“The conference has asked not to put it on the agenda,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, after Democrats met behind closed doors tonight.

New York is the only state in the nation to bar mixed-martial-arts competitions. The measure has passed four years in a row in the Republican-led Senate, but it has failed to garner enough support in the Democratic-led Assembly, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t pushed for its approval.

Some Democrats have raised concerns about the violence associated with the sport. They have also questioned how women are treated at the events—a sensitive issue after Silver last month was criticized for not doing more to stop the sexual harassment of female aides to disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez, D-Brooklyn.

Lorenzo Fertitta, the chairman of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, said the company would continue to push for passage in New York in future years. The legislative session is set to end this week.

Ferttta rejected the claims that the contests are anti-women, saying that Democrats are using that as an excuse to ban it because of his Las Vegas casinos are not union shops.

“This year’s new, absurd, offensive, and completely erroneous charge used to justify the defeat of MMA legislation was that MMA is anti-woman and leads to domestic violence,” he said in a statement. “This is a deception fabricated by a Las Vegas union that is recklessly and callously trying to use an important societal issue to try and punish the UFC.  It isn’t honest and doesn’t work.”

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“By helping localities to make tough decisions and manage their finances now, the state as a whole will benefit in the long term because we simply cannot afford to kick the can down the road any longer,” Cuomo said in a statement this evening.

The legislation, to be approved Friday, would create a 10-member board to help localities. The governor will have six appointees, and the other statewide elected leaders would also have members. The board will have $80 million to dole out to local governments in need.

The board could also serve as an alternative for the binding arbitration panel between police and fire unions and municipalities during labor contract disputes.

The legislation would also change the binding arbitration process so arbitrators would have to give 70 percent of the weight of their decision on a community’s ability to pay. It removes, though, Cuomo’s original language that would have put a 2 percent cap on raises.

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Kay, 60, had been the chief operating officer for The Trust for Public Land. He has previously been a consultant to Universal Parks & Resorts and the former COO for Toys ‘R’ Us. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and of the Duke University School of Law.

“After a careful search involving many highly qualified candidates, we are delighted to select Chris as our new President and CEO,” said NYRA Chair David J. Skorton, the president of Cornell, in a statement. “His wide range of expertise and skills—including experience in the legal, regulatory and corporate governance environments—will serve him extremely well in his new position at NYRA.”

Kay takes over the troubled agency that runs three racetracks—Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga—as it tries to dig its way out of near bankruptcy.

The appointment is effective as of July 1. His salary was not disclosed, but it is expected to be big bucks.

Kay succeeds Charles Hayward who was fired last year amid a betting scandal.

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They were charged with disorderly conduct after they blocked an “egress into a legislator’s office by sitting in the hallway and refused to move when directed by police,” State Police said.

Those arrested included Karen Scharff, 55, of Hannacroix, Greene County, and Michael Kink, 50, of Stockbridge, Mass.

Scharff is the executive director of Citizen Action, a good-government group. Kink is the head of the Strong Economy For All Coalition, a labor-backed group.

Here’s the list of those arrested. They were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Albany City Court:

Richard T. Lynch, 51, Staten Island NY

Jennifer Lopes, 35, NYC NY

Zenaida Mendez, 48, NYC NY

Stephen M. Pampinella, 29, Albany NY

Shay Horse, 19, Brooklyn NY

Alice B. Brody, 70, Albany NY

Charlotte Allen, 22, Troy NY

Charles E. Khan, 24, Central Islip NY

Joseph P.M. Loonam, 19, Brooklyn NY

Paul Ness, 60, NYC NY

David K. Austin, 32, NYC NY

Daniel M Morrissey, 25, Cohoes NY

Joanne Farrell, 48, Rensselaer NY

Patricia M. Cumo, 62, Albany NY

Angelica Clarke, 23, Troy NY

Terri Smith-Caronia, 44, Brooklyn NY

Joseph I Sellman, 64, NYC NY

Karen R. Scharff, 55, Hannacroix, NY

Jessica L. Wisneski, 32, Olivebridge, NY

Sherman D. Cheung, 38, Middle island NY

Michael J Kink, 50, Stockbridge, MA

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HARCKHAM DECLARES CANDIDACY FOR RE-ELECTION TO COUNTY BOARD

Cites Record of Accomplishments in Cutting Taxes & Spending, Protecting Families and Safeguarding Water Supplies & Environment

(Mount Kisco, NY) At a press conference on the steps of Mount Kisco Village Hall, County Legislator and Board Majority Leader Pete Harckham (North Salem, D, I, WF) today declared his candidacy for re-election to the County Board. Harckham was joined by his daughters, Emma & Kate, elected officials, and supporters.

Harckham cited his record of keeping promises to responsibly reduce the size and cost of county, protect families and safeguard our drinking water and environment. Said Harckham, “Over the past six years I have worked tirelessly towards achieving these goals, and by working together, we have accomplished a great deal.”

Harckham stressed his record on cutting spending and taxes, “County taxes are down by 2.2%, spending has been cut by $100 million and the size of the county workforce has been downsized by over 15%.” He added, “I’ve also successfully fought against unwise cuts to Probation, the County Police and the Department of Emergency Services that is so vital during events like Superstorm Sandy and to all of our volunteer first responders.”

