Making New York More Affordable
By Senator Mike Gianaris on 06/02/2011 @ 12:43 PM
New York is facing an affordability crisis and if we don’t do better, things are only going to get worse for middle class families. Last week, Senate Democrats led the charge to make New York more affordable by tackling two of the most significant expenses facing families at kitchen tables across the state: housing and energy costs.
To keep families from being priced out of their homes, Senate Democrats used social media to fight for affordable housing for 2.5 million tenants. Broadcast live via Twitter and Facebook, Senate Democrats led an interactive rent forum and rally where hundreds of followers joined their fight to extend and expand rent regulations before the clock runs out on June 15th.
But we aren’t done working to bring relief to families and businesses...
With temperatures climbing and millions of New Yorkers facing rising energy costs, Senate Democrats unveiled a comprehensive energy savings plan to reduce the burden on cash-strapped consumers and provide relief at the gas pump. We can build up our economy by lowering gas prices and establishing New York as the premier site for alternative energy research, development and production.
While Senate Democrats are working to rebuild the middle class, Republicans in Washington and New York are trying to tear it down - attempting to squeeze seniors by gutting Medicare and threatening to cut off affordable housing for millions of tenants.
Enough is enough. We must act now to make New York more affordable so it can remain livable for middle class families.
Join the fight for a more affordable New York and follow Senate Democrats as they stand up for you.
Senate Republicans Push Through a Backroom Budget
Posted on 03/15/2011 @ 06:43 PM
Today members of the Senate Democratic Conference spoke out against the Republicans fiscally irresponsible budget proposal. Unfortunately, all New Yorkers are getting is more of the same broken promises and costly mistakes taxpayers can no longer afford.
The Senate Democratic Conference Leader, John L. Sampson, stated the following:
“Last month, Governor Cuomo proposed a budget blueprint to change the way business is done in Albany. Senate Republicans passed a budget that was business as usual – unbalanced and unsustainable spending without any way to pay for it.
“New York needs a responsible budget to create good-paying jobs, ensure our children are well educated, reform our health care system, and make New York more affordable for Middle Class families. Instead of meeting that standard and delivering on the Governor’s priorities, the Senate Republican budget protects the wealthy, cuts services to our most vulnerable New Yorkers, and fails to provide the relief our Middle Class families need.
“To hide their fiscal irresponsibility, Senate Republicans pushed through a backroom budget without the public oversight or bipartisan debate New Yorkers deserve anytime their money is being spent. Republicans promised change, but we are learning they don’t keep their word even when given in writing. Unfortunately, all we are seeing is more of the same broken promises and costly mistakes taxpayers can no longer afford.”
Valesky Weighs in on the Budget, Taxes and Local Job Creation
By Mike Connery on 09/24/2010 @ 03:45 PM
Senator Dave Valesky recently sat down for a lengthy interview with Eye on Albany. In part one of that interview, he discusses taxes, the budget, and creating local jobs in Auburn, Syracuse, Rome, Oswego and all of upstate New York. Watch Part 1 of the video below:
Two Minutes with Mike Gianaris
By Mike Connery on 05/06/2010 @ 10:00 AM
Here's a brief interview with Assemblyman Mike Gianaris, who is running to replace retiring State Senator George Onorato in the 12th Senate District. Gianaris discusses the budget, and how to reform Albany.
Video: Darrel Aubertine on the Budget, Power for Jobs, and Property Tax Relief
By Mike Connery on 04/29/2010 @ 12:26 PM
Here's Darrel Aubertine explaining the importance of the Power for Jobs program, the state of budget negotiations, and why Democrats' call for property tax relief makes sense in the overall scheme of the state's finances. (hat tip to Oswego Democrat)
Quick Hits from the Trail: Bonacic and Griffo Gain Challengers
By Mike Connery on 04/28/2010 @ 11:01 AM
The latest news from the Democratic conference, candidates and campaigns:
- An editorial in the Auburn Citizen explains why the GOP "tax cap proposal" was nothing more than a political ruse.
- Oneida County Democrat and small business-owner Maria Pavelock will challenge incumbent Republican Joe Griffo in the 47th District.
- Republican John Bonacic may get a challenge from two county legislators.
- A new Marist poll indicates that New Yorkers are down on Wall Street.
- Finally, it looks like Thomas Duane's HIV/AIDS Housing bill is finally set to pass.
