Though it hit the state Capitol like a tidal wave Thursday, the arrest of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on federal corruption charges isn't the first time a legislative leader has been charged with wrongdoing. But it could turn out to be a watershed. Read More
It's the new year, U.S. Congress has opened its 114th session and the New York Legislature is back in Albany to do the people's work. Your applause is deafening. Read More
Proposed legislation can wait decades for two-house passage Read More
It’s going to be a very happy new year for nine veteran state lawmakers who will “retire” Jan. 1 to collect their pensions — but remain in office on full salary. Read More
We try not to be too cynical about Albany. Really, we do. Voters are cynical enough, what with dozens of legislators being led off in handcuffs and Election Day turnout hitting new lows. Meanwhile, lawmakers contemplate voting themselves a pay raise while fending off more reports of shenanigans. Go ahead, hand the cynics a baseball bat. Read More
As New York’s state legislators consider holding a special session to give themselves a raise, an Albany–based think tank reports that most of them are already paid more than their often-cited base pay of $79,500. Read More
Since Election Day, the state Capitol has been buzzing at the prospect of lawmakers returning before the end of the year to vote themselves a pay raise. Read More
In New York, the legislature generally convenes between January and June. Lawmakers are allowed to have outside jobs, and income is unlimited. Their base pay is the third highest in the U.S., behind California and Pennsylvania, according to the Empire Center for Public Policy, which favors less government spending. Read More