ALBANY—Not only have Democrats in the State Senate turned their back on Michael Bloomberg’s vision of school governance legislation, they’re mooning him.
Senators will act on a bill—called the “Better Schools Act”—that is stridently opposed by the mayor because it dilutes his influence over the school system by eliminating his ability to appoint a Read More
ALBANY—Three Democratic state senators walked out of the still-divided chamber this afternoon before their Democratic colleagues convened into a regular session. While it didn't have any effect on the session's outcome–there was no quorum, and as such, no bills were acted on–it was a very public show of disunity in a conference that looks Read More
ALBANY—One notable detail about the results of the State Senate’s debate on Andrew Cuomo’s government consolidation bill late yesterday was the final vote tally: the measure passed 46-16.
Several Republicans–including Minority Leader Dean Skelos–voted against the legislation. It has been touted as a way to lower property taxes, particularly in suburban areas.
“We Read More
ALBANY—One notable detail about the results of the State Senate's debate on Andrew Cuomo's government consolidation bill late yesterday was the final vote tally: the measure passed 46-16.
Several Republicans–including Minority Leader Dean Skelos–voted against the legislation. It has been touted as a way to lower property taxes, particularly in suburban areas.
"We Read More
ALBANY—Republicans in the State Senate will introduce amendments to Andrew Cuomo's local government consolidation bill to exempt libraries and fire districts, senators said.
The bill should be coming up in the chamber shortly. State Senator Hugh Farley, an upstate Republican, told me he was sponsoring the amendment to exclude library districts because "by and Read More
ALBANY—Republicans in the State Senate will introduce amendments to Andrew Cuomo’s local government consolidation bill to exempt libraries and fire districts, senators said.
The bill should be coming up in the chamber shortly. State Senator Hugh Farley, an upstate Republican, told me he was sponsoring the amendment to exclude library districts because “by and Read More
–compiled by Azi Paybarah and Jimmy Vielkind
ALBANY—Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith emerged from a three-hour closed-door conference with the last two members of his conference holding up an M.T.A. bailout bill and announced that they had reached an agreement with each other about what the legislation should contain. Now it's question of whether the Senate Democrats can get the governor Read More
ALBANY—Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith emerged from a three-hour closed-door conference with the last two members of his conference holding up an M.T.A. bailout bill and announced that they had reached an agreement with each other about what the legislation should contain. Now it’s question of whether the Senate Democrats can get the governor and Read More
ALBANY—The State Senate has distributed a draft copy of its M.T.A. bailout bill, and a spokesman said staffers plan to introduce it later today.
I obtained a copy early, and one thing that jumped out as an extra detail above the framework revealed Monday is the exact structure of the payroll tax: It Read More
