Tagged: Karen DeWitt

The New York State Senate held a rare Sunday session at the Capitol, in an attempt to get the state budget finished on time in the midst of major religious holidays.

The State Senate met to vote on three previously agreed upon budget bills, in an attempt to finish the spending plan without interfering with the Easter and Passover holidays. Senate Finance Committee Chair John DeFrancisco explained it on the Senate floor.

“We’re trying to jumpstart the process,” said De Francisco, who says starting early gives everyone “ample time” for debating the bills. 

A new poll finds voters overwhelming support for many of the items that Governor Andrew Cuomo is pushing, including parts of the newly enacted gun control law.  

Steve Greenberg, with Siena College, says the poll asked voters whether they wanted New York to have the strongest anti gun laws in the nation, including banning assault weapons and outlawing magazine clips that hold more than seven bullets.   Greenberg says the measures have broad support, at 73% to 26%.

Governor Cuomo appeared with leaders of New York’s congressional delegation to urge Congress to finally act on a federal aid package for victims of Superstorm Sandy, seven weeks after the destructive storm.

Governor Cuomo, and New York’s congressional delegation say it’s taking longer to secure federal money for victims of Superstorm Sandy than it did for Congress to act after Katrina.