Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

Coverage of Albany and New York State government – January 22, 2016

What’s Inside 

  • Legislature Begins Budget Review Hearings
  • Assembly, Senate Release Analysis of Governor’s Budget Proposal
  • Committee Established to Promote Governor’s 2016 Agenda
  • DiFiore Approved as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
  • Governor Nominates Vullo to Lead Department of Financial Services
  • Governor Nominates Garcia to Court of Appeals
  • Governor Announces Approval of Clean Energy Fund
  • Governor Announces Release of Empire Station Solicitation
  • State Adopts Rules on Toll Scofflaws
  • New York City Mayor Releases Preliminary Spending Plan
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Legislature Begins Budget Review Hearings

The Legislature began its annual review of the Executive Budget proposal this week, beginning with the transportation aspects of the Governor’s 2016-17 spending plan.

On Wednesday, lawmakers questioned state Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Matt Driscoll about the $20 billion that Gov. Cuomo has proposed for DOT to spend to fix roads and bridges throughout the state.

Some lawmakers expressed frustration that the Commissioner could not provide them with a list of projects that DOT plans to undertake as part of its proposed 5-year capital plan. He told them that while some $3 billion for state-owned highways and bridges and increases in mass transit funding will be included, the specifics of the plan are not expected to be available until later in the budget season.

Highlights of the Governor’s transportation proposals in his proposed budget include highlighted some of Cuomo’s proposals for this year, including $700 million in settlement funds to go toward a Thruway investment plan that will avoid toll increases until 2020, $438 million for local highway and bridge projects, $500 million to make roads safer during flooding and other extreme weather, and a $200 million contest to improve five Upstate airports.

Legislative budget hearings continue next week on the following topics:

  • Monday: Health/Medicaid
  • Tuesday: Local Government Officials/General Government
  • Wednesday: Elementary/Secondary Education
  • Thursday: Environmental Conservation

 

Assembly, Senate Release Analysis of Governor’s Budget Proposal

The Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have released their respective analyses of Gov. Cuomo’s 2016-17 Executive Budget proposal.

Read the Assembly’s analysis here, and the Senate’s analysis here.

 

Committee Established to Promote Governor’s 2016 Agenda

The Daily News reported this week that Charlie King, a former state Democratic official, is creating a statewide committee designed to advocate for Gov. Cuomo’s agenda this year.

The Committee on Social, Racial and Economic Justice will push for 10 proposals that Gov. Cuomo outlined in his State of the State address, including: raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour; enacting a paid family leave law; investing $20 billion to address affordable housing and homelessness; providing $100 million to convert failing schools into “community schools” that offer a range of services; enactment of criminal justice reforms; passage of a state DREAM Act; and expanding the Urban Youth Jobs Program.

According to the report, the group’s leadership has not decided yet whether it will register as a Super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, or as lobbying group.

 

Senate Confirms DiFiore as State’s Top Judge

On Thursday, the Senate unanimously approved Janet DiFiore to serve as the Chief Judge of the state Court of Appeals. As Chief Justice she will also oversee the state’s Unified Court System.

Judge DiFiore served as Westchester County District Attorney beginning in 2006; she previously served as a Westchester County Court judge and a State Supreme Court judge. She has also served as president of the state District Attorneys Association, on the New York State Commission on Youth, Safety and Justice, and as Chair of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE).

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Janet DiFiore’s confirmation as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and head of New York’s judicial branch marks an exciting step forward for our state and for all New Yorkers. She has demonstrated unparalleled integrity and independence throughout her career as both a judge and prosecutor, and her commitment to the highest ethical standards makes her one of New York’s finest public servants. Her keen intellect, unassailable credibility, and diverse experience will serve the Court well and ensure a stronger and fairer state for all. I congratulate Chief Judge DiFiore on her confirmation, and look forward to seeing her lead the Court for years to come.”

 

Governor Nominates Vullo to Lead Department of Financial Services

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced the nomination of Maria Vullo to serve as Superintendent of the state Department of Financial Services (DFS). She is currently of counsel at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. She previously served as Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice under then-Attorney General Cuomo, where she oversaw the Bureaus of Investor Protection, Antitrust, Real Estate Finance, Consumer Frauds and Internet.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Maria Vullo is a dedicated, tough and fair litigator with the right combination of public and private sector experience needed to lead the Department of Financial Services. Maria has shown an immovable commitment to upholding the law and protecting consumers, and I am confident that she would be a strong and tireless advocate for the people of New York as Superintendent.”

