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.

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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 »

Last week brought “good news and bad news” on the reform front.

During approval of the state budget in March, Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers agreed to create an option for candidates to obtain public financing for running for state Comptroller.  But that agreement was widely – and correctly – seen as inadequate.

The most obvious problem was that the plan relied on the much (and deservedly) maligned state Board of Elections to administer the program.  The plan stated that the Board will instantaneously set up a matching fund system and do it in time for the already-started 2014 election cycle!

Reformers wanted an independent “campaign finance board” to oversee the public financing system.  And they wanted to give this entity sufficient time to consider and issue regulations and develop the necessary procedures for shepherding and safeguarding the public money under its charge.  Yet the budget plan relied on the New York State Board of Elections to administer its newly formed matching fund program. Read the rest of this entry »