Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers are coming down the homestretch in the budget negotiations for the fiscal year starting April 1st. The budget negotiations have, so far, been typical in some ways and highly contentious in others.
The process has been typical in the way that virtually all decisions are being hammered out behind closed doors, with only an occasional public glimpse obtained during sham public joint conference “meetings.”
The substance of the budget has been contentious – at least in some areas. For example, the debate over the so-called New York DREAM Act has been marred by extreme political posturing. Read the rest of this entry »
This week, the nation focuses on America’s commitment to government openness during “Sunshine Week.” “Sunshine Week” makes it clear that it is important to maintain an open government, in order to ensure the proper relationship between public officials and the citizens they are pledged to serve.
The critical tool for holding policymakers accountable, as well as ensuring that the public is educated on policymaking, is the Freedom of Information Law. The Law operates on one basic concept – that government information should be accessible to the public. Without a strong open access law, it is virtually impossible for the public to adequately participate in, and monitor, governmental decision making. Read the rest of this entry »
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The failure of Albany to clean up its ongoing – and seemingly unending – ethics scandals was again in the news last week.
The most recent conviction was that of now-former Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr. Mr. Boyland has been in hot water with federal authorities for the past few years. He was first arrested in 2011 as part of an investigation into a bribing scandal in which a hospital executive paid several legislators for political favors. The executive was convicted of bribing Boyland and others, but Boyland escaped conviction when prosecutors could not show that Boyland had done anything illegal, even though he had been a well-paid consultant for the hospital.
Three weeks after the acquittal, prosecutors revealed evidence showing Boyland asking for money. In that revelation, undercover agents with the FBI released evidence in which Boyland discussed how influential he was in making deals happen in Brooklyn. In one video, Boyland accepted $7,000 in cash. Read the rest of this entry »
There is a lot in New York State’s budget that is important. Children need schooling, the poor and the sick need to be taken care of, the roads and bridges need repair, the public needs to be protected, and the courts need to administer justice.
But there are some things in the budget which are worth fighting for and not accepting “no” for an answer.
One of those issues deals with health insurance.
Two years ago the Cuomo Administration issued a report examining the issue of “surprise medical bills.” A surprise medical bill is when a consumer who has done everything reasonably possible to use in-network hospitals and doctors, but nonetheless receives a bill from a specialist or other provider whom the consumer did not or could not know was out-of-network. The report called for action to protect consumers from this practice. Read the rest of this entry »
Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week to tackle the big issue of the session: approving a state budget. As part of that $140 billion plus decision, lawmakers will be forced to also debate a key issue: reforming the state’s campaign finance and ethics laws.
For at least 30 years, New York governors have called for sweeping campaign finance reforms. New York has the highest campaign contributions of any state with limits. Its disclosure requirements are weak and its enforcement essentially non-existent.
But for all that talk, Governors Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson achieved virtually no reforms. Lots of talk, no real action. Read the rest of this entry »
