Friend,

This week the Governor delivered his State of the State address and outlined his priorities and the Executive Budget proposal for FY 2019-20. The Legislature also approved a wide-ranging package of electoral reforms aimed at increasing voter participation breaking down obstacles to voting in New York State.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Governor Delivers 2019 State of the State, Budget Proposal. The Governor outlined his priorities for the upcoming year in his 2019 State of the State address delivered at the Egg on Tuesday, and released his Executive Budget proposal for 2019-20. Contained within the Governor's proposals are a long list of ambitious and forward-thinking policy proposals. As we continue to sift through the fine details, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to build upon the Governor's proposals.

Wadsworth Labs To Remain In Albany. As part of his Executive Budget proposal, the Governor announced that the Wadsworth Public Health Labs' new site would be located within the City of Albany, at the Harriman State Office Campus, beating out East Greenbush's proposal to locate it across the river. The long-term effects of this development cannot be overstated enough - up to 1,200 life sciences jobs and $3.2 million in economic activity is projected as a result. This is critical to Albany's growth as a leading science and technology center for innovation, and will have far-reaching multiplier effects that will be felt for years to come. As a long-time advocate of this project to remain in the City of Albany, I am delighted by this week's news. Although we weren't able to secure the New Scotland location due to constraints on size and leasing, keeping the Wadsworth Labs in Albany will pay dividends. For my full press release on Wadsworth's relocation, please follow this link.

Assembly and Senate Pass Election Reforms. This week, the Assembly and state Senate approved a broad array of bills aimed at reducing barriers to voting and making it easier for New Yorkers to access the polls. Included in these proposals are 9 days of early voting, combined primaries, and pre-registration of 16 and 17-year-olds.

Closing the LLC Loophole. Notably, both the Senate and Assembly passed a bill to close the LLC (limited liability company) 'loophole'. The LLC loophole was routinely taken advantage of by corporate donors to skirt public disclosure rules and campaign contribution limits. By ending the unlimited contributions of LLCs, we are restoring faith and transparency in our state's electoral process. For a full list of the proposals, please follow this link to my Facebook page.

A Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban? Included in the Executive Budget is a proposal to ban the use of plastic bags at places like supermarkets and convenience stores. The Governor proposes this as California became the first state to implement a state-wide plastic bag ban this year, and localities across the country implement their own versions of plastic bag bans. New York uses 23 billion bags a year - I look forward to working with the Governor on the plastic bag ban and a possible fee on paper bags to tackle this recurring problem.

Governor Proposes Stretch Limo Ban. As part of his Executive Budget proposal, the Governor has included a package of bills to reform New York's limousine industry following the tragedy in Schoharie last year, including an outright ban on stretch limousines. I thank the Governor for creating a dialogue surrounding this issue as we begin to craft a final state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and look forward to working with stakeholders and my colleagues to include a strong set of legal protections and oversight of the industry.

Capitol Pressroom Appearance. I spoke with WCNY's Susan Arbetter on the Capital Pressroom to discuss how the state should take a methodical approach to the legalization of marijuana. The discussion includes the need to focus on automatic expungement and sealing of previous marijuana-related records, as well as the issue areas of impaired driving and developmental youth usage of the drug. The podcast may be heard in its entirety at WCNY.org

COMMUNITY UPDATES

CAP COM Launches Food Drive for Pantries. CAP COM held a press conference to highlight the launch of a food drive to assist food pantries in the Capital District that are currently struggling to fill their shelves, due to high traffic as a result of local weather conditions and the government shutdown. Please visit any of their 11 branches to donate or visit your local food pantry.

Our Annual Open House. Please join myself and constituents as we gather for my annual open house on Friday, January 25th, here in Room 452 of the Legislative Office Building, 198 State Street, Albany, NY. The event will run from 8:30a - 10:00a and all are welcome to attend - come by to grab coffee and chat!

Times Union Job Fair. The Times Union will hold its quarterly job fair on Monday, January 21, at the Albany Marriott, 189 State Street, from 10a - 4p. To register, click this link. 

OUR WEEK BY THE NUMBERS

15 - Meetings Held
1 - Assembly Roundtable: Adverse Childhood Experiences
3 - Assembly Committee Meetings: Codes, Higher Education
147 - Constituent Communications, Emails, Calls
2 - Press Releases: Wadsworth Labs, Bill Introduction for Infrastructure Siting for 5G Technology
9 - Interviews, Press Coverage, Speeches, Presentation
9 - Community Events

Pat