Andrew Cuomo takes a bow. Are we applauding?
A victory lap. That’s the basic narrative for today’s state of the state address, which NCPR will air beginning at 1:25 this afternoon.
Governor Andrew Cuomo pushed through a huge raft of reform legislation in his first year. By any measure, it’s a remarkable slate of accomplishment, especially in Albany — a state capital once viewed as ungovernable.
One question, of course, is how much pain the Empire state still has to endure as the recession winds to a close.
Siena Research Institute reported yesterday that consumer confidence has finally begun to rally in New York. That could bring higher retail sales, and more economic activity.
But if Cuomo presses for more concessions from public employee unions, he could find himself in a full-scale battle with groups that tend to be allied with the Democratic Party.
So what do you think? How do you rate the governor’s first year in office? And do you think New York state is on the right track? What do you hope to hear in today’s speech?
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Until there is mandate relief, I am not applauding.
Nothing will happen with taxes until there’s mandate relief. Until then, all Cuomo’s doing is downshifting the burden onto a smaller tax base (counties, municipalities and schools) while, thanks to the property tax cap and aid cuts, handcuffing their ability to pay for said mandates.
I’m not sure what additional concessions he could request at this point. Aren’t all the statewide unions now under contract?
Are we applauding? Not really. Isn’t it his job to manage the business of the state? Why should we applaud? But it does seem like kind of show at times.
I think he is doing about as well as could be expected. I would vote for him again at this point.
A new day at the circus. The ringmaster has cracked the whip and gotten the attention of the legislature. Whether he can get them perform any tricks remains to be seen.
A bit off topic but I’ll ask anyway. In my recently received tax bill I noticed that all subgroups county, town highway, etc. etc were less that 2% however, the fire departments percentage increase was greater that 2%. How is this possible, given that the locality did not vote to override the 2% cap?
Good question. We all recently got a tax bill. Mine still looks pretty big and this town one is the small one!
It could be worse…I’m thankful for having a capable thinker and competent bargainer the helm during this economic time. The pain and suffering that we have endured, and that which we will endure for a while longer, all date back to Bush’s decision to spend 3 trillion dollars to accomplish nothing in Iraq. In a world as interconnected as this, a bad economic decision of this magnitude will ultimately affect all.
So given the economy, Cuomo has done a pretty good job of keeping it together.
I think he had a pretty incredible first year. The budget, union contracts, tax cap, same sex marriage, disaster response, etc. He did everything right.
Indications are that he will focus on mandate relief this second year. Good for him.
I hope he is as effective this year as he was last.
Obama makes Cuomo look like a wizard!
Zeke,
perhaps your assessment was increased? The cap is 2% plus increased pension costs.