Smith, Upstate Senators Want Regional Blueprint Funds For Upstate

by: robert.harding

Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 07:25:38 AM EDT

On April 9, 2008, Governor David Paterson announced that his own version of the upstate revitalization plan would be included in the budget. Instead of $1 billion, the plan was cut to $700 million. In the press release announcing the plan, the Regional Blueprint Fund is outlined:

Regional Blueprint Fund ($120 million): Reflecting the need to move away from a "one-size-fits-all" approach to Upstate economic development, the Enacted Budget creates a $120 million Regional Blueprint Fund, which will be used to take advantage of the unique assets in each part of New York. This fund will be administered by the Empire State Development Corporation and will build on Regional Blueprint sessions held last fall to identify projects that will enhance each specific Upstate area's economic advantages.

After reviewing Spitzer's upstate plan and Paterson's upstate plan, there are a couple of differences. But what was also included in Paterson's plan that received very little attention was $35 million for a "downstate revitalization fund" that was included in Paterson's upstate plan.

Why is that important? A year after Paterson announced his own plan for upstate, that $120 million that was supposed to be invested in upstate has been held up by Gov. Paterson. Instead of using it as a Regional Blueprint Fund, Paterson wants to combine it with the "downstate revitalization fund" and use those monies for projects all across the state. While all the money won't go to downstate, it all won't go to upstate either.

The five upstate Democratic senators - Sen. Neil Breslin, Sen. Darrel Aubertine, Sen. David Valesky, Sen. Bill Stachowski and Sen. Antoine Thompson - came together with Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith to write a letter to Governor Paterson calling on him to release these funds that were promised to upstate. You can read the letter here.

This is important and this won't be the last time you hear about this issue during the week. When last year's budget was announced, Governor Paterson took advantage of the $700 million he set aside for upstate and used it for his political gain. There were conference calls (which I took part in at the time) where Paterson touted this plan for upstate. In that plan was the Regional Blueprint Fund, which he said would be in the 2008-09 budget and in the 2009-10 budget.

But now, Paterson is trying to play games with the funds. That $120 million could go a long way for upstate New York. It could also help Paterson at a time when he is struggling throughout the state and in upstate New York.

Release the funds, Governor Paterson. Upstate needs them. This money was promised to upstate by you in last year's budget. Don't go back on your word.  

Three Men In A Room Reach Budget Deal

by: robert.harding

Sun Mar 29, 2009 at 20:38:40 PM EDT

Governor David Paterson announced tonight that a deal has been reached with Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The deal includes several spending cuts, a tax hike on the wealthiest New Yorkers and reforms to Medicaid that are being touted as necessary changes to the system.

"Over the last year, New York faced a historic fiscal crisis that tested our resolve. But by working together cooperatively with our partners in the Legislature, we made the tough choices necessary to address that challenge through shared sacrifice and responsible budgeting," said Governor Paterson. "The agreement we are announcing today closes the largest deficit in State history, stabilizes our finances, and institutes critical reforms that will help eliminate waste and inefficiency in our government. We have produced a budget that provides a solid foundation to move forward and address the challenges ahead. We have accomplished this with a budget that holds government accountable to the people of New York, and protects those who can not protect themselves."

There are several items in the budget that were cut, but then restored thanks to funding from the federal stimulus package. Some of these items include funding for public schools, which would have been slashed $1.1 billion under the Deficit Reduction Plan. But in the budget, there will actually be a $405 million increase in aid - a modest increase, but better than the original cut that was proposed.

There will be $2.3 billion in cuts to health care in New York, which is a lower figure than the proposed $3.5 billion in cuts that Governor Paterson was aiming for in his Executive Budget. Among items in the health care portion of the budget are reforms to the Medicaid hospital reimbursement system.

Here are some of the other highlights (you can also read the full list below the fold):

- The budget will expand the bottle bill, albeit slightly. So far, all that is being expanded is bottled water. Based on the summary given, that doesn't seem to include drinks like Gatorade, which do not have deposits on them. Even with the inclusion of bottled water, the state is expected to gain $115 million with that move.

In addition, the state will retain 80 percent of unclaimed deposits. In the past, bottlers kept 100 percent of unclaimed deposits.

- One of the more talked about changes this year is the STAR rebate program. The budget will eliminate the STAR rebate program along with the enhanced New York City STAR tax credit, which is a $1.5 billion savings to the state.

However, the STAR exemption program and the New York City STAR credit will remain in tact and still provide $3.3 billion in property tax assistance to New York's taxpayers.

