Breaking Down the Deal: NY’s $237B Budget Explained

Season 2025 Episode 20 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

Sen. Mike Gianaris and Speaker Carl Heastie weigh in on the key takeaways of the FY'26 state budget.

05/23/2025 | Rating NR

Breaking Down the Deal: NY’s $237B Budget Explained

Season 2025 Episode 20 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

Sen. Mike Gianaris and Speaker Carl Heastie weigh in on the key takeaways of the FY'26 state budget.

New York's $237 billion state budget finally passed after weeks of delays. We break down the key takeaways with Speaker Carl Heastie and Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, from affordability initiatives and education funding to concerns over process transparency and policy leverage in budget talks.

05/23/2025 | Rating NR

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New York NOW is a local public television program presented by WMHT

Support for New York NOW is provided by AFL-CIO and WNET/Thirteen.

Breaking Down the Deal: NY’s $237B Budget Explained

Season 2025 Episode 20 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions

05/23/2025 | Rating NR

Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback

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[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW.

" I'M SHANTEL DESTRA. FOR YEARS, STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING TO REGULATE BUSINESS MONOPOLIES IN NEW YORK. THE 21ST CENTURY ANTITRUST ACT WOULD UPDATE THE STATE'S LAWS TO TACKLE MONOPOLIES IN THE MODERN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. IF ENACTED, THE STATE WOULD CRACK DOWN ON CERTAIN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, SUCH AS BIG TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO CONTROL THE MARKETPLACE. SUPPORTERS SAY THAT THE LEGISLATION IS LONG OVERDUE AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL MAKE IT PAST THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE BEFORE JUNE. THE BILL HAS ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND IN RECENT MONTHS, THEY SECURED SUPPORT FROM A MAJOR LABOR UNION GROUP. BUT CRITICS, INCLUDING THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE ARGUE THAT IF ENACTED, IT WOULD ACTUALLY COST THE STATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ECONOMY. IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER, MIKE GIANARIS TO UNPACK THE PUSH TO REGULATE MONOPOLIES IN THIS STATE. WE'LL ALSO DIVE INTO WHAT MADE FOR A VERY EVENTFUL STATE BUDGET SEASON THIS YEAR. HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY, LEADER. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> NOW YOU'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE 21ST CENTURY ANTITRUST ACT, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY REGULATE MONOPOLIES IN THE STATE. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR NEW YORKERS? >> SURE.

