New York state Senate

Second half of legislative session overshadowed by new scandals

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:41:58 +0000

The second half of New York’s legislative session begins today and it’s likely to be dominated by the response to on going bribery and corruption scandals that came to light while lawmakers were on spring break.

State minimum wage increase faces hurdles

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:10:58 +0000

New York State lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol Wednesday following a two-week break for the President’s Day holiday. Lawmakers have plenty to work on in the next few weeks leading up to the start of the state’s fiscal year, including whether to pass a minimum wage hike as part of the state budget.

After contentious debate, state Senate approves Cuomo's court choice

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:35:52 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Court of Appeals nominee was approved in the New York State Senate on a voice vote, after an unusually contentious process.

State law proposed to withhold state payments to some tax delinquent landlords

Durrie Lawrence — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:27:58 +0000

Proposed state legislation would allow social services officials to withhold rent payments for low-income housing when the landlords haven’t paid their taxes.

State Senate coalition passes first test

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:10:16 +0000

The experimental governing coalition in the New York State Senate passed its first test, on the first full day of session, when senators approved a sweeping gun control package urged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

State Senate approves toughest in nation gun laws, Assembly to act Tuesday

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:36:42 +0000

The New York state legislature is passing the toughest in the nation gun control laws laid out by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The Senate voted late Monday evening , and the Assembly is expected to act Tuesday morning.

Cuomo dampens expectations on gun control agreement

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:48:00 +0000

Governor Cuomo Andrew dampened expectations for a quick settlement on a package of gun control bills, saying he does not have a timeline for agreement with the legislature.

DeFrancisco and Valesky on the Independent Democratic Conference

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:37:21 +0000

The new iteration of the New York state Senate will look different in 2013 with the new power sharing agreement in place between Republicans and breakaway Democrats, and two central New York lawmakers will be in the thick of it.

Dave Valesky on the Campbell Conversations

Grant Reeher — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:14:01 +0000

A potentially significant new chapter in New York's political history will be written in January, as the State Senate's Independent Democratic Caucus joins with the Republican Caucus to form a coalition majority. On this edition of the Campbell Conversations, State Senator Dave Valesky, a founding member of the Independent Democratic group, discusses how this new arrangement will work, and why joining with the Republicans may actually bring more progressive pieces of legislation to the Senate floor.

Cuomo talks campaign finance, the Senate, fracking with New York State Public Radio

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:09:33 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will soon introduce legislation to regulate electioneering activities by some not-for-profits that have become increasingly influential players in funding political campaigns.

Will new state Senate coalition be good for upstate NY?

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:14:37 +0000

Some supporters of the new state Senate coalition between Republicans and the Independent Democrat Caucus say it will keep upstate New York concerns on the table. Some area politicians believe that wasn't the case when Democrats had control of the New York state Senate in 2009 and 2010.

Senate GOP Leader dampens expectations on progressive bills

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:02:36 +0000

New York state Senate Republicans dampened expectations that their new governing coalition would move quickly on progressive issues championed by Democrats, including a minimum wage increase and public financing of campaigns.

New state Senate coalition defends itself

Karen Dewitt and Karen — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:45:06 +0000

The newly-formed coalition of Republicans and Democrats, who will run the New York state Senate for the new term starting in January, made their first public appearance. They responded to criticism that the new majority coalition leaves out blacks and Hispanics.

New state Senate co-leader says coalition is not exclusive

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:39:00 +0000

The new governing coalition of the New York state Senate has received some criticism that it is leaving out minorities. But one of the two co-leaders of the Senate is defending the coalition, which includes five Independent Democrats and 30 Republicans.

New state Senate co-leader says coalition can be more effective

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:42:10 +0000

The new co-leader of the New York stat Senate, Senator Jeff Klein, says he knows the new coalition of five Democrats and around 30 Republicans will have to prove itself in the coming months and deliver on key pieces of legislation. But he says they stand a better chance of success than if just the Democrats alone were in charge of the Senate.

Miner says new Senate coalition could solve problems

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:14:11 +0000

The newly-created New York state Senate leadership coalition has further divided Democrats. Governor Andrew Cuomo has offered his conditional support, and at least one other party leader -- Democrat state party co-chairwoman Stephanie Miner -- agrees.

Cuomo's support for state Senate coalition is conditional

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:53:15 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has maintained that he has stayed out of the New York state Senate leadership fight, is now endorsing a newly formed coalition of Senate Republicans and five Democrats, but with some conditions.

Senate forms unprecedented new governing coalition

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:34:00 +0000

The leadership fight in the New York state Senate has been resolved, with a break-away Democratic faction joining with Republicans to form a new governing coalition that involves sharing the title of Temporary President of the Senate.

Lt. Governor says Senate should put aside partisanship

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:08:27 +0000

New York’s Lieutenant Governor weighed in on the leadership fight going on in the state Senate, saying the senators should put aside partisanship and try to work together.

Activists protest Valesky office, asking him to stick with Democrats

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:13:05 +0000

While the balance of the New York State senate remains unclear, as votes continue to be counted in a pair of close Senate races, activists are calling on a breakaway political coalition to stick with the Democrats. A coalition of union and community groups believe some important issues depend on it.

Cuomo claims he's staying out of fight for state Senate control

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:49:00 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is staying out of the on-going battle for control of the New York state Senate, maintaining that he will work with whoever ultimately wins the struggle.

Leading Democratic state Senator says party should unite

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:48:26 +0000

A leading Democratic Senator says wayward Democrats should get in line with the others in their party, and form a majority to run the Senate when the new session starts in January.

NY Senate Republicans gain new recruit

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:19:02 +0000

Senate Republicans have gained one more member in the fight for control of the chamber. Newly elected Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder says he’ll sit with the GOP.

Incumbents real winners in NY legislative elections

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:37:00 +0000

The vast majority of incumbent state legislators were re-elected Tuesday night, upholding a decades-long Albany tradition.

Ritchie defeats Tresidder in 48th state Senate district

Joanna Richards — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:45:16 +0000

Incumbent Republican state Senator Patty Ritchie easily won reelection in the 48^th district, covering Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. She beat Democrat Amy Tresidder by a more than two-to-one margin. Now, Ritchie looks ahead to tackling the economic issues facing the state.

Ritchie, Tresidder face off in 48th district for state Senate

Joanna Richards — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:04:50 +0000

The race for state Senate in the 48th district – which includes Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties – pits incumbent Republican Patty Ritchie against underdog Democrat Amy Tresidder. Both women stress the need for state mandate relief for local municipalities and measures to boost the upstate economy, although the strategies they'd take for doing that differ.

Control of state Senate could come down to the wire

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:27:44 +0000

November's election will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the New York state Senate in the next term, and it could come down to just a few hundred votes in a small number of key Senate contests. Both sides are hopeful that they will be victorious.

Cuomo to start campaigning on behalf of other candidates

Catherine Loper — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:26:09 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will soon be hitting the campaign trail... for other candidates. While the governor is not up for reelection himself until 2016, at a cabinet meeting Monday in Albany, Cuomo said that with this year's election just over two weeks away, endorsements and campaign events to get out the vote matter.

Some GOP state senators use Cuomo's image to bolster campaigns

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:47:51 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo is not running for office this year, but his face and name are still appearing in election mailers in many New York homes. That is because state lawmakers from both parties running for reelection are using the popular governor’s image in their campaign literature.

GOP state senator who voted for gay marriage drops out of race

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:40:56 +0000

The Republican state senator who lost a primary after voting for gay marriage is dropping out of the race. Senator Roy McDonald says he will not campaign on the Independence Party line in the general election and will instead back his former primary opponent.