- It's not Fair Share Tax Reform, but it's a lot better than nothing. Overall, the budget will produce $5.3 billion in revenues from taxes and fees. Among those taxes and fees are two new tax levels that will produce $4 billion in revenue. This is how it breaks down:

- From 2009 to 2011, married couples filing jointly will pay the following rates:
      - Income over $300,000: 7.85 percent
      - Income over $500,000: 8.97 percent

Again, you can read the full summary below the fold.

The budget is far from perfect. A lot of what was cut in Governor Paterson's proposal was still slashed, but it was also saved by the economic stimulus package funding the state received. Still, there are plenty of individuals and groups in this state that will be in quite a bind, including schools. So while having an on-time budget is a feel-good story, the impact of this budget still will leave plenty of New Yorkers hurting.

Democratic Senate Majority Proposes Rules Reforms; Groups Respond

by: robert.harding

Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 20:12:07 PM EST

Some of the rules changes that the Democratic Senate proposed include (from Liz):

- Ending the use of "canvass of agreement" where individual votes of members are not recorded for motions to discharge bills from committee and amendments to bills.

- Allowing debate for motions to discharge and allowing them to be brought 20 days, not 60 days, after a request for their release from committee has been made.

- Allowing open sponsorship of bills, which means any senator - minority or majority - can co-sponsor legislation without the prime sponsor's permission.

- Requiring any bill that imposes criminal or civil penalties to pass through the Codes Committee.

This can be seen as a positive first step, but there needs to be more. Earlier today, five good government groups came together and sent a memo to the New York State Senate Democratic Majority asking them to go further with their reforms.

Brennan Center for Justice
Common Cause/New York
Empire Center for New York State Policy
League of Women Voters of New York State
New York Public Interest Research Group

STRENGTHEN THE SENATE'S PROPOSED RULES
Our organizations, strong supporters of rules reform, urge that the Rules of the Senate for 2009 be further strengthened. We understand that complete revision of the Rules and Procedures properly requires a bi-partisan deliberative process and that the Senate must immediately adopt rules to be able to address the fiscal challenges outlined by the Governor. Nevertheless, the rules that are under consideration today can, and should, reflect the commitment to reform and a more open Senate procedure contained in recent comments by both the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders.

We appreciate that the changes in the Rules as currently proposed-easing discharge motions, eliminating canvass of agreement, and allowing minority co-sponsorship-are a step forward, but, we believe, need further strengthening in order to reflect the promise of wholesale procedural reform that many members and the leadership of both conferences have made, as recently as this past week, to the public. A strong commitment to broader reform requires, at the very least, immediate changes to the rules in the area of transparency and procedures governing committee function. We urge you to adopt the following changes to the proposed rules.

You can read the proposal below the fold.

This committee will be holding public hearings statewide. If you have a chance to attend a public hearing (I know I will as soon as the information is available), urge them to look over the Brennan Center report and implement the recommendations that the Brennan Center made. If they want real change to the process in the New York State Senate, they should take a serious look at implementing the Brennan Center's recommendations.

This is a good first step by the new Senate majority, but there needs to be more. Hopefully there will be more as a result of this committee.

Senate Majority Leader Smith Meets With Buffalo-Area Leaders

by: robert.harding

Fri Jan 09, 2009 at 12:06:40 PM EST

Sen. Smith met with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Sen. Bill Stachowski and Sen. Antoine Thompson to talk about these issues and the plan of action moving forward.

Newly elected State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and Senators William Stachowski and Antoine Thompson met today with Mayor Byron Brown in Buffalo to discuss concerns facing Upstate, as well as ways the new Senate Majority can work with local leaders to spur economic revitalization. The visit comes less than 48 hours after Smith was elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, the first Democrat to hold that position in 43 years.

The change in leadership also means that Stachowski and Thompson will now lead powerful committees and be able to steer legislation that will benefit Western New York and all of Upstate.

At the meeting, the officials spoke about the Senate Majority's commitment to Upstate New York, and discussed ways to work together to grow the Upstate economy and revitalize cities like Buffalo so they can once again be the economic engines of Upstate New York.

"Revitalizing the Upstate economy is a top priority of the new Majority and has been the mission of Mayor Brown's administration," said Senator Smith.  "Senate Democrats are committed to working with local leaders to develop a thoughtful plan to get our economy back on track through job creation and economic development. We must attract businesses, improve economic opportunities for working families and keep our children in the communities in which they grew up by making good paying jobs available to them after they graduate from college," said Smith.

