New York State Legislature

There have been a number of ideas and suggestions on how to improve the New York State Legislature, especially after the recent arrest of two lawmakers on corruption charges. One of the ideas is changing the job from part-time to full time. That’s not a new thought, in fact it was suggested more than 100 years ago, in 1910, by then newly-elected State Senator Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

The second half of New York’s legislative session begins Monday. It's likely to be dominated by the response to on going bribery and corruption scandals that came to light while lawmakers were on spring break.  

Governor Cuomo, and one of the Co-Leaders of the State Senate have already taken some preemptive action before the legislature’s scheduled return to the Capitol,  following federal bribery charges against a State Senator and an Assemblyman, as well as other officials. 

Just two days after State Senator Malcolm Smith of New York City was charged with bribery, another state lawmaker is facing the same charge in an un-related case.

Even though state lawmakers announced a budget agreement Wednesday, they spent the day Thursday trying to pin down details and print the bills in time to be through over the weekend.

NEW YORK (AP) — A former state senator pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges she embezzled nearly $88,000 from a taxpayer-subsidized program that helps low-income families navigate the city's public school system.

  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Legislation that would give New York state the toughest gun restrictions in the nation is expected to easily pass today in the state Assembly, where is it being debated this morning.

It's already won approval in the state Senate, where the Republican leader says it is "well-balanced" and "protects the Second Amendment."

It provides for a stricter assault ban, and seeks to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. It also calls for restrictions on ammunition and the sale of guns.

The outcome of one Capital Region New York State Senate race could be the key to whether the Senate majority remains in the hands of Republicans, or flips to Democrats, giving Democrats full control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s office.

Government reform groups say there are a number of loopholes in New York’s campaign finance regulations, and that LLC’s, or Limited Liability Corporations, are part of the problem. Jimmy Vielkind of the Albany Times Union has been looking into these organizations and how they can be used to get around some of the campaign donation limits. WAMC’s Brian Shields spoke to Vielkind about his front page story in today’s paper.

Saying the time was right, long time Albany area New York Assemblyman Ronald Canastrari announced today that he will not seek re-election after more than 20 years in office. Canastrari, a democrat from Cohoes, serves as the Assembly Majority Leader. He said the decision to leave was not an easy one.  Canastrari looked back on his career today, telling WAMC’s Brian Shields what he considered to be the most important bills he helped to pass while in Albany.