Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – October 23, 2018

What’s Inside

- Governor Urges Federal Government to Fund Gateway Tunnel Project
- Governor Announces Funds for Clean Energy Sector Workforce Development Training
- Comptroller: Health Care Jobs Grow Across the State
- Comptroller: New York Sends More Money to Washington Than It Gets Back

District Attorneys Association Files Lawsuit to Block Prosecutorial Conduct Commission
Senate Majority Leader Decries Teachers’ Union Campaign Spending
Political Update
- Q Poll Shows Governor With Solid Lead Over Molinaro
- Cuomo Ad Hits Molinaro on Assembly Voting Record
- Poll Shows Tight Race in New York’s 27^th Congressional District
Coming Up

Governor Urges Federal Government to Fund Gateway Tunnel Project

Last week, Gov. Cuomo toured the Gateway Tunnel “to expose corrosion and damage, calling on President Trump and Washington to stop playing politics and fund their share of the repairs.”

The tunnel, which connects New Jersey to Penn Station, is the busiest rail hub in the nation. During Superstorm Sandy, both tunnel tubes were inundated with seawater, causing falling concrete, corroded electrical cabling and standing water damage.

New York and New Jersey have committed to paying half of the project’s estimated $13 billion cost. Gov. Cuomo said that the two states need the federal government to cover the other half. He made a case that this was a project of national importance. After the tour, the state released a video that is intended to convince President Trump to support funding the project.

Governor Announces Funds for Clean Energy Sector Workforce Development Training

Last week, Gov. Cuomo announced the availability of $27.5 million in new funding for workforce development and training initiatives to help prepare New Yorkers for the clean energy industry’s growing job opportunities.

The funding, which is available through NYSERDA, can be used for “workforce development hiring and training incentives to assist clean energy businesses with recruiting and training new employees, upskilling existing workers, and establishing a talent pipeline to reduce businesses cost of attracting and hiring new workers.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“By investing in our clean energy workforce, we are supporting the industry’s growing demands while creating jobs throughout the state utilizing clean energy technologies that will reduce emissions and protect our environment. Our nation-leading commitment to fighting climate change is also an economic driver that is creating good-paying jobs all across the state.”

Governor Announces Funds for Clean Energy Sector Workforce Development Training

Gov. Cuomo said:

Comptroller: Health Care Jobs Grow Across the State

According to a report released last week by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the number of jobs in New York’s health care industry continues to rise, with that sector of the state’s economy contributing about $71 billion in wages last year.

The report found that health care jobs throughout the state exceed 1.2 million in 2017, an increase of more than 18 percent over the past decade. It also suggested that potential cuts to programs such as Medicaid being debated in Congress would threaten New York’s fiscal future.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“Year in and year out, health care has been a growth sector for jobs in New York over the past decade. Across upstate New York in particular, private employment would have declined if not for job gains in health care. If the federal government cuts health care spending, it could jeopardize these jobs and hurt an important sector of New York’s economy.”

Comptroller: New York Sends More Money to Washington Than It Gets Back

On Wednesday, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report which finds that New York State sent an estimated $24.1 billion more in tax payments to Washington than it got back in federal spending in federal fiscal year (FFY) 2017, getting back about 90 cents for every dollar it contributed. Most state received more from Washington than they sent in tax payments. Only New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut fared worse that New York.

Comptroller DiNapoli said:

“New York gives more than it gets back from Washington and threats to cut federal funding for health care and other programs could tip the balance even further. The state relies on the federal government for a third of its annual budget, but the imbalance of tax dollars remains. New Yorkers deserve to be treated more fairly in the federal budget.”

District Attorneys Association Files Lawsuit to Block Prosecutorial Conduct Commission

Last Wednesday, the District Attorneys Association of New York (DAASNY) and some individual prosecutors filed a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of a new law that creates a special commission to investigate claims of prosecutorial misconduct.

The complaint argues that the new law, which does not go into effect until January, violates the separation of powers between the three branches of state government by giving the Legislature and Court of Appeals power over district attorneys, who are executive officials. DAASNY is seeking a preliminary injunction against the legislation while the court determines its constitutionality.

State lawmakers have said that they will make “chapter amendments” to the new law in January to address some of the constitutional concerns previously raised, but no language has been made available. DAASNY argues that that even if changes are made to the new law, several parts of it will still violate the state constitution.

Senate Majority Leader Decries Teachers’ Union Campaign Spending

Last Monday, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan called a powerful teachers’ union one of the “forces of evil.” During a radio interview, he criticized the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) for its significant independent expenditure spending in support of the Democrats’ effort to control the State Senate.

The Senate Republicans’ relationship with NYSUT soured after the Senate leadership refused to allow a vote on a bill that would end the linkage between state standardized test results and teachers’ evaluations – 55 of the Senate’s 63 members sponsored the bill.

Listen to the full Capitol Pressroom interview with Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan here.

The Republicans have filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections accusing NYSUT and other unions of illegally coordinating with the independent expenditure they created to support Democratic state Senate candidates.

Andy Pallotta, the president of the New York State United Teachers, responded to Senator Flanagan’s comments in this guest editorial.

Political Update

Q Poll Shows Governor With Solid Lead Over Molinaro

A Quinnipiac University Poll released last Thursday shows Gov. Cuomo leading Marc Molinaro 58 percent to 35 percent among likely voters. The Governor leads 77 percent to 13 percent among likely New York City voters and 52 percent to 45 percent of likely suburban voters. Molinaro leads 52 percent to 41 percent among likely Upstate voters.

The same poll shows incumbent U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand leading her Republican opponent Chele Farley 58 percent to 33 percent.

Cuomo Ad Hits Molinaro on Assembly Voting Record

Gov. Cuomo’s re-election campaign released an ad last week that criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro’s voting record while he served in the state Assembly. The ad criticizes Molinaro for voting against bills that would require equal pay, protection reproductive rights and tighten gun control measures for those convicted of domestic violence.

Poll Shows Tight Race in New York’s 27^th Congressional District

A Siena College Poll released last week shows incumbent Republican Congressman Chris Collins with a three-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Nate McMurray. The poll shows Collins leading 46 percent to 43 percent. Read the poll crosstabs here.

Collins, who has represented the district since 2013. In August, federal prosecutors charged him with 11 counts of securities fraud, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators.

The Cook Report rates the race in the heavily Republican district as ‘Lean Republican.”

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

Later today, the Assembly Education Committee is holding a public hearing on school health, mental health and physical education.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on October 30.

On October 30, Spectrum News and NY1 will host a debate between attorney general candidates Letitia James and Keith Wofford. The debate, which will be moderated by Capital Tonight’s Liz Benjamin and Inside City Hall’s Errol Louis, airs at 7 p.m.

The state Board of Regents holds its next meeting on November 5 and 6.

Election Day is Tuesday, November. 6.

On November 16, the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee is holding a public hearing in Albany “to examine recycling-related issues.”

On Friday, November 16, the Assembly Judiciary Committee is holding a public hearing in New York City “to examine the current status and potential expansion of electronic filing of court papers in New York.”