NYC Magazine » State Assembly

Paterson Preaches Ethics In State Of The State Address

Igor Derysh — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:18:38 +0000

Despite the fact that David Paterson is a widely unpopular governor on his way out and despite the fact that the New York State legislature is a bevy of corruption, the governor used his State of the State address to legislators to discuss ethics and vowed to bring reform to Albany.

On the heels of former State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno being found guilty on several felony counts and current State Senator (though likely not for long) Hiram Monserrate being found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend, a push to bring some sort of ethics into a chamber ...continue reading

Paterson Withholds Aid After Senate Plays Politics With Budget

Igor Derysh — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:13:44 +0000

After consistently pleading with the state legislature, particularly the state senate, to cut the New York State budget by $3.2 billion to prevent an economic collapse, Governor David Paterson has taken matters into his own hands and is now withholding 10% of the aid due to government agencies and schools.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s been going on:

Seeing the state’s deficit rise to well over $3 billion, Governor David Paterson asked the state legislature to cut the budget by $3.2 billion to prevent the same type of economic collapse that happened in California from happening ...continue reading

Gay Activists Plan Major Marriage Campaign

Igor Derysh — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:56 +0000

Perhaps surprised by the New York Senate voting down a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in the state, gay activists have awakened with a fury and are planning the same kind of pro-gay marriage campaign that opponents have used against them.

After gay marriage was shockingly overturned in California after it was already legalized, New York state senators rebuffed Governor David Paterson who had introduced the bill. The New York State Assembly had overwhelmingly passed the bill before the it was put to a vote in the Senate.

As the dust of the debate settled, gay marriage activists realized that they ...continue reading

Legislature OK’s Partial Deficit Reduction, Refuses to go All The Way

Igor Derysh — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:00:45 +0000

While the media focused largely on the New York state senate officially denying more than a million gay New Yorkers (according to most estimates) the right to one day marry the person they love like any convicted felon, murderer, adulterer, or terrorist can, legislators also spent the special session cutting the state deficit by $2.8 billion.

Although nothing is concrete, it appears that the state legislature will cut most but not all of the New York State deficit leaving the state with a large debt and financial difficulties after this year.

Governor David Paterson has been asking ...continue reading

Budget Battle Continues in Albany

Igor Derysh — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:58:19 +0000

While Governor David Paterson has been pushing the legislature to cut the state budget by $3.2 billion, top Democrats have been reluctant to make the tough cuts to education and hospitals, opting to push for bigger debt in order to keep their jobs.

While the State Assembly is on board, the State Senate, particularly the Carl Krueger-led finance committee, has been reluctant to make tough, unpopular, but seemingly necessary decisions.

In response to the stalling by the Senate, Paterson has proposed an emergency bill that would allow him to make the necessary cuts, and thus taking the ...continue reading