Senate Leader’s Son to Give Up Lobbying

Kenneth Bruno will be giving up lobbying to start a private law practice. He is the son of the state Legislature’s most powerful Republican and his career as a lobbyist has been seen as controversial as a result. Onlookers constantly were watching to be sure that he was not trading on his father Joseph Bruno’s positions. Bruno’s lobbying business was just started last year and included clients such as Madison Square Garden and the horseracing conglomerate Magna Entertainment.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=73261353-577E-4326-97ED-951601A4F901

Lawmakers Want a Raise

State legislators have not received a raise in seven years, and they think their time has come. However, some say it is a very sensitive topic. Democratic Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson says the issue is worth considering because of the basic costs a legislator has to deal with. Also, so much has changed economically in the last seven years that is really is necessary for a raise to be given.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=FEF5FF4C-0ABE-4541-A1B4-3F020B8AD7D8

State Racing and Wagering Board Chairman Replaced

Governor George Pataki has removed Michael Hoblock from his longtime position as the chairman of the state board that regulates horse racing. Hoblock will remain on the board, however, he informed Pataki that he will step down shortly. Cheryl Buley was appointed as the acting chairwoman of the board. It was never said why Hoblock was removed, but over the past year the board had been plagued by mismanagement and accusations of corruption.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=F6ECA29E-0E0A-49C7-9C81-FD5795699DED

Clinton, McHugh Ask Bus Company to Reconsider Cancellation Plans

US Senator Hillary Clinton and US Representative John McHugh have joined forces to appeal to Greyhound Bus Lines to urge them to reconsider their current plans to cancel service to upstate New York’s North Country within the next three months. Greyhound will be canceling service to all cities north of Syracuse including: Pulaski, Watertown, Gouverneur, Potsdam, Canton, and Massena. The company has stated that a lack of riders was the reason for its decision; however, Senator Clinton states that between 3,000 and 4,000 people ride the buses per quarter, which equates to about 40 riders per day. Clinton and McHugh also wrote separate letters to Governor George Pataki asking for state aid to the bus line so they would be able to continue service. Despite their efforts, a spokeswoman for the company has stated that the decision will not be changed.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=4DE5A754-B20A-44D0-82E3-05BEB0155BEC

Hevesi, Sort of, Announces Re-Election Bid

New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi announced that he may, some day, officially announce his re-election bid in 2006. With a potential Democratic governor, however, his relationship with the state executive could be much different than in years past. Hevesi joked that he has not announced his future plans regarding his little known position as of comptroller because “No one in the world cares.” No other candidates have announced a run for the position as of now and Hevesi said the fact that he is friends with Democrat candidate Eliot Spitzer and possible candidate Tom Suozzi could help him decide to run for re-election.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=339CE5DC-D625-4BD5-8587-737D0FDB73F9

Lawmaker: Landlords Should Alert Tenants to Contamination

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo is in the process of drafting legislation requiring that landlords notify tenants about potential chemical contamination before they rent an apartment. The legislation came about after residents of an apartment building in her district learned of ventilation problems with their building. Lupardo is a member of the Assembly environmental conservation committee and states that there’s a high need for such a law because tenants should know about issues that could affect their health or the health of their children. She states that it is ridiculous that people who buy property are notified of said conditions but not people who rent.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=B6179273-EA2D-4CCD-881E-5D2BBB1CB053

Conservative Chief Opens Door For Pirro

Michael Long, head of New York’s Conservative Party, has started to open the door for a possible endorsement of Republican Jeanine Pirro. Pirro, a Westchester County district attorney, has gained the support of Governor George Pataki for her candidacy for a US Senate seat, however, Long has held out on endorsing her since he favors the more conservative Edward Cox or the former Mayor of Yonkers John Spencer. Cox however dropped out of the race after Pirro received the governor’s support and Spencer has not demonstrated strength with Republican leaders or in his fundraising. Long stated that Pirro could receive the party’s endorsement if she puts together a strong campaign by May or June. This is extremely important because no Republican running for statewide office in New York has won without Conservative Party support in over 30 years.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=E829071E-28D6-4932-861D-25E3E9A846FB