The Truth About Budget Extenders
By Mike Connery on 04/27/2010 @ 12:18 PM
Yesterday the Democratic Majority Conference passed another round of budget extenders. The extenders are receiving the lion's share of media attention this morning, so it's worth taking some time to know what exactly is included in the extender, and why Republicans who vote against the extenders are not only hypocritical, but also working against the interests of the public, who rely on the jobs and services the extenders provide.
First, a look at what, exactly, the extender's fund:
- $2.57 billion mandated payments to schools for General Aid Payments not associated with the Executive’s delays of school aid payments.
- $2.5 billion for local providers of the Medical Assistance Program including:
- $1.45 billion for payments to Medicaid providers including:
- $900 million for medical services provided by State facilities operated by OMH, OMRDD and OASAS.
- $311 million for nursing home services.
- $261 million for managed care services.
- $234 million for long term care services.
- $172 million for hospital inpatient services.
- $137 million for pharmacy services
- $67 million for non-institutional and other spending.
- $30 million for outpatient and emergency room services
- $29 million for clinical services
- $12 million for transportation services
- $7 million for dental services
- $40 million for contracts approved prior to April 1, 2010 where payments must be made during the period from April 1, 2010 to May 2, 2010.
- $40 million for contracts approved in the period from April 1, 2010 to May 2, 2010 where payments must be made during the same period.
As is readily apparent, these are all vital services that New Yorkers rely upon, and represent thousands of jobs that are putting food on the table and a roof over the heads of New York families. Those who support this extender are supporting our troopers, guardsmen, corrections officers, nurses, and social service workers who care for our veterans, the homeless, and mentally disabled.
Which leads me to my next topic. Seventeen Republicans voted against the extender: DeFrancisco, Flanagan, Golden, Hannon, O. Johnson, Larkin, Libous, Marcellino, Maziarz, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Griffo, Winner and Young. Many of these Republicans have been in office for a decade or more. They had no problem voting for budget extenders when they controlled the chamber.
- 2008: 9 days late/ 2 extenders
- 2004: 133 days late/ 12 extenders
- 2003: 42 days late/ 5 extenders
- 2002: 42 days late/ 8 extenders
- 2001: 125 days late/ 12 extenders
- 2000: 39 days late/ 3 extenders
- 1999: 126 days late/ 19 extenders
- 1998: 14 days late/ 4 extenders
- 1997: 126 days late/ 10 extenders
- 1996: 104 days late/ 14 extenders
- 1995: 68 days late/ 10 extenders
Plainly, Republican opposition to the budget extenders isn't about taking a principled stand. It's about showboating for voters and shirking tough decisions. It's playing politics with people's lives and jobs. New Yorkers deserve more.
Senate Democrats Are Fighting for Seniors and Home Owners
By Mike Connery on 04/26/2010 @ 11:12 AM
As the Senate prepares to pass another round of budget extenders, this morning's news is dominated by stories describing the Senate Democrats "hard line in the sand" around property tax relief for New Yorkers - particularly our seniors.
Very few of those stories provide context as to why we believe that property tax relief is so important, and why the Senate Democrats are standing firm in this fight. Here's some hard data that should illuminate things.
According to The Tax Foundation, a non partisan group based in Washington D.C., for over 30 years tax rates in New York have been well above the national average. In all but 4 years between 1977 and 2008, New York ranked #1 in the nation as the state with the highest state and local tax burden.
Data from the Tax Foundation also shows that Westchester, Rockland, and Nassau counties have the dubious distinction of being ranked among the top ten counties in the nation with the highest property taxes , with Westchester and Nassau ranked numbers one and three, respectively.
While downstate counties and those on Long Island face the highest property tax rates in the nation, upstate and Western New Yorkers account for 8 of the top 10 counties in median real estate taxes as a percentage of median home value:
These taxes are killing middle class families and seniors who are struggling to make it through the economic downturn. Right now, Senate Democrats are the only elected officials representing the concerns of these New Yorkers in the budget negotiations.
Depsite 44 years in power, Republicans failed to rein in property taxes and provide real relief for New Yorkers. As of today, Republicans have yet to submit any ideas on how to fix the budget. Instead, they prefer sitting on the sidelines, rooting for Democrats to fail so they can make political hay in the Fall. All of this should be noted in any story reporting on the current budget negotiations. Anything less fails to provide readers with a full picture of the current budget debate.
LaValle Flip Flops on Budget Extenders
By Mike Connery on 04/22/2010 @ 11:00 AM
Earlier this week, in a rambling speech that jumped from Albany dysfunction to schools and job creation, Ken LaValle flip-flopped on a vital budget extension vote, switching from a "yes" vote in previous weeks, and joining sixteen of his colleagues as a proud member of the Party of No.
