Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – Feb. 12, 2016

Coverage of Albany and New York State government – February 12, 2016

What’s Inside 

  • Legislative Budget Hearings Conclude
  • Chief Judge DiFiore Sworn In; Launches Excellence Initiative
  • Senate Approves Garcia for Court of Appeals
  • Governor Releases Report on Impact of Minimum Wage Increase
  • Attorney General Announces Residential Mortgage Settlement
  • Senate Republicans Release Agricultural Agenda
  • Governor Announces Grants for Colleges, Universities
  • Legislative Ethics Commission Imposes $100,000 Fine on Former Assemblyman
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Legislative Budget Hearings Conclude

Legislative budget hearings concluded this week, with the last two hearings covering higher education and human services.

At Monday’s higher education hearing, State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor Nancy Zimpher asked lawmakers to provide more state support for the public university system so that it does not have to rely on tuition increases to cover its costs. The proposed Executive Budget for 2016-17 would reduce state funding for SUNY by one-half of one percent in the coming fiscal year. (Read Chancellor Zimpher’s testimony here.)

Chancellor Zimpher also urged lawmakers to renew the SUNY 2020 plan, which would allow for tuition increases up to $300 dollars a year. This provision is included in the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal. The chairs of the Assembly and Senate Higher Education committees said that they would prefer the state provide additional aid to SUNY, rather than have SUNY raise tuition again.

At Tuesday’s Human Services hearings, lawmakers expressed concerns as to whether the Executive budget adequately funds the $90 million cost associated with the Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act; raised questions about how the state plans to implement anti-poverty initiatives; and expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Governor’s proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility for juvenile offenders.

The Legislature is on a break until Wednesday, Feb. 24th.

 

Chief Judge DiFiore Sworn In; Launches Excellence Initiative

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo formally swore in Janet DiFiore to serve as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. She succeeds Jonathan Lippman, who retired at the end of 2015 after reaching the state’s mandatory retirement age.

Chief Judge DiFiore said that that Lawrence Marks will stay on as her state chief administrative judge, a position he assumed last summer. She also said that, in her capacity as leader of the state’s judiciary, she will undertake an “Excellence Initiative,” a “a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of current court processes and procedures to determine what is working well and what needs to be improved.”

As part of the Excellence Initiative, the Office of Court Administration has launched a website through which comments and suggestions can be shared directly with Chief Judge DiFiore.

The full text of Chief Judge DiFiore’s speech is here.

 

Senate Approves Garcia for Court of Appeals

On Tuesday, the Senate approved the nomination of Michael Garcia to serve as an Associate Justice of the New York State Court of Appeals. Judge Garcia was Gov. Cuomo’s sixth nomination to state’s highest court, and the first Republican selection.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“With the Senate’s confirmation of Michael Garcia as the next Associate Judge on the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court has gained another strong, fair and highly-skilled leader. As a federal prosecutor, defense attorney and commercial litigator, Judge Garcia demonstrated an immovable commitment to integrity and justice, and he is eminently qualified to continue this record of leadership on the Court of Appeals. I congratulate Judge Garcia on his confirmation, and am confident that his service will yield a stronger and more just state for all New Yorkers.”

 

Governor Releases Report on Impact of Minimum Wage Increase

On Wednesday, the Governor’s Office released a report prepared by the state Department of Labor that highlights the benefits of raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next few years.

According to the report, the increase would result in 2.3 million New Yorkers earning higher salaries, leading to increased spending power by more than $15.7 billion.

Under Gov. Cuomo’s plan, which was included in his proposed 2016-17 Executive Budget, the state’s minimum wage would go to $15 per hour in New York City by 2018 and to $15 statewide by mid-2021. The state has already put in place a phased-in $15 per hour minimum wage for fast-food workers and state workers.

Business groups challenged the findings of the report. They warn that increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour – 65& above the current minimum wage — would have unintended and adverse job impacts, especially in upstate New York.

 

Attorney General Announces Residential Mortgage Settlement

On Thursday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that the state and federal working group that he co-chaired, the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group, has entered into a $3.2 billion settlement with Morgan Stanley “over the bank’s deceptive practices leading up to the financial crisis.”

Under the settlement, Morgan Stanley will provide at least $400 million in consumer relief directly to families and communities throughout the state. The company will also pay the state $150 million.

