Politics on the Hudson

Congresswoman Nita Lowey  today announced that the Westchester Community Opportunity Program will receive $965,025 in federal funding to provide supportive services for 1,000 local veterans’ households.
“The brave men and women who have served our country deserve our thanks, praise, and support” said Lowey.  “I am pleased WestCOP will receive this federal funding, enabling the organization to provide important supportive services to local veterans.”
Under a federal program, the Department of Veteran Affairs will award grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will provide supportive services to low-income Veteran families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing.

The grantees will provide a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability to eligible very low-income Veteran families.

Westchester County is among 162 governments in 31 states that Moody’s Investors Service is considering downgrading its Aaa bond rating if the federal government doesn’t reach a deal on the debt ceiling.
Moodys last night announced that governments such as Westchester with “high economic dependence on federal activity, would be vulnerable” if the U.S. government gets its rating lowered.

Westchester County spokesman Ned McCormack said this step by Moodys “is the result of Washington’s inability to resolve the debt ceiling issue and underscores the need for timely action by national lawmakers.”

“Our hope is that a debt ceiling agreement will be reached before this action by Moody’s has a negative impact on Westchester County’s Aaa rating and borrowing costs,” he said.

Though Westchester is the only entity in New York, others include Bergen, Monmouth, Morris and Union counties in New Jersey while Fairfield, Greenwich, Ridgefield, New Canaan are among towns and cities in Connecticut that could be downgraded.

If the federal government were to default, these governments would then be placed under review, which would take approximately 90 days to  complete, Moodys said today.

Some 400 other Aaa public agencies were not put on review for possible downgrades because Moodys considers their ratings to be “resilient to a one-notch downgrade” of the federal government.

Moodys earlier in the week lowered Westchester’s outlook to negative from stable, but the county retained its Aaa rating from all three agencies — including Fitch and Standard & Poors.

The changed outlook basically means the agency is  telling Westchester that it’s straddling a line that could jeopardize its financial footing — and Aaa rating.

If Westchester was downgraded, it would have to pay more for borrowing.

Westchester County Legislator Bill Ryan has been named to the National Association of Counties Board of Directors.

The announcement came following the NACo Annual Conference, which was held last week in Portland, Oregon. Ryan will represent New York State on the NACo Board.

Ryan, a former chairman of the county board, is now president of the New York State Association of Counties, or NYSAC.

He represents Westchester’s 5th Legislative District, which includes White Plains and Scarsdale.

“This is an important development for New York. Having representation on the governing board of the national association will ensure that the unique needs and concerns of New York are addressed,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Without the participation of Bill Ryan and the other Westchester County legislators, including Chairman Ken Jenkins, who are active in NACo, New York would not be as effective in making its case for national policy.”

Ryan was also named to the NACo’s Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee, which deals with all matters pertaining to the financial resources of counties; fiscal management; federal assistance; municipal borrowing; county revenues; federal budget; federal tax reform; elections and Native American issues.

“Working with and learning from other elected officials at the National Association of Counties and New York State Association of Counties greatly enhances our public service and problem solving,” said Ryan. “To build stronger communities, it’s important to be innovative and know what is making a difference in the lives of others. The give-and-take in these organizations is unparalleled in this regard, and I look forward to bringing back a lot of superb governance ideas to Westchester.”

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, stopped by the Southeast Town Board meeting Thursday night to provide a legislative update from Albany.

“For the first time in a long time, Albany’s moving in the right direction,” he told the board and about 40 people in the audience.

He gave a quick rundown of issues from this year’s legislative session. Those included passing an on-time budget with a 2 percent spending cut and the property tax cap. In addition, he said he plans to continue trying to repeal the MTA payroll tax, reduce unfunded mandates and improve homeland security.

Ball then took one question from the audience, which ended up being a debate with Neil Di Carlo, a former Congressional candidate, as to whether Ball’s vote to renew Putnam County’s sales-tax extension was a vote for a tax increase. One other audience member, Lynne Eckardt —  Southeast resident, a councilwoman candidate and former Putnam County Democratic chairwoman — tried to ask a question during the forum. But neither Supervisor Michael Rights or Ball called on her. Ball did offer to speak with her outside the meeting.