LaValle complained about the tough choices Democrats made in slimming down the 2010-2011 budget, but his vote, if successful, would have cut funding immediately for all manner of jobs and vital services that New Yorkers rely on, including our troopers, guardsmen, corrections officers, nurses, and social service workers who care for our veterans, the homeless, and mentally disabled.
Beyond the immediate consequences of his vote, LaValle's age seems to be showing, as he's apparently forgotten about the 97 budget extenders and 11 late budgets passed during the Pataki/Bruno era of government:
- 2008: 9 days late/ 2 extenders
- 2004: 133 days late/ 12 extenders
- 2003: 42 days late/ 5 extenders
- 2002: 42 days late/ 8 extenders
- 2001: 125 days late/ 12 extenders
- 2000: 39 days late/ 3 extenders
- 1999: 126 days late/ 19 extenders
- 1998: 14 days late/ 4 extenders
- 1997: 126 days late/ 10 extenders
- 1996: 104 days late/ 14 extenders
- 1995: 68 days late/ 10 extenders
Would Senate Republicans Prefer a Government Shutdown?
By Mike Connery on 04/20/2010 @ 01:26 PM
Yesterday the State Senate voted to pass budget extenders that will fund the essential functions of government and protect vital services on which millions of New Yorkers depend. The budget extenders allow the state to continue paying our troopers, guardsmen, corrections officers, nurses, and social service workers who care for our veterans, the homeless, and mentally disabled. They provide funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and Unemployment.
Without these extenders, the state cannot function, and New Yorkers already struggling to make ends meet with take yet another hard hit. This is a big deal, with an immediate impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of the state's residents. So it's worth noting that 16 Republicans - as they have so often since they lost the majority - said 'No' to a functioning government, 'No' to services for their constituents, and 'No' to paying the first responders we rely upon in emergencies by voting against the budget extenders.
Here is the list of Republicans who voted against yesterday's bill. It's a wall of shame if ever there was one:
- John DeFrancisco
- John Flanagan
- Martin Golden
- Joe Griffo
- Kemp Hannon
- William Larkin
- Ken LaValle
- Tom Libous
- Carl Marcellino
- Michael Nozzolio
- Michael Ranzenhofer
- James Seward
- Dean Skelos
- Dale Volker
- George Winner
- Catharine Young
Here's my question. With so many New Yorkers struggling, and the state facing one of the biggest fiscal crises in recent memory, does this gang of 16 really think shutting down parts of the government and letting vital services lapse is a good idea? I wonder if their constituents would agree with their answer.
DeFrancisco Flips Out, Derails Budget Debate
By Mike Connery on 04/20/2010 @ 10:52 AM
John DeFrancisco is not one for nuance.
Yesterday, DeFrancisco took to the Senate floor to rail against Democrats for a robocall fielded in his district over the weekend. Unfortunately, DeFrancisco failed to make a crucial distinction. The call was fielded by the New York Senate Dems, not the Senate Majority Conference. The two have completely different staffs, and not a single minute was taken away from budget negotiations or other Senate business to work on the calls.
The same could not be said for DeFrancisco's politically-motivated tirade, which directly took time away from an important debate on the budget extension passed yesterday. The extenders provide crucial funding for our troopers, guardsmen, corrections officers, nurses, and social service workers who care for our veterans, the homeless, and mentally disabled.
The irony of the situation was lost on DeFrancisco, but that's not suprising. The economic well-being of New Yorkers was far from his mind - he was one of 14 16 Republicans to vote against the budget extenders.
New York Senate Dems Hits Republicans on Taxes and Budget
By Mike Connery on 04/16/2010 @ 05:26 PM
Yesterday was tax day, and once again hard-working New Yorkers sent too much of their tax dollars to Albany.
While New Yorkers continue to pay more than their fair share, Republicans are sitting on the sidelines, running from decades-long record of taxing, spending and borrowing away the financial stability of our state. To add insult to injury, they are refusing to participate constructively in the current budget process, and trying to blame Democrats for their own mess.
New York Senate Dems are determined to hold Republicans accountable for these actions.
Today we launched a series of robocalls into the districts of 14 Republicans who are ducking and dodging their record on taxes while the people of New York foot the bill. Calls were placed into the districts of Dean Skelos, Steve Saland, Hugh Farley, Roy McDonald, Owen Johnson, Kemp Hannon, John DeFrancisco, Tom Libous, Joe Robach, Michael Ranzenhofer, Ken LaValle, James Alesi, Frank Padavan and Joe Griffo.
