On Dec. 6, 2011, Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders announced a deal to extend New York's biggest income tax increase in 50 years, targeting earners of $1 million and more for what will be the third highest income tax rate imposed by any major state. Read More
This week’s hurriedly enacted deal between Governor Cuomo and the Legislature means state income taxes will now return to the pre-2009 level for over 100,000 New Yorkers who have been subject to a temporary “millionaire tax,” even though they earn much less than $1 million. Read More
A $62 million initiative to promote job creation for unemployed inner-city youths was part of last week’s tax increase deal between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature. Read More
'The largest convention center in the nation, period" -- in Queens? Is he kidding? Nope. In his State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo did, indeed, tout the same sort of white elephant already being chased by states and cities across the country. Read More
Nearly one in six residents of New York State now receives food stamps, up from less than one in 10 just a few years ago. Read More
Reducing job opportunities for unskilled and part-time workers will be the No. 1 goal of the New York State Assembly this year, Speaker Sheldon Silver declared last week. Read More
In tough economic times, New York State’s counties, municipalities and school districts face intense pressure to control their budgets. Read More
Just over two years ago, New York State enacted what then-Gov. David A. Paterson presented to the world as "landmark pension reform." In his 2012-13 budget proposal this week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo raised the subject of pension reform all over again. Why? Because Paterson's bill was a "landmark" only in the annals of Albany political hyperbole. Read More