Capitol Bureau

New York to Bring Back Iconic Tourism Ad Campaign

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:34:52 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo is attempting to revive New York’s iconic I Love New York tourism promotion campaign with some new ads. The governor says the state not been aggressive enough in its promotions in recent years.

The I love New York campaign, with its distinctive logo featuring a red heart, was a major advertising and promotional innovation in the 1970’s, when it was created. In fact, says Governor Cuomo and his top economic development aids, it was too successful, and countless other groups and causes have adapted the now iconic image.

Cuomo's High Numbers Continue

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:22:26 +0000

Governor Cuomo’s popularity with New York voters continues- in the latest poll he has the highest ratings of any New York governor since the dark days after September 11th.

Mickey Carroll, with Quinnipiac University, says Cuomo’s favorability numbers are the highest for a governor since the days after September 11th , 2001 , when then Governor George Pataki received an 81% approval rating. Cuomo’s numbers stand at 71%, the highest yet for the consistently popular governor, says Carroll.

“Governor Cuomo’s approval rating is awesome,” said Carroll.

Cuomo Puts Stamp on State Democratic Party

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:16:12 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a rousing speech at a meeting of the State Democratic Party, but stopped short of endorsing a democratic take over of the State Senate. At the meeting, the new co chairs of the party, chosen by Cuomo, were introduced.

The State’s second most powerful Democrat, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, was among the warm up acts for Governor Cuomo’s address before a meeting of the State Democratic Party.

Fight Over Minimum Wage Continues

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:02:25 +0000

Differences remain over increasing the state’s minimum wage. While the Assembly Speaker is persevering, Governor Cuomo and Senate Republicans remain negative about the bill’s chance of success.

For weeks, there’s been a stalemate in Albany over the issue of raising the state’s minimum age, with Assembly Democrats backing the idea, Senate Republicans opposing it, and Governor Cuomo remaining neutral in the middle, saying he generally backs the measure, but feels that the GOP can’t be convinced.

Comptroller Reports Pension Funds Up

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:20:52 +0000

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the state’s pension fund has “successfully weathered” another economic storm. He reports returns are the highest since global market meltdown of 2008.

Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says despite another volatile year in the markets, the pension fund for the hundreds of thousands of state worker retirees performed at a rate of 5.96%. The total fund is valued at $150.3 billion dollars, the highest since before the Great Recession.

Cuomo Takes Reins at NYRA

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:23:33 +0000

Governor Cuomo has taken the reigns of the troubled New York Racing Association Board, saying he needs to “restore the public trust” in a rapidly changing gaming industry.

Growing Opposition to Cuomo's Disabled Reform Measure

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:09:42 +0000

There’s growing opposition in the legislature to Governor Cuomo’s top end of session priority, enacting a new agency to curb abuse of the mentally and physically disabled at state run centers. Opponents, though, say the proposed new entity does not go far enough.

Cuomo Rescinds Food Stamp Fingerprint Requirement

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:19:39 +0000

Governor Cuomo announced Thursday that he’s rescinding a state regulation that requires food stamp recipients be fingerprinted, saying the poor and hungry are not criminals.

Governor Cuomo, speaking by phone to a gathering of advocates for the poor, says he’s rescinded a 14 year old state regulation that required food stamp recipients be subject to fingerprinting before receiving benefits.

“Poverty and hunger are not crimes,” said Cuomo. “So we shouldn’t treat the poor or the hungry as criminals.”

Teachers, School Boards See Disturbing Trends in School Vote Outcome

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:59:50 +0000

Governor Cuomo is pleased with the outcome of Tuesday’s state wide school budget vote, but teachers and school board leaders see some disturbing trends.

This year’s school budget vote was the first to take place after Governor Andrew Cuomo convinced the legislature to adopt the property tax cap. The governor says the tax cap imposed “fiscal discipline” . He says he’s pleased that few schools attempted to override the cap, and that most schools kept tax increases to a minimum, and were approved by voters. He says tax payers, as well as state government, are tapped out.

Lawmakers Agree to Change Primary Date from September 11th

podcasts@wxxi.org (WXXI Public Broadcasting Council) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:34:20 +0000

The state’s September primary is going to be delayed by two days, now that the legislature has agreed to move the date from Tuesday September 11th to Thursday September 13th.

Legislative leaders say firefighter groups and others who plan annual memorials for September 11th requested that the scheduled primary be delayed two days, until Thursday September 13th, and they have agreed.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, whose district includes the World Trade Center site where the planes hit the towers on September 11th 2001, says it was the right thing to do.