Harckham used the location in Mount Kisco to physically point out organizations that were negatively impacted by the 2013 Republican budget, “that was passed with no analysis, no discussion in the Committee on Budget and Appropriations and no public input.” He cited Open Door Neighborhood Health Center, The Boys and Girls Club, Mount Kisco Child Care Center, The Mount Kisco Library and the Emergency Shelter Partnership. Said Harckham, “My friends, we can do so much better. This is Westchester. ALL of the people of Westchester deserve so much better.”

On the environment, Harckham stressed his record on protecting our fragile water supplies, saying “I have been a leader in protecting our drinking water through securing over $20 million in outside funding for water protection projects and by banning fracking waste from our waste water treatment plants and the brine from being used on our roads for de-icing or dust control. I have saved homeowners, businesses and municipalities millions of dollars through innovative solutions to burdensome state mandated septic policy.” Harckham is the founding Chair of the Subcommittee on Septics. He negotiated the model local law on MS-4 Septic inspection has negotiated a pilot program with NYC DEP on the testing of alternative septic systems in the NYC watershed.

Harckham also stressed his record on protecting our families, “I’ve passed laws to support our emergency first responders, to crack down on drunk drivers and to facilitate police mergers when it saves taxpayers money and enhances public safety.”

Harckham concluded his remarks by again focusing on his accomplishments, “We have shown that by working together, we can provide tax relief and at the same time make the investments necessary to protect our families and to safeguard our environment.”

For a detailed list of County Legislator Pete Harckham’s accomplishments, and his bio, please visit www.PeteHarckham.com.

Photo: County Legislator and Board Majority Leader Pete Harckham (North Salem, D, I, WF) announces his candidacy for re-election to county board joined by his daughters, Emma & Kate, elected officials, and supporters. (Photo Credit: Aviva Meyer)

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The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples, D-Buffalo, and Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, Niagara County, would provide tax parity with the Senecas for Batavia Downs and Finger Lakes if the tribe were to put a casino in Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario or Wayne counties.

It would also give the two racinos some money to deal with the changes they will need to make after Gov. Andrew Cuomo reached an gaming exclusivity contract with the Senecas last week. The deal means the racinos can no longer be called casinos, and they have to limit the type of games they can offer. The deal also continues their gaming exclusivity in the Rochester area, and the Senecas have expressed interest in a Rochester casino in the past.

The racinos are hoping that at least a portion of the bill makes it into the final agreement that Cuomo is negotiating with legislative leaders to allow up to seven privately owned casinos in New York.

The bill “is there to help the western New York gaming facilities based on the negative impacts on the memorandum of understanding with the Seneca Nation,” said Michael Kane, president of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, which owns Batavia Downs. “Our hope is that when things are fully discussed that some of the items in Senator Maziarz’s bill will become law.”

Legislative leaders said they hoped to reach a final agreement on casinos with Cuomo today.

SEIU said it supports the bill.

S5835 by jspector

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Legislative leaders said they were hopeful to reach an agreement today.

Cuomo has made it a priority to create a commission to aid local governments struggling to pay their bills. Municipalities, though, have said they want specific mandate relief, not simply new committees.

The binding arbitration piece would give arbitrators the ability to consider the ability of a town of city to fund increases in pay for members of police and fire unions.

“We have to restructure those local governments so they’re financially solvent,” Cuomo said during a Manhattan news conference in April. “I have not wanted to subsidize the problem; I actually want to solve the problem.”

E.J. McMahon, senior fellow for the Empire Center for New York State Policy, said the bill is watered down from Cuomo’s initial proposal in January. In particular, the new bill no longer includes a cap on contract arbitration awards. Cuomo planned to limit the pay increases to 2 percent a year; the new bill has no cap, saying only 70 percent of the consideration would focus on the “ability to pay.”

McMahon said the language is too loose.

“There are no rules for systematically quantifying and defining ‘ability to pay,’” McMahon wrote on his blog, “The Torch.” “Arbitration rulings have long been maddeningly inconsistent on this very point, and will no doubt continue to be.”

Binding Arbitration-frb – Memo on Scribd” href=”http://www.scribd.com/doc/148582887/Gpb-21-Binding-Arbitration-frb-Memo” style=”text-decoration: underline;” >Gpb #21 – Binding Arbitration-frb – Memo by jspector

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The bill, released Monday, would allow farm owners to make up the 150,000 gallons of cider each year, provided that it is made entirely with New York products. The measure would create a new license for farm cideries, which would allow them to host tastings and sell New York-made beers and spirits, as well.

The state already had license systems for farm breweries and spirit makers, but didn’t have a system in place for cider makers. The license would also cut down on the cidery’s sales tax reporting requirements, which farmers had cited as a roadblock to making their own cider at the Cuomo administrations “Beer, Wine & Spirits Summit” in Albany earlier this year.

Cuomo and lawmakers also cut a deal on another alcohol-related bill, which would cut down on reporting requirements for labels of ciders and spirits that are made on farms in small batches. That bill can be found here.

Here’s the farm cidery bill:

Gpb18 Farm Cideries Bill by Jon Campbell

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Sens. Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, and Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, said they were confident that an agreement can be reached today—in time for bills to be printed and voted on Friday.