IN THEORY, MONOPOLY IS ALREADY REGULATED. THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVEN'T UPDATED OUR LAWS IN 100 YEARS AND SO THESE LAWS WERE WRITTEN WHEN THE ROBBER BARRONS AND THE STEEL INDUSTRY WERE THE ONES WHO WERE DOMINATING THE ECONOMY, BUT NOW WE HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE. IT'S MORE THE BIG TECH COMPANIES THAT ARE IN THESE DOMINANT POSITIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS THE LAWS, AS THEY EXIST, DON'T REALLY CONTEMPLATE OR THINK ABOUT HOW TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MONOPOLIES IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT. AND SO WE'RE ENDEAVORING TO STRENGTHEN THESE LAWS, GIVE THEM MORE TEETH, CHANGE THE STANDARD BY WHICH THEY OPERATE AND ALSO ALLOW UNILATERAL CONDUCT TO BE COVERED. UNDER THE CURRENT LAWS, YOU NEED TWO ENTITIES TO COME TOGETHER, CONSPIRE TO CONTROL THE MARKET. BY PRICE FIXING OR WHATEVER TOOLS THEY MIGHT USE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, CURRENTLY THESE BIG COMPANIES ARE ENGAGING IN INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT THAT IS AFFECTING THE MARKETPLACE DETRIMENTALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A COMPANY THAT HAS A SEARCH ENGINE THAT THEN CONTROLS WHICH RESULTS APPEAR HIGHER UP ON THE LIST AND THEN THEY MAY HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE ONES THAT THEY PLACE HIGHER. SO THEREFORE, THEY'RE HURTING THE COMPETITION AND ULTIMATELY HURTING CONSUMERS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONTROLLING WHAT CONSUMERS SEE AND WHAT CONSUMERS GET TO CHOOSE FROM. THEY CAN DO THAT UNILATERALLY. THEY CAN DO THAT BY THEMSELVES. THAT BEHAVIOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT LAW. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT. THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT THESE BIG TECH COMPANIES HAVE BECOME INCREDIBLY POWERFUL AND ARE CONTROLLING NOT JUST THE MARKETPLACE BUT OFTENTIMES THEY ATTEMPT TO CONTROL EVEN GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING. IT'S BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT REASON AND WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THE LAWS HERE IN NEW YORK TO DEAL WITH THAT. >> NOW, OF COURSE, THIS ISN'T A NEW MEASURE. IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, BUT WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR, WHY ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL MAKE IT PAST THE FINISH LINE? >> WE PASSED IT IN THE SENATE BEFORE. WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY TO JOIN US. THIS YEAR, THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE ASSEMBLY CRYSTAL PEOPLES STOKES HAS INTRODUCED IT SO THAT HAS GIVEN US A VERY POWERFUL SUPPORTER AND SPONSOR ON THE ASSEMBLY SIDE. THE TEAMSTERS NATIONALLY HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM, AND THEY ARE LEANING IN TO TRY TO HELP GET IT DONE IN THE ASSEMBLY. SO HOPEFUL MORE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS THAT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE IT CAN PASS BOTH HOUSES AND GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. >> AND THE BUSINESS COUNCIL ASSERTED THAT THIS LEGISLATION, IF ENACT, WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ECONOMY AND JOBS IN THIS STATE. CAN YOU TELL US YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THESE CONCERNS BY THE COUNCIL? >> WHAT A SURPRISE THAT THE ENTITY THAT REPRESENTS THE BIG COMPANIES THAT ARE DOMINATING THE MARKETS IS AGAINST SOMETHING THAT WOULD REGULATE THE BIG COMPANIES THAT ARE DOMINATING THE MARKETS. THEY'RE RUNNING A SEVEN FIGURE AD CAMPAIGN. THE BUSINESS COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF BUDGET. I'VE KNOWN THEM A LONG TIME. THAT MEANS TO ME THAT THESE COMPANIES THAT WOULD BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS LEVEL OF REGULATION ARE INVESTING IN STOPPING THIS FROM HAPPENING. IT MEANS THEY'RE SCARED IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M GLAD THEY'RE SCARED IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE ECONOMY, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE STOPPED. