Now that the 2014 legislative session is finished, the question is what got done?  During this session, high profile bills got passed – such as a new law allowing, in select circumstances, the medicinal use of marijuana.  Over the past four years, the budget was completed in time for the beginning of the new fiscal year, a streak unheard of in modern New York State history.

But what are lawmakers actually doing during the legislative session other than passing budgets and bills?  Thanks to my colleague, Bill Mahoney, the New York Public Interest Research Group has been reviewing the legislative process at the state Capitol.  Here are some tidbits from the most recent review:

658 bills passed both houses in 2014.  While this is a bit more than in the past two years, the overall historical trend in terms of bills passing has been down.  Since 1915, the four years that saw the fewest bills pass both houses are 2009, 2012,2013,and 2014.  It seems that a smaller number of two-house bills is a new reality in New York State.  There are several reasons this might be the case, and they seem to be rooted in both structural changes in the legislative process and in changes in the productivity and total output of legislation (for better or worse) of the state Legislature. Read the rest of this entry »

Now that the lackluster 2014 legislative session is in the books, New York’s elected officials turn their attention to November.  The statewide offices of governor, comptroller, and attorney general are all up.  All 213 legislative seats and 27 Congressional House of Representatives are up for a vote.

In addition, New Yorkers will have three questions on the ballot.  New Yorkers will vote to approve a bond act which will allow the state to borrow up to $2 billion to purchase classroom technology, access to the Internet, and to upgrade some school structures.  A second question will allow lawmakers to have access to legislation electronically, instead of only in printed form.

But the third question will likely be the most contentious:  Changes in New York State’s process for drawing legislative district lines.  Every ten years, New York is constitutionally required to adjust its legislative districts to reflect changes in the state’s population.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lawmakers are set to wrap up the scheduled end of the 2014 legislative session. Typically, this week is “show time” for lawmakers – hundreds of bills are likely to be approved, many more will fail.

One important bill that is seriously under consideration is the “Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products” Act. If approved the bill would establish a framework for identifying potentially harmful chemicals in everyday children’s apparel, toys and other consumer products. The type of chemicals would include those likely to be a carcinogen, severely toxic or cause significant health problems. Nine toxic chemicals and their compounds, including lead, benzene and arsenic, would be designated as “priority chemicals.” The legislation is designed to promote the removal of the most dangerous toxic chemicals—those that cause cancer, reproductive injuries and interfere with children’s development—from everyday children’s products and promote safe substitution. Read the rest of this entry »

With two weeks to go until the scheduled end of the 2014 legislative session, how’s it looking?  Despite the fact that the governor and state lawmakers will face the voters this November, increasingly the session looks like it will end with a whimper, not a bang.

There are even rumors that lawmakers will throw in the towel and just wrap things up this week instead of next week as scheduled.

Even though there has been a lot of public debate on important issues, it appears that lawmakers will hit the campaign trail without resolving them

For example, even though it was one issue that dominated debate, as of now it doesn’t look like there will be an agreement on the so-called DREAM Act. Read the rest of this entry »

The nation’s success hinges on the skills and knowledge of its people. Over the past century, the United States had advanced to the world’s leading nation – in terms of technology, finance,and in the broad accessibility to education.  But in order to maintain its advantages in entrepreneurship, technological prowess and civic engagement, the nation must continue to invest in its future generations.

The next generation of American leaders will be more diverse than ever before.  Much of the nation’s future success will come from immigrants – in the same way as it has since the founding of the nation.

Unfortunately, current federal and state laws prevent young people who are the children of undocumented immigrant parents from receiving financial aid for college. The nation’s leaders know that our future is tied to the success of young people – including those born of immigrant parents.  Yet, gridlock in Washington has stymied action.  Thus, the states need to expand financial aid access so that all who are otherwise capable can better afford going to college. Read the rest of this entry »