Yet the sides seemed still at odds over how to alleviate at least some of the concerns of the state’s nine racinos, who are opposing Cuomo’s casino plan.

Skelos said he wants a video-lottery facility on Long Island, and he said he’s “relatively optimistic about it.”

Skelos also mentioned concerns about Western Regional Off-Track Betting, which owns Batavia Downs, and along with Finger Lakes and Buffalo, would be restricted in their marketing and games because of an gaming exclusivity agreement with the Seneca Nation of Indians.

The racinos are looking for tax parity with the private casinos. Cuomo proposed the four upstate casinos—which would be located in either the Albany area, Southern Tier or Catskills—would pay a tax rate of 25 percent. The racinos pay an average of 67 percent.

Cuomo also included a bill over the weekend that would allow him to add more video-lottery facilities if a November referendum to approve the casino deal were to fail.

Klein said he’s concerned about impacting the racinos, who have a booming business and help fund education.

“I think the VLTs that they have in place right now have done very very well in generating tax dollars for the state of New York,” Klein said. “So I don’t want to hamper their ability to do be able to that with more competition.”

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The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, would prohibit New Yorkers from using any type of welfare assistance on tobacco products, lottery tickets or alcoholic beverages. Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards would become illegal to use in any gambling facilities, liquor stores or places where “performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state.”

“We fully understand that there are people in this state who need help,” Libous said in a news conference. “What this bill does is help people because we’re going to go after those individuals who defraud the system.”

The bill is introduced in the Assembly, but isn’t expected to come to a vote before the legislative session ends this week.

Libous said the state has to act on establishing an anti-fraud system for welfare benefits by February or it will face a 5 percent cut—or $120 million—in its federal funding for assistance programs. Some in the Assembly believe, however, that the state Office for Temporary Disability Assistance can establish a system through regulations, without legislative approval.

The bill would keep individuals out of a public assistance program for one month for a first offense, three months for a second and permanently for a third. For retailers, they would face fines for the first two offenses in a five-year period and a suspension of their EBT license for a third.

Here’s the bill:

libousEBT

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Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is endorsing an effort to organize a potential 2016 Hillary Rodhman Clinton presidential campaign, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to back the effort.

In a statement posted Tuesday on the website of the political action committee Ready for Hillary, McCaskill said “It’s important that we start early, building a grass-roots army from the ground up, and effectively using the tools of the Internet – all things that President Obama did so successfully – so that if Hillary does decide to run, we’ll be ready to help her win.”

Ready for Hillary is attempting to build grass-roots support for a Clinton campaign despite the fact that she has not yet declared her candidacy.

“Regardless of who you supported for president back then, we can all agree today that there is nobody better equipped to be our next president than Hillary Clinton,” McCaskill said.

In January 2008, in the heart of the Democratic presidential primaries, McCaskill endorsed Barack Obama over Clinton, saying “I have deep respect for Hillary Clinton. She’s a smart woman and a strong leader, but at this moment in history it is very important that we look forward with optimism and hope that we’ve not been able to gin up in this country for a while.”

As Clinton was departing the State Department in February, McCaskill issued a statement saying “if her future plans include seeking the presidency, which I hope they do, then I look forward to being on her team and working my heart out to see her elected.”

Clinton spoke in Michigan Monday night at a gathering of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids Press reported that Clinton listed a series of lessons she learned as secretary of State, including this: “You can’t win if you don’t show up.” Yet to be determined is whether she will show up for the 2016 presidential campaign.

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Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said eight counties, three cities and 13 towns made the list of the most fiscally troubled communities. It’s the first time that the comptroller has released a list of municipalities facing the most fiscal woes.

Monroe County, based on DiNapoli’s scoring of 23 indicators, ranked as the most fiscally stressed local government in the state. Ramapo was second.

“The challenges facing local governments have reached a critical point and these fiscal stress scores should serve as a wakeup call,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Taxpayers, local officials and state policymakers need an objective analysis to help them understand the economic and budgetary challenges facing our communities.

Local governments in New York have been under increased pressure as costs for pensions and health care have skyrocketed while tax revenue has stagnated.

DiNapoli’s auditors found that nearly 300 local governments had deficits in recent years. He said more than 100 had inadequate cash on hand.

Local governments submitted financial information to DiNapoli’s office as of last month.

Eighteen governments were listed “under review” by DiNapoli, and they could also face a warning from his office. Those included the city of Poughkeepsie, and the counties of Rockland, Ulster, Erie and Nassau counties.

The towns of Fishkill in Dutchess County and Saugerties in Ulster County were also under review.

There were also 124 local entities that had not filed, DiNapoli said. Those included the cities of Binghamton, Ithaca and Geneva in upstate and New Rochelle and Mount Vernon in Westchester County.

Tompkins and Westchester counties also had not filed.

2013 FSM MuniStress by jspector

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Cuomo and legislative leaders did strike a deal on restructuring the Long Island Power Authority, the quasi-public authority that oversees the utility system in Nassau and Suffolk County and was heavily criticized for its response to Superstorm Sandy.

But deals on locating Las Vegas-style casinos and creating tax-free zones for certain businesses that create jobs were out of reach Monday night. Bills would have had to have been introduced before Tuesday in order to receive a vote by the legislative session’s scheduled close Thursday, though Cuomo could waive the mandatory waiting period if he deems it necessary.

