Progressive Groups Warn Against Constitutional Convention

A coalition of progressive groups including the NYCLU and Legal Aid Society announced its opposition to a ballot measure on Nov. 7 that asks whether New Yorkers should hold a convention to revise and amend the state constitution next year. Opponents such as Fiscal Policy Institute and New Yorkers Against Corruption, fear it could set the stage for rolling back protections and rights such as public-sector pension guarantees and legal protections for immigrants and the poor. “We have far more to lose than we have [...]

2021-01-08T09:39:06-05:00October 31st, 2017|FPI in the News|

Progressives Urge “No” Vote on Constitutional Convention

October 30, 2017. A group of progressive organizations, on Monday, gathered to voice their opposition to holding a constitutional convention, which voters will decide on Nov. 7. “We have far more to lose than we have to gain,” said Ron Deutsch, executive director of the labor-backed Fiscal Policy Institute. “We think this is a recipe for disaster.”   Access full article HERE  

2021-01-08T09:38:56-05:00October 31st, 2017|FPI in the News|

Ron Deutsch and Susan Welber Urge No Vote on the Constitutional Convention Question

October 30, 2017. There is just over a week left until New Yorkers head to the polls. Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, and Susan Welber, Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society, weighed in on why they are urging a no vote on Ballot Question One, the Constitutional Convention Question.   Access to the full podcast can be found HERE.

2021-01-08T09:38:30-05:00October 31st, 2017|FPI in the News|

Congestion Pricing “vs.” Millionaire’s Tax: Why Not Do Both?

October 30, 2017. Here’s a story you don’t hear every day: in the latest spat between Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor De Blasio, both of them are right. Congestion pricing, the governor’s proposal, and a surcharge to the millionaire’s tax, the mayor’s proposal, are both good ideas. The not-so-secret feuding between the governor and the mayor has not served New Yorkers well. From the serious to the petty, the two Democrats don’t seem to be able to get along about much. But, in [...]

2021-01-08T09:37:09-05:00October 30th, 2017|Blog, Tax Policy|

A Constitutional Convention – A Risk NOT Worth Taking

A Constitutional Convention – A Risk NOT Worth Taking Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute The New York Constitution articulates the legal rights of New Yorkers, and in many vital areas, provides our residents more protections than the U.S. Constitution. A Constitutional Convention is an expensive, complicated and potentially dangerous undertaking that is unnecessary because we already have a more rigorous and more democratic process by which the voters can adopt or reject individual amendments to the State Constitution on their individual merits rather than being presented [...]

2021-01-08T09:36:40-05:00October 30th, 2017|Blog|

Progressive Organizations Join Together to Urge Opposition to ConCon

Press Release For Immediate Release:                                           Contact: October 30, 2017                                                        Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute (518) 469-6769 Progressive Organizations Join Together to Urge Opposition to ConCon The Risk is Simply Too Great  Progressive organizations from across New York State joined together today to voice their opposition to a Constitutional Convention.  The groups suggested that for virtually all New Yorkers, there is simply more to lose than to gain by holding a Constitutional Convention. The groups highlighted multiple concerns with the rigged delegate selection process, the [...]

2021-01-08T09:35:41-05:00October 30th, 2017|Press Releases|

Ever Heard of Burmese Sushi Counters? You’ve Probably Been to One

October 29, 2017. This article, featured on the front page of The New York Times, tells the story of Gam Aung, a refugee from Burma that started his own sushi counters. Although he has not finished high school and not yet mastered the English language, he lives what he calls the "American Dream." Many may not know that their sushi is in fact made by people from Burma, and assume the makers are Japanese. This article also highlights the success story of Philip Maung, who even [...]

2021-01-08T09:34:50-05:00October 30th, 2017|FPI in the News|

GOP Plan to Scrap Tax Deduction Would Hurt New York, Lawmakers Say

10/26/2017. This article discuss how experts, congressional lawmakers and advocates warn that the impact of repealing a popular state and local tax deduction would be felt by the middle class in New York City and the rest of the state, which has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. “New York City would definitely be hit the hardest in New York State,” Ron Deutsch, executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, an Albany-based nonpartisan think tank, told Observer." The article claims that the [...]