Poll: Spitzer Favorite For Governor

Siena College Research Institute released a poll on Monday stating that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is currently the clear favorite to become New York’s next governor. Respondents to the poll were not provided with any names and were asked who they thought would made the best replacement for Governor George Pataki. 21 percent of the respondents said Spitzer while 15 percent said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Spitzer will be running on the Democratic ticket come next November.

http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=32021&rnews_story_type=13&category=10

Adirondack Report Cheers Clean Air Rule

According to the Adirondack Council’s 20th Annual State of the Park Report the worst thing to happen to the park this year was the building of a 104-foot tall cell phone tower disguised as a pine tree. The council states that the best thing to happen this year, and really in quite some time, was the enactment of the Clean Air Rule. Also, the group stated their approval of the Assembly’s $25 million expansion of the Environmental Protection Fund. Currently, a lawsuit is being filed to try and get the cell phone tower, dubbed “Frankenpine” by disapproving environmentalist, removed.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=62A639B8-F995-498F-BF4F-0B6AE3A270CB

SUNY Board Approves Naming Hospital After Benefactor

The State University of New York board has approved naming a Syracuse hospital after Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano. Recently, Golisano donated $6 million to the children’s hospital of the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Golisano has been extremely critical of Governor George Pataki in the past and ironically the board is comprised of members all appointed by Pataki. The hospital will now officially be called the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Central New York at University Hospital. Golisano is seeking the Republican bid for governor in 2006, while Pataki is not seeking another term.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=3B38B114-6127-4C36-BB05-124431AB2D67

State Voters Reject Prop One; Embrace Prop Two

On Tuesday, New York voters clearly expressed their opinion that the state Legislature should not gain control of writing state budgets from the governor. However, voters soundly approved Ballot Proposition Two allowing the state to borrow $2.9 billion to be spent on statewide transportation projects. 56 percent of voters voted “yes” to Proposition Two, while 64 percent of voters voted down Proposition One. A spokesman for the Empire Center for New York State Policy stated that the defeat of Proposition One is a strong message to the legislators of New York that the taxpayers are highly dissatisfied.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=893144AE-8E2A-425D-8222-9533320C4FC4

New York to Cut Greenhouse Gases From Cars

New York has taken on what it calls an aggressive approach in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Starting in 2009 all cars sold or registered in New York must cut carbon dioxide emissions. Obviously, the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures opposes the new legislation stating that car makers need a national policy for fuel economy that is consistent, not state-by-state. Governor George Pataki along with 8 other Northeastern governors are trying to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants as well through a group called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Governor Pataki has broken away from the Bush Administration’s policy of favoring voluntary measures to reduce greenhouse gases rather than regulations.

http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=20628&r=l

Pataki Proposes Workers Compensation Overhaul

Governor George Pataki has proposed a significant change to New York State’s worker’s compensation program. The plan will reduce worker’s comp costs by 15 percent yet increase benefits to injured workers by over 25 percent. Overall, $850 million would be saved by New York businesses even after the added benefits. However, the state’s largest union was not sympathetic towards the plan. Even though the cost of worker’s comp would be lowered they say it’s still not low enough. According to the Business Council of New York state, worker’s comp in New York cost 70 percent more than the national average. Critics stated that the change would only make it so costs of worker’s comp would shift to health insurance premiums, as they would inevitably increase.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=83D7833A-BEDA-45AB-9E49-2D29CD48E11D

