The full extent of the continuing rise in school spending since the recession was not inevitable or unavoidable. Read More
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Better late than never, Governor Andrew Cuomo has exercised a pocket veto of legislation that would have allowed unions representing police and other civil service employees to insist on collective bargaining of disciplinary procedures. The bill was passed at the end of session in June, but wasn't even sent to Cuomo's desk by the Senate until December. That effectively re-started the clock for gubernatorial consideration, making this a measure the governor could kill by not signing it within 30-day period, which just ended. Read More
At least 25 public employees in New York state were paid more than $500,000 during their employer’s most recently reported fiscal year, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s transparency website. Read More
Governor Andrew Cuomo eliminated funding of new "member item" spending when he took office four years ago—but the Ghost of Pork Barrels Past continues to haunt the state's finances. Each of Cuomo's first four Executive Budget proposals projected the depletion and elimination of what's technically known as the "Community Projects Fund - 007" -- but every year, the enacted budget has restored the money to back up reappropriations of the member item lump sum. Read More
If Sheldon Silver remains a rank-and-file legislator after stepping down as Assembly speaker, he will be losing money on the deal, according to the Empire Center's pension calculator. Read More
The corruption case against Speaker Sheldon Silver has prompted more calls for reform of the Legislature. Read More
The Empire Center’s Explore Your State Budget app has been updated to reflect financial data in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed 2015-16 Executive Budget. Read More
Gov. Cuomo’s combined State of the State message and Executive Budget rollout this week showcased the governor at his best — and worst. Read More