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Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise
Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise New York State lawmakers have voted to give themselves a significant pay raise days before Christmas, a move that would make them the highest paid in the country. Meeting for a special session in Albany on Thursday, Dec. 22, the legislature approved a bill that raises member pay by $32,000, bringing their total annual compensation to $142,000, beginning in 2023. The final vote in the Senate was 33 to 23 in favor, and 81 to 52 in the Assembly, WRGB reports. Every Republican in the Assembly voted against the pay hike. If the bill becomes law, it would also cap how much legislators can make…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Billions In New Taxes On Wealthy New Yorkers Proposed Billions In New Taxes On Wealthy New Yorkers Proposed
Billions In New Taxes On Wealthy New Yorkers Proposed New York’s lawmakers have proposed budgets that include nearly $7 billion in new and increased taxes on businesses and the rich. Over the weekend, both houses of the state legislature proposed the tax hike on New York’s wealthiest to help close the record $15 billion financial shortfall the state faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though New York is due to receive an influx of cash from President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill, legislators believe that the gap still needs to be closed and that the tax on the rich could aid that effort. New York is expected to receive approximately $23.5…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing
Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing Westchester County Executive George Latimer was the latest elected official to come down on utility and telecom companies for their poor response to Tropical Storm Isaias. Latimer spoke this week during a joint Senate and Assembly public hearing on the power and communication failures caused by the winds and rain Isaias brought as it ripped through the East Coast. Latimer made note that the region is still dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, and the outages came in the midst of a heatwave that saw temperatures approach 100 degrees. “(This is) outrageous in any time, but today,…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
New NY Law Would Allow Nursing Mothers To Delay Jury Duty New NY Law Would Allow Nursing Mothers To Delay Jury Duty
New NY Law Would Allow Nursing Mothers To Delay Jury Duty Can't get out of jury duty? Have a baby.  That's not a joke.  Nursing mothers may avoid jury duty in New York, thanks to state legislation passed this week in Albany by the Assembly and Senate. Women could delay jury duty for up to two years if they are breastfeeding a baby. If signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as expected, nursing mothers would need to provide a doctor's note to postpone jury duty. Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, a Bronx Democrat, sponsored the bill. 

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Adoptees Allowed Birth Certificate At 18 Under Historic Bill Passed By State Senate Adoptees Allowed Birth Certificate At 18 Under Historic Bill Passed By State Senate
Adoptees Allowed Birth Certificate At 18 Under Historic Bill Passed By State Senate The State Senate has passed an historic bill for adoptee rights. The bill allows any adoptee over the age of 18 to obtain a certified copy of their original birth certificate. Adoptees have not been able to get their records since the 1930s. Many of those put up for adoption said they never knew their official date of birth, where they came from or even their name at birth. Supporters said the bill is about equal rights, not about uncovering birth parents' names, which often can be found without a birth certificate through a DNA search. The Senate passed the bill in a 53-6 vote. The …

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Bills Introduced To Restore Tappan Zee Name To New Bridge Bills Introduced To Restore Tappan Zee Name To New Bridge
Bills Introduced To Restore Tappan Zee Name To New Bridge Few refer to the new Tappan Zee Bridge by its official name of the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, just as few called the old bridge by its designated name, the Malcolm Wilson Bridge, honoring another former New York governor. Now, two bills are moving through the state Assembly and Senate to nix any uncertainty. In effect, the bills say what most already do: it's the new Tappan Zee Bridge. Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, R-Brewster, the sponsor of the Assembly bill, amended his bill last month to mirror a Senate version sponsored by John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse.  "The future of my Assembly bill dep…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Hudson Valley Lawmakers Vote To Change State Primary Election Date Hudson Valley Lawmakers Vote To Change State Primary Election Date
Hudson Valley Lawmakers Vote To Change State Primary Election Date Hudson Valley lawmakers are pushing forward with a proposed bill to change the state primary election date from Tuesday, Sept. 11 to Thursday, Sept. 13 to ensure that all parties are able to get to the polls. Assemblymember Amy Paulin announced this week that she has voted to move the date, “out of respect for those who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as those celebrating Rosh Hashanah. “Voting is our most important civic duty, and having consistency in our primary date is important to encourage participation.  Nevertheless, in some years, it’s equally im…

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by Zak Failla