NY's only statewide political program
Mike Whittemore
Mike is a Senior Video Journalist and Producer for Capital Tonight, New York's only nightly statewide political television program.
Homepage: http://www.capitaltonight.com/stateofpolitics
AIM: rockharmonica
Posts by Mike Whittemore
Billy Easton
Dec 22nd - 9:00 pm
Billy Easton from the Alliance for Quality Education has been one of the most vocal advocates for the so-called millionaire’s tax. If you remember, governor Cuomo’s tax reform package passed earlier this month includes a change to the tax code that has higher-income earners paying more than they would had the legislature done nothing.
Rep. Hochul on Payroll Tax, Pilot Fatigue Rules
Dec 21st - 9:00 pm
The House of Representatives adjourned for the holidays without passing the payroll tax cut bill. If you remember, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a temporary, two-month, extension over the weekend. Now The White House says President Obama is urging House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to return to Washington to resolve this standoff before the tax cut expires at the end of the year.
To talk more about this ongoing struggle in Washington is Congresswoman Kathy Hocul, a Democrat representing the 26th district in Western New York. She’s also here to talk about the long-awaited new rules to address pilot fatigue, in response to the February 2009 plane crash of flight 3407.
Does Downstate Really Have All The Power?
Dec 21st - 9:00 pm
There’s long been talk of the divide between downstate New York and upstate New York. Many north of the Tappan Zee bridge say the New York City politicians have too much power and don’t let upstate make its own decisions. But when it comes to state funding, a new study suggests that upstate shouldn’t have a beef with the way cash is doled out.
The Rockefeller Institute ran the numbers from the 2009-10 fiscal year, and found that the 48 upstate counties, not including the capital region, received 35 percent of state funding dollars, even though they only paid about 24 percent of the taxes.
To talk more about this study is Bob Ward, the Deputy Director of the Rockefeller Institute.
Season’s Greetings, It’s Your Property Tax Cap Bill!
Dec 21st - 9:00 pm
Next week when many New Yorkers head to the mailbox, there’s going to be an unpleasant letter mixed in with holiday cards. Yes, your property tax bill will likely come. And, it will likely be higher than last year, in part because the state legislature failed to pass any meaningful mandate relief bills that would lower costs for local communities. Steve Acquario, Executive Director for the New York Association of Counties, has been calling on the state to scale back unfunded mandates for years.
Rep. Hayworth Hopes Tax Deal Can Be Reached By Year’s End
Dec 21st - 9:00 pm
Rep. Nan Hayworth has been named to a committee that will attempt to resolve this payroll tax debacle. Rep. Hayworth is one of the few lawmakers still in Washington. She joined Liz from our DC Bureau Wednesday.
Some Voters ‘Confused’ By Tax Code Changes
Dec 20th - 9:00 pm
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows New York voters aren’t pleased with the new millionaire’s tax increase, but they like Gov. Andrew Cuomo more than ever, even after they say he broke two big campaign promises. Pollster Mickey Carroll sat down with Liz to explain.
AG Wants Towns To Disclose Ethics Codes
Dec 20th - 9:00 pm
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is asking all of the state’s towns, all 932 of them, to show his office their ethics codes in hopes of bolstering self-policing by local governments.
The AG’s office is reminding town supervisors that state law requires counties, cities, towns and villages to adopt codes establishing standards of conduct for officers and employees.
Briccetti First Woman To Head Business Council
Dec 19th - 9:00 pm
For the past year, Governor Andrew Cuomo and pro-business groups have been closely allied in an attempt to recast the state as business friendly. One person leading that fight is the acting president of the Business Council, Heather Briccetti. She replaced Ken Adams early this year when Governor Cuomo plucked him to be the head of the Empire State Development Corporation. After a long, nationwide search, Bricetti has officially been given the title of president and she’s also the first woman to earn that post.
‘Judicial Hellholes’
Dec 19th - 9:00 pm
Last week the American Tort Reform Foundation released its annual Judicial Hellholes report. Each year, the organization lists the Top Ten court systems in the US it deems most in need of cost controls. This year, New York City and Albany came in at number 6. The foundation argues lawmakers are too beholden to the trial lawyer lobby to enact real reform. Another problem: A fair number of legislators are also lawyers and personally benefit from the status quo.
Skorton Discusses Cornell Expansion in NYC
Dec 19th - 9:00 pm
We learned Monday that Cornell University, which is based in Ithaca, has won a bid to build a massive expansion campus in New York City.
The project, which is a joint venture between Cornell and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, will be a graduate school of applied sciences. It’s a $2 billion investment to be located on Roosevelt Island and it’s expected to create many new jobs and boost the city’s economy.
Cornell President Dr. David Skorton joined Liz Benjamin from New York City Monday to talk about the project.
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