Cuomo conceded Monday that a deal on his 10-point Women’s Equality Act—which includes a measure that would strengthen New York’s abortion laws—and a series of anti-corruption measures likely won’t pass this session. Instead, he plans to appoint a commission with subpoena power to investigate the state’s campaign finance system.

Meanwhile, Cuomo will meet at 11 a.m. with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, and Senate Co-Leaders Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County; and Jeff Klein, D-Bronx. If legislative deals are struck Tuesday, they could be put to a vote Friday.

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After exiting Cuomo’s office around 5:40 p.m., Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he and his negotiating partners have a “framework for further discussion,” while Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein said all parties are trying to wrap up for Thursday.

In order to finish up on time, bills on the major outstanding issues—Monday’s negotiations focused on siting Las Vegas-style casinos and implementing tax-free zones—would have to be introduced before the clock strikes midnight. Under state law, legislation must age for three days before it’s put to a vote, though Cuomo can waive the waiting period if he desires. (Earlier Monday, Cuomo said he’s not inclined to issue any so-called “messages of necessity.”)

When asked if the legislative leaders struck any deals with Cuomo after their late-afternoon negotiating session, Klein said they agreed on one thing.

“We agree that we want to be finished by Thursday,” Klein, D-Bronx, said.

Meanwhile, Silver, D-Manhattan, said his chamber is planning on voting on Cuomo’s full 10-point “Women’s Equality Act,” which includes a much-debated provision that would strengthen New York’s abortion laws. On Sunday, Klein’s Independent Democratic Conference introduced a version of Cuomo’s bill—minus the abortion piece and plus an additional five measures focused on working women.

Silver—while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Klein—said he’s not interested in taking up Klein’s bill.

“It doesn’t have the 10 points,” Silver said. “We’re focused on the 10 point agenda right now.”

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The IDC has come under increasing pressure from women’s rights groups as it appears an abortion piece of a women’s rights agenda is failing to get enough support in the Senate to pass.

But Klein disputed that the IDC is the impediment. He said Senate Republicans and Democrats don’t have the votes to pass the abortion measure. The IDC has also introduced their own women’s agenda that includes maturity leave pay and tax credits for day care.

“I think the IDC has been painfully clear that we support a women’s right to choose,” Klein said. “Unfortunately, we’re the only conference that so far is all pro-choice.”

The National Organization for Women in New York City slammed the IDC and Senate Republicans for not getting the abortion piece included.

“”Women will not forget; don’t put this off until an election year,” the group said in a statement this afternoon.

Klein and Sen. Diane Savino, D-Staten Island, emerged from a closed-door meeting with Cuomo. He said he was still hopeful that the 10-point women’s agenda introduced by Cuomo, or some similar version of it, will pass before the legislative session ends Thursday.

“I’m still holding out hope that we can get all 10 done,” Klein said. “We can get nine done; we can accomplish what we set out to do. But again, we need votes to pass legislation, and the magic number is 32.”

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A Siena College survey released Monday found 44 percent of New York voters do no support allowing hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale, compared to 37 percent in favor. Outside of New York City and its suburbs, 52 percent oppose fracking and 38 percent support it, according to the poll.

It’s a slight shift from polls over the past three years that have consistently shown voters are split on the issue, including a Siena survey in May that showed 41 percent opposed statewide and 39 percent in favor.

“A majority of upstaters and plurality of New York City voters oppose fracking, while a plurality of downstate suburbanites want to see fracking move forward,” said Steven Greenberg, a Siena pollster.

Meanwhile, busloads of anti-fracking activists piled outside of the east side of the Capitol to push the state Senate to pass a two-year moratorium on fracking in New York. The state has yet to allow the technique, pending the completion of an in-depth environmental review by the departments of Health and Environmental Conservation.

“We are calling on the state leaders, all of them here, to reject fracking and lead the nation in developing renewable energy, so that our water, our land and air remain clean and safe for generations to come,” said former Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, Ulster County, who was one of the featured speakers at the rally.

The large rally included a musical performance from Jamestown native and Hudson Valley resident Natalie Merchant before protesters marched around the Capitol, calling for a statewide ban.

UPDATE: Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of NY, said the celebrity-featured rallies “do little to advance thoughtful discussion about the merits of an issue.”

“In contrast, in the Southern Tier, families know that with the appropriate regulation and oversight, hydraulic fracturing can be conducted safely and bring opportunity and growth to a region that each day sees opportunities continue to erode,” Gill said in a statement.

The Assembly has passed the moratorium bill. A similar bill, sponsored by Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown, Rockland County, hasn’t gained traction in the upper chamber.

Senate Deputy GOP Leader Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, said last week that he doesn’t believe his house will take the moratorium up before the legislative session ends Thursday. In an interview on “The Capitol Pressroom,” a public-radio program, on Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he believes the measure would have enough Senate support to pass, but didn’t signal whether he would sign it if passed.

“I just don’t see our house getting too excited about that,” Libous, a fracking booster, said last week. “On the whole fracking issue, the governor is going to decide that.

He’re a video summary of Monday’s anti-fracking rally:

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Democrats and Cuomo are seeking a public-financing law similar to one in New York City, but Senate Republicans are opposed and it appears there’s little compromise between the sides.

