Democrats battle Republicans over Immigration reforms

Having given a State of the Union address in November on possible reforms for the remainder portion of his presidential term, Obama discussed about immigration reforms for the near future. President Obama seeks to rebuild a immigration system which he describes as broken. This reform is mostly aimed at the millions of immigrants in the U.S, and children who become legal by virtue of their parents. On that faithful day Obama stated "Pass a bill. I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution...Meanwhile, don’t let a disagreement over a single issue be a deal breaker on every issue". A Republican bill to fund the Department of Homeland security has been flagged down by the Democrats for the second day. The bill aimed at undoing the reform plans of president Obama was voted upon by the Republican party in need 6 extra votes from Democrats. However they failed to get the remainder of the needed votes as it is stopped by Democrats. Senator John McCain who is a Republican in Arizona as well as other Republicans warn that it is absurd that such bill have to be passed twice in other to get approval. On the other hand, Democrats argue that the President's action plan should stand rather than have regulations that interrupts the executive actions.
 
What does this signify for New York State? According to Division of Immigrants and Politics Affairs, about 50% of immigrants in New York State make up the work force, which is significantly important for the growing part of the economy. According to the same source “The 10 New York City neighborhoods with the highest level of immigrant residents had stronger economic growth than the rest of the city between 2000 and 2007”. What will be the effect if there is a successful pass of the Republican bill? Will there be a reduction in the growth of the economy for some of these states? Or will Democrats continue to flag down such bills and protect the already influx of immigrants? These are some of the questions that both political analysts and Party representatives will have to confront in the future. 

News sources: 
  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/us/politics/senate-democrats-again-block-homeland-security-funding-tied-to-immigration.html?ref=politics

Obama's speech:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-obamas-immigration-speech/2014/11/20/14ba8042-7117-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html

NY state immigration stats:  http://www.labor.ny.gov/immigrants/
 

A New Tappan Zee Bridge

In the 2015 Opportunity Agenda Plan, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated a drastic need to address statewide infrastructure investments.  The Hudson Valley recognizes how important bridges are because they serve as a connection to the west side of the Hudson River to the eat side, an essential link to New York City.  Although maintaining and preserving the infrastructures of the state are extremely important, the state’s budget does not allocate much money to be spent on bridge upkeep.

The Tappan Zee Bridge, one of New York State’s major infrastructures, connects Rockland County and Northern New Jersey to Westchester County and New York City.  The bridge was initially opened on December 15, 1955, making it fifty-nine years old.  The bridge was originally constructed to last fifty years based on the materials used.  The original plan was also to reconstruct the bridge to meet the needs of the increased traffic patterns.  Currently, 138,000 vehicles travel over the bridge daily, making it one of the most traveled roads in the area.  Governor Cuomo states that it is inexcusable that New York has a bridge that was on the History Channel’s “Crumbling America.”  Many have referred to the Tappan Zee as a “hold your breath bridge” because engineers believe it could collapse instantaneously with the occurrence of any small earthquake or structural accident.

With a price tag of 3.9 billion dollars to reconstruct the bridge, New York State has resorted to taking out a federal loan to help pay for the construction of the bridge.  On top of the federal loan, Governor Cuomo is using nearly 500 million dollars in taxpayer’s money to fund the project, which will be used primarily before the federal loan. The planned construction on the Tappan Zee Bridge is to be completed by the end of 2017; however, there is still a large amount of money that needs to be distributed to the reconstruction project.  It is a possibility that the already high toll prices will increase, but ultimately, the Thruway Authority and Governor Cuomo need to produce a plan in order to come up with a way to pay for the remainder of the 3.9 billion dollar bridge reconstruction.

Information found at:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/09/26/tappan-zee-bridge-spending/16293433/

http://www.newnybridge.com/about/index.html

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/2015-opportunity-agenda-restoring-economic-opportunity-2

Picture from:

http://www.nyclu.org/regions/lower-hudson-valley/lhv-e-newsletter-winter-2012-directors-au-revoir

Heastie Replaces Silver as Speaker

On Tuesday at 11 A.M. the New York State Assembly was called to vote for a new Speaker. Representative Carl Heastie, a democrat from the 83rd assembly district which is located in the Bronx. Heastie's appointment to the Speakership marks a historic day for he is the first African-American to hold the New York State Speakership. When mounting the podium for the first time he was taken back and only said "Wow".

Yet the celebrations are going to be short lived with many asking how to move forward with the controversy of Sheldon Silver and the allegations against him. A push for ethical reform has been established and Speaker Heastie has pushed for more democracy in the Assembly and stronger regulations on how much outside income Assembly members can receive. With this many have hope that a stronger ethics law or even an office may be put into place for the NewYork State Assembly.

The first order of business for the new Speaker is the budget process. This will be his first challenge and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds. Will we continue to see the "Three men in a room" exchange that has plagued New York State politics for 20 years now? Or will we finally get to see some transparency on certain assembly functions.

One move that will help him gain some respect and influence over his democrats and other members of the Assembly is his upstate tour. He is planning on traveling upstate New York to gain information on what are the needs outside of his distract and especially the tri-state area. With this hopefully we will see policy changes that will be for the good of upstate New York.

Time will tell if Heastie will be a breathe of fresh air for the Assembly or just another authoritative leader.

Source:http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/On-Tuesday-lawmakers-will-pick-Heastie-to-lead-6058541.php

College Education for Inmates?

 Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided to drop his plan to use state money to pay for inmates to have college classes. Many other politicians, lawmakers, and voters persuaded Cuomo to drop his plan of using public money to pay for inmate’s college classes, as a means to avoid political controversy over the subject. Governor Cuomo shortly made a statement saying that he understands the appearance of his plan and how it looked to the public but does not agree with their decision not to help pay. Paying for inmates to have college level classes would only cost a small amount of money, around $1 million. The amount may seem large and unnecessary, but is slim when you compare it to the $2.8 billion budget New York State spends through its corrections agency. Although Cuomo has dropped his plan to use public money to pay for college classes, they are still offered in over a dozen state prisons. The college programs that are currently in state facilities are funded by private money donations. A study was conducted by RAND Corporation; found that inmates who have received college classes in prison have had a smaller chance of returning to prison. New York State currently spends on average, $60,000 per year for one inmate and it will cost about $5,000 a year per inmate, for college classes to be offered in prisons across the state. Each inmate would be able to obtain his or her associates or bachelors while in prison, for free. New York’s current recidivism rate is 40%. It is believed that with the offering of college classes that this can be decreased. Governor Cuomo’s intention to use public money was to increase the amount of inmates receiving these classes. While Cuomo was still pushing for college classes in prisons, lawmakers across New York State started petitions to stop him. Many politicians used the term “Hell no to Attica University” to make their point clear on this topic. Unfortunately giving a free education to criminals does not get the support of the public. Although it looks good on paper and may help in the long run, in the public’s eye and other politicians, it’s unfair. Not just unfair to current students paying absurd amounts of money to attend school but also students who cannot afford to go to college that want to.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/03/nyregion/cuomo-drops-plan-to-use-state-money-to-pay-for-college-classes-for-inmates.html

Cuomo's 2015 Opportunity Agenda

           With his most recent victory in the 2014 gubernatorial election over Rob Astorino (R), Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) is ready to jumpstart his new term.  Cuomo’s 2015 Opportunity Agenda plan outlines a few key proposals to restore New York State’s economy through lowering small business taxes and improving mass transportation, particularly in the airports.

            Since the financial crisis of 2009, New York State’s economy has struggled to bounce back. Economic opportunity for small businesses has struggled as large corporations have swallowed them up. The Opportunity Agenda of 2015 has thirty-four proposals to increase economic opportunity and wealth within the state. The first proposal is to decrease small business taxes from 6.5% to 2.5%. Reducing the small business taxes to 2.5% makes it the lowest small business tax rate since 1917. With 98% of New York State Employment coming from small businesses, decreasing taxes could benefit and stimulate the economy.

            The State of New York is one of the most technologically advanced states in the United States; however, transportation has seen little improvement in the last few decades. “John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia International Airports create nearly 350,000 jobs, create $18 billion in wages, and generate more than $50 billion in economic activity”(Governor). It’s about time that New York does something to improve mass transportation in the state. Modernizing the “worst rated airport in the country”(Governor) is of high importance for Governor Cuomo. An estimated eighty million passengers travel through the two airports every year, so renovating the airports to become a pleasurable travel experience is a priority. While also improving the airport terminals, many of the improvements also include the Air-Tran, which will connect to the subway, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads.

            With a price tag of $17 billion dollars to be put towards infrastructure, transportation, and developing natural recourses, a lot of money will be designated to spend on improving means of travel. Renovating the airports will create both short term and long term jobs, boost economic growth in the area and provide a better experience for New Yorkers and visitors. The 2015 Opportunity Agenda Plan is a bold outline of where Cuomo wants to take New York State. With many priorities on top of his list, it should be interesting to see which one he starts the 2015 year with.

           

Information retrieved from: http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/2015-opportunity-agenda-restoring-economic-opportunity-7

Picture from:  http://queens.brownstoner.com/tag/jfk-airport/

The New York State Comptroller

Thomas P. DiNapoli is the current Comptroller (54^th Comptroller). He has been the Comptroller since 2007. Something interesting about DiNapoli is that he become the first eighteen years old in New York State to hold public office, he has elected as a trustee of the Mineola Board of Education. DiNapoli is known for his “integrity, independence and steadfast leadership” (Biography).

The State Comptroller is the “fiscal officer who ensures that the State and local governments use taxpayer money effectively and efficiently to promote the common good” (Responsibilities).  The “common good” includes the public authorities (like for example infrastructure). The responsibilities of the Comptroller include reporting on state finances, managing and issuing State debt, reviewing State contracts and payments, conducting audits, overseeing the fiscal affairs of local government (including New York City), maintains the State’s accounting system and administering the payroll (app. $15 billion), and trains and provides technical support to improve government operations at al levels (Responsibilities).

Some other interesting responsibilities that the State Comptroller are that acting as sole trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund ($176.8 billion), which is a newer duty as of March 31, 2014 and the Oversees the Justice Court Fund and Oil Spill Fund. Also, the State Comptroller is in charge of the unclaimed funds and making sure those funds get to their owner. On the Office of the State Comptroller website there is even a place were you can see if there is unclaimed funds in your name (or organization) and feel free at check at https://ouf.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/.  

One of DiNapoli’s goal is more transparency and accountably. One way he plans providing this to the people of New York is the Open Book (I was unable to actually get on the website but there is a link to a video). The Open Book let’s people look at where their tax money is going and can see state contracts as well.  This should also help with making people more informed and hold their officials more accountably.

Video link about open book: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/openbook/obvideo.htm

Sources:

Biography. Office of the State Comptroller. Retrieved from http://www.osc.state.ny.us/about/bio.htm

Responsibilities. Office of the State Comptroller. Retrieved from http://www.osc.state.ny.us/about/response.htm