The senator’s office today sent out a press release about Ball’s Town Hall Tour, which began with this

A lively crowd turned out for the second stop on Senator Greg Ball’s (R, C – Patterson) Town Hall Tour tonight in Southeast, N.Y.  The tour, which provides communities with an update following this year’s legislative session, drew dozens of residents who were eager to ask the Senator questions about ethics reform, state spending, highway repairs and property taxes.

More information about Ball’s tour throughout the 40th Senate District can be found here.

Following the launch of 10 regional councils that will lead the economic development efforts in regions across the state (NYC’s is being launched as we speak), Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the members of a statewide body that will oversee their work, resolving any conflicts that may arise.

The overarching panel will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, who has served as the Cuomo administration’s point person for the governor’s plan, which pits the 10 regions in a competition for a slice of $1 billion in development grants, tax breaks, bonds and other funding sources.

Like Cuomo’s regional panels, the statewide council includes representatives from business, higher education and labor.

Some of the bigger names include State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, Eastman Kodak CEO Antonio Perez, and the presidents of several statewide business groups.

The co-chairs from each of the ten regional councils will also serve on the panel. The other members are listed below, courtesy of Cuomo’s office:

Laura Anglin, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor, State University of New York
Ellis Rubinstein, President & CEO, NY Academy of Sciences
Julie Suarez, Director of Public Policy, NYS Farm Bureau
Antonio M. Perez, Chairman & CEO, Eastman Kodak Company
Bill Thompson, Chair of M/WBE Task Force
Denis Hughes, President, NYS AFL-CIO
Edward Malloy, President, Building & Construction Trades Council
Heather Briccetti, Acting President & CEO, The Business Council
Brian McMahon, Executive Director, NYS Economic Development Council
Brian Sampson, Executive Director, Unshackle Upstate
Michael P. Durant New York State Director, National Federation of Independent Businesses
Jan Marie Chesterton, IOM President, New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association

The Indian Point nuclear power facility in Buchanan, Westchester County, faces a “pretty steep hill to climb” in order to have its federal license renewed, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a television interview that will air this weekend.

Appearing on WMHT’s New York Now, Schneiderman said that the heavy residential areas surrounding the plant, which sits near a fault line deep underground, should make it more difficult for the plant to obtain a license when the first of its two reactors are up for re-licensing in 2013.

Schneiderman successfully fought to have the plant’s parent company, Entergy, submit an environmental cleanup and safety plan as part of its license application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has sought to shut the plant down, citing safety concerns, and Schneiderman told New York Now that he will defend the state’s position as decisions are made on the plant’s licenses.

“That’s what we’re going to determine through this process, and whatever it is that the state determines to do, I’m the state’s lawyer and I will defend that,” Schneiderman said. “But I think they have a pretty steep hill to climb given the location of the plant and the population density around it and some of the problems that have come up with the plant.”

Schneiderman said there’s no room for error when it comes to the plant.

“Even an event that is unlikely to occur but would have a devastating consequence if it were to occur has to be taken into account in a situation like this,” he said.

You can view a preview of his interview with Karen DeWitt below. New York Now airs on PBS stations across the state.

For the second time in a week, President Barack Obama will deliver a statement on the ongoing stalemate in Congress over whether to raise the federal debt ceiling by Tuesday, which the Obama administration says is necessary to avoid defaulting on some financial obligations.

Obama is scheduled to begin his address at 10:20 a.m. You can watch MSNBC’s feed below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A debate over a $95 million interest payment to the federal government has picked up steam in recent days, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo saying today that the state’s uncertain fiscal situation prevents it from being able to pick up the tab.

It all stems from the state’s unemployment insurance fund, which has dwindled as unemployment rates have stayed high over the past three years. In 2009 and 2010, the federal government extended interest free loans to states, including New York, that needed money to cover its claims, but Congress hasn’t acted on a similar program this year.

That means the state owes the federal government $95 million by the end of September, and businesses across the state have been receiving notices from the Department of Labor with a bill of up to $21.25 per employee to cover the costs.