2017-10-27T14:42:57-04:00October 27th, 2017|FPI in the News|

Forum Tackles Issue of Constitutional Convention

On November 4th, New Yorkers will go to the polls and decide whether to hold a Constitutional Convention. Holding a Constitutional Convention, or Con-Con for short, would allow the people to exercise their right to make changes to alter the state constitution. This vote is held every twenty years, and the last time that a Con-Con convened was in 1967. If New Yorkers vote to convene a Con-Con, they would have the opportunity to elect delegates in November 2018 and then the Convention would convene [...]

2021-01-08T09:34:09-05:00October 25th, 2017|FPI in the News|

Experts: Studies Show Refugees are Key to Stabilizing Declining Rust Belt Cities Like Syracuse

October 26, 2017. This article discusses the Welcoming Economies Convening that was held in Syracuse, New York, a coalition of public and business leaders who are dedicated to resettling refugees. These organizations are aware of the economic contributions of refugees such as the reversal of population decline and job creation. These groups came together at the convening to discuss how to further accelerate and help grow their economic contributions. Fiscal Policy Institute's Immigration Research Director David Kallick. "When we're talking about growth, we have to talk about [...]

2021-01-08T09:32:37-05:00October 25th, 2017|Economic Outlook, FPI in the News|

Groups Concerned about Healthcare Cuts

10/20/2017. Fiscal Policy Institutes Executive Director, Ron Deutsch, discusses how proposed federal budget cuts threaten healthcare. He and others rallied outside Glens Falls Hospital on Thursday to protest a possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare. “Congress has failed to renew funding for critical healthcare programs, which jeopardizes access to care for low- and middle-income residents and threatens hospitals across the state,” said Greenfield resident Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute executive director." Access to full article Here    

2021-01-08T09:32:21-05:00October 24th, 2017|FPI in the News, Healthcare|

Federal Budget Cuts Will Hurt Children, Official Warns

October 18, 2017. FPI's executive director, Ron Deutsch, discusses how proposed cuts in federal spending could seriously damage programs that help needy children and families in the Elmira area, where he was the keynote speaker for the annual State of the Child in Chemung County Breakfast. The gathering, sponsored by the Every Child Matters Coalition, took place at the Elmira Community Kitchen. Deutsch told the group that New York relies heavily on federal dollars, and that proposed budget cuts, being discussed in Washington, could devastate [...]

2021-01-08T09:31:54-05:00October 19th, 2017|FPI in the News|

The Push for So Called “Free College”

October 18, 2017. In a radio interview with Sarah Schweinsberg, David Dyssegaard Kallick, FPI's Deputy Director and Director of Immigration Research, discusses Governor Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship Program. Governor Cuomo expresses that college is a necessity. While people have praised the program, some have expressed concerns. It has been referred to as a last dollar grant, only covering what state and federal grants do not. This mostly helps middle class students, who do not qualify for programs helping low income families. This does not help with the [...]

2021-01-08T09:31:11-05:00October 18th, 2017|Education, FPI in the News|

Tenney’s Vote for GOP Budget Draws Protest

October 16, 2017. Last week, a group of advocates and community organizers spoke out against the passage of the Republican House Budget Resolution in front of Congresswomen Claudia Tenney's office in New Harford. Congresswoman Tenney voted in support of the Republican House Budget Resolution, which aims to slash government safety-net programs like Medicaid and SNAP. With cuts to entitlements in excess of over $1 trillion over a ten year period, it is likely that New York will face large holes in the state budget. Ron Deutsch, [...]

2021-01-08T09:30:59-05:00October 16th, 2017|FPI in the News, State Budget|

Panel to Discuss State Convention

October, 16, 2017. A panel discussion on the November ballot question of whether New York should hold a constitutional convention will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave. The event is presented by the Women's Press Club of New York State and the League of Women Voters of Albany County. Panelists will be Gerald Benjamin of the Benjamin Center for Public Policy Initiatives at SUNY New Paltz, and Ronald Deutsch, executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute [...]

2021-01-08T09:30:37-05:00October 16th, 2017|FPI in the News|
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