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Past Events

Events

     
  • >> Healthier Choice: Market-Based Reforms for New York's Uninsured

    September 22, 2009 08:30AM - 10:30AM
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  • >> Rightsizing New York's Budget: Why and How It Can Be Done

    December 09, 2008
    With a budget shortfall of $12.5 billion projected for 2009-10, New York's state government faces its most significant fiscal crisis in decades. However, this is not just another cyclical downturn. What's left of Wall Street will be significantly leaner, less profitable, and more heavily regulated than the securities industry whose explosive growth fueled the expansion of state spending for much of the past 25 years.
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  • >> Empire Center Policy Forum Focuses on Taylor Law

    October 16, 2007
    Enacted 40 years ago during an era of public-sector labor unrest, New York's Public Employees Fair Employment Act--better known as the Taylor Law--was designed to balance the broad public interest and the narrower interests of unionized government workers. But while strikes and other job actions have become rare events, municipal and school officials say the Taylor Law--in combination with other public labor statutes--now unduly favors unions at taxpayer expense.
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  • >> Can Upstate Cities Save Themselves?

    June 06, 2007
    Albany Institute of History & Art (Key Cultural Center) 125 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12205
    While New York's dominant downstate city is flourishing, many of its upstate cities are still struggling to emerge from a downward spiral. Is now the time for a turnaround? A distinguished panel of urban scholars and experts gathered in Albany June 6 to discuss how upstate cities can resurrect themselves.
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  • >> Boosting Accountability in New York's Schools

    March 08, 2007
    Senate Minority Caucus Room, State Capitol ,
    How to Meet the Governor's Historic Challenge Governor Spitzer has proposed an historic education-reform package that includes a ringing call for greater accountability in New York's schools. But this will require an overhaul of the State's current educational accountability system, which is simply not designed to accomplish the goals the governor has laid out.
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  • >> Book Forum: Kay S. Hymowitz

    March 01, 2007
    University Club, Albany 141 Washington Avenue Albany, NY
    In her new book, 'Marriage and Caste in America:Separate and Unequal Families in a Post-Marital Age,' Kay S. Hymowitz examines how the marriage revolution that began 40 years ago has turned us into a nation of separate and unequal families. Her book proposes that American marriage is designed to further 'The Mission' - the shaping of children into self-reliant citizens and workers. Alarmingly, however, while the children of married parents tend eventually to become married parents themselves, the children of single parents often do not. The result, writes Hymowitz: a vicious cycle engendering 'two Americas,' one marriage-minded, one not; one economically successful, the other perpetually struggling.
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  • >> The Impact of Welfare Reform in New York

    October 26, 2006
    A distinguished panel of national, state and local policy experts gathered Oct. 26 in Albany to discuss the impact of the landmark 1996 Welfare Reform Act. Featured topics included how well reform was implemented in the Empire State and what the next governor can do to further promote effective change.
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  • >> Health Policy Issues and Options for New York: What Can We Learn from Other States?

    September 26, 2006
    Some of the nation's top health policy experts gathered in Albany on Sept. 26 to share ideas on how to curb health care expenses, improve health care services and expand access to health insurance in New York State. Featured topics included innovative Medicaid reforms in Florida and Kentucky, the Massachusetts health insurance reform plan, the pitfalls of a Canada-style universal health plan, and the potential benefits of expanding consumer health care choices.
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  • >> Prop 1 Debate

    October 11, 2005
    Debate on New York Ballot Proposal One. Proposal One on New York's statewide Nov. 8 ballot would amend the state Constitution to eliminate the existing requirement for state legislators to act on the governor's annual budget Executive Budget before initiating their own appropriation bills. It would provide for an automatic contingency budget, subject to legislative amendment, whenever a new budget is not enacted before the start of a fiscal year.
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  • >> Breaking the Budget in New York State

    September 20, 2005
    WHAT: In a statewide referendum this November, voters throughout New York State will determine the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce the budget-making powers of the governor's office while strengthening the hand of Albany's legislative leaders. The implications of such a change will be explored by distinguished speakers starting with former Governor Hugh L. Carey, one of the most successful and effective chief executives in New York State's history.
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  • >> The Campaign for Fiscal Equity Case:

    June 14, 2005
    Is Justice Leland DeGrasse's remedy really the last word in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case? Our panelists will discuss why the Legislature is constitutionally free to consider other approaches.
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  • >> Consumer-Driven Health Care: A Cure for New York's Health Care Woes?

    May 26, 2005
    Health care costs are exploding, the ranks of the uninsured are growing, Medicaid is straining taxpayers, and consumers are paying the price. The policy response to these problems has been the same for years: more government programs, more government spending, and more government price controls and cost-shifts. Yet more of the same has brought us . . . more of the same. Is there another way?