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES, HELPING MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES WHO ARE CURRENTLY BEING SQUASHED AND PUSHED OUT OF THE MARKETS BY THE BIG BOYS TO GET A FOOTHOLD AND HAVE SOME REGULATION THAT HELPS. >> DOES THE BUDGET THIS YEAR CARVE OUT ANY REGULATIONS FOR MONOPOLIES IN THE STATE THIS YEAR? >> NO, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BILL, AND SO IT'S NOT A BUDGET ISSUE IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE SPENDING STATE DOLLARS TO DO THIS. THIS IS ABOUT EMPOWERING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HAVE GREATER ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY AGAINST WHAT THESE COMPANIES ARE DOING. >> AND ON THE BUDGET, WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND ON THE PROCESS? >> IT WAS NOT TERRIFIC. THE GOVERNOR INCREASINGLY HAS BEEN DECIDING THAT THE WAY TO ACHIEVE POLICY GOALS IS TO USE THE BUDGET PROCESS. THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS INTENDED TO BE. THE BUDGET SHOULD BE ABOUT THE STATE SPENDING ITS DOLLARS IN WAYS THAT HELP THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE AND INVESTING OUR RESOURCES INTELLIGENTLY. THE REASON IT WAS THE LATEST IT'S BEEN IN OVER A DECADE IS BECAUSE WE SPENT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME DISCUSSING AND NEGOTIATING ON POLICIES THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET. IT'S BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS GREATER POWER DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AND UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION, AND SHE'S ATTEMPTING TO USE THAT TO RAM THROUGH HER POLICY OBJECTIVES WHEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET. >> AND WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO MAKE THE PROCESS EVEN BETTER? >> WELL, WE HAVE A DILEMMA HERE. IT'S REALLY ABOUT USING THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE GOVERNOR TO KEEP THOSE DISCUSSIONS SEPARATED FROM THE BUDGET. UNFORTUNATELY, COURT DECISIONS OVER THE YEARS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT GOVERNORS ARE ALLOWED TO DO WHAT SHE HAS DONE. BUT IT IS DRAGGING OUT BUDGET LATER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE AND IT IS INSERTING NON-BUDGETARY CONVERSATIONS INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS. IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FACED WITH IN THE MEANTIME. WE COULD HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF CONVERSATION ON ALL THESE ISSUES EITHER BEFORE THE BUDGET PROCESS OR AFTER IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SHE HAS DECIDED TO MAKE IT BE PART OF THE BUDGET CONVERSATION WHEN IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE. >> AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE CALLED FOR LEADERS TO NOT USE MESSAGES OF NECESSITY ON BUDGET BILLS WHEN THEY ARE BEING VOTED ON. THEY SAY THAT THE PUBLIC, THE PRESS IS LAWMAKERS DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET BILLS BEFORE THEY ARE ACTUALLY VOTED ON. SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THESE CONCERNS AND DO YOU THINK THAT THE STATE SENATE WILL EVER TAKE UP THE POSITION OF NOT USING MESSAGES OF NECESSITY ON BUDGET BILLS? >> MESSAGES OF NECESSITY ARE A TOOL PROVIDED FOR UNDER OUR LAWS AND CONSTITUTION. THEY EXIST FOR A REASON. I WOULD ARGUE WHEN THE BUDGET IS, IN FACT, LATE AND WE'RE ANXIOUS TO HAVE IT BE LESS LATE THAT WAITING LONGER IS NOT BENEFICIAL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE REPUBLICANS, WHEN THEY HAVE CONTROL OF THE SENATE FOR THE BETTER PART OF A HUNDRED YEARS, USED THEM WITH REGULARITY HONESTLY TO MUCH GREATER DEGREE THAN WE HAVE BEEN USING THEM SINCE WE OBTAINED THE MAJORITY SIX YEARS AGO. AND SO IT'S NOT IDEAL IN TERMS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. BUT IT'S REALLY A BYPRODUCT IN THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET AS LATE AS IT WAS, AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, I WISH IT WASN'T AND IF THE POLICY THAT WAS NON-BUDGETARY WAS NOT PART OF THE CONVERSATION IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. BUT WE FACE WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, AND I THINK THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WERE ANXIOUS FOR THE BUDGET TO BE CONCLUDED. >> AND YEAR AFTER YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASED CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY ON THE BUDGET PROCESS. THIS YEAR, THOSE CALLS WERE EVEN MORE PERTINENT WITH THE LOOMING CUTS COMING DOWN FROM WASHINGTON SERVING AS A BACKDROP ON BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS. SO I WANT US TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE. HOW TRANSPARENT DO YOU THINK THE BUDGET PROCESS IS, AND WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT LEADERS CAN TAKE TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE TRANSPARENT? >> IT'S NOT TERRIBLY TRANSPARENT. BUT WE HAVE THREE PARTIES AND WE ALL HAVE WORK TOGETHER. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT, WHICH I WOULD CERTAINLY BE IN FAVOR OF, WE ALL HAVE TO AGREE TO THAT. WE CAN'T DO IT UNILATERALLY. WE, AS A SENATE, HAVE DONE WHAT WE COULD TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE OPEN AND FAIR. IN FACT, OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES THE DAY WE PASSED THE BUDGET WERE COMPLIMENTARY OF OUR APPROACH IN THE SENATE. WE PROVIDED THE MINORITY WITH THE INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME, SO THEY HAD AMPLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ANALYZE IT AND COMMENT ON IT. WE HAD THE BILLS OUT THERE AS EARLY AS WE COULD BEFORE WE PASSED IT. BUT WE CAN'T ENGAGE IN AN OPEN PROCESS IF THE OTHER PARTIES THAT WE NEGOTIATE WITH AREN'T ALSO ON BOARD WITH THAT. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER WOULD HAVE TO LEAD THE EFFORTS TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE TRANSPARENT? >> WE'D ALL HAVE TO BE PART OF IT. WE WOULD HAVE TO EMPOWER THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO BE MORE PUBLIC AND ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL MEETINGS AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION BE OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. IT'S REALLY A PROBLEM WE HAVE AS IT RELATES TO TIMING BECAUSE IF EVERYTHING IS WORKING ON THE SCHEDULE AS IT SHOULD BE AND THE BUDGET'S ON TIME, ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN MORE EASILY, BUT ONCE WE'RE LATE, THERE'S A SCRAMBLE TO FINISH IN TIME SO THAT WE DON'T CREATE ADDITIONAL HARM TO THE RESIDENT OF THE STATE BEYOND WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS OF THE BUDGET. SO ALL THESE ISSUES KIND OF WORK TOGETHER. IF WE TAKE THE POLICY OUT OF IT, IF WE'RE DEALING WITH THE BUDGET AND OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AHEAD OF TIME AND IF THE BUDGET IS ON TIME, THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL. SO WE TRY AND HAVE ALL OF THAT HAPPEN OR AS MUCH OF IT HAPPEN AS POSSIBLE, BUT ONCE THE BUDGET'S LATE, ONCE THE NON-BUDGET POLICIES ARE INSERTED IN THERE, IT FORCES OUR HAND ON A LOT OF THESE OTHER ISSUES. >> AND WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT WOULD MAKE FOR A SUCCESSFUL SESSION FOR YOUR CONFERENCE? >> WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO TACKLE THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE. WE MENTIONED THE ANTITRUST BILL, AND THAT'S A BIG PRIORITY OF MINE AS WE'RE SCRAMBLING TO THE END HERE. WE HAVE A VERY COMPRESSED TIMEFRAME. WE HAVE A LITTLE LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO BEFORE WE ADJOURN THE SESSION ENTIRELY. WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE ALMOST THREE MONTHS OF POST-BUDGET ACTIVITY. ONCE AGAIN, LATE BUDGET IS NOW IMPACTING ALL THE REST OF OUR WORK. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT ARE PRIORITIES FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT WILL BE PASSING HUNDREDS OF BILLS IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. THAT WILL TACKLE THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT ARE AFFECTING SO MANY PEOPLE AND MAKE PEOPLE SAFER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ALL OF THE THING WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO AND WE HAVE LESS TIME TO DO IT. AND WE'LL BE WORKING EXTRA HARD TO GET THAT DONE. >> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER MIKE GIANARIS. [ THEME MUSIC ] FOR MORE ON OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE STATE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE. THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG. AND AS THE LEADER TOLD US, THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF SEVERAL CONTROVERSIAL POLICY ITEMS. IN THE LOWER CHAMBER ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE AND THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY HAVE LONG HELD THE POSITION THAT POLICY SHOULD BE SETTLED OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET, AND THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT. BUT EVEN GIVEN THAT POSITION, THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HAS ALSO ASSERTED THAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET MAY BE THE BEST BUDGET IN HIS 25 YEARS IN THE CHAMBER. WE SAT DOWN WITH THE SPEAKER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES THIS BUDGET SO GREAT AND HIS PRIORITIES THROUGH THE END OF THE SESSION. HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US, SPEAKER. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> I WANT TO GET YOUR OVERALL THOUGHTS ON THE FINAL STATE BUDGET. WERE YOU HAPPY WITH THE FINAL PRODUCT? >> YEAH.

