Politics on the Hudson

The number of young voters nationwide rose for the third time in as many presidential election cycles, according to a new analysis by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

Voters under 30 who voted in 2008 increased by about 11 percent, while the number of older voters increased by 3 percent, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau turnout data.

Between 2004 and 2008, turnout rates among young voters also rose, while those of older age groups remained steady or decreased.

Factors from increased attention paid to young voters by candidates, to the proliferation of technology in the lives of young voters, to a rise in civic engagement among young people, contributed to this surge, said Sujatha Jahagirdar, program director for the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project.

New York’s budget analysts predicted today that the national recession will end in the third quarter this year, but the state’s finances will still take years to recover, particularly after federal stimulus aid dries up.

Estimates from the state Budget Division show modest budget gaps for New York government next fiscal year, but higher deficits in future years – as much as a $13.7 billion gap in the 2012-13 fiscal year when federal stimulus money runs out.

Gov. David Paterson’s budget analysts sought today to put a positive spin on the recently completed 2009-10 spending plan, which closes a $17.7 billion budget gap – the biggest deficit in state history.

“The economy is still very uncertain. We do hope we’re seeing a turning point, but we don’t know what the future holds for us,” said outgoing Budget Director Laura Anglin. “And we’re still very cautious as we move forward and believe that we are positioned well for the future.”

Paterson was widely criticized for a budget process that was deemed secretive and lacking in fiscal discipline. But Paterson’s aides said the budget cut spending and raised new revenue without eliminating vital services.

The 2009-10 fiscal year, which started April 1, hopes to raise $4 billion through increases in income taxes on the wealthy as part of $5.3 billion in new taxes and fees. It also eliminates a $1.7 billion property-tax rebate program that provided rebate checks to homeowners.

The budget uses $6.2 billion in federal stimulus aid to help balance the budget.

David Spano, the son of County Executive Andrew Spano, announced that he would primary his own dad for the post and take a 50 percent paycut if he won. He’s running on a platform of eliminating county government.

“By running for county executive, I intend to be the last county executive,” Spano told the crowd. “I’m a man of the people. I believe my father is a man of his people. I would hope to be the last county executive and eliminate myself.”

Younger Spano made the announcement at a tax rally Saturday in White Plains, protesting Westchester County’s high taxes and calling for the elimination of county government. Read the full story here.

In other races, Kurt Colucci, a 33-year-old project manager from New Rochelle, announced that he would run for county legislator.

“My main goal is to create awareness on the issue,” Colucci said of rising taxes. “Stop running people out of the county. … A county corrections officer makes $288,000 a year, it’s wasteful. I’m a regular person — I don’t want to pay higher taxes. I just want to keep the people I love around.”

It’s all part of a plan to change the government from the inside-out, said Sam Zherka, an organizer who emceed the tax rally. Because eliminating county government is a long-term goal and no easy task — it would require a state constitutional convention and approval from the state Legislature — he said it was important to get political outsiders involved in the process and create another party.

“This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, this is a people issue,” Zherka said. “We need to create or build a third or fourth party. We need to put people in there who are not aligned with either party.”