Among the economic development proposals discussed were:

   * Utilizing the many natural advantages of Upstate, such as open space, diverse agriculture, and waterways to expand and develop new alternative energies and secure Upstate as the green energy jobs and technology hub of the Northeast.
   * Constructing high speed rail that would better connect urban and rural communities and foster increased trade.
   * Retrofitting existing manufacturing companies to meet the needs of future technology to prevent a further loss of jobs.
   * Linking rural agriculture with city consumers and promoting New York produced and built products in neighboring states.
   * Cleaning up brownfields to get these properties back on the tax rolls and available for business.

Mayor Brown said, "We have achieved significant progress in Buffalo over the past three years, and now that we have strong voices like Senators Stachowski and Thompson able to lead legislation and initiatives through the State Senate , we look forward to their ability to breathe new life into many of our initiatives. Economic growth and a revitalized, 21st Century economy are top priorities of my Administration and I look forward to partnering with the new Senate Majority, as well as Governor Paterson and the Assembly Majority to continue the great progress that is taking place in Buffalo."

Senator Stachowski, Chairman of the Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee said, "It is a new State Senate, and we will hold Albany accountable to the residents of Western New York. People have talked for years about economic growth even as our economy was hemorrhaging. As the new Chairman of a powerful committee that has particular importance to Buffalo's economic growth, I am optimistic as we partner with Mayor Brown and other local leaders to deliver results."

Senator Thompson, Chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee said, "I am very excited and honored to be part of the new Democratic Majority in the New York State Senate.  Being a part of the majority will enable me to advocate for all issues facing Western New York, especially environmental issues as the chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee."

"The residents of Buffalo, Utica, Massena and every city, town and village in between deserve an economy that works for them. My colleagues and I are committed to doing that," concluded Senator Smith.

I published the whole press release because there is a lot of information there and plenty of good information to go off. This won't be the last meeting you will see featuring Sen. Smith. He plans on traveling throughout the state to meet with leaders and create a plan for New York's future.

Senate Majority Leader Smith To Meet With Mayor Driscoll, Sen. Valesky

by: robert.harding

Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 10:05:48 AM EST

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith will be meeting with Sen. Valesky and Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll today to discuss "local concerns and opportunities to revitalize the economy." During this meeting, Sen. Smith will announce Sen. Valesky's "new leadership position."

This is a great start for Senate Majority Leader Smith. When he was on the campaign trail, he touted this idea of "One New York." When the Republicans were campaigning on the concept of upstate versus downstate, Smith and the Democrats were campaigning on the idea that, if Democrats were to ascend to power in the Senate, they would embrace all New Yorkers and united us instead of divide us. That journey starts today in Syracuse.

Based on the placement of Democratic senators in upstate New York, I am certain we will see Senate Majority Leader Smith come to the Buffalo area to visit with Sen. Bill Stachowski and Sen. Antoine Thompson. I'm sure he will also visit with Sen. Darrel Aubertine up in the North Country and talk to Sen. Neil Breslin as well.

I would also love to see Senate Majority Leader Smith stop into some rural counties. There are plenty of counties here in New York that don't have Democratic representation in the Senate, but that shouldn't stop Sen. Smith from stopping in for a "listening tour" of sorts.

This is a new era in New York State politics. It hopefully will be a positive step toward reform and improving New York and turning this great state around.  

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith Reacts To Governor Paterson's Address

by: robert.harding

Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 16:24:33 PM EST

This is what newly-elected Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith had to say about today's address:

"Today, Governor Paterson gave his first State of the State address on a historic day for New York, a day during which the Senate was convened with its first Democratic majority in 43 years.  But it was a bittersweet moment for us all - while we note the milestones that have been achieved, we are mindful of the dire fiscal times we're facing, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.

Across this great state, New York families are hurting.  Unemployment and poverty are rising and healthcare coverage is disappearing.  And, we're grappling with the biggest budget deficit in decades.  Now more than ever before, we need to come together to get our state back on track and help ease the burden on hardworking men and women.

In his address, Governor Paterson laid out an ambitious and forward-looking agenda for the year ahead. From balancing the budget, strengthening our healthcare system to improving schools and creating jobs - the Governor has set the right priorities for this legislative session.

We've been energized by the Governor's ambitious initiatives in infrastructure and clean energy; overhauling our economic development initiatives; reforming our Empire Zones; and his specific mention of Rockefeller Drug Law Reform.

We are eager to get to work with the Governor and our legislative colleagues to achieve these goals and get New York moving again."

Governor Paterson's address was solid. As I said in my post earlier, there is plenty to agree with and other things to disagree with. But overall, it was a great starting point. He set forth plenty of goals and a lot of those goals are things that both houses of the Legislature should work towards in the 2009 session.