Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – August 14, 2018

Coverage of Albany and New York State government – August 14, 2018

  • Governor Appoints Marijuana Legalization Task Force
  • Governor Announces Offshore Wind Study
  • Poll: Cuomo Holds Solid Lead Among Likely Democratic Voters
  • Senate to Hold Hearings on Parole Board Policies
  • State Board of Elections Approves Rules to Increase Oversight of Enforcement Counsel
  • Environmental Groups Release Legislator Scorecards
  • Governor Continues Battle With NRA
  • Western New York Congressman Charged With Securities Fraud
  • Political Update
    • Democratic County Executives Endorse Cuomo
    • Nixon Releases Economic Development Plan
    • Judge Allows Maloney to Run for Both Attorney General and Congress
    • NYSUT Makes Endorsements
    • Winners & Losers
  • Coming Up

 

Governor Appoints Marijuana Legalization Task Force

Gov. Cuomo recently announced that he has appointed a workgroup “to draft legislation for a regulated adult-use marijuana program for the legislature to consider in the upcoming session.” The workgroup comes in the wake of the state Health Department’s recent report which found that “the positive effects of a regulated marijuana market in NYS outweigh the potential negative impacts.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“I have reviewed the multi-agency report commissioned last January and have discussed its findings with Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. The next steps must be taken thoughtfully and deliberately. As we work to implement the report’s recommendations through legislation, we must thoroughly consider all aspects of a regulated marijuana program, including its impact on public health, criminal justice and State revenue, and mitigate any potential risks associated with it. I thank the members of the workgroup for their time and expertise as we work to craft a model program.”

 

Governor Announces Offshore Wind Study

Last Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced that New York Power Authority (NYPA) will lead a study of successful offshore wind transmission models – with a specific focus on largescale European projects – to help guide New York’s offshore wind development.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York continues to be a national leader in the development of our robust offshore wind industry, aiming to make wind energy as accessible and affordable as possible for all New Yorkers. As we strive to meet aggressive energy goals, we are committed to developing a clean energy economy that will attract investment and create thousands of jobs by 2030.”

Under the state state’s Offshore Wind Master Plan, the state is preparing for the development of 2,400 MW of offshore wind by 2030, enough to power 1.2 million households.

 

Poll: Cuomo Holds Solid Lead Among Likely Democratic Voters

A Siena College poll of likely primary voters finds that Gov. Cuomo leads his Democratic primary challenger Cynthia Nixon by 60 percent to 29 percent. The Governor has a 67-29 percent favorability rating, compared to Nixon’s 43-30 percent favorability rating.

The poll also shows that the Democratic primary for Attorney General appears to be a wide open race. New York City Public Advocate Letitia James has 25 percent support, with U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney second with 16 percent. Former congressional and gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout stands at 13 percent and 4 percent of voters said they are supporting Leecia Eve, an attorney and Buffalo native. Forty-two percent of voters are undecided, the poll found.

Read the poll crosstabs here.

 

Senate to Hold Hearings on Parole Board Policies

Last Monday, the Senate Republicans announced that they plan to hold hearings on Parole Board policies and the recent granting of parole for convicted killers. The hearings will be chaired by Senator Pat Gallivan (R – Erie County), who Chairs of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee and once served on the state parole board.

A number of Republicans have been critical of Gov. Cuomo over the Parole Board’s release of certain violent offenders, and the Senate approved a package of bills that would limit the release of violent offenders.  The Governor has issued 24,000 conditional pardons to parole offenders in order to restore their right to vote.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said:

“Andrew Cuomo’s Get Out the Vote operation includes pardoning the worst of the worst offenders.  Cop killers, pedophiles, and rapists should not be rewarded with a vote and the peace and freedom that they destroyed for others. We are deeply concerned that these individuals will be entering polling places in schools, and demand a full release of the conditional pardons.”

 

State Board of Elections Approves Rules to Increase Oversight of Enforcement Counsel

Last Wednesday, the State Board of Elections (SBOE) approved regulations that will give its commissioners more oversight of investigations being conducted by the Board’s enforcement counsel. The new rules give the board’s Republican and Democratic commissioners oversight of subpoenas issued by enforcement counsel and set a six month time limit on investigations.

The position of SBOE enforcement counsel was created in 2014 to create a degree of independence within a body that had often been criticized for partisan gridlock. The board consists of two Democrats and two Republicans, and three votes are needed to investigate alleged Election Law violations. Gov. Cuomo appointed Risa Sugarman to the position; she was approved by the Senate.

The regulations were approved over the objections of good government groups, Attorney General Underwood and others (including Ms. Sugarman) who argue that the new rules will  undermine the enforcement counsel’s independence and increase political interference in her office’s work.

 

Environmental Groups Release Legislator Scorecards

Last week, two prominent environment groups released their 2018 legislator scorecards.

