The state budget is done, save the governor’s signature on the final legislation. Late last night — or early this morning, to get all technical about it — the Assembly passed the last of the budget bills. The Senate passed the legislation earlier this week. Once Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the legislation, New York will […]
Senate
Posted inNews & Opinion
Lawmakers may have minimum wage deal
Statewide media organizations are reporting that state legislative leaders — what we New Yorkers used to call the “three men in a room” but now because of the power-sharing agreement in the Senate is actually the “four men in a room” — have reached an agreement to raise the minimum wage. A Bloomberg News article […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
New York gets tougher on guns
The State Senate passed a new ban on assault weapons Monday. The Assembly was still debating on Tuesday afternoon, but is almost certain to approve the legislation. The legislation grandfathers in military-style weapons already owned by New Yorkers, though they would be subject to a new permitting requirement. The assault weapons ban is part of […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Geraci confirmed as federal judge
The Senate has confirmed Frank Geraci as the new US District Court judge for the Western District of New York. Geraci has served as a County Court judge and acting state Supreme Court judge since 1999; judges often serve both roles in the state’s court system. Senator Chuck Schumer recommended Geraci for the judge position […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
O’Brien says he’ll conference with Dems
Soon-to-be State Senator Ted O’Brien says he’ll conference with Democrats, not the Independent Democratic Conference when he heads to Albany in January. “I feel an obligation to conference with the Democrats when I’m elected as a Democrat,” O’Brien said during a phone interview this afternoon. He said he’s had collegial conversations with IDC members Jeff […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Congress dumps ballast water provision
The Senate and House of Representatives have rejected a provision that would have weakened an important anti-invasive species regulation in New York state. Representative Louise Slaughter, who co-chairs the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, announced today that the Senate and House each passed a Coast Guard re-authorization bill. But the bill did not include language […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Now’s a good time to talk about FEMA cuts
During last night’s debate between Maggie Brooks and Louise Slaughter, WROC anchor Maureen McGuire asked the candidates whether, in light of Hurricane Sandy, they’d supporting cutting funding for or eliminating FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Both candidates said they want to keep FEMA intact and preserve its funding. But Brooks’ response had another element; […]
Posted inSpecial Sections
ELECTIONS 2012: O’Brien should win Senate slugfest
Republican State Senator Jim Alesi’s decision not to seek re-election set off a savage political scramble that only gets uglier and more personal as the election gets closer. The race between Democrat Ted O’Brien and Republican Sean Hanna for the 55th Senate District is about local representation, but also about control of the Senate. The […]