Cuomo urged the Senate leadership—Sens. Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, and Jeff Klein, D-Bronx—to bring the Democrats’ bill to the floor for a vote.

“As I have made clear to the Legislature, I believe that we need a comprehensive package of reforms to address public corruption in Albany and I have introduced such a package over the course of this session that includes campaign finance reform, election reform, and improvements to the criminal law to facilitate State prosecutions of corrupt public officials,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Part of that agenda calls for establishing a public financing system for elections in New York state.”

Cuomo added that “Klein and Skelos should bring this bill, as well as the other bills that would address public corruption, to the floor for a vote of the full Senate before the session concludes this week.”

A Siena College poll today said the corruption should be the top issue addressed by lawmakers before the session ends Thursday.

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The rates of students who are considered ready for college or careers remain low, and the state’s “Big 5” school districts saw decreases, particularly in Buffalo.

Graduation rates in New York City, Yonkers and Syracuse, whose rates are lower than the statewide average, dropped by less than a percentage point from 2011. But in Buffalo, the rate dropped by more than seven percentage points, from 54 percent in 2011 to 46.8 percent in 2012. In Rochester, the rates dropped from 45.5 percent in 2011 to 43.4 percent in 2012.

The state also tracks how many students are graduating on track to succeed in college or in a career. Those rates are significantly lower across the board.

Statewide, about 35.3 percent of graduates in 2012 were considered ready for college or a career. In Rochester, only 5.8 percent of graduates were college- or career-ready, the lowest of the “Big 5.” In New York City, that number was 21.9 percent; in Yonkers, 22.8 percent; in Buffalo, 9.7 percent; and in Syracuse, 7 percent.

State Education Commissioner John King touted the stability of the overall graduation rates, given that academic standards have toughened in the past four years. He stressed the importance of implementing the new, more difficult Common Core curriculum, on which third through eighth graders’ tests were based this April. High school students will begin taking Common Core exams next school year.

But he said the rates of college- and career-readiness among New York’s high school students are “painfully low.”

“In Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, less than 10 percent of the students graduate ready for the challenges of college or today’s high-skilled jobs,” he said in a statement Monday. “Those are more than just numbers; those numbers represent thousands of students whose futures are diminished. We have to keep pushing forward with the Regents’ reforms and the shift to the Common Core standards.

“Our state has some of the highest performing districts and schools in the country, but far too many children in New York are being denied the educational opportunity they need and deserve,” King continued.

Achievement gaps between white students and minorities persist, and students with disabilities or those whose first language is not English continue to lag their peers.

About 58.1 percent of black students in New York graduated in 2012 after four years, compared with 85.7 percent of white students. The rate for Hispanic students was lower, at 57.8 percent. Asian students fared better than the statewide average, with about 81.6 percent graduating in four years.

Only 34.3 percent of English language learners and 44.7 percent of students with disabilities graduated in four years in 2012, compared to 79.3 percent of students in general education courses. Far fewer of those students were prepared for college or a career.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo, shortly after unveiling his father’s official gubernatorial portrait Saturday at the state Capitol, attended the reception of Kate Hoffman and Matthew Libous.

Libous is the son of Sen. Thomas Libous, a Binghamton Republican who is among the governor’s closest GOP allies.

Cuomo, a Democrat, greeted guests for nearly an hour and spoke at the gathering, which took place in a barn near a home the senator owns on Oquaga Lake in the village of Deposit.

Thomas Libous said he sent the governor an invitation to the wedding and was told Friday that Cuomo would be attending the reception.

“He came in, he sat at a table with me and he worked the room, obviously,” Libous said. “People took pictures with him. When we were all sitting down right before we did dinner and prayers, we asked him to say a few words.”

Libous said Cuomo had met his son in the Rockaways portion of Queens, when the younger Libous and his then-fiancee were helping with the cleanup of Superstorm Sandy as part of their church group.

Cuomo’s office confirmed the trip and said no taxpayer money was used. His daughter Mariah, 18, attended as his guest. The reception was not listed on Cuomo’s public schedule Saturday.

Prior to heading to the reception, Cuomo was in Albany, where he honored his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, with a portrait in the Capitol’s “Hall of Governors.” That was followed by a reception at the Executive Mansion, which was attended by family and former members of Mario Cuomo’s administration.

(AP file photo)

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Cuomo knocked the nine racetracks as “very well-financed players,” and he said they won’t be able to expand to become full-fledged casinos without a competitive bidding process. The racinos first began to open in 2004 after legislation in 2001 allowed the state to have video-lottery terminals at racetracks.

“They expect another gift, like the first gift: They should just become a casino, and I’m not going to do that,” Cuomo said on “The Capitol Pressroom,” a public-radio show. “I think the way we did racinos in the first place was a mistake.”

Gannett’s Albany Bureau first reported Saturday that Cuomo circulated new casino legislation that would allow the state to add video-lottery facilities across New York if a casino referendum in November were to fail. The move was seen as a way to tamp down the racinos’ opposition to Cuomo’s plan, which would allow the state through a bidding process to add up to seven privately owned casinos—with the first four in upstate.