SUNY Pitches No Tuition Hike, 12 Percent More Spending

According to a budget proposal submitted this week, there will be no tuition increase for students attending SUNY colleges and universities. Additionally the plan would increase state spending by 12 percent. Acting Chancellor John Ryan plans to propose the plan to the SUNY Board of Trustees next week, and then to Governor George Pataki who will consider the plan when he works on his executive budget proposal, which is due in January. In 2003 tuition was raised about one thousand dollars and many students feared a similar increase.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=16DF347F-496B-4115-9407-DA82B16993EA

Assembly Holding Hearings On Sex Offender Legislation

The Republican minority of the state Assembly will be holding public hearings on sex offenders in the coming weeks. Police officers, prosecutors, and representatives of victim’s rights organizations all met on Wednesday to discuss promoting legislation that would increase the monitoring of sex offenders. Dierdre Scozzafava is the leader of the Assembly Republican Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women, the group in charge of setting up these hearings. The task force is in the process of moving across the state gathering as much information as possible on sex offenders while building support for the legislation.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=ABE6828B-6054-4070-80E2-2420C27ED93A

Pataki: State Can Balance Next Year’s Budget Without Tax Hike

Governor George Pataki stated that he will close the budget deficits in the coming two years without any increase in taxes. Estimates show that New York faces a deficit of $2.5 billion in the next fiscal year and that deficit will grow to $4.4 billion in 2007-2008. Pataki announced that those numbers will have “reforms and revisions” and he again reiterated the fact that there will not be any tax increases. The state surplus is estimated around $1 billion dollars and some expect it to grow to $1.5 billion after the coming fiscal year. New York State officials plan to use the surplus to help reduce the budget gaps over the next two years.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=9658D467-FC87-410E-A1EA-BD60174C4A96

State Survey finds 8 percent of agriculture land is idle

According to state Agriculture Commissioner Nathan Rudgers the remaining farmland in New York State is “underutilized.” In a survey done by his office, it was found that the state has 17 million acres of undeveloped rural land, and that 8 percent of it is agricultural land that is idle. Rudgers claimed, “This potential can only be realized if the interests and motivation of those who control these resources are understood and taken into consideration.” The survey was conducted to try to identify idle farmland in the state and get more of it into productive use that will benefit the state economically. Also, illustrated in the survey was the increasing pressure on development of rural land by residential developers.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/10/24/daily52.html?from_rss=1

Smoking Rates in New York State Hit All-Time Low

The research group RTI International found that adult smoking in New York fell to an all-time low of just over 18 percent this past year. That statistic is down from 21 percent in the previous year. Also, over the past 4 years smoking amongst high school students has fallen from 27 percent to 18.5 percent. Russell Sciandra from the Center for a Tobacco-Free New York says these results are due to an effective anti-smoking campaign run by the state and the Clean Indoor Air Act. However, he believes the numbers can still be lower with increased state aid for anti-smoking programs. Health officials from the state have been working hard this year to outdo their efforts from previous years after the state was criticized by the state for not doing enough to encourage people to quit smoking.

http://www.wrgb.com/news/local/local_news.asp?selection=article_42023

Activist Win Court Battle Over Power Plant Emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency must take another look at state permits issued to two western New York power plants a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday. The court stated that the agency inadequately enforced federal anti-pollution laws. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation apparently gave permits to the power companies that did not comply with federal law. The court ruled that the permits issued by the State of New York violated Title Five of the federal Clean Air Act.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=FDD78FFF-43C9-44FE-ABC9-6F6905ED1C2A

This Little Piggie Went To... Rochester

An 800-pound pig rolled through Rochester, NY on Thursday as part of a statewide campaign urging New York voters to vote “No” to Proposition One on Election Day. The proposition would give more power to the legislature in regards to the state budget, which has been late 20 times in the past 21 years. Also, the proposition would allow legislators to have more control of the budget if it is not passed by the spring deadline. The pig was built to represent a legislative kind of pork. Scott Tillman, the builder of the pig, and other critics of Proposition One fear that if it passes legislators will push millions more dollars of pork projects into the budget. However, legislators argue that this is not that case and that they require more power over the state budget so that they can finish it on time, as they did this year, in years to come.