Voters in each of those districts received a call informing them of their Senator's record on the budget and taxes, and asking them to call and ask their Senator to work with Democrats to resolve our state's budget crisis.
You can listen to a few of those calls below:
Dean Skelos
Kemp Hannon
Owen Johnson
Senate Republicans bear the brunt of responsibility for landing us in our current fiscal straits. They owe it to their constituents, and to all New Yorkers, to engage in good faith negotiations to help fix their mess.
We're not going to let them run from their record any longer.
Ed Note - We're still in beta and working out the hiccups, and this post was accidentally deleted from our system on Monday April 19th. A new copy was uploaded on Tuesday April 20.
Skelos Demands to Attend Budget Meetings (Except When He Doesn't)
By Mike Connery on 04/14/2010 @ 05:01 PM
Just last week Dean Skelos was complaining that no one invited him or his fellow Republicans to budget meetings:
Minority leader Dean Skelos, R-Long Island, referred to a recent meeting between Sampson, Gov. David Paterson and Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch at Peter Luger's steakhouse in Brooklyn. "I wasn't invited to that even for an appetizer," Skelos said.
Today, in response to an invitation from Leader Sampson to participate in budget meetings, Skelos is crying a different tune:
The stalemate over crafting a state budget is continuing in the Senate this morning with the latest episode centering on a leaders meeting and a rejection/call for conference committees.
Basically, Senate Democratic Majority Conference Leader John Sampson yesterday sent a letter to Republican Minority Dean Skelos inviting GOP leaders to a 1 p.m. meeting today.
The response boiled down to this: that’s a public relations stunt and why haven’t you convened conference committees like you are supposed to in which lawmakers from both parties discuss budget issues in public.
Republicans can complain about not being included in the budget process, or they can actively reject any constructive role in shaping the budget. They don't get to do both. Certainly not when our state is facing a fiscal emergency and the economic well-being of so many New Yorkers is on the line.
Earlier today I linked to an op-ed by Senate Majority Leader John Sampson calling out Republicans for their lack of ideas and good faith in this year's budget process. Sampson called Skelos and fellow Republicans "the Party of No Credibility," a play on the "Party of No." Seems like Republicans are all too happy to live up to those titles.
GOP: The Party of No Credibility
By Mike Connery on 04/14/2010 @ 12:01 PM
Majority Conference Leader John Sampson has an op-ed in today's Syracuse Post-Standard calling out Dean Skelos and do-nothing Republicans for their refusal to deal constructively with the state's budgetary problems.
In defending his conference’s habitual rejection of fiscally sound proposals, as well as his refusal to come forth with any offerings of his own, Sen. Skelos is continuing the negligent behavior that got New York into this mess in the first place.
During the Bruno-Skelos era of 1996 to 2008, the Republican Conference said “no” to an on-time budget 10 times, for total lateness of 819 days.
When they did manage to pass a budget, the document was hardly a model of fiscal integrity. From 1997 to 2008, outstanding state-related debt increased by 36 percent, from $33.1 billion to $51.6 billion. In other words, the annual bill for every man, woman and child in this state to service the debt increased from $166.16 to $276.14. Borrowing went up, property taxes skyrocketed and jobs left.
Despite this, when the Senate passed a resolution which — for only the third time in more than three decades — controlled spending, they again said “no,” along with their rejection of property tax relief for seniors and a restoration of funding for our state parks. And the very conference that included more than 300 new taxes in its last 10 budgets alone then said “no” to the Democrats’ rejection of $1.1 billion in new taxes and fees. When asked to provide an alternative plan, Sen. Skelos said — you guessed it — “no.”
While cloaking himself in the robes of “no,” one thing is clear: This self-anointed emperor not only has no clothes, he has turned the “party of no” into the “party of no credibility.”
Leader Sampson gets it exactly right. Looking back on their record, it's hard to take Republican indignation over the current budget troubles seriously. Senate Democrats are are the only ones in Albany willing to make tough choices on the budget, and one of the few proposing reforms that will fix a dysfunctional budgetary process. By contrast, Republicans are sitting on the side lines and playing the blame game.
Calcaterra Hits LaValle on Taxes
By Mike Connery on 04/07/2010 @ 04:30 PM
Behind the paywall at Newsday, Regina Calcaterra is hitting incumbent Ken LaValle over property taxes in Suffolk County:
State Sen. Ken LaValle is again running from his record, complaining about a lack of tax relief provided by lawmakers in Albany after voting against $291 million in property tax rebates for seniors.