“If the referendum fails, we’re not just going to go away and say go to New Jersey and go to Massachusetts and do your gaming there,” Cuomo continued. “We’ll do more VLTs, which is what we now do.”

Cuomo and lawmakers are negotiating the details of the casino legislation. Four casinos would have exclusivity to operate for seven years before the last three could be opened.

The first four would be limited to the Southern Tier, Capital Region and the Catskills after Cuomo reached deals with three Indian tribes to have exclusivity in western, central and northern New York.

The casinos threaten the racinos, which have had a booming business in recent years. They have argued that they should be allowed to add table games and have pledged to add amenities, such as hotels and entertainment centers,

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The medical procedure referred to as “partial-birth” abortion is banned on the federal level. The changes to the bill clarify that the Women’s Equality Act would not affect that ban.

Also, the bill specifically states that abortion is legal until the 24th week of pregnancy or when a woman’s life or health is in danger, as determined by a licensed physician. Previously, the bill said abortion was legal until viability. A fetus is generally considered viable at 24 weeks.

Women’s groups pushed the amendment last week as a way to make the bill more palatable to moderate Senate Republicans, but the GOP Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, said he still intended the block the bill. The Independent Democratic Conference, which shares control with the Republicans, introduced its own women’s agenda Sunday that excludes the abortion provision.

Here’s the language:

Part J Choice 1 by cara12345

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The Senate’s four-member breakaway Independent Democratic Conference introduced a women’s package Sunday that excludes the abortion provision but adds further workplace protections, such as paid maternity leave.

Cuomo reacted on “The Capitol Pressroom,” a public radio program. He said the IDC members are “theoretically Democrats,” and women’s groups expected the group to push the issue because it would have come to the floor had the IDC not partnered with Republicans to control the chamber. All four IDC members have said they are pro-choice, but Leader Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx, has argued that there are not enough votes to pass the bill.

“It doesn’t have choice, and that was the only question,” Cuomo said of the IDC’s bill. “We have a 10-point agenda that the women’s groups worked on, and a lot of time has been spent on that. And we’ll come to an agreement on nine out of 10 of the points with the Senate and the Assembly. The only issue in all of this is: Would the Senate put choice on the floor? And Senator Skelos said no, and the women’s groups went to the IDC and said, ‘Well, you have to, because it would be done but for you, the IDC.’ And that’s been the only issue. So the only issue that’s relevant from my point of view with the IDC is one issue: choice.”

Cuomo said he stands by his position that passing all 10 points would be preferable to passing nine without the abortion provision.

“I am in solidarity with the women’s coalition. We have 850 women’s groups who put this all together, and they are in solidarity that if they don’t get the choice vote, they don’t want the nine. And I am standing with them,” Cuomo said.

He stressed that Senate Republicans and the IDC would be hit hard over the abortion issue in 2014, when they are up for reelection.

“I think the campaign finance, public finance, and the choice issue are going to be significant Election Day issues next year,” Cuomo said.

“I think they made a decision: Would you rather do it, pass it, or deal with it in an election contest? And I think they’ve decided, by their actions, to deal with it in an election contest,” he continued. “I think it’s a serious mistake on their part, but I’m sure I have done many things that they think is a serious mistake on my part. Senator Skelos—I respect him for his consistency and his clarity, but I think it’s a mistake, and I think it’s a mistake for the IDC, who are theoretically Democrats.”

(UPDATE) The women’s groups working with Cuomo released a statement Monday knocking Klein for his package.

“Senator Klein has a unique opportunity as a majority leader to truly advance women’s equality by standing up for the core protections of Roe v. Wade, making New York law reflect the core pro-choice values and legacy of this state,” the coalition said. “However, he has chosen to use his position and that of the Independent Democratic Conference to give cover to anti-choice legislators and carry the water for the anti-choice movement in New York and across this country.”

Klein released a statement Monday morning calling the IDC’s package “comprehensive” and “progressive,” stressing the provisions that would help working women and mothers. He reiterated his position that the bill would fail if brought to the floor, and he lobbed blame for that on pro-life Democrats.

“The legislative process is the art of negotiation,” Klein said. “We are prepared to do nine of the 10 points and believe that women should not be forced to wait any longer for progress on these important issues.

“As we have made clear, all four members of the IDC remain steadfast in their support of a woman’s right to choose,” he continued. “Throughout this legislative session, I have yet to encounter a single pro-choice Republican to make up for the few right-to-life members of the Senate Democratic Conference. The IDC would like nothing more than to bring this provision to the floor, but the votes just are not there.”

The post Cuomo: Blocking vote on abortion provision “serious mistake” (UPDATED) appeared first on Politics on the Hudson.

IDC Leader Jeff Klein introduced the bill Sunday, which will age three days and be ready for a vote on the Senate floor Wednesday. It circumvents Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act by removing the controversial bill that would strengthen New York’s abortion laws.

Klein, who is an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, has been slammed by women’s groups who have pushed him to force a vote on the bill. His four-member breakaway conference shares control of the chamber with Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, and both leaders must agree on which bills come to the floor.

Neither the IDC nor the governors office could be reached immediately for comment.

Cuomo has been criticized for refusing to separate the abortion piece from the package, which was scuttling passage of the other nine points. Largely supported, the other measures of the Women’s Equality Act address pay inequity, sex trafficking and discrimination against women and mothers in housing and employment.

