New York 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.