Karen DeWitt

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has made reforming New York City's rent laws a top priority. The Assembly made the first move in what will likely be long, drawn out negotiations, approving a one house bill that Silver said will ensure that more renters can stay in their homes. He said affordable housing is "disappearing" every day.

A federal government shutdown would have repercussions for New York, said the State’s Comptroller, who noted a long term federal stalemate could even threaten the precarious balance of the state budget.

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who now leads a reform group, declared the Leader of the State Senate "an enemy of reform," and said senators have broken a pledge to carry out non-partisan redistricting.

Governor Andrew Cuomo scored a major victory when he convinced the state legislature to approve a budget that closed a $10 billion dollar gap through cuts to health care and school aid. But some think the spending plan could have negative repercussions for the governor later on.

Lawmakers passed a budget in the early morning hours amid loud but peaceful protests. The $132.5 billion budget contains a 2 percent spending cut and eliminates $10 billion, with his...

State lawmakers planned to work into the evening in an attempt to finish up the state budget one day before the deadline. Hundreds of protesters, upset with budget cuts, marched and...

Hundreds of New Yorkers are expected at the state Capitol Wednesday to protest the approval of a state budget that cuts schools by $1.2 billion dollars, makes reductions to public colleges and universities and tuition assistance programs and rejects a tax on millionaires.

As the days count down to the April 1 budget deadline, Governor Andrew Cuomo is making clear to lawmakers that the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government has shifted.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders agreed to a budget plan that cuts spending by nearly $10 billion dollars, and does not raise any new taxes, scrapping proposals for a continued tax on the state’s millionaires.

The leader of the State Senate says he expects a "conceptual agreement" on the state budget by midday Friday, one week before the March 31 deadline.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has pledged to make the Indian Point nuclear power plant its first priority in reviewing seismic risk at the nation's nuclear facilities in light of the disastrous earthquake in Japan. Cuomo stopped short, though, of calling for a shutdown of the Indian Point.

There are two weeks left to the state budget deadline and — despite the pressures of the $10 billion dollar deficit — Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders claim to be getti...

The fight between Governor Andrew Cuomo and school districts flared up Thursday when the governor delivered a stern lecture to schools that have complained about the proposed budget cuts to education — ripping critics for playing a "game" and issuing empty "threats."

Albany, NY —

A partisan argument broke out Monday in the New York State Senate over the issue of redrawing district lines, as pressure mounts on the chamber's Republican conference to adopt a plan for an independent commission soon.

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch is accusing Senate Republicans of "derailing" redistricting reform, and breaking a pledge they made to the ex-mayor’s reform group during the most recent election campaign.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, speaking a month before the state budget is due, said the likelihood of retaining the so-called millionaires tax in New York was "poor" as support  for the temporary income surcharge appeared to wane.

There are just six weeks until the New York State budget is due, and groups affected by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed $10 billion in cuts have begun stepping up their efforts to win public support for alternatives — like extending a tax on the rich.

In an unusual move, Governor Andrew Cuomo sent his Lieutenant Governor, Robert Duffy, to defend his proposed school aid cuts to a joint hearing of the legislature’s education and fiscal committees.

Albany, Ny —

Tensions over an ethics reform bill that’s being negotiated in private between Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders spilled into the open this week, as finger pointing began over which side was holding up the legislation.

The leader of the Senate Republicans, offering his first real criticism of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget, said the spending plan leaves too much unfinished and could result in a month-long delay in the process.