AS I'VE BEEN SAYING, I THINK THIS MAY BE THE BEST BUDGET IN MY 25 YEARS HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY. NOT A FAN OF THE PROCESS BUT THE FINAL PRODUCT WAS I THINK SOMETHING THAT CHECKED A LOT OF BOXES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. >> WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE BOXES, WOULD YOU SAY? >> YOU KNOW, MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT, CHILD TAX CREDIT, FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE, PAYING OFF THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBT WHICH NOW ALLOWS US, WHICH IS LIKE A TAX BREAK TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AND ALSO ALLOWS US TO WE WERE SAY 40 SOMETHING IN TERMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN THE COUNTRY. THIS NOW, I THINK, PUTS US IN THE TOP 20 AFTER DOING THIS. THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT I THINK CHECKED A LOT OF BOXES FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE. >> SO WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINAL PRODUCT? HOW DO YOU THINK THE ASSEMBLY PLAYED A ROLE IN THE FINAL PRODUCT THIS YEAR? >> YOU KNOW, I'M OKAY WITH EVERYTHING. I'M FINE WITH EVERYTHING. I THINK WE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBT BEING PAID OFF. ALSO, YOU KNOW, MY ROLE IN NEGOTIATING WITH THE FIVE CITY D.A.S, INCLUDING MIKE MCMAHON WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATEWIDE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION. BUT I TELL YOU, WE PLAYED A ROLE IN EVERYTHING, EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR READS IN THEIR EXECUTIVE BUDGET, THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, HAS THE RIGHT TO REVIEW MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAKE CHANGES SO I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF THE BUDGET WE PLAYED A ROLE IN. >> AND AS YOU SAID, THE PROCESS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT EVERY YEAR. IT'S VERY EXTENSIVE. IT'S BEEN LATE THE PAST FEW YEARS AND THIS YEAR, IT WAS 38 DAYS LATE WHICH IS THE LATEST STATE BUDGET IN ABOUT 15 YEARS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS WENT THIS YEAR? >> WELL, I THINK THE-- THE CONSTITUTION AND THEN THE READING OF THE CONSTITUTION BY THE COURT OF APPEALS ABOUT 20 YEAR AGO HAS GIVEN OUTSIZED LEVERAGE TO THE GOVERNOR AND LET ME BE VERY CLEAR. THIS IS NOT ABOUT KATHY HOCHUL. THIS IS SOMETHING EVERY GOVERNOR HAS PLAYED SINCE PATAKI THAT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE THE MOST LEVERAGE IN THE BUDGET. THAT'S WHY THEY ATTACH THEIR POLICY PRIORITIES TO THE BUDGET, AND THEY ALSO BELIEVE THE FACT THAT LEGISLATORS DON'T GET PAID DURING THIS IS LIKE A DOUBLE LEVERAGE BETWEEN THE POWERS THAT THE COURT OF APPEALS HAS GRANTED THEM THROUGH SILVER VS. PATAKI AND THE FACT THAT LEGISLATORS DON'T GET PAID. AND I CAN BE CLEAR, NOT ONE LEGISLATOR COMPLAINED. IT'S LIKE WE'RE KIND OF USED TO IT AND KIND OF BUILT IN. I JUST DON'T THINK THE PROCESS IS GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PROCESS IS BEST WHEN THE COEQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ARE ACTUALLY COEQUAL AND NOT THE SCALES BEING TIPPED BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR HERE AND THE LEGISLATURE. IT'S A FRUSTRATING PROCESS, BUT AGAIN, THE END PRODUCT WORKED. >> SO IF YOU COULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET PROCESS, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THAT? WHAT COULD YOU SEE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE HERE THAT MIGHT MAKE IT BETTER? >> I MEAN, ANY CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO PROBABLY BE I'D SAY THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION. ALL GOVERNORS JUST DECIDE NOT TO INSTILL POLICY IN THE BUDGET THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FISCAL WITH IT. BUT THE ACTUAL CHANGES WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE DONE-- WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH IS A VERY DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING. >> AND YOU SAID MANY TIMES YOU DON'T LIKE POLICY IN THE BUDGET AND THERE WAS POLICY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT BEING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE FINAL PRODUCT OF SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT CAME OUT IN THE FINAL PRODUCT? >> WELL, FOR US IN THE ASSEMBLY, WE BELIEVE A BUDGET SHOULD JUST BE A FISCAL DOCUMENT. BUT IF THERE'S AN ARTICLE 7 OR POLICY THAT HAS A FISCAL NOTE ATTACHED TO IT, BY ALL MEANS WE SHOULD LOOK TO DO IT. BUT JUST BECAUSE GOVERNORS FEEL THEY HAVE THE MOST LEVERAGE DOES NOT MEAN THAT POLICY SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP. GOVERNORS STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTRODUCE PROGRAM BILLS. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VETO BILLS. BUT, LIKE I SAID, EVERY GOVERNOR HAS USED THIS LEVERAGE SINCE GOING BACK TO PATAKI. >> HOW DO YOU THINK IT PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IN IS THAT WHAT PUSHED IT INTO OVERTIME? >> NOT NECESSARILY. EVEN THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS RAISED IN HER BUDGET WERE THINGS THAT WE SAID,-I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE SENATE, THEY ARE THINGS THAT I AS A SPEAKER AND KNEW AS A CONFERENCE THAT WE WERE OKAY IN HANDLING AND DEALING WITH IT IN TERMS OF THE CHANGES TO DISCOVERY. AS IN NO ONE WANTS CASES TO BE DISMISSED ON TECHNICALITIES OR INCONSEQUENTIAL THINGS SO WE WERE VERY CLEAR ON THAT. WE WERE ALSO VERY CLEAR THAT WE WANTED PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, REALLY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES TO GET THE PROPER ATTENTION AND HELP AND RESOURCES BUT ALSO PEOPLE, IF THEY-- WHETHER THEY'RE INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED OR NOT THAT THERE'S RESOURCES SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T STAY IN THIS CYCLE. SO THESE ARE THINGS WE ALL KIND OF AGREED WITH, BUT, YOU KNOW, GOVERNORS LIKE TO USE THE LEVERAGE OF I'M NOT DOING A BUDGET TO KIND PUSH THINGS IN THEIR WAY. I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARILY NECESSARY. >> AND THE FINAL BUDGET PRODUCT REFLECTED SOME ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY. BUT THE GOVERNOR REALLY MADE A GOAL AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS, BUT SOME LAWMAKERS, BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, HAVE SAID THEY DIDN'T FEEL THIS BUDGET REALLY TACKLED THAT ISSUE. I'M WONDERING HOW DO YOU FEEL HOW AFFORDABILITY FIT INTO THE FINAL BUDGET PRODUCT THIS YEAR? >> I THINK IT WAS A LOT-- IF PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING ONE HUGE THING, I MEAN THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY GOOD THINGS. THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO DO A REBATE CHECK, A REFUND TO PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WE PAID MORE IN SALES TAX BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE INFLATION FACTOR ON THE COST OF GOODS. THERE'S THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. THERE'S THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT. FREE SCHOOL MEALS. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL PUT MONEY BACK IN THE TAXPAYERS' POCKETS. >> AND FOUNDATION AID WAS ALSO A BIG THING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW THAT ENDED UP COMING TOGETHER IN THE FINAL BUDGET PRODUCT? IS THEY GOING TO ACHIEVE, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE CHANGES THAT SOME EDUCATION ADVOCATES WERE HOPING THAT IT WOULD? >> WELL, I'D SAY AT LEAST WE WERE USING THE RECENT DATA. BEFORE THIS YEAR, WE WERE USING DATA INFORMED TO US DATING BACK ABOUT-- OVER 20 YEARS AGO. IT'S AN UPDATED FORMULA. I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO STILL NEED TO LOOK TO INCORPORATE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED FROM THE ROCKEFELLER REPORT. I THINK WE'LL GO FROM THERE, BUT IT WAS A GOOD START THIS YEAR. >> SO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOW IT COULD PLAY OUT IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOLS? >> WELL, IT'S MORE MONEY. IT'S MORE MONEY THAN INFLATION SO I THINK EVERY YEAR WE TRY TO GIVE AS MUCH MONEY TO THE SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN GIVE OUR KIDS FIRST CLASS EDUCATION. >> AND TAKING A STEP AWAY INTEREST BUDGET FOR A SECOND, THE MEDICAL AID AND DYING BILL THAT PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS. IT'S BEEN STALLED. HOW DO YOU THINK CAME TO BE, CAME TO THE FLOOR? >> I THINK THE ADVOCATES WORKED AT THE BILL. THEY TALKED TO MEMBERS AND THE BILL SPONSOR. THEY PUT IN THE HARD WORK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PUT IN. OFTENTIMES THERE'S VERY LIMITED SUPPORT AND PEOPLE STILL COME AND DEMAND THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSES BILLS, BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS IS A MEMBER-DRIVEN CONFERENCE. WHEN THERE WAS ENOUGH SUPPORT, WE'D MOVE THE BILL FORWARD. THEY WORKED AT THIS FOR A FEW YEARS. THEY JUST WORKED AND GOT PEOPLE TO COMMIT TO SAYING THEY WOULD VOTE FOR IT AND IN SOME CASES, THEY ACTUALLY CHANGE SOME MEMBERS' MINDS. SO IT'S OLD-FASHIONED, YOU KNOW, ELBOW GREASE THAT THE ADVOCATES PUT IN TO GET THE BILL PASSED AND THE BILL'S SPONSORS, SO AMY WAS ALSO THE CHAIR AND SHE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK AS WELL. >> AND THERE'S ONLY A FEW WEEK LEFT OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS? >> WELL, WE LOST ABOUT A MONTH INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DEALING WITH THE BUDGET. SO I EXTENDED AT LEAST ON THE ASSEMBLY SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THREE MORE DAYS OF SESSION TO TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON PASSING MEMBERS PRIORITY BILLS, A LOT OF LOCAL, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THERE'S ONE HUGE POLICY ITEM THAT'S JUMPING OUT OF THE SO IT'S REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET TO PASSING THE MEMBERS' BILLS AND TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR TIME THAT WE LOST DURING THE BUDGET. >> SO WILL LARGER BILLS LIKE THE PACKAGING REDUCTION ACT MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR? I KNOW THAT WAS LAST MINUTE IT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN THE LAST SESSION. >> WELL, WE CONFERENCED THE BILL. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THAT. >> OKAY.

