January 3, 2018. The two sides of what will likely be an overarching debate during the 2018 legislative session were on display Tuesday with progressives calling for an increased millionaires’ tax and conservatives saying that existing taxes should be phased out as scheduled to prevent a further exodus of Empire State residents.

We should be looking at a new top rate for the billionaires or those making $100 million, According to Ron Deutsch, executive director of the labor-backed Fiscal Policy … (read more)

January 3, 2018. In Albany on Tuesday,  a slew of progressive groups stood on the steps of the Capitol to hold a prebuttal to Wednesday’s State of the State address and called for an increase in taxes to fund more social service programs. About two dozen people attended the People’s State of the State Address, holding signs that called for taxes on the rich and giving speeches about mass incarceration and the increasing lines at food pantries.

Ron Deutsch, executive … (read more)

Press Release

For Immediate Release: January 2, 2018

Contact:

Susan Zimet, Hunger Action Network of New York State (C) 845-527-5309

Ron Deutsch, Fiscal Policy Institute (C) 518-469-6769 (O) 518-786-3156 x7160

 

          THE 29^th PEOPLE’S “RESISTANCE” STATE OF THE STATE

The Empire State Strikes Back

 (Albany, N.Y.) The 29th Annual People’s State of the State rally took place at the State Street entrance to the State Capitol today. Organizations from across New York State joined together in the freezing cold … (read more)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

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

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

 

Health Care Cuts and Higher Taxes Put Millions of New Yorkers At Risk

New Data Anticipates Loss of Health Coverage and Rising Taxes for Poor and Middle-Income New Yorkers

Albany, NY – Leaders from community and worker’ rights organizations held a press conference on Friday to protest the tax reform plan that could emerge from the House and Senate conference … (read more)

December 2017, House and Senate Tax Bill Will Hurt New York’s Poorest Taxpayers and Result in Many Losing Health Coverage

Impact of Tax Cuts to New Yorkers (Both Bills)

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) released its analysis of both the House and Senate tax bills for all fifty states. Both bills would raise taxes on many lower- and middle-income families in every state and provide the wealthiest Americans and foreign investors substantial tax cuts, while adding more … (read more)

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 … (read more)

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 … (read more)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2017

Media Contact: Ron Deutsch, Executive Director, FPI

518-469-6769

MORE THAN 100 NEW YORK NONPROFITS CALL ON NYS LEGISLATORS TO REJECT PROPOSED FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS  Coalition Highlights Devastating Impact of Cuts on New York Families

 

Read the Letter Here

More than 100 nonprofit human services organizations from across the state are calling on legislators to reject proposed federal cuts to social services programs. Organizations from Buffalo to Binghamton to Brooklyn signed on to letters that … (read more)

Response from Governor Cuomo, Senate Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie to Largest Bid-Rigging Scandal in State History: NOTHING Elected leaders fail to pass common sense reforms to curb sky-high corruption risks revealed in $800m state contracting scandal  

(June 22, 2017, Albany) A coalition of prominent government watchdog groups say Governor Cuomo, Senate Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie have completely failed to address the huge problems revealed by last year’s alleged rigging of $800m in state economic development contracts and that … (read more)

For immediate release: June 14, 2017

Legislature Must Act Now Groups say Flanagan, Heastie and Cuomo must pass meaningful Clean Contracting reforms in response to $800m state bid-rigging scandal

Albany, New York – Prominent budget and transparency watchdog groups today called on the legislative leaders to act on their public statements on clean contracting, and pass meaningful legislation in response to the largest bid-rigging scandal in state history.

Senate President John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie are both on … (read more)