June 18, 2018. The Fiscal Policy Institute joined Citizens Budget Commission, Citizens Union, Common Cause NY, and Reinvent Albany in front of the Federal Courthouse in Manhattan to call on Assembly Speaker Heastie to Allow a vote on the Database of Deals and Comptroller’s Procurement Integrity Act.

FPI’s Chief Economist, Jonas Shaende gave the following remarks during the press conference this afternoon, “The lack of transparency and proper oversight enables corruption as is evidenced by these massive criminal trials. The … (read more)

Contact:

Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute, 518-469-6769

John Kaehny, Reinvent Albany, 917-941-9865

Jessica Wisneski, Citizen Action of New York, 845-901-0264

Jasmine Gripper, Alliance for Quality Education, 347-301-6277

Ethan Geringer-Sameth, Citizens Union; 914-715-0887

Susan Lerner, Common Cause New York; 917-670-5670

Jennifer Wilson, League of Women Voters NYS; 518-465-4162

Blair Horner, NYPIRG; 518-727-4506

Michael Kink, Strong Economy for All, 518-527-2787

Progressive Groups, Government and Budget Watchdogs Call On Assembly Speaker Heastie to Allow Vote on Database of Deals and Comptroller’s Procurement Integrity … (read more)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2018 

Media Contact:  Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of FPI 518-469-6769 / deutsch@fiscalpolicy.org

75 New York State Organizations Call on Congress to Oppose Federal Budget Cuts to Critical Programs

Group urges Congress to reject a Farm Bill that takes food off the tables of needy Americans

See the release of the letter here

(New York, NY) – On May 10, 2018, the New York Federal Budget Response Team submitted a letter on behalf of 75 service … (read more)

May 22, 2018 Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 4, Albany, NY

This legislative briefing will address the problem of fiscal stress among New York’s local governments and the role the State Legislature can play in addressing these challenges.

What can NY learn from other states? What does the in depth research on NYS show?

We are seeing important shifts in intergovernmental relations, most recently with the Federal tax reform on SALT.  How can NY best respond to these challenges?

Come … (read more)

May 7, 2018. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP for short, is the country’s largest and most effective nutrition program. In New York State, over 2.8 million people utilize SNAP every year, including 1.1 million children. More than $4.9 billion in SNAP benefits were spent at over 18,000 New York retailers in 2016. SNAP is a part of the Farm Bill, a piece of legislation which authorizes most federal policies governing food and agriculture programs. Approximately 80 percent of the … (read more)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2018 

Media Contact:  Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of FPI 518-469-6769 / deutsch@fiscalpolicy.org

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez Stood Alongside Nonprofits In Opposition To President Trump And Congressional Republicans’ Harmful Cuts To The Social Safety Net

Group calls on Congress to reject a Farm Bill that takes food off the tables of needy Americans when they return from recess

See the full press release here

New York, NY. – On April 30, 2018, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez stood alongside … (read more)

March 27, 2018. The clock is ticking to pass the budget on time. Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, and John Kaehny, Executive Director of Reinvent Albany, broke down what they want to see in the final budget proposal.

Access Podcast HERE.… (read more)

Jonas J.N. Shaende, PhD, Fiscal Policy Institute

March 26, 2018

Governor Cuomo released his 30-day amendments to the Executive Budget where he outlined his plan for the state’s tax system redesign in response to the tax changes at the federal level. The state legislature – both the Assembly and the Senate – reviewed the plan and supplied their respective amendments to the Executive Budget proposal.

The direction taken by the governor is a good one, however, the set of solutions … (read more)

March 26, 2018. Reinvent Albany, Citizens Budget Commission and Fiscal Policy Institute today called for the Governor and Legislature to pass a “Database of Deals” in this year’s budget.

Both houses’ budget bills included a “Database of Deals” (Part KK in A.9508-B and Part LLLL in S.7508-B ) that are very similar and largely track existing legislation introduced by Assembly member Robin Schimminger and Senator Thomas Croci (A.8175 and S.6613-B).

A “Database of Deals” will list all state economic development … (read more)