Cuomo unveils $145.3 billion budget plan, initiatives

The governor says that’s similar to the restrictions placed on members of Congress. “Local governments must be sustainable from a financial point of view”, he said.

That’s the only mention Gov. Cuomo has made of public schools in a series of policy proposals released in advance of his combined State of the State and budget speech this Wednesday.

“New Yorkers are troubled by the homeless problem”, he said. “We won’t stop until we get it done”.

In 1992, the now late Assemblyman Tony Seminerio heckled then Gov. Mario Cuomo after Cuomo likened lawmakers to monkeys. He is, however, continuing to look into Cuomo’s Buffalo Billions revitalization project, in which billions in state-funded contracts are being distributed. Blair Horner, with the New York Public Interest Research Group, says outside employment, which factored heavily in the two cases, should be banned or strictly limited.

I’m being told Assemblyman who interrupted and yelled is Charles Barron.

But questions remain, particularly when it comes to his budget proposal and how the state plans to pay for it. Wednesday’s state of the state, which will also serve as the rollout of the governor’s $145 billion budget, should help clear some things up.

Cuomo tried to quiet him, telling Barron, “Everybody heard you; everybody saw you”.

Asembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, Monroe County, who was seated in the front row, began to lead Barron out of the room before the Assembly’s sergeant-at-arms took over and Barron left.

Cuomo outlined several ideas in this area, most notably a new plan to offer college courses for inmates in NY correctional facilities.

Cuomo said the program would extend clinic hours later and include weekends, as well as offer mobile units to get to more women. “Why? Because we are a caring, loving people”. But some of his 2016 proposals, including a small business tax cut and Long Island transit upgrades, have prompted skeptical responses from Republicans.

Thanks to its high tax rates and complex regulations, NY has acquired the reputation of being one of the least business-friendly states in the country. The governor appointed a commission. State aid to public schools would increase $1 billion to $24.2 billion. However, Mayor Sam Teresi – who will likely be in Albany for the governor’s address – said it’s unlikely there will be an increase in state aid. Medicaid would be cut by $350 million to $63.6 billion.

In November, the New York State Police had opened a $10m new Mid-Hudson Regional crime lab at the Stewart International Airport. “We were always confident there was no illegality here, and we appreciate the U.S. Attorney clarifying this for the public record”, Abramowitz said. The first phase of the plan alone is estimated to cost $4 billion. Billy Easton, director of the Alliance for Quality Education, said almost $3 billion is needed to fund schools appropriately.