New York State Government

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Students Inside Albany conference, a program that brings high school students from across New York state to the Capitol to learn about government and public service firsthand.

Everywhere you look, there is a growing concern over the threats posed by A.I. data centers. We have relied on data centers for years, but the burgeoning construction of new, more massive ones has hit a nerve in an increasingly cost-conscious America.

The fight over New York’s quarter-plus-trillion dollar budget continues with little evidence of it ending anytime soon. In what has now become an annual ritual, Governor Hochul has frozen budget negotiations in order to pressure lawmakers to agree to what are essentially non-budget policy initiatives.

New York’s state budget is now two weeks late. There are no public indications that the secret negotiations are heading toward a quick resolution. Reading the tea leaves, the late budget is largely the result of Governor Hochul’s insistence that lawmakers approve non-budget measures, such as weakening the climate law, as part of an overall budget agreement.

When Governor Hochul recently announced the launch of EXPRESS NY I paid close attention. Because for those of us delivering mental health and child welfare services across New York, regulatory reform is not theoretical. It affects care every single day.

Another year, another late budget. Under New York law, April 1st is the first day of the state’s fiscal year, meaning that a new budget should have been in place. Like the previous ones during Governor Hochul’s tenure, this one is late.

This week the nation celebrates the need for government openness during annual “Sunshine Week.”

As long-time observers know, Albany has a budget “dance.” The first step is that the governor must introduce her executive budget by mid-January; she has until mid-February to make any changes.

With great fanfare, last month Governor Hochul unveiled her budget plan. Legislative budget hearings are underway and there is a growing debate over how to finalize the plan.

Last week, Governor Hochul unveiled her $260 billion budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts on April 1.The governor’s plan contains measures that she had discussed in her State of the State address given a week earlier.