Last week it was revealed that the Public Service Commission has approved to date $43.7 billion in costs related to the CLCPA that ratepayers will shoulder. This does not include another $5 billion approved at yesterday’s meeting – which would bring the total to $48.7 billion. What is astonishing is that while only $2 billion […]
The following op-ed was originally published in the Albany Times Union on December 20, 2022. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s recent audit of the Department of Labor’s mismanagement of the Unemployment Insurance system found that at least $11 billion was lost due to fraudulent payments. This massive amount of fraud was aided by the department’s failure […]
Yesterday, members of the New York State Assembly held a hearing regarding the All-Electric Building Act. If you’re not familiar with this proposal, here’s a description of the measure via the New York State Senate website: Enacts the “all-electric building act”; provides that the state energy conservation construction code shall prohibit infrastructure, building systems, or […]
New York State’s Climate Action Council have announced a schedule of 10 public hearings to receive public feedback on its Draft Scoping Plan. As we’ve previously written, this plan has a very big price tag but will have a very little impact on the global climate. We encourage you to register for an in-person meeting […]
As we’ve previously written about, New York is preparing to unleash a climate plan that comes with big changes and an even bigger price tag. The state’s Climate Action Council (CAC) has released a 341-page draft scoping plan that highlights some of these changes and has an online form where you can comment on that […]
As part of New York’s massive $212 billion budget, leaders in Albany raised the state’s income tax and corporate tax rates. To shine some light on these new taxes and what it means for New York’s population crisis, we’ve published a new version of our Taxed Out fact sheet. You can also download it here.
On Tuesday (6/23), New York will hold the first state legislative primaries under the new political calendar. Despite the new date and the unprecedented cloud of a public health crisis, much of the traditional political dynamics are the same. Upstate primaries remain rare, occurring almost exclusively in open seats where the incumbent is retiring or […]
Unshackle Upstate Executive Director Michael Kracker testified at the NYS Assembly virtual hearing. The focus of the hearing was on the federal response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Unshackle Upstate’s testimony highlighted the fiscal crisis brought on by a months-long economic shutdown, the use of federal support programs as a lifeline […]
Unshackle Upstate recently hosted the Tax Foundation for a policy webinar focused on the tax state and federal tax implications of COVID-19. Garret Watson, Senior Policy Analyst and Jared Walczak, Director of State Tax Policy joined UU executive director Michael Kracker for a discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on state and federal revenues and […]
After a seven-week hiatus, the legislature resumed session this week to pass legislation related to the COVID pandemic. Some members were physically present in the chamber while others participated remotely. While some members suggested the legislature would return to Albany to continue this legislative session, leadership made no formal announcement. In total, 32 bills passed […]