Earlier in the session, the IDC introduced its “Working Women’s Agenda,” which would boost maternity leave, broaden eligibility for child-care subsidies and attack pay inequity in the public sector.

Senate Democrats have called the IDC’s plan “a distraction,” and Cuomo said he would support it in addition to his 10-point proposal but not in lieu of it.

Andrea Miller, president of NARAL Pro-Choice New York and one of the leading advocates for Cuomo’s women’s agenda, told Gannett’s Albany Bureau Monday that the IDC’s move undermines New Yorkers’ wish to strengthen the state’s abortion laws.

“We are seeing, frankly, a political stunt in the middle of the night that appears to be about creating cover for the IDC with women voters and others across the state who clearly are calling for the governor’s 10-point agenda. These things should not be made mutually exclusive, and it is deeply disturbing the Senator Klein seems to be setting up a conflict where none exists in the electorate or in the eyes of the public writ large.”

NARAL will launch a radio ad attacking Klein for his move on the women’s package later today.

Here’s the IDC’s package.

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IDC Leader Jeff Klein introduced the bill Sunday, which will age three days and be ready for a vote on the Senate floor Wednesday. It circumvents Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act by removing the controversial bill that would strengthen New York’s abortion laws.

Klein, who is an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, has been slammed by women’s groups who have pushed him to force a vote on the bill. His four-member breakaway conference shares control of the chamber with Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, and both leaders must agree on which bills come to the floor.

Neither the IDC nor the governor’s office could be reached immediately for comment.

Cuomo has been criticized for refusing to separate the abortion piece from the package, which was scuttling passage of the other nine points. Largely supported, the other measures of the Women’s Equality Act address pay inequity, sex trafficking and discrimination against women and mothers in housing and employment.

Earlier in the session, the IDC introduced its “Working Women’s Agenda,” which would boost maternity leave, broaden eligibility for child-care subsidies and attack pay inequity in the public sector.

Senate Democrats have called the IDC’s plan “a distraction,” and Cuomo said he would support it in addition to his 10-point proposal but not in lieu of it.

Andrea Miller, president of NARAL Pro-Choice New York and one of the leading advocates for Cuomo’s women’s agenda, told Gannett’s Albany Bureau Monday that the IDC’s move undermines New Yorkers’ wish to strengthen the state’s abortion laws.

“We are seeing, frankly, a political stunt in the middle of the night that appears to be about creating cover for the IDC with women voters and others across the state who clearly are calling for the governor’s 10-point agenda,” she said. “These things should not be made mutually exclusive, and it is deeply disturbing the Senator Klein seems to be setting up a conflict where none exists, in the electorate or in the eyes of the public writ large.”

NARAL will launch a radio ad attacking Klein for the legislation later today.

Here’s the IDC’s package.

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After a series of scandals involving state lawmakers, Cuomo’s favorability rating fell to 58 percent to 35 percent – his worst since he became governor in 2011, the Siena College poll said. Voters were nearly split, 50 percent to 49 percent, on Cuomo’s job performance, also a low for him.

“For the fourth-consecutive month and fourth-time ever, more voters think he’s doing a poor job as governor than an excellent job,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement.

This is the final week of the legislative session, and voters said that fixing legislative corruption should be the top priority, trumping a women’s rights agenda Cuomo is pushing and the legalization of private casinos.

A series of bribery scandals, as well as the resignation of Assemblyman Vito Lopez, D-Brooklyn, for allegedly sexually harassing aides, has dominated the session.

Fifty-two percent of voters said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, should resign because he didn’t swiftly investigate complaints from women about Lopez.

A Quinnipiac University poll June 5 also found a majority of voters want Silver, the speaker since 1994, to resign. Cuomo has not called for his resignation.

The Democratic governor’s popularity was among the highest in the nation after he was elected in 2010. It has fallen in the third year of his first term – particularly upstate where a gun-control law in January has faced stiff criticism.

By a 52 percent to 41 percent margin, voters told Siena that they were prepared to re-elect Cuomo in 2014. Upstate, 54 percent said they would vote for someone else compared to 40 percent who would back Cuomo, who so far has no Republican challenger.

In April, Siena found that by a 52 percent to 42 percent margin, upstate voters would “prefer someone else” to Cuomo.

“His drop this month is more attributable to Democrats than to Republicans or independents,” Greenberg said.

Nonetheless, voters said they supported Cuomo’s agenda.

They said by a 60 percent to 24 percent margin that they support making New York’s abortion law consistent with the federal Roe v. Wade decision, the most controversial part of Cuomo’s 10-point women’s agenda.

Cuomo also wants lawmakers to approve creating tax-free zones near colleges, and he has traveled the state to promote it. Yet 64 percent of voters said they did not have enough information on the initiative to have an opinion.

Another proposal would change the state constitution to allow for up to seven privately owned casinos in New York, with the first four to be built upstate. Support for the plan fell to 49 percent to 40 percent, down from 53 percent to 37 percent in May, the poll found.

Opposition to hydrofracking increased slightly: 44 percent to 37 percent, up from 41 percent to 39 percent last month. The seven-point edge in opposition was the largest it has been in a Siena poll, Greenberg said.

