Upstate Lawmakers Form Bipartisan Caucus PUBLISHED 10:29 AM ET Mar. 17, 2021 PUBLISHED 10:29 AM EDT Mar. 17, 2021
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A bipartisan caucus of state lawmakers focused on upstate issues was formed on Wednesday in order to push concerns ranging from the health of the region s economy to education and government reform.
The caucus will be co-led by Republican Sen. Daphne Jordan and Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabara.
“This new caucus presents the first time Upstate leaders from both parties have united to seek holistic government reform in a bipartisan manner, Jordan said in a statement. I’m proud to lead this effort with Assemblymember Santabarbara and so many of our colleagues. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves, reach across the aisle and get this done!”
PUBLISHED 11:34 AM ET Mar. 17, 2021 PUBLISHED 11:34 AM EDT Mar. 17, 2021
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo received the single dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday at an event with prominent supporters of his in the Black community, and he urged New Yorkers to get whichever version of the vaccine that is made available to them.
The governor received the vaccine at a church in Harlem as the state has expanded eligibility to include more people, including public-facing non-profit workers, public-facing government workers and business service employees, flanked by Black state lawmakers, clergy, and advocates.
The event was closed to the press due to COVID restrictions, according to Cuomo s office, and featured prominent supporters lavishly praising the governor, including NAACP New York President Hazel Dukes and former Rep. Charlie Rangel.
Budget Negotiations Start in Albany With Cuomo Under Scandal By Courtney Gross New York City PUBLISHED 11:06 PM ET Mar. 16, 2021 PUBLISHED 11:06 PM EDT Mar. 16, 2021
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Both the state Senate and Assembly have approved their own fiscal plans, each proposing to raise billions of dollars in revenue through new tax increases on the wealthy, including hikes on the personal income tax for high-income earners, a surcharge on capital gains, and an increase in the estate tax.
What You Need To Know
State lawmakers approved their one-house budgets this week, which would raise taxes on the state s wealthy
Now they must sit down and negotiate the budget with Cuomo
PUBLISHED 8:32 PM ET Mar. 15, 2021 PUBLISHED 8:32 PM EDT Mar. 15, 2021
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The NYS Senate and Assembly passed their one house budgets on Monday, each proposing more than $200 billion in spending. These one house budgets will not be finalized as is, but if enacted would be one of the largest spending plans in New York’s history.
To put it in perspective, California’s state budget for 2020-2021 was $202.1 billion and California has nearly double the population.
In contrast, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal outlines $178 billion in spending.
At the same time, despite slight differences, the Senate and Assembly budget proposals are very similar, potentially giving Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins more bargaining power in the budget process when they go into a (perhaps virtual) room with Governor Andrew Cuomo.