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
Who should ultimately control police discipline in New York: elected officials through their appointed police commissioners, or unelected labor arbitrators chosen in part by labor unions? The question has plainly picked up added resonance in recent days. Gov. Cuomo will soon have a chance to answer it. Read More
New York’s state legislators would like a raise, but a review of state payroll data shows that more than three-quarters of them already earn more than their frequently cited $79,500 statutory base salary. Read More
"The legislature needs to give an indication they are interested in reforming themselves before we talk about giving them any pay raises," said E.J. McMahon of The Empire Center, a right-leaning public policy think tank. McMahon said that Legislature needs to reduce the number of pay-bumping leadership titles it hands out as rewards to loyal members, increase the transparency of what is spent internally, and "show an intent to perform." Read More
Retired New York state and local government employees under the age of 65 cannot collect full public pension benefits if they earn more than $30,000 by returning to work for a state or local agency – but the earnings limit for younger retirees collecting both pensions and pay from government can be waived “temporarily” in certain circumstances. Read More
Empire Center Executive Director Tim Hoefer sat down with "Capitol Pressroom" host Susan Arbetter to discuss the Empire Center's analysis of the state legislature's spending. Read More
The Empire Center’s Tim Hoefer says the numbers caught their eye because the legal bills were much larger than what’s been typical in the past. Read More
Newly-released records show just how much state lawmakers are spending on outside attorneys. From October 1st of 2013 to this past March, the legislature spent more than $1 million. That’s according to a new report from the Empire Center. We spoke with the center’s Executive Director, Tim Hoefer about the numbers. Read More