“There is a clear partisan divide as it is supported nearly two-to-one by Republicans, opposed two-to-one by Democrats and divides independents virtually evenly,” he said.

The poll was conducted June 9-13 to 804 registered voters in New York. It had a margin of error of 3.9 percent.

For more information on the poll, visit: http://www.Siena.edu/SRI/SNY

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The changes to the bill, obtained by Gannett’s Albany Bureau, aims to thwart potential opposition to the constitutional amendment from the state’s nine racinos, particularly the largest facility, Aqueduct Race Track in Queens.

The bill would allow for another racino in New York City, outside Manhattan, and the potential for other racinos in the state, as approved by the state’s Gaming Commission.

The bill would allow for four upstate casinos and would give them exclusivity for seven years, instead of five in the original bill Cuomo released earlier this month.

Cuomo is hoping lawmakers in the final week of the legislative session will approve the bill and give second passage to a constitutional change to allow up to seven privately owned casinos in the state. The constitutional amendment would then need voter approval in November.

The racinos indicated earlier this week that they oppose Cuomo’s original bill because it would give the privately owned casinos a better tax rate than they have—25 percent compared to 67 percent—and would put the casinos in direct competition their booming business. The state Lottery hit a record $9 billlion in revenue last year, in part because of the growth of the racinos and the aid that goes to education.

The racinos are leery of the casino deal because it also gives gaming exclusivity to Indian tribes in western, central and northern New York. The deal Thursday with the Seneca Nation of Indians gives them exclusivity in western New York and will limit the marketing and games at three racinos in the region—Buffalo, Batavia Downs and Finger Lakes.

There is talk that the racinos could engage in a major ad campaign to defeat the referendum in November. Allowing for more racinos, essentially at the governor’s discretion, if the referendum fails seeks to put the racinos on notice that their opposition could lead to backlash from the governor.

Cuomo initially had the same language in a bill memo last week, but it wasn’t included in the original bill.

A Cuomo spokesman declined comment on the new bill, saying negotiations are ongoing. It’s unclear whether the Legislature would support more racinos in the state, particularly in New York City.

Updated: Cuomo spokeswoman Melissa DeRosa said there are several drafts of casino legislation, but Cuomo’s office is prepared to move forward with additional VLT facilities if the referendum fails to bring in more money for the state. She also knocked the racinos as being “politically connected.”

“There are multiple drafts of legislation floating around – all of which are outdated,” she said in a statement. “That said, final legislation will anticipate what actions the state may take both if the referendum passes and if it doesn’t. If the casino referendum fails, we will propose offering more high end vlts to combat the loss of revenue to neighboring states and secure new funding for our schools. The old detrimental approach has led to a racino structure with some racinos giving nothing back to the communities they are in – this is unacceptable. No racino was granted a lifetime monopoly. We were elected to act in the best interest of the people, not politically connected racino owners.”

Casino Bill II by jspector

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His son, current Gov. Andrew Cuomo, pulled the cord revealing the painting, which was modeled after an 1989 photograph because the elder Cuomo refused to sit for an artist.

The younger Cuomo addressed a crowd of hundreds gathered on the second floor Saturday, explaining a recent restoration of the Capitol and a reorganization of the governor’s portraits to be in chronological order. The portraits are accompanied by a timeline exhibit with information about each governor’s tenure.

“We had all of the portraits in place. All of the portraits were restored. We were missing just one portrait, by a famously shy governor, who was still unwilling to sit for a portrait—considering it an act of indulgence, God forbid,” the current governor said, referring to his father. “So, never to be stymied by an obstacle, the Cuomo administration found a way to get the portrait even without the person knowing. Who said the portrait artist ever really needed to see the person he was painting? That’s why God made photographs.”

The younger Cuomo said his father’s portrait was “the cherry on the cake” to the restoration.

The elder Cuomo, who was the 52nd governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, did not speak at the gathering, but a formal program was planned for the private reception that followed at the Executive Mansion.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo joked about his father’s silence: “What I liked about this today is there is only one microphone, and I have it,” he said. “It’s nice to be governor.”

The portrait is the work of Simmie Knox, who is the first black artist to paint a New York governor. Knox was also the first black artist to paint a president; he did former President Bill Clinton’s portrait. It is an oil painting on oil-primed linen.

Members of both Cuomo administrations were present for the unveiling. Chris Cuomo, a broadcast journalist with CNN who is son to Mario and brother to Andrew, attended, as well.

Here’s the portrait:

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Westchester went to court on April 24 to try to stop the government from reallocating the money from 2011. In a court conference April 26, Judge Cote, who oversees the larger fair housing settlement, declined to issue a restraining order, saying the two sides had time to work out their differences.

Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kennedy said in a letter to the judge that the Department of Housing and Urban Development doesn’t expect to permanently reallocate the funds before July 15, when all the papers are proposed to be filed with the court.

HUD is withholding the grants because the county has yet to provide the agency with an acceptable analysis of impediments to fair housing choice, which is required under the 2009 fair housing settlement. The county made another attempt on April 24 but HUD said it was still deficient and gave the county until June 10 to provide assurances that it would provide an analysis that meets HUD guidelines. The county made a new submission Thursday that includes sample analyses of five town zoning codes to see if they will be satisfactory.

The county has also withdrawn two constitutional claims from the court action.

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