News stories tagged with "mandate-relief"

(02/02/12) Mandate relief--especially on Medicaid costs--was at the forefront of many county leaders' minds at the annual meeting this week of the New York State Association of Counties.

In his budget address January 17th, Governor Cuomo laid out a plan for the state to take over increases in Medicaid costs over the next few years--but some county leaders say that's not enough. more

(12/06/11) Counties across New York state are supporting legislation that would phase out the local share of Medicaid payments, but officials doubt the bills will ever become law.

Medicaid, a state program for New Yorkers who can't afford medical care, is among the biggest strains on county budgets, especially as lawmakers struggle to present budgets that meet the state's new 2 percent cap on property tax growth.

The Senate and Assembly introduced bills earlier this fall that would shift Medicaid costs from the county level to the state. Chris Morris reports. more

(01/10/11) Gov. Andrew Cuomo is wasting no time. From a wage freeze for public employees, to mandate relief and a property tax cap, he's moved on many of key campaign themes in just his first week in office.

He's also got a new/old legislature to work with. A Republican majority in the state Senate, but a familiar and powerful face at the head of the Assembly: Speaker Sheldon Silver. Susan Arbetter, host of WCNY's capitol Pressroom, is one of the Albany-based journalists who's watching all this closely. Martha Foley talked with her about the changing dynamic.

(10/29/08) Democratic Senator Darrel Aubertine and Republican David Renzi clashed in their final debate last night in Watertown. Aubertine is trying to protect his Senate seat just eight months after he won it in last winter's special election. Aubertine cites funding for capital projects at SUNY Canton and SUNY Oswego, and delaying the closure of Lee Memorial hospital in Fulton, as his biggest accomplishments during his brief Senate tenure. Aubertine's a former dairy farmer from Cape Vincent. He served three terms as the Assemblyman along the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. He told David Sommerstein his biggest priority is to cut down the state's record budget deficit while reducing property taxes.