent explosion of anti-Semitism and hate crimes, it is more important than ever before that we do everything in our power to ensure the safety and equal treatment of all New Yorkers.  Any acts of bias or discrimination will be met with the full force of the law.”

State Attorney General Finds No Voter Fraud in New York in 2016

Last Wednesday, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that there was not one single substantiated claim of voter fraud in New York in 2016.  Schneiderman was responding to an inquiry from three Democratic members of Congress, who wrote to election officials and attorneys general in all 50 states in the wake of President Trump’s claim that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally in the 2016 elections.

Schneiderman wrote:

“The New York State Board of Elections has not referred a single allegation related to fraudulent voting during the 2016 elections to my office for investigation or prosecution. The lack of such complaints made directly to my office, as well as the absence of referrals from other agencies, leads me to conclude that voter fraud—the act of an ineligible individual casting a vote in an election – is a non-issue, at least in New York State.”

Chief Judge Delivers ‘State of the Judiciary’ Address

Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, delivered her first annual address at the Bronx County Hall of Justice last Wednesday.  While the speech is typically delivered at Court of Appeals Hall in Albany, she chose to deliver the speech in the Bronx to highlight the progress that has been made in the Bronx, where a backlog of misdemeanor cases has been significantly sharply reduced over the past six months.

Her speech focused on nuts-and-bolts management changes that have been made since she took office in 2016 to address the persistent delays that have long troubled certain courts, especially the criminal and civil courts in New York City. She said that her ‘Excellence Initiative’ and the positive effects she said it has had on the day-to-day operations of the courts.

Read the speech transcript, and the report on the first year of the Excellence Initiative.

Group Launches Campaign for Clean Water Infrastructure

Rebuild New York Now, a coalition that supports infrastructure improvements, announced on Thursday that it is launching a campaign highlighting the need for funding for clean water projects.

The group is releasing a digital advertisement, and social, streaming and video ads running statewide highlighting the water infrastructure issue. The Governor’s Executive budget proposal includes a $2 billion clean water fund.

Mike Elmendorf, President and CEO of the group, said:

“Investing in our water infrastructure will create jobs while ensuring the safety and well being of New York families. Our coalition of labor, environmental and industry groups will take our message across the state and call upon our leaders to invest in our water infrastructure now, because we cannot wait any longer – our lives depend on it.”

Political Update

Buffalo Mayor to Run for Fourth Term

Last week, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (D) announced that he is running for re-election this fall.   Brown was joined at his announcement by a plethora of Democratic elected official from the region.

Buffalo Comptroller Mark Schroeder, a fellow Democrat, has indicated that he plans to challenge Brown.  He expected to make his official announcement later this week.

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 Senate and Assembly are in session on today and tomorrow.  Later today, the Governor and the Legislature are expected to issue a Consensus Revenue Report, which will be the budget framework that lawmakers will work within in crafting the state’s 2017-18 spending plan.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on March 9.

The Senate and Assembly expect to approve their respective one-house budget bills on March 13 and then beginning the budget conference committee process.

The State Board of Elections holds its next meeting on March 13.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on March 13 and 14.

The state’s 2017-18 fiscal year begins on April 1.