On Monday, the New York League of Conservation voters (NYLCV) released its 2018 State Environmental Scorecard which voting and sponsorship records for Senators and Assemblymembers on 13 key environmental bills addressing issues of clean energy, public health, transportation, and others. Read the scorecard here.

On Thursday, Environmental Advocates of NY (EANY) released its 2018 Environmental Scorecard, which ranked lawmakers based on their votes on 29 bills that either had negative or positive implications for the environment, energy landscape or climate change.

Overall, the group’s scores were lower than in 2017. The report specifically criticized the Senate’s leadership for not taking up a number of bills that the Assembly approved.

 

Governor Continues Battle With NRA

Gov. Cuomo continued his high-profile clash with the NRA, last week, calling on other states to the NRA-branded “Carry Guard” insurance program if they determine it does not already violate their state laws. He appearing on morning news shows and released a campaign ad promising to take the N.R.A. “to the brink.”

The NRA has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Cuomo and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) the state’s fines were the result of a “political vendetta” that was having a chilling effect on its advocacy. DFS has also urged firms not to do business with the NRA, the NRA contends, under threat the firms could lose their license to operate in New York.

Gov. Cuomo said “If I could have put the NRA out of business, I would have done it 20 years ago.” The state has moved to dismiss the NRA’s lawsuit.

Gov. Cuomo has long advocated for strong gun control laws, and has spoken out more on the issue in the wake of recent school shootings.

 

Western New York Congressman Charged With Securities Fraud

Last Wednesday, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the indictment of U.S. Rep. Christopher Collins (R-Erie County), along with two co-defendants, for conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and making false statements. All of the defendants plead not guilty to the charges.

The charges relate to a biotech company where Collins served on the board of directors. Prosecutors allege that Collins passed along nonpublic information about the results of a drug trial to his son, who then passed the information on to the other co-defendant.

On Saturday, Collins said that he is suspending his campaign, and Republican leaders are reportedly looking to replace him on the ballot.

 

Political Update

Democratic County Executives Endorse Cuomo

Gov. Cuomo has been endorsed by the state’s seven Democratic county executives — Steve Bellone (Suffolk), Laura Curran (Nassau), George Latimer (Westchester), Mike Hein (Ulster), Dan McCoy (Albany), Jason Garnar (Broome) and Mark Poloncarz (Erie).

Gov. Cuomo’s re-election campaign has sought to portray his Democratic primary opponent Cynthia Nixon as out-of-touch with suburban and upstate voters. He has championed issues of concern to voters outside of New York City, including property taxes and government consolidation.

Nixon Releases Economic Development Plan

Last Tuesday, Democratic candidate for Governor Cynthia Nixon released her ‘Fair Economy for All’ economic development program, the theme of which is “Invest in Communities, Not Corporations.”

Her plan includes increasing the minimum wage to $15 statewide, infrastructure investments, workforce development and expanding free tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools rather than subsidies and incentives for businesses.

She is also proposing to amend the Taylor Law to restore government workers’ right to strike. Gov. Cuomo and New York City Mayor de Blasio both said that they oppose the idea.

Attorney General Candidates Release TV Ads

Two candidates in the state’s four-way Democratic primary for state attorney general released television ads last week.

Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney highlights his family and professional life, and his opposition to President Trump’s agenda, in his first ad.

Leecia Eve, a former aide to then-U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, released her first ad which highlights her work on a legal challenge to the requirement that imprisoned women give birth while shackled.

The winner of the September 13 primary will face Republican nominee Keith Wofford in November.

Judge Allows Maloney to Run for Both Attorney General and Congress

On Thursday, a State Supreme Court Justice ruled that Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney can run in simultaneous campaigns for state attorney general and Congress. Republicans had filed suit arguing that Maloney’s was prohibited from running two concurrent campaigns because the two offices are incompatible — Maloney would not be able to serve in both positions at once.

But the Justice ruled that the state Election Law allows Maloney to decline his nomination for Congress if he wins the September Attorney General primary. Local party leaders would then choose his replacement on the ballot.

NYSUT Makes Endorsements

Last Wednesday, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) released its list of endorsed candidates.  NYSUT is made up of more than 600,000 people who work in, or are retired from, New York’s schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities.

The group did not make an endorsement in the Governor’s race and endorsed Letitia James for Attorney General. It also endorsed 37 state Senate candidates and 136 candidates for state Assembly.

NYSUT did not endorse any Republican State Senators.  NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said:

“In endorsing for state Senate, we are standing with those who have stood consistently with us. We made clear to the entire Senate and its leaders that Senate Bill 8992 carried serious consequences. Those senators who turned their backs on teachers and public education — and held students and educators hostage in hopes of dealing for more charter schools — are now being held accountable for their vote.”

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

On August 28, the four Democratic candidates for state Attorney General will participate in a debate in New York City.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on September 11.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on September 12.

New York’s primary elections will be held on Thursday, September 13.

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

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