After the hoopla had died down the Governor laid out an ambitious plan that included ethics reforms that would close the LLC loophole, make legislators subject to FOIL requests, force public servants convicted of a felony to forfeit their pension, and cap the outside income of legislators. He proposed voting reforms such as instituting automatic voter registration when New Yorkers apply for a driver's license and early voting. He also touched upon several social issues including 12-week paid family leave, a $15 minimum wage, and more funding for breast cancer prevention measures. Although we were excited about some of the Governor's proposals, we were disappointed that once again he has included in his State of the State and budget the Education Investment Tax Credit. This tax credit would give a 75% return on investment for donating to private parochial or charter school. We will continue to oppose this measure which deprives public dollars for public education.

The League will be monitoring and advocating for our positions throughout the legislative session and we will be posting weekly blog updates on the Capitol Beat which can be viewed online at this address: http://lwvny-capitolbeat.blogspot.com/

We were joined at the table by representatives from Citizen's Union, Common Cause, and the Brennan Center for Justice. Several Commissioners approached the table and praised the Local Leagues in their counties; others took our materials before heading off to the workshops. The most popular materials were the League's "Your Right to Vote" pamphlets. Many County Board of Election staff said the most common questions about voting they get are from those who are currently homeless and those who have been formerly incarcerated. Our materials were very well received.

Aimee and I had the chance to sit in on several of the workshops throughout the day, especially interesting was the report of the ECA Legislative Committee. The Legislative committee presented to the whole body for a vote the proposed list of legislative priorities for 2016. These priorities included closing schools on Election Day, conducting an information and technology survey of the counties, and allowing county board offices to operate on different working hours than the county itself. In total there were 13 priorities to be voted on, 12 passed easily but a proposal to allow counties to utilize electronic poll books was heavily contested by republican Commissioners. The proposal passed with 57 commissioners voting in the affirmative and 39 opposing. County boards are concerned about costs associated with electronic poll books without help from the State and believe that endorsing electronic poll books is the "slippery slope" to endorsing early voting. There is no unanimity on early voting among the ECA members; support is divided, in general along party lines (Dems-yes, Reps-no).

As in prior years, the main action for transportation funding will occur in the budget negotiations. The process includes several hearings in January, including one on transportation. I have submitted testimony which is posted on the state website.

Several League members have raised concerns about how rulings by the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) have impacted rural transit systems. Senator O'Mara and Assemblyman Brindisi introduced bill S5794/A8202, to be implemented when passed. This bill would continue state transition funding to help rural transit systems impacted by Medicaid revenue loss, and would require the NYSDOH to implement administrative measures to increase use of public transit by Medicaid clients. Note: this bill is not part of the budget negotiations; it can be passed and signed at any time.
To view the legislation, go to: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?term=2015&bn=S05794
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The Health Care Committee continues its advocacy for the single payer bill, New York Health, A.5062(Gottfried)/S.3525(Perkins). In the last session of the Assembly the bill passed by 92-52. We are now working on passage in the State Senate, which will be an uphill battle. The Affordable Care Act allows states to innovate in 2017 as long as they meet certain criteria: 1) The new plan must cover as many people as the ACA 2) it cannot cost more in total health care dollars 3) it must offer the same level of benefit that the ACA mandates. The New York Health Act should easily satisfy these requirements, so we are optimistic that we will get the necessary federal waivers to implement it should we get it passed and signed into law.

To that end we are pursuing various forms of grass-root activities. One such effort involves screenings of the new documentary, Fix It: Healthcare at the Tipping Point, followed by a panel discussion and Q and A. The Westchester LWV will be hosting an event on Jan. 24th with Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Dr. Elizabeth Rosenthal of Physicians for a National Health Program. A similar event was hosted in the Albany area on Dec. 20th, the League in Saratoga will show FixIt on Feb. 29th and the Syracuse Metro LWV plans a showing in late January or early February. The Health Care Committee is urging the presentation of as many of these educational events as possible. Please let me know if there are any more League sponsored showings around the state.

Another grass root effort involves passage of Legislative Resolutions. Thus far resolutions were passed in the Ithaca Common Council, the Towns of Caroline and Ulysses and the Sullivan and Tompkins County Legislatures. We're hopeful that our efforts in Westchester and Suffolk County will also gain resolutions in support of the New York Health bill.

A recent economic study of the bill shows that NYS would save 45 billion dollars ($2,200 per person) in the first year after the enactment of this bill even though 100% of our population would be covered with a more comprehensive plan and no co-pays, deductibles or premiums.

Savings would be made because of the elimination of huge insurance company administrative costs and profits, and for the costly time and paperwork health care providers spend for dealing with insurance companies. Additionally, the law provides that the state can negotiate with drug companies to lower the cost of pharmaceuticals. Coverage would be funded through a graduated income tax similar to the way we pay for Medicare. Link to economic study here:
http://www.infoshare.org/main/Economic_Analysis_New_York_Health_Act_-_GFriedman_-_April_2015.pdf

The New York Health bill will no doubt draw businesses to New York because employers would not be responsible to provide insurance for their employees. Counties would benefit because currently 40% of county real estate taxes goes to pay for Medicaid and Medicaid and Medicare would be folded into the single-payer bill.

Many members of our Committee plan to attend the League lobby day on May 10th. Please let me know if you are interested in joining us.

The Women's Equality Agenda (WEA) Laws passed in the last legislative session took effect this January 19th. As the Governor said, "From helping to ensure equal pay for equal work, to strengthening protections for victims of domestic violence and banning discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace, these laws are improving the lives of millions of women across the state." Thanks to all of you who worked so hard to make these laws a reality. Still to come - but not likely this year- is a law to put the protections of Roe v. Wade into NYS law.

Paid Family Leave Insurance (PFLI)
PFLI advocates were excited that Governor Cuomo included a very moving personal story about the need for Family Leave in his State of the State and budget message. He has outlined a plan calling for 12 weeks of PFLI. Advocates (including LWV) will be trying to bring his proposed benefit level up to 2/3 of the average weekly wage - as in the bill the Assembly passed last year.

Don't forget to mail in any signed Paid Family Leave petitions! The LWVNY office will be copying them so both the Governor's Office and the relevant Senator know that there is significant support for this issue. It is not too late to sign up for the Feb 2nd PFLI Advocacy Day in Albany (register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14YdItjIJMPO3SBYGPJRuXRtF9VM2qX5W9mNE0pT2e2M/viewform) Be sure to wear your LWV button.

Equal Pay for Comparable Worth
Ending the centuries of discrimination against women that has resulted in undervaluing the jobs our society has assigned to women - jobs like child care, nursing, care of the infirm and elderly, cooking - is an area that still needs work. What does it say about our priorities that we are willing to pay more to the person who shovels our snow than to the person who takes care of our kids? Supporting a minimum wage of $15 (which we can and should all do under our Living Wage position) will help low wage workers but won't get at the fundamental bias that plays out in the job market. Stay tuned.