Monday started with a conference and rally by NYCLU dealing
with reproductive justice, GENDA legislation, and legal services for the indigent
and immigrants. The conferees rallied outside of the Capitol in very cold
temperatures but the conference attracted over 2,000 people. All of the speakers delivered moving firsthand
accounts of the challenges they have faced because of outdated and prejudicial
laws surrounding reproductive health care, the judicial system, and
immigration. Several League members were part of the rally. The one house
budget resolutions were released in both houses but because of the blizzard
Tuesday’s session was canceled.
On Tuesday New York State was hit with a large snow storm
that stalled budget negotiations in the Senate and Assembly. Wednesday business
resumed and the two houses began debating their budget resolutions. The
Assembly included early voting, automatic voter registration, closing the LLC
loophole, and some other ethics reforms in their package. They also included as
a priority Raise the Age, funding for immigration services, a $1.8 billion
increase in school funding, and a commitment
to a full phase-in of the Foundation Aid formula starting with a $1.4 billion
increase this year.
The Senate’s proposal was quite different with a heavy focus
on further reducing taxes on the middle class and wealth 1%. The Senate also proposed
an increase in school aid by $1.2 billion and increase in foundation aid by
$4.7 million over executive proposal. Both houses disagree with Governor over
the elimination of foundation aid formula. Both resolutions also included a
clean water bond act, and an opioid addiction plan.
Senate Democrats put forward their own resolution that was
not permitted by the majority to be considered by the full Senate. There was
extreme tension between the GOP and Dempcrats that resulted in a heated debate
between Senators Bonacic and Gianaris. The Independent Democratic Conference
(IDC) also created their own budget resolution. The Senate GOP allowed the
conference to have their resolution come to the floor for a vote. Mainline
Democrats were furious and all voted against the resolution after some very raucous
debate.
The IDC resolution was largely the same but did focus on
Raise the Age (although not the same Raise the Age provisions as the Assembly),
more money for legal defense for immigrants, different monetary amounts for Medicaid, the
DREAM act, and a few other “progressive” policies. Over all the two bills are
very similar and the Democrats were furious over the obvious power play by
Senator Klein. Senator Gianaris was particularly upset and got into a heated
debate continues with the new Senator
from Manhattan Marisol Alcantara who eventually went on to accuse Gianaris of
white privilege because he was opposing the DREAM Act (a bill which Gianaris is
actually a staunch supporter). Eventually Senator Flanagan had to rise and
remind the Senators to keep with chamber decorum or else face being removed
from the chamber.
Even though the IDC resolution passed this really doesn’t
mean anything. We expect on Monday the
General Conference Committee (aka Mothership) will meet this coming Monday and
our hope is that they will set table targets for the different issue area
committees to discuss (ex. Health care, education, transportation). As always
the three men in the room do the actual budget negotiations behind closed
doors. The League will continue to push
for open leaders meetings as the budget negotiations continue. It is likely that
many of these proposals will be stripped from the final bill but we hope that
the Assembly will stand strong on their proposals to include Raise the Age and
a full phase in of Foundation Aid.
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