Bolton-St. Johns Political & Government Affairs Update
Good Afternoon from New York...
Last week, the 2020 Legislative Session calendar was released. There are roughly three months until the Legislature convenes January 8th. The Governor and the Legislature will be working from a front-loaded schedule to accommodate the new Congressional and State Legislative Primary Date in June, which was a part of Election reforms passed by the State Legislature last year.
Before they adjourn—and many members return to their districts where they face challenges—the Legislature has a full plate of issues. From strengthening the definitions of employee and independent contractor in response to the growing 'gig economy,' to the legalization of recreational marijuana and an overarching framework for hemp and medical marijuana in the state, expectations on workload this year are high. Whether or not legislators can match last session's 'historic' pace, amidst challenges from the left—and some from the right in November—we will have to wait and see...
In the meantime, the pace is picking up as legislators turn their attention from the district to Albany... Starting tomorrow, Legislators will begin with the first of over 30 hearings before the end of the year.
One of the biggest headlines coming from the Nation's Capital this week was that Rep. Nita Lowey, who has represented her Hudson Valley District for nearly three decades, is retiring. Lowey, who became the first woman to Chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee this year, received praise from supporters and former opponents in her district alike. The announcement has already set off a scramble for the seat, names already being floated include on the democratic side: state Assemblymembers David Buchwald (D-White Plains), Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) and Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh), state Senator David Carlucci (D-Clarkstown), and the early favorite: Chelsea Clinton. While the district has an over 2:1 Democratic enrollment advantage, some big name Republicans are expressing interest, one of the names that has repeatedly been floated is former Cuomo Challenger and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.
NY State Pols Prepare for Special December Session if Commission on Public Financing Moves to Eliminate Fusion Voting
The Public Campaign Financing Commission is charged with creating a $100 million public matching funds program for state elections and potentially addressing fusion voting, which allows candidates to appear on the ballot line of more than one party. The panel, whose creation was crammed into the state budget after pols failed to reach an agreement on campaign finance, has until Dec. 1 to announce rules that become law unless pols return to the capital for a rare end-of-year special session to reject or change them.
State senators Urge DEC to Approve Pipeline
Six state senators from Long Island are urging the Department of Environmental Conservation to give emergency approval of a controversial $1 billion natural gas pipeline expansion project. The senators sent a letter Wednesday to DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos calling on his department to conditionally approve the 24-mile pipeline expansion called the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project.
The DEC denied the project’s application in May, causing National Grid to impose a moratorium on new natural gas service. However, in its denial, the DEC said it could still approve the project if Williams-Transco, the company behind the pipeline includes additional mitigation measures in its plan.
Leadership change for education lobbying group
The longtime leader of the Alliance for Quality Education is stepping down and will be replaced by the group’s legislative director in January. Billy Easton has served as executive director of the left-leaning, labor-linked advocacy group since 2005, growing it into a statewide powerhouse on education issues. The organization’s focus in the Capitol is largely on securing state aid, but also addresses racial and social justice issues.
The new leader is Jasmine Gripper, who previously taught at a charter school and was an activist with Organizing for America, according to her Linkedin page. She joined the organization in 2013 as a temporary statewide organizer and will take control as AQE marks its 20th year of activity, according to a press release.
Governor Calls for Forensic Audit of MTA's $51.5 Billion Infrastructure Spending Plan
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is calling on the MTA to have a forensic auditor comb over its proposed $51.5 billion infrastructure spending plan to address “skepticism” about the agency’s ability to pull it off.
“There is much skepticism surrounding the MTA's ability to purchase, construct, repair or administer efficiently,” Cuomo wrote in a letter sent Monday to Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Patrick Foye, the MTA Board and MTA inspector general. “We do not want that skepticism to become an obstacle to the necessary investments and improvements the Capital Plan provides for the commuters of New York.”
A forensic audit of the embattled transit agency’s finances was among several reforms adopted by the State Legislature this year as a condition for lawmakers' approval of a congestion pricing plan that is expected to generate about $1 billion in toll revenue for the Capital Program, which was unanimously approved by the MTA Board last month. Final approval of the plan rests with the state's four-member Capital Program Review Board.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, October 16th
Senate Education and Budget and Revenue Committees will meet to hear stakeholder input regarding the components
of the Foundation Aid formula in relation to student, district and community
needs with a goal of greater equity in school financing.
Monday, October 28th
The Senate Codes Committee will host a hearing on legislation relating to discovery reform.
Wednesday, October 30th
The Senate Higher Education Committee will host hearing at the University at Buffalo on the financing of public higher education
Who’s Facing a 2020 Primary Challenge in the State Legislature?
The 2020 elections are more than a year away, but a number of Democratic state lawmakers are already facing primary challenges.
Several longtime lawmakers could pay a political price for past donations from the real estate industry, while others are being targeting for their deep ties to the Democratic Party establishment. In 2018, now-state Sen. Julia Salazar made history by taking out then-state Sen. Martin Dilan, a mainstream Democrat, by challenging him from the left and arguing that he was too close to the real estate industry and the Democratic establishment. The upcoming 2020 Democratic primaries will test whether this can be a winning strategy moving forward, months after democratic socialist Tiffany Cabán just barely lost the Democratic primary for Queens County district attorney to establishment favorite Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
Worth A Read
The Rise and Fall of Donald Trump’s Mini-Me
Political Campaigns Know Where You’ve Been. They’re Tracking Your Phone.
The Veterinarian Will See Your Dinosaur Now
All Politics, Increasingly, Is National
Links from This Weeks's News Around the State & Country
Kamala Harris Has Settled on an Iowa Strategy. Now What?
Johnson Says City Council to Pass Streets Master Plan Bill This Month
AG James Wins Stay In ‘Public Charge’ Rule Taking Effect
Former Rochester Councilman Pleads Guilty To Another Crime
BOLTON ST. JOHNS
Government Relations & Public Affairs Consulting
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