NCPR News Staff: Karen DeWitt
Capitol Correspondent

(02/09/12) Governor Andrew Cuomo is taking some heat this week. That's after a series of actions that have been criticized as consolidating more power for the executive branch, at the expense of the legislature and even some other statewide office holders. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

(02/08/12) State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says that Governor Cuomo's budget is mostly in balance. But he warned yesterday that some proposals would give the governor too much power at the expense of other branches of government. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has this report. more

(02/07/12) Occupy protesters briefly disrupted a state budget hearing at the State Capitol Monday. They said they're angered by inequities in the tax system. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

(02/07/12) The Cuomo Administration spent yesterday trying to put out fires after a newspaper reported that the entire staff of the Governor's Inspector General's office had been deputized to examine the private tax records of any state employee, including legislators.

The inspector general's office and the state tax department have quietly drawn up an agreement that allows employees in the office to obtain the tax records of more than 200,000 state workers, as well as contractors doing business with the state.

Karen DeWitt has more. more

(02/06/12) A coalition of labor unions, religious groups, and others is urging Governor Cuomo and the legislature to close what they say are loopholes in the law. As Karen DeWitt reports, they say those loopholes are shielding large corporations from having to pay their fair share of taxes. more

(02/03/12) Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is out with a report on the state of New York's economy, and the news is bleak. The Comptroller's numbers show that the already sluggish economic recovery in New York is losing momentum. The slowdown began in the second half of 2011, and is expected to continue into 2012, says Comptroller DiNapoli. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

(02/02/12) Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the "Battle of Albany'' is on.

And in the first skirmish of what's expected to be a long fight, Cuomo is putting the pressure on teachers and their unions.

Speaking yesterday, he said that if negotiations between the unions, the state Education Department and school districts on tougher evaluations for teachers and principals fail, he'll impose his own Feb. 16. Under law, a governor may try to enact policies in budget bills.

The governor spoke at the annual meeting of the state Association of Counties, trying to drum up support for his proposed budget.

The county leaders were pressing for relief from state-mandated costs. Cuomo said he would meet them half way in providing mandate relief by helping to defray health care and future pension costs.

But, as Karen DeWitt reports, he told the county officials it's up to them to do the rest. more

(02/02/12) Governor Cuomo says the possibility of three primary elections in New York this year is not in anyone's best interest.

A federal judge has already ruled that congressional primaries must be held June 26. While Assembly Democrats would like statewide primaries to also be held on that date, Senate Republicans prefer an August primary.

If no action is taken, the statewide primaries will automatically fall on September 11 this year. The presidential primary is in April. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

(02/01/12) Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is continuing to push for his bill to increase the state's minimum wage. The Speaker is also expressing reservations about Governor Cuomo's plan to offer an option of 401k-style retirement plans for future state workers. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details. more

(01/31/12) The leading Democrat in New York's Assembly is pushing to increase the state's minimum wage.

Speaker Sheldon Silver says it's "absurd" to think that anyone can make a living on the current amount, $7.25 an hour. He wants the minimum to go up to $8.50.

Silver had dozens of colleagues from his Democrat-controlled chamber behind him when he announced his bill yesterday.

The speaker says the minimum wage in New York has risen 10 cents in the last six years and increasing it is "a matter of human dignity". more