#NYCovidCrisis: As the old saying goes, the stock market is not the economy—but in New York, it's an extra-big chunk of the economy, and of the state tax base as well. The ongoing pandemic-driven carnage on Wall Street is a big reason why Albany's tax receipts are expected to fall at least $7 billion short of Governor Cuomo's original budget estimate for FY 2021. Read More
#NYCorona: If recent history is any guide, the strings attached to federal coronavirus funding should be less of a problem for New York than Cuomo seems to think. Almost identical restrictions were placed on extra Medicaid money sent to states during the Great Recession, and they did not prevent then-Governor Paterson from enacting cuts to Medicaid. Read More
#NYCoronavirus : New York has emerged as the nation's coronavirus hot spot, with more diagnosed cases per million than any other state. It has 294 cases per million residents, about seven times the national level, according to an analysis of data gathered by Johns Hopkins University. Read More
#NYCoronavirus: In the emerging nationwide economic and financial crisis, New York is going to run out of cash more rapidly than most states—and Governor Cuomo can't say he wasn't warned of Albany's extreme vulnerability on this front Read More
#NYCoronavirus: The obvious place to start cutting state and local budgets will also help minimize disruption to public services in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Read More
#NYCoronavirus: Amid the legislative confusion generated by the coronavirus crisis in New York, the biggest budget question in Albany surrounds the biggest single item in the State Operating Funds (SOF) budget: school aid. Read More
#NYCoronavirus: Tightening eligibility for Medicaid home care and implementing a further across-the board rate reduction are among 41 cost-cutting measures being contemplated by Governor Cuomo's Medicaid Redesign Team, according to a draft executive summary obtained by the Empire Center. Read More
#NYCoronavirus: Thanks to the coronavirus emergency, New York State tax revenues in the coming fiscal year will be $4 billion to $7 billion lower than projected, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimates. Read More
#NYCoronavirus: As they struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak on the eve of their budget deadline, the state's elected leaders have run out of good options for dealing with Medicaid. Read More
Barely one in five private construction workers in New York State was covered by a union contract last year, according to newly released statistics that call into question a state public works "prevailing wage" mandate that assumes 30 percent union coverage of building trades occupations across New York. Read More
#NYCoronavirus: Not a moment too soon, Governor Cuomo finally has acknowledging that a near-panic in financial markets amid rising fears of a global economic slowdown should prompt a re-set in the state's revenue forecast for the fiscal year that begins April 1, less than three weeks from now. Read More
For the third time in three years, health-care interests are airing TV ads favorable to Governor Cuomo in the thick of high-stakes negotiations over Medicaid funding. Read More