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

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

AT THE TOP OF THE WEEK, DEMOCRATS AND THE LEGISLATURE WERE EXPECTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CHANGE TO STATE ELECTION LAW THAT WOULD EXTEND THE TIME GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR TO SET A SPECIAL ELECTION DATE FOR VACANT CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

IF ENACTED, THE LAW WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE ANTICIPATED SPECIAL ELECTION RACE FOR NY21.

REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE BLASTED DEMOCRATS FOR WHAT THEY ARGUED WAS THE CONFERENCE TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT ELECTION LAW FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT TO KEEP THE VACANCY OF THAT SEAT OPEN FOR LONGER.

THEN NOT TOO LONG AFTER, THE BILL WAS ABANDONED BEFORE IT COULD MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR OF BOTH CHAMBERS FOR DEBATE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE UPDATES ON THE BILL SHOULD IT MAKE A RETURN THIS YEAR.

AND PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS WEEK, WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS FOR A BROAD-RANGING INTERVIEW.

WE ASKED THE LEADER ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF A CHANGE IN THE LAW AT THE TIME, BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AHEAD, AND PRIORITIES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.

HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY, LEADER.

IT IS REALLY GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR OUR CONVERSATION AND NATURALLY, YOU WANTED TO START WITH AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE.

OF COURSE, IT'S NO SECRET THAT IS THE FOCUS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS FOR YOUR CONFERENCE FOR SOME TIME.

THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL PROPOSED IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY BY WAY OF INFLATION REFUND CHECKS, EXPANDING THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT, MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AS WELL AS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING.

ARE YOU FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VISION, OR ARE YOU HOPING TO POTENTIALLY DEVIATE FROM THOSE PLANS IN THE ONE-HOUSE BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE?

WELL, LET ME SAY THAT I AM CERTAINLY ALIGNED WITH HER VISION OF AFFORDABILITY AND THE THING THAT I ALWAYS SAY IS IT'S GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTNER IN GOVERNMENT WHO IS ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING THINGS LIKE FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR YEARS.

SO AND ALSO THE EMPIRE STATE CHILD TAX CREDIT, WE EXPANDED IT BEFORE AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE TO WORKING FAMILIES, SO WE ARE DEFINITELY ON THE SAME PAGE.

OBVIOUSLY IN OUR ONE-HOUSE BUDGET, WE WILL EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE AND IN THE INTERVENING WEEKS, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT WE'VE DONE SEVERAL PACKAGES.

WE DID A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PACKAGE JUST YESTERDAY.

WE HAVE-- RATHER WE DID A PRESS CONFERENCE ON IT YESTERDAY.

LAST WEEK, IT WAS UTILITY BILLS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES TO SEE IF WE CAN CREATE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A SHOT, THAT NEW YORK IS AFFORDABLE AND THAT PEOPLE IN THESE SEATS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE.

AND SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN PRETTY CRITICAL OF WHAT THEY CALL ONE-PARTY RULE HERE IN ALBANY AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE WHEN YOU ALL HAD THE MINORITY AND NOW YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE, IN THE MAJORITY, DO YOU EMPATHIZE WITH THAT AT ALL, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO POTENTIALLY WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A SEAT AT TABLE, OR YOU KNOW, COMPROMISE ON CERTAIN POLICY ISSUES?

WELL, AGAIN, IN OUR CHAMBER AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THIS, BUT IN OUR CHAMBER, THE REPUBLICANS HAD THE MAJORITY FOR THE BETTER PART OF A HUNDRED YEARS.

I'M THE LONGEST-SERVING DEMOCRAT MAKE JOTTER LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SENATE, AND I HAVE BEEN MAJORITY LEADER FOR SIX YEARS.

SO THIS WILL GIVE YOU-- (CHUCKLES) AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND I ALWAYS SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT PARITY.

A HUNDRED YEARS, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU HAD IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID, YEAH.

I THINK WHENEVER YOU'RE HAVING-- WHENEVER YOU'VE EXPERIENCED BEING THE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE, THE UNDERSERVED OR THE DISREGARDED OR, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU'RE TREATED IN THAT WAY, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER HOW THAT FELT, YOU KNOW, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE AS MAJORITY LEADER IS ALWAYS TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

I, YOU KNOW, HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MINORITY LEADER.