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=BF42C837-A6FB-46CD-8969-43D152E73107

State Survey finds 8 percent of agriculture land is idle

According to state Agriculture Commissioner Nathan Rudgers the remaining farmland in New York State is “underutilized.” In a survey done by his office, it was found that the state has 17 million acres of undeveloped rural land, and that 8 percent of it is agricultural land that is idle. Rudgers claimed, “This potential can only be realized if the interests and motivation of those who control these resources are understood and taken into consideration.” The survey was conducted to try to identify idle farmland in the state and get more of it into productive use that will benefit the state economically. Also, illustrated in the survey was the increasing pressure on development of rural land by residential developers.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/10/24/daily52.html?from_rss=1

Smoking Rates in New York State Hit All-Time Low

The research group RTI International found that adult smoking in New York fell to an all-time low of just over 18 percent this past year. That statistic is down from 21 percent in the previous year. Also, over the past 4 years smoking amongst high school students has fallen from 27 percent to 18.5 percent. Russell Sciandra from the Center for a Tobacco-Free New York says these results are due to an effective anti-smoking campaign run by the state and the Clean Indoor Air Act. However, he believes the numbers can still be lower with increased state aid for anti-smoking programs. Health officials from the state have been working hard this year to outdo their efforts from previous years after the state was criticized by the state for not doing enough to encourage people to quit smoking.

http://www.wrgb.com/news/local/local_news.asp?selection=article_42023

Activist Win Court Battle Over Power Plant Emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency must take another look at state permits issued to two western New York power plants a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday. The court stated that the agency inadequately enforced federal anti-pollution laws. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation apparently gave permits to the power companies that did not comply with federal law. The court ruled that the permits issued by the State of New York violated Title Five of the federal Clean Air Act.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=FDD78FFF-43C9-44FE-ABC9-6F6905ED1C2A

This Little Piggie Went To... Rochester

An 800-pound pig rolled through Rochester, NY on Thursday as part of a statewide campaign urging New York voters to vote “No” to Proposition One on Election Day. The proposition would give more power to the legislature in regards to the state budget, which has been late 20 times in the past 21 years. Also, the proposition would allow legislators to have more control of the budget if it is not passed by the spring deadline. The pig was built to represent a legislative kind of pork. Scott Tillman, the builder of the pig, and other critics of Proposition One fear that if it passes legislators will push millions more dollars of pork projects into the budget. However, legislators argue that this is not that case and that they require more power over the state budget so that they can finish it on time, as they did this year, in years to come.

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=BF42C837-A6FB-46CD-8969-43D152E73107

Board of Elections Sends Reminder

The state Board of Elections is sending out a reminder to residents of New York that they can still exercise their right to vote via absentee ballot if they will be unable to make it to the polls on November 8th, Election Day this year. Voters must fill out an application and send it to their county Board of Elections by November 1st. Once the complete application is received, the ballot will be sent to the voter. All absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 7th and received by November 15th.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=E10E704D-2935-4745-AFF3-AA0CA7C64C9A

Business Group Supports Transportation Act

The Transportation Bond Act, which will be on this November’s ballot, has gained support from a pro-business group. The Business Council of New York recently voted and agreed to support the Transportation Capital Plan to provide funding for the state’s highways, rails, airports, and other transit programs. The complete plan will cost $35.8 billion and voters will be deciding on Election Day whether to support borrowing $2.9 billion of that cost. Board members on the Business Council of New York stated that they support the act because investments in transportation will have economic benefits throughout the state.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=E92C8724-4572-4FA7-834D-803729E21321