LaValle today sent out a mass email that accused Senate leaders of doing nothing to pass a state budget. Little more than a week ago, LaValle voted against a proposal that would have provided the much-needed relief for seniors.
"After more than 30 years of voting for late budgets filled with gimmicks, one-shots, more spending and higher taxes and fees, Sen. LaValle is a couple of decades too late with his complaints," said Regina Calcaterra, D-New Suffolk, a candidate for state Senate from the First Senatorial District.
"Sen. Lavalle's Senate record during that time includes voting more than 500 times to increase taxes, fees or borrowing," Calcaterra said. "In fact, during Sen. LaValle's tenure, property taxes in Suffolk County have increased by more than 550 percent.
"For him to accuse others of blocking tax relief would be comical, were his budget votes in Albany for more than 30 years not so detrimental to residents of Eastern Suffolk County and all of New York," Calcaterra said.
"While acknowledging budget proposals so far are not perfect, Calcaterra said these problems are the result of decades of failed legislative leadership on budget issues. She is proposing significant reforms in financial reporting by state agencies and authorities, cuts in wasteful spending and greater efforts to restore fair share to Long Island taxpayers."
Republicans have presided over 44 years of corrupt deals, deficits and dysfunction. New Yorkers face one of the highest state and local tax rates in the nation, but Long Island residents in particular have suffered a heavy burden. Republicans like LaValle won't be able to run from that record this year.
The Budget Hypocrisy of Tom Libous
By Mike Connery on 04/07/2010 @ 02:26 PM
When it comes to the budget, the record of Senate Republicans is littered with tax hikes and out of control spending. Over the course of twenty years the Party of Joe Bruno delivered an on-time budget only twice – not to mention that they practically invented the accounting gimmicks that helped set our state on the path to financial ruin.
That's why it was surprising to see Republican Senator Tom Libous attacking Democrats over the weekend for delays in what is widely acknowledged as the most difficult and complex budget process in decades. After twenty-two years in the State Senate, there is little in Tom Libous' record – or that of the GOP as a whole -that is in any way reflective of a concern for fiscal responsibility.
In 1988, when Tom Libous was first elected to serve the people New York, our state’s budget was $39 Billion. Under his less-than-watchful eyes, spending ballooned by 197% over the next two decades. By 2008, when New Yorkers had finally had enough and threw out Joe Bruno and some his other cronies, the budget had nearly tripled to a whopping $116 billion.
Out of control spending and late budgets represent only one side of the ledger. In addition to letting spending go virtually unchecked, Tom Libous and the Senate Republicans literally balanced the state's checkbook on the backs of everyday New Yorkers, creating the unbearable tax burden that now threatens to bankrupt so many in this state.
Between 1990 and 2008, Tom Libous voted for a whopping 504 new state taxes and fees, reaching into the the pocket books of hard-working New Yorkers and robbing them of $29.2 billion. We in this state pay almost twice the national average in property taxes and face the highest state and local tax burden in the nation thanks in no small part to Tom Libous and the rest of his Republican buddies.
That's no record to be proud of and it sheds an interesting light on Libous' newfound fiscal hawkishness. It would be one thing if Libous and the rest of the Bruno Republicans in the Senate spent even a fraction of the time they exhaust attacking Democrats on actually working to find real bi-partisan solutions to the economic crisis we face. Instead, it has become clear that they have chosen political rhetoric over substantive results.
Since the beginning of the budget process, Libous and Senate Republicans have demonstrated a tremendous talent for shouting "No!" but have shown very little concern for solving the challenges facing New York today. They still have not even submitted a budget proposal of their own and recently voted unanimously to reject a tough but fair budget resolution proposed by the Democratic Majority.
The Democratic budget is not perfect – our financial situation calls for very tough choices – but it is a significant step towards putting New York back on the fiscally responsible track. It provides real property tax relief for seniors and homeowners, rejects over $1 billion in new taxes, and holds spending under the rate of inflation for only the third time in thirty years.
New Yorkers have already put up with forty-four years of Republican deals, deficits and dysfunction in Albany. Its time for Tom Libous to stop slinging mud and help clean up the mess he created.
Tough Budget Choices: Sampson Spars with Skelos
By Mike Connery on 04/02/2010 @ 02:26 PM
Watch John Sampson spar with Dean Skelos over the 2010 - 2011 budget. Democrats made tough but fair choices on the budget, preventing over $1 billion in tax increases and providing $500 million in property tax relief.