SO THERE MIGHT BE TIME, BUT YOU MIGHT RUN OUT OF TIME. >> WELL, AGAIN, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE MEMBERS. WHAT HAPPENS WITH CONFERENCE BILLS, MEMBERS SPEAKING IN THE FAVOR OF THE BILL. THEY MAY HAVE CHANGES IN THE BILL. THEY MAY SAY THEY'RE AGAINST THE BILL AND OFTENTIMES WE REACH OUT TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT SPOKEN YET. SO WE'RE STILL SPANNING THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE. >> SO YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE SESSION WILL BE EXTENDED ABOUT THREE DAYS. ARE YOU THINKING ANY LONGER THAN THAT? WHAT ARE YOU HOPE THAT WILL COME OUT OF EXTENDING IT THREE DAYS? >> I'M HOPING THOSE THREE DAYS HELP US MAKE UP FOR, I'D SAY, MAYBE THE 15 OR SO SESSION DAYS THAT WE MISSED. JUST AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE THE MEMBERS A LITTLE MORE TIME AND ATTENTION FOR THEIR BILLS BECAUSE THE STAFF WAS PRE-OCCUPIED. OUR PROGRAM AND POLICY STAFF WAS PRE-OCCUPIED BY DEALING AND NEGOTIATING WITH THE BUDGET, AND SO JUST TRYING TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME FOR THE STAFF AND THE MEMBERS AND THE ADVOCATES TO KIND OF GET IT PUT ON THE BILLS >> HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT YOU WILL POTENTIALLY HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION? I KNOW IN THE FINAL BUDGET, THERE WAS A PROVISION TO ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE CUTS. IF THERE ARE POTENTIALLY CHANGE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. DO YOU THINK IT'S LIKELY SHE'LL MAKE THOSE CUTS ON HER OWN, OR WILL YOU BE CALLED BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION? >> I THINK PEOPLE'S INTERPRETATION OF WHAT WE GRANTED THE GOVERNOR-- THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ABILITY TO SUGGEST CUTS, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO-- THE FIRST $2 BILLION WORTH OF CUTS HAVE TO BE FILLED WITH RESERVES. SO ANYTHING ABOVE $2 BILLION IN CUTS, THE GOVERNOR CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY YES OR SO SAY NO, BUT ALSO I KNOW IN WORKING WITH THIS GOVERNOR, SHE'S NOT JUST GOING TO DROP X AMOUNT OF CUTS ON US WITHOUT ANY CONVERSATION OR INTERACTION. SO THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ABILITY TO SUGGEST CUTS AND IF WE AGREE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. IF WE DON'T LIKE THE CUTS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTING, WE CAN PASS A RESOLUTION TO COME UP WITH OUR OWN THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN ACCEPT OR VETO. >> SO YOU THINK IT'S LIKELY YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK? >> THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION FOR OUR SEVEN REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IF THEY DO THINGS THAT MAKE US COME BACK. THAT'S NOT A QUESTION I CAN ANSWER. BUT IF THE REPUBLICAN-- THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN SENATE, REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAKE DEVASTATING CUTS TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WE'LL COME BACK AND DEAL WITH IT AND REMIND THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHO ARE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING US BACK TO THAT POINT. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US, SPEAKER. >> MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW. >> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE. [ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE ON OUR DISCUSSION WITH SPEAKER HEASTIE, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE. AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG. IN ADDITION TO COVERING THE NEWS OF WEEK, THE STATE CAPITOL PRESS CORPS FOLKS FUN AT STATE LEADERS FOR THE 123RD ANNUAL LCA SHOW. THE THREE-HOUR COMEDY SHOW RECAP THE NEWSWORTHY MOMENTS IN STATE POLITICS FROM THE YEAR. GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND STATE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT ALSO DELIVERED REBUTTALS THAT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. FOR AN EXCLUSIVE RECAP OF THE SHOW, YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR SCAN THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN. WELL, THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW.

" THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. [ THEME MUSIC ] >>ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.