State Court to Rule on Gay Marriage

The Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court in Albany will be making a decision on same-sex marriages in New York State. The American Civil Liberties Union represented 13 same-sex couples in a case against the New York State Health Department because it is the Health Department is responsible for deciding who can issue marriage licenses. A state Supreme Court Judge dismissed that lawsuit early last year.
Basing their case on the claim that statutes against same-sex marriages are discriminatory attorney Robert Kaplan stated, “The state would have a very compelling reason to say that a person shouldn’t be marrying their sister, or that a 12-year-old shouldn’t be getting married ... compelling reasons that the state conceded ... [don’t] exist to prevent my clients to get married to the person of their choice.” Should the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court rule in the ACLU’s favor, then the case could head back to the State Supreme Court sometime next year.

http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=31265&rnews_story_type=18&category=10

Leaders Hope For SUNY Improvement

Senate and assembly leaders are looking for ways to improve New York’s SUNY and CUNY higher education systems. Since the beginning of the month they have held numerous hearings across the state. University Presidents and chancellors who testified asked for more full-time faculty and tuition caps. Democratic assemblyman Ron Canesrari stated “We’re seeing a decline of state support for public higher education in the last 10 years or so and putting more of the burden of those costs on our students. This is not a trend that we think is healthy.” Many students who appeared at the hearings also expressed their hopes of keeping tuition prices steady. Legislators plan to use the suggestions and feedback obtained from all four hearings across the state to make changes in public higher education in New York.

http://www.rnews.com/Story_2004.cfm?ID=31254&rnews_story_type=18&category=10

Golisano: The Newest Republican

Tom Golisano officially switched to the Republican Party on Tuesday leaving the Independence Party, which he help found, behind. Golisano made clear that he has changed parties, but not his principles. US Senator John McCain met with Golisano and urged him to switch parties stating that Golisano could be a more effective reformer if he became a member of the Republican Party. Many believe that Golisano’s change indicates that he has decided to run for governor in the coming election. The billionaire has yet to announce his official decision on whether he will seek office, but all signs seem to show that he will run for governor.

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=25F8A0D1-59F2-4A65-8996-88C81F3EBE10

Pataki Endorses Pirro; Cox Drops Out of GOP Race

On Friday Governor George Pataki announced his support for Jeanine Pirro’s bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Hillary Clinton in the 2006 Election. Soon thereafter, lawyer Edward Cox, a son-in-law of former President Richard Nixon, announced that he would no longer pursue the Republican nomination to square off against Clinton. Cox stated that he dropped out of respect for the governor’s decision as the leader of the Republican Party in New York. Pataki stated that his decision to endorse Pirro was based on her qualities of being a “fighter and a trailblazer.” Those qualities will be necessary as Clinton is shown ahead of any potential opposition in the polls and is a likely choice as the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=9B251E75-73A7-4169-B5DF-C0F5E5B7D89F

Environmental Advocacy Group Rates State Lawmakers

EPL/Environmental Advocates released their annual Voters’ Guide this week. The guide gives an insiders’ look at how different legislators viewed the environment over the past year. This year the guide focused on what they deemed five “Super Bills” that were worked through the state legislature that the environmental community rallied around. These bills addressed issues with sprawl, wetlands and flood protection, global warming, recycling and litter protection, and toxic burn barrels. The group was glad to see that a higher number of pro-environment bills passed in both houses of the state legislature this year. The Voters’ Guide also included a scorecard that showed how each legislator voted on environmental issues this year and gave awards and special recognition to those who truly made a difference with their pro-environmental efforts in the legislature over the past year.

http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20051013-7.htm

Bush Approval Rating Hits All-Time Low in NYS

A poll conducted across the state found that just 29 percent of New York voters give President Bush favorable marks. The Polling Institute at Quinnipiac University discovered that 67 percent of New Yorkers disapproved of Bush’s job as President. Two months after the 9/11 attacks the President had his highest approval rating in New York at 82 percent. This was an impressive number since New York is a highly Democratic state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 5 to 3. Among New York Republicans Bush’s approval rating is at 61 percent while it is only 9 percent with Democrats.

http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=0DFAF366-4659-4657-870A-3C3339A52AD7