NY budget: Dems split over expanding unemployment pay to undocumented workers
Updated 4:37 PM;
Syracuse, N.Y. – Democratic state lawmakers are at odds over whether to expand unemployment benefits to undocumented workers, a sticking point in a budget that’s already late.
Earlier this year, both Democratic-controlled houses endorsed putting $2.1 billion toward workers unable to benefit from federal unemployment benefits. That includes some undocumented workers.
But more recently, some Democrats have pushed back, saying money should go to help small businesses, the New York Post has reported.
More progressive members, including many New York City-area Senate Democrats, such as Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, are not backing down from funding the “excluded workers” fund.
Recreational marijuana officially legalized in New York fingerlakes1.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fingerlakes1.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The president s strongest words yet on the matter come as another of the governor s sexual harassment accusers is expected to meet with state attorney general investigators this week about the case. Her testimony will come days after accuser Charlotte Bennett provided officials with more than 100 pages of records her lawyer said will corroborate her accusations. Ana Liss said the governor s office was a toxic work environment, and while she did not allege harassment, she did feel demeaned as a female employee. She joins two other accusers who have already spoken to the independent investigators. NBC New York s Jonathan Dienst reports.
Capitol Confidential By Edward McKinley on March 17, 2021 at 6:30 AM
State legislators are nearing a deal to legalize recreational marijuana use for adult New Yorkers, but there’s currently an “impasse” on how to to deal with impaired driving and traffic stops by police, said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. (TU)
The state Department of Environmental Conservation’s annual spring burn ban will be in effect from March 16 to May 14. The ban is put in place each year to lessen the chance of wildfires as dry brush is exposed at the end of the winter. (TU)
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Attorneys for second accuser Charlotte Bennett were also concerned that the law firm was too closely aligned with Cuomo, in relation to the firm’s past affiliation with Glazer, a Cuomo political appointee. Glazer was at the law firm for 30 years before his retirement. Cuomo appointed him to the board of a state university and a board that helped pick the sites of casinos.
“This is an unacceptable conflict of interest,” said Bennett’s lawyer, Debra Katz. “While Ms. Bennett is committed to cooperating with all appropriate governmental inquiries, including the impeachment investigation, the involvement of Davis Polk gives her pause.”