The top Democrat in the Senate says the state's $5 billion windfall from financial settlements should pay for housing, transportation and school upgrades and tax rebates for low-paid workers. Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the plan Thursday.
Meanwhile, the new speaker of the Assembly says raising the minimum wage, expanding higher education access and protecting New York City's rent rules have emerged as his priorities as he settles into his position. Bronx Democrat Carl Heastie tells the Associated Press that ethics reform is another goal of the Assembly's Democratic majority.
