Politics

Assemblyman to introduce corruption bill

Monday, May 6th, 2013, 12:46pm

ALBANY - There is a bill in the works that would deny convicted politicians of their taxpayer-funded pensions.

Since 2000 at least 26 state lawmakers have dealt with ethical problems or criminal charges. Three of the last five state Senate majority leaders have either been indicted or have gone to jail for corruption.

Rotterdam Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara sits on the Government Employees Committee. The committee recently rejected a bill that would have removed pension and retirement benefits for any elected official convicted of a felony related to the official duties.

He says he's moving the bill out of committee for the full Assembly to consider.

"I think that when we're elected to office, the voters place their trust in us and I think we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard," Santabarbara said.

The assemblyman say a new bill, slightly revised, is already in the works.

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Schumer optimistic Congress will pass federal gun laws

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, January 17th, 2013, 11:51pm

Even though the gun fight may be over at the state Capitol, the war of words across the nation goes on. That's what lawmakers, state and federal, were saying today in Albany.

Passing gun control legislation here in New York wasn't enough for total efficiency here in New York, and that's why what happens in adjacent states and in Washington is so vital to gun control proponents.

Even though the sweeping gun control legislation approved Tuesday by the New York legislature should substantially strengthen the state's gun control laws, it's not perfect and much more still needs to be done, according to freshman Albany Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy.

"It was such a big step in the right direction. Now I only hope that federally they can do more," said Fahy.

"It's better to have New York's laws then not, whether the federal government does something or not," U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said.

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NRA: NY’s quick gun law passage nixed opposition

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, January 17th, 2013, 5:37pm

The National Rifle Association said the secretive negotiations and lightning-fast passage of New York’s tough new gun control laws squelched the powerful gun lobby’s ability to mount opposition.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had to engineer quick enactment to prevent a counterproductive buying spree of now-outlawed guns.

The legislation was negotiated over the weekend, introduced on the first day of the 2013 legislative session and signed into law the next day.

The NRA, which has thwarted such restrictions nationwide, had members working the phones but didn’t have enough time to coordinate a public rally. The gun-rights group and some New York lawmakers say the rushed legislation also undermined public input and meaningful debate.

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Local Election Results

Submitted by Chris Rooney, WNYT Web Manager

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012, 9:04pm

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Congressional candidates Tonko, Dieterich debate

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012, 9:45am

CLIFTON PARK -- Rep. Paul Tonko and his challenger Bob Dieterich became a bit testy with each other on the subject of campaign finance reform. That was about the only time the two traded verbal punches in the one-hour debate at the Hilton Garden Inn in Clifton Park.

"We'll be looking at the rich in this country hiring people to sit in Congress. We need to be a democracy of the many, not the money," Tonko said.

Dieterich fired back and said, "My opponent, you can look it up on opensecrets.org, you can see the special interests that have given him money. We have not received that. I do think that's a big concern."

Dieterich joked that he's the one in the race with the least amount of cash in his coffers.

They continued through the debate with rebuttal after rebuttal.

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Schenectady County overrides tax cap and proposes tax hike

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012, 10:12am

SCHENECTADY -- Schenectady is already among the highest taxed counties in the Capital Region. But soon taxpayers could be paying more.

The county manager released the 2013 budget proposal after lawmakers overrode the two percent tax cap.

Before unveiling the budget, lawmakers in Schenectady County held a special meeting to approve the tax cap override.

"This vote essentially allows the manager to submit a budget she believes preserve public safety and public services," said Schenectady County Legislator Gary Hughes.

The 11-4 vote also paved the way for the county manager to propose a 7.49 percent tax hike in the 2013 budget.

The tax cap is set by state law at 2 percent. But municipalities can override it with a 60 percent majority vote.

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