 

Attorney General Schneiderman said:

“Today’s agreement is another victory in our efforts to help New Yorkers rebuild in the wake of the financial devastation caused by major banks. Today’s settlement will deliver resources to the families and communities that need them the most, while helping New Yorkers avoid foreclosure, and spurring the construction of more affordable housing units statewide.”

 

Senate Republicans Release Agricultural Agenda

On Tuesday, the Senate Republicans released their Planting Seeds legislative plan to supporting New York’s farmers and boost the agriculture economy.

Their agenda includes restoring the Governor’s proposed cuts for agricultural programs; reducing taxes on family farmers by raising the personal income tax exemption for small and mid-sized family farms; restoring cuts to Cornell University’s important agriculture-related research and study programs; increasing state funding for Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and increasing funding for research that aims to detect and prevent the spread of diseases in plants and animals.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said:

“Family farms across this state will surely benefit from the Senate’s Planting Seeds initiative and the great advocacy of Senator Ritchie. Our Senate Republican conference remains committed to keeping our agriculture industry viable and strong both now and for many future generations of farmers.”

 

Governor Announces Grants for Colleges, Universities

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state has awarded $35.3 million in grants for capital projects at higher education institutions across the state. The funding, from the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program, provides matching grants to private colleges and universities for the construction, rehabilitation or repair of classrooms, laboratories and other facilities.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York’s colleges and universities are among the best in the nation – and with this funding, we are helping them make big investments that will benefit students in both the near and long-term future. I’m proud to be supporting these important projects, because they will ensure a stronger and more competitive higher education environment in New York for years to come.”

 

Legislative Ethics Commission Imposes $100,000 Fine on Former Assemblyman

Earlier today, the Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) imposed a $100,000 fine on former Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak (D-Cheektowaga) for “inappropriate conduct” with former female staffers and for “misappropriation” of state funds to help his re-election efforts.

Gabryszak was first elected to the Assembly in 2006. He resigned his seat in January 2014 after seven former staff members filed sexual harassment claims against him.

The LEC’s disposition and notice of civil assessment against Gabryszak said that it concurs with the findings of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE). The LEC said that it is assessing a $70,000 fine against the former legislator for “his course of conduct involving seven female staff members,” another $10,000 civil penalty to misappropriation of state funds used to help his campaign efforts and $20,000 for the “benefit received” of using those state resources.

 

Political Update

Gibson Establishes Campaign Committee to Explore Run for Governor

On Monday, Congressman Chris Gibson (R- Kinderhook) established a campaign committee to begin raising money for a potential run for governor in 2018. He is not running for re-election to the House seat that he first won in 2010.

Gov. Cuomo has suggested that he will run for a third term in 2018, and he continues to raise money. He has about $16 million in his campaign coffers.

Among the other Republicans weighing a challenge to Cuomo is Rob Astorino, the Westchester County executive who lost to the governor in 2014.

Two Candidates to Run for Manhattan Assembly Seat

Manhattan Democrats have chosen Alice Cancel, a Lower East Side district leader, to run for the triumphed in a backroom battle for the Democratic nomination for the 65th Assembly District seat that was previously held by Sheldon Silver.

The endorsement of the county Democratic party is usually tantamount to winning a special election in Manhattan. However, Ms. Cancel will face Yuh-Line Niou, who was nominated by the Working Families Party. Ms. Niou is chief of staff to Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens).

Poll: Trump, Clinton Lead Presidential Race in New York

According to a Siena Research Institute poll released this week, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have strong leads in the state’s presidential primary.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders 55% to 34%. Among Republicans, Donald Trump leads with 34%, while Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are each at 16%. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has since suspended his campaign, is the only other Republican in double digits with 11% support.

New York’s presidential primary will be held on Tuesday, April 19. Read the poll crosstabs here.

Cheektowaga Council Member to Challenge First-Term Assemblymember

Cheektowaga Council Member James Rogowski (D) announced this week that he will challenge first-term Assemblymember Angela Wozniak (R-Cheektowaga) in November for the 143rd Assembly District seat she holds.

Wozniak won the seat after incumbent Dennis Gabryszak retired amid a sexual harassment scandal. Ms. Wozniak won the race easily, despite a 2-1 Democratic enrollment advantage in the district. The 143rd AD includes the towns of Cheektowaga and Lancaster.

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 not in session next week. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Albany on Wednesday, Feb, 24.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on February 17. (The agenda is here.)

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.

The Senate and Assembly fiscal committee are scheduled to release their Economic & Revenue Reports on or around February 25.

The state’s 2016-17 fiscal year begins on April 1.