Cuomo was on the receiving end of a letter from Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, suggesting that the state use its surplus tax receipts to pick up the tab. According to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, tax receipts for the first quarter of 2011 exceeded expectations by nearly $800 million, though he still said the state’s fiscal situation is “tenuous.”

The governor, however, said today that Kolb’s proposal isn’t possible. He pointed out that the state is projected to face a $2.5 billion budget gap for the 2012-13 fiscal year, and spending a tax surplus would make that gap tougher to manage.

“The state is not in position to pay,” Cuomo said in Schenectady today. “Remember, when this state closed the budget, we had a roughly $2.5 billion deficit for next year. So we’re not out of the woods for next year. So we have a lot of work to do and we certainly don’t have a lot of time.”

In an telephone interview today, Kolb still said he’s not convinced that the state can’t use the tax revenue to close pick up the unemployment tab.

“I expected him to say that,” Kolb said. “I disagree with him, and that’s a respectful disagreement. I think this is a convenient way to try to make more money to play with in next year’s budget. I believe that we can close that $2.5 billion deficit, and our tax receipts are ahead of the game.”

“Basically, what they’re saying is we want to bank more tax receipts for budget negotiations next year, and if they get the businesses to pay for that, it’s $95 million more they can play with in next year’s budget,” Kolb continued.

Here’s Kolb’s letter to Cuomo:

Letter From Leader Kolb to Governor Cuomo on UI Interest Assessment Surcharge

Following a report that some stores and bodegas were still selling the caffeinated version of Four Loko, the controversial high-alcohol beverage was supposed to be off New York shelves, Sen. Jeff Klein is renewing his call to pass a law officially banning the drink and others like it.

The makers of Four Loko had since reformulated their drink to take out the caffeine—it still has 12.5 percent alcohol by volume—so it could remain on shelves after New York and others had taken steps to keep it out of their states. But the report on a New York Times/NYU blog suggested that the old formula of the product is still out there.

Klein, a member of the Independent Democratic Conference representing the Bronx and Westchester County, said a legal ban on all caffeinated alcoholic beverages sold in retail stores is the only way to keep it out of the state. His bill passed the Senate earlier this year, but never made it to the Assembly floor for a vote.

He issued this statement:

“News of a State Liquor Authority probe regarding on-going sales of caffeinated Four Loko proves that a simple gentleman’s agreement is not enough to keep this dangerous product off store shelves and out of New York State. My legislation, (S.3889A), to outright ban caffeinated alcoholic beverages passed the Senate this session. The Assembly needs to do its part to protect New Yorkers from this product, which the FDA deemed ‘unsafe,’ and pass my bill as soon as possible.” 

Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Bedford, says she supports Speaker John A. Boehner’s plan to cut spending and boost the debt limit. In today’s New York Times, she offers her take on the speaker’s plan coming to a vote.

Representative Nan Hayworth, Republican of New York, said the bill had been tweaked enough to gain her support, and she felt the mood in the party’s caucus to be moving in Mr. Boehner’s direction.

“This is what you’d expect thoughtful people to do,” Ms. Hayworth said. “People with passionately held beliefs can evaluate the evidence, and there has been a coalescence that is developing around the idea that the speaker has presented and an appropriately amended bill that represents a very productive and constructive approach to the challenge we face.”

As a representative-elect back in November, Hayworth seemed to have a different take on raising the debt ceiling. In a Nov. 22 Gannett News Service story on her upcoming life in D.C., she was against raising the ceiling.

“I am not going to vote to raise the debt limit,” she said in an interview . . . between a House Republican Conference meeting and a lunch in the Capitol.

She said she’s not worried about a government shutdown, such as the one that occurred in 1995 in a showdown between Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich and Democratic President Bill Clinton.

“That’s a false choice,” she said. “We don’t have to shut down the government.”

But Rep. John Boehner, who will be House speaker next year, does worry. And he’s taking a different approach than Gingrich.

Boehner has publicly appealed to his new colleague — who advocated cuts in federal spending on the campaign trail — to raise the debt ceiling, perhaps by coupling the measure with cuts in federal spending.