DFS oversees financial services in the state, including insurance and banking activities. Ms. Vullo’s nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.

 

Governor Nominates Garcia to Court of Appeals

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced the nomination of Michael Garcia to serve as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.

Garcia currently practices law at Kirkland & Ellis in New York City. He previously served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. If his nomination is approved by the State Senate, he will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Susan Read.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Michael Garcia is a talented, experienced, and skilled prosecutor who will make a tremendous addition to the Court of Appeals. From his work in the private sector, to serving with distinction as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and in the Department of Homeland Security, Michael has the kind of broad, well-rounded perspective on the law that our state’s highest court requires.”

 

Governor Announces Approval of Clean Energy Fund

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved the Clean Energy Fund to encourage renewable sources of electricity, such as wind and solar.

The 10-year, $5 billion program is expected to “accelerate the growth of New York’s clean energy economy, address climate change, strengthen resiliency in the face of extreme weather and lower energy bills for New Yorkers starting this year.” According to the Governor, the fund is also expected to “attract and leverage third-party capital to support the Governor’s aggressive Clean Energy Standard, one of the nation’s most ambitious goals to meet 50 percent of our electricity needs with renewable resources by 2030.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York is a national leader in combating climate change and growing the clean energy economy – and today we are taking the next big step forward. This unparalleled $5 billion investment will leverage more than $29 billion in private sector funding and open the door to new clean energy opportunities for years to come. We are raising the bar when it comes to increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing harmful carbon emissions, and I am proud that the Empire State is continuing to set the example for the future.”

Shortly before the PSC’s vote on the Clean Energy Fund, the Senate Republican Conference asked the PSC to delay its vote. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County), Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse) and Senate Energy Committee Chair Joe Griffo (R-Utica) wrote that they objected to the plan’s current formulation because it does not require legislative approval, and because the administration had not conducted an analysis on what it would cost ratepayers. The PSC did not agree to the request.

 

Governor Announces Release of Empire Station Solicitation

Earlier today, Gov. Cuomo announced the release of a joint solicitation to developers for the redevelopment, design and construction of New York Penn Station and the James A. Farley Post Office as part of the Empire Station Complex. The state’s plan is to utilize a public-private partnership that will complete the Moynihan Train Hall by December 2018.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“For too long Penn Station has been outdated and overcrowded, serving as a blight on the greatest city in the world – we’re changing that, and we begin today. With the transformative redesign of Penn Station we are showing the nation that we will continue to think bigger and build better than ever before. By working together with the private sector, we will create a 21st-century transportation hub worthy of the Empire State and do it at a minimal cost to taxpayers.”

 

State Adopts Rules on Toll Scofflaws

Gov. Cuomo announced this week that the state has adopted a new regulation the adoption of a regulation that will allow the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to take action against motorists persistently toll evaders. Under the new regulation, DMV is authorized to suspend the registration of motorists who fail to pay five tolls, fees, and other charges resulting from violations on different days within 18 months, and who ignore toll authorities’ repeated notices.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“We are sending a clear message that New York State will not tolerate toll violators. For far too long, these scofflaws have skirted their responsibility of helping maintain the state’s transportation network and placed the burden on the backs of law-abiding motorists. With this regulation adopted, we can now ensure that those who travel in New York State pay their fair share.”

 

New York City Mayor Releases Preliminary Spending Plan

On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released an $82.1 billion preliminary budget, which includes just a 0.5% spending increase, while setting aside billions of dollars for the city’s reserves in case of an upcoming economic downturn. (Read a fact sheet on the city’s preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2017 here, and the city’s budget documents here.)

The Mayor’s proposed budget includes more than $700 million in additional spending on city initiatives since last year, including funds to increase access to mental health services, address homelessness and combat AIDS.

The Mayor’s office described its budget proposal as a “responsible budget” that “protects fiscal health through reserves,” warning that the city’s economy could go from bad to worse quickly.

 

Political Update

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 Monday and Tuesday next week, January 25 and 26.

Legislative budget hearings continue next week on the following topics:

  • Monday, Jan. 25 — Health/Medicaid
  • Tuesday, Jan. 26 — Local Government Officials/General Government
  • Wednesday, Jan 27 — Elementary/Secondary Education
  • Thursday, Jan. 28 — Environmental Conservation

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on January 26. The meeting agenda is available here.

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.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on February 23.

 

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on February 23.