As the state is buffeted by a seemingly unending series of scandals involving elected officials, we asked a number of experts and politicians to weigh in what was New York’s worst political scandal ever. Let us know if you agree–and what scandals may have been overlooked. Larry Norden Deputy Director, Brennan Center for Justice The past 10 years have been really bad for Albany. We’ve had at least 13 convictions of elected officials, many more indictments, including three of the… [More]

Women’s rights organizations held a lobby day in Albany on Tuesday for reproductive health and equal pay, but they also took time to castigate mixed martial arts and the sport’s push for legalization in New York State. The mixed martial arts industry has been lobbying the legislature for the past six years to permit professional matches in the state, but the bill has always died in the Assembly. This year, representatives from NOW-New York and several state legislators are arguing… [More]

New Roosevelt, a good-government group led by progressive entrepreneur Bill Samuels, is launching another reform into the mix: a dedicated Legislature.… [More]

Legislators returned to Albany on Monday  and booted state Sen. Malcolm Smith from the Independent Democratic Conference two weeks after federal agents arrested him on bribery charges. “If [the Democrats] are willing to take him on, if they want to make him a part of their conference, they’re free to do so,” IDC spokesman Eric Soufer said. But the Democrats didn’t seem to want him either. “I don’t foresee that happening,” Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said at a… [More]

This year’s budget could wind up the smoothest in 30 years, cruising to passage before the session breaks for Passover and Easter holidays at the end of the month.… [More]

Andrea Stewart-Cousins has already made history, but can she rescue the Democrats from themselves? … [More]

You wouldn’t expect such a hopeful smile from state Sen. Tony Avella, but there it is. The Democrat from Queens is animated as he discusses hydrofracking in his office next to the state Capitol. Avella is one of 33 Senate Democrats in a house with 63 members. But because of a deal worked out between five Democrats known as the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) and the Republicans, his fellow “traditional” Democrats remain in the minority, without the perks of their… [More]

Q: Should the state raise the minimum wage? Should a proposed hike be included in the budget? Brian Kolb, Assembly Minority Leader (R): The hard part on this is when you have individuals earning minimum wage—it was an entry-level wage for workers entering the workforce. It was never designed to be a living wage. We have blurred the line between entry-level wage and living wage. I’m still looking for some input from those in the business community and the small… [More]

The Democratic candidates for New York City mayor should be receiving a letter this week from Assemblyman Micah Kellner asking them to tour the site for a marine transfer station at East 91st Street in Manhattan. The controversial project was intended to help ship out more trash by barge and to spread such facilities more evenly across the five boroughs, but local lawmakers have argued that truck traffic and exhaust would harm children playing at the adjacent Asphalt Green recreational facility. And… [More]

The New York State Senate kicked off its new session in controversial fashion with a sharp debate over the rules written up by the new coalition of Republicans and Independent Democrats. Sen. Liz Krueger, a Democrat in the Senate minority, objected to several of the new rules, including new procedural restrictions, reduced funding for the Democratic Conference, a lack of details on the power-sharing agreement—and only 12 hours to consider all the changes. “Having 30 percent of the resources to… [More]