Reinforcing New York City's improved policing strategies in the 1990s were tougher sentencing laws and a significant expansion of the city and state correctional systems. Would-be criminals came to realize that they were not only more likely to get caught, but more likely to end up serving hard time. Read More
Among the many aspects of the state budget that will have an impact on the economy of New York, I’d like to focus today on an issue of overriding importance – the status of the state personal income tax. Since 1997, the top rate of our state i Read More
New York labor unions and left-leaning advocacy groups are pushing for huge increases in the state personal income tax as a way to protect their favorite out-of-control spending programs (especially Medicaid) and to finance a budgetary wish-list that Read More
Adding to the pressure created by rising Medicaid and other costs, local governments and school districts all over New York are being hammered by massive increases in pension costs for public employees. Read More
The first three years of the 21st century were rough sledding for New York State's economy, which lost 270,000 private sector jobs between 2000 through 2003. But the government sector -- and the most heavily tax-subsidized private employers Read More
Approaching what could turn out to be yet another stalemate with the Legislature, Governor Pataki says the last four years have been "the worst ... since the Great Depression" for New York State's finances. Read More
The Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision ordering more than $5 billion a year in additional spending on New York City schools is likely to have little effect on student achievement in the city. Because lack of money is not a primary explanation for the city’s low student performance, additional money by itself will do little to improve the situation. Read More
Because New York's traditional school funding system rewards failure, any additional funds flowing to city schools from the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision will be wasted unless they support new financial incentives for improv Read More