New York Legislature

There’s around two months left in the New York legislative session and a number of issues left on the agenda. But it’s uncertain how many of them will actually become law. 

The New York Legislature has passed a $140 billion election-year budget that expands pre-kindergarten statewide and provides tax relief to homeowners and corporations.

Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers have agreed to a very limited form of campaign finance reform in the state budget, it would only apply to the state Comptroller’s race.

Advocates spent a million dollars on television ads  and countless hours lobbying and holding demonstrations in favor of adopting a publicly funded, matching small donor system for statewide races, including the governor and the legislature.

This week, Governor Cuomo unveils his plans for the 2014 legislative session.  The State of the State allows the executive a unique opportunity to command public attention and to mobilize support for his proposals.  Typically, a State of the State address in the first year of any Administration focuses on the need for changes and reforms.  As the governor over time comes to represent the status quo, his or her rhetoric changes and the State of the State becomes a vehicle to extol the achievements of the Administration and to build on the image the governor is trying to project.

  Today, Ray Graf and Joe Donahue speak with Commentator and activist Libby Post about yesterday's SCOTUS decisions on DOMA and Prop 8 and then, in the second half of the hour, we speak with Times Union reporter, Jimmy Vielkind, about the NY Legislative session.

New York's Legislature has agreed to require newborns to be tested for a congenital heart defect under a new, quick screening process.

The measure would require all birthing facilities to administer the test called pulse oximetry screening.

The new procedure provides early detection of heart defects that could be addressed quickly by surgery, potentially saving babies' lives.