Cuomo Delivers Eighth State of the State Address Wednesday
January 3, 2018. Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivers his State of the State address on Wednesday, kicking off a challenging year of budget deficits and re-election races. This article states that the governor fought unsuccessfully to reverse the elimination of the deduction for state and local taxes, which harms some middle-class and wealthy taxpayers in the state. Cuomo, speaking on CNN over the holidays, said he'll announce in his State of the State a plan to re-engineer the state's tax code … (read more)
People's State of the State
January 3, 2018. On Tuesday, activists held the "People's State of the State" to outline their priorities on the state and federal levels. The Capitol Pressroom previewed the event with Susan Zimet, Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of New York State, and Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute.
Access to Podcast HERE.… (read more)
As Legislative Session Starts, Sides Square off on Taxing the Rich
January 3, 2018. The two sides of what will likely be an overarching debate during the 2018 legislative session were on display Tuesday with progressives calling for an increased millionaires' tax and conservatives saying that existing taxes should be phased out as scheduled to prevent a further exodus of Empire State residents.
We should be looking at a new top rate for the billionaires or those making $100 million, According to Ron Deutsch, executive director of the labor-backed Fiscal Policy … (read more)
Progressives Unspool Counter-Programming to Cuomo's Speech
January 3, 2018. In Albany on Tuesday, a slew of progressive groups stood on the steps of the Capitol to hold a prebuttal to Wednesday's State of the State address and called for an increase in taxes to fund more social service programs. About two dozen people attended the People's State of the State Address, holding signs that called for taxes on the rich and giving speeches about mass incarceration and the increasing lines at food pantries.
Ron Deutsch, executive … (read more)
THE 29th PEOPLE'S "RESISTANCE" STATE OF THE STATE: The Empire State Strikes Back
For Immediate Release: January 2, 2018
Susan Zimet, Hunger Action Network of New York State (C) 845-527-5309
Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute (C) 518-469-6769 (O) 518-786-3156 x7160
THE 29th PEOPLE'S "RESISTANCE" STATE OF THE STATE
The Empire State Strikes Back
(Albany, N.Y.) The 29th Annual People's State of the State rally took place at the State Street entrance to the State Capitol today. Organizations from across New York State joined together in the freezing cold … (read more)
Congestion Pricing "vs." Millionaire's Tax: Why Not Do Both?
Here's a story you don't hear every day: in the latest spat between Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor De Blasio, both of them are right. Congestion pricing, the governor's proposal, and a surcharge to the millionaire's tax, the mayor's proposal, are both good ideas.
The not-so-secret feuding between the governor and the mayor has not served New Yorkers well. From the serious to the petty, the two Democrats don't seem to be able … (read more)
Response from Governor Cuomo, Senate Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie to Largest Bid-Rigging Scandal in State History: NOTHING
Response from Governor Cuomo, Senate Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie to Largest Bid-Rigging Scandal in State History: NOTHING Elected leaders fail to pass common sense reforms to curb sky-high corruption risks revealed in $800m state contracting scandal
(June 22, 2017, Albany) A coalition of prominent government watchdog groups say Governor Cuomo, Senate Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie have completely failed to address the huge problems revealed by last year's alleged rigging of $800m in state economic development contracts and that … (read more)
Trump Budget Would Shift Huge SNAP Costs to New York and Put New Yorkers at Risk of Going Hungry
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2017
Media Contact: Ron Deutsch (FPI) 518-469-6769
Sherry Tomasky (Hunger Solutions) 518-414-2570
Albany, NEW YORK – President Trump's budget proposal would shift a significant share of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program's (SNAP, previously known as Food Stamps) benefits to states and, for the first time, allow states to cut SNAP … (read more)
FPI Releases 2017-2018 Budget Statement
518-786-3156 (o), 518-469-6769 (c), deutsch@fiscalpolicy.org
David Dyssegaard Kallick, Senior Fellow, Director, Immigration Research Initiative
212-721-7164 (o), 646-284-1240 (c), ddkallick@fiscalpolicy.org
FPI Statement on 2017-18 Enacted State Budget
There's no question the newly-minted state budget contains some important public policy issues that should be lauded. However, given the governor's very vocal concerns about funding threats from Washington, we sadly missed an opportunity to be proactive in protecting New York from … (read more)
March 21, 2017. The Fiscal Policy Institute and Responsible Wealth released a letter signed by over 80 wealthy New Yorkers urging Governor Cuomo to extend and expand the millionaires' tax, currently in place but set to expire at the end of this year.
Signers include Eileen Fisher, Abigail Disney, Steven C. Rockefeller, George Soros, David A. Levine, Dal LaMagna, Lewis B. Cullman, among other notable names. All signers, many members of the Responsible Wealth project, are residents of New York … (read more)