UNLIKE WHEN WE WERE IN THE MAJORITY, I HAVE SHARED RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S CAPITAL OR OTHER THINGS, AND FRANKLY, NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE MOTIVATORS WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR WAS THE FACT THAT THE BRAND CENTER BACK IN 2004 HAD NAMED THE LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE, THE MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL IN THE COUNTRY, AND ONE OF THE MOTIVATORS WAS THAT I WOULD NOT BE PART OF THAT AND PART OF THAT BEING CALL DYSFUNCTIONAL WAS THE INABILITY FOR ANYONE IN THE MINORITY PARTY IN THE SENATE, IN PARTICULAR, TO BE ABLE TO PASS A BILL, THAT THEY AUTHORED.

IF YOU HAD A GOOD IDEA AND YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT, YOU HAD TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN SPONSOR IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE PASSED.

THERE WERE SO MANY OBSTACLES TO ACTUALLY SEEING WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MEETINGS.

THERE WEREN'T TRANSPARENCY.

NOBODY WAS LIVESTREAMING ANYTHING.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CHANGES THAT I'M HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PART OF 3 CONTINUE TO BE PART OF IN TERMS OF BRINGING THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, MINORITY TO THE TABLE AND GIVING THEM RESOURCES AND ALLOWING, YOU KNOW, BILLS TO PASS WITH THEIR NAMES ON IT AND GIVING THEM, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE HEARINGS.

SO WE HAVE, I THINK, REFLECTED A MORE DEMOCRATIC CHAMBER.

AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED IN RECENT YEARS FOR LATE BUDGETS.

SO I WANTED-- I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT DO YOU THINK YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO REACH THAT APRIL 1ST DEADLINE THIS YEAR?

I KNOW IT'S EARLY, BUT I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, (LAUGHS) WHEN I FIRST RAN, THE BUDGET HAD BEEN LATE WITH, AGAIN, REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP 20 YEARS CONSECUTIVELY.

AND WHEN I SAY LATE, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO.

I AM SAYING LATE.

SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO STRIVE FOR AN ON-TIME BUDGET BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR REACHING OUR BUDGET DEADLINE HELPS ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE DEPENDING ON US TO GET TO THAT PLACE, DO THEIR WORK, SO WE REALLY DO STRIVE FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO CRYSTAL BALL, BUT I DON'T SEE A REASON WHY THIS WOULD BE LATE AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, I WOULD SAY-- WE'VE BEEN PASSING BUDGETS PRETTY MUCH ON TIME FOR THE MOST PART AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET TO THAT DEADLINE.

WE DON'T THINK IT'S A GAME.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT ELECTION LAW.

SO RECENTLY, THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM REPORTED THAT DEMOCRATS ARE CONSIDERING A CHANGE TO THE STATE ELECTION LAW TO ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE MORE TIME TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION, AND THIS WILL, OF COURSE, IMPACT THE NY21 CONGRESSIONAL SEAT WHEN IT BECOMES VACANT.

YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT SHOULD THAT MEASURE MOVE FORWARD, THEY WILL BE CHALLENGING IT AND THEY SEE IT AS A WAY FOR DEMOCRATS TO TRY TO CIRCUMVENT ELECTION LAW.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS.

WELL, I THINK IT GETS BACK TO THE WHOLE CONVERSATION WHICH WE'VE HAD BEFORE WHICH IS THE AFFORDABILITY.

WHEN WE CONSOLIDATE ELECTIONS, IT SAVES MONEY.

IT SAVE MONEY FOR THE VARIOUS ELECTION BOARDS AND MUNICIPALITIES.

IT SAVES MONEY.

SO GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ALIGN ELECTIONS SAVES MONEY.

IT ALSO BOOSTS VOTER TURNOUT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY.

YOU'VE GOT THIS ELECTION, THAT ELECTION, PEOPLE GET CONFUSED.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR ANYMORE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO VOTE OR HOW.

AGAIN, THAT CONSOLIDATION NOT ONLY SAVE MONEY BUT IT BOOSTS VOTER TURNOUT, AND THIRDLY, I WILL SAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SUED US FOR EVERY VOTING CHANGE WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE.

I MEAN, WE DID NOT HAVE EARLY VOTING.

I MEAN, WHEN I TELL THIS TO PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT NEW YORK DID NOT HAVE EARLY VOTING UNTIL WE TOOK THE MAJORITY IN 2019, THEY CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND NOW CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE STANDING IN LINES DURING THIS LATEST PRESIDENTIAL ONLY ON THAT TUESDAY?

SO THE REALITY OF WHETHER IT WAS VOTE BY MAIL OR EARLY VOTING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER-- WHATEVER WE'VE DONE, THEY DIDN'T LIKE ANYTHING WE'VE DONE.

THEY'VE SUED US FOR EVERYTHING.

THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND OH, BY THE WAY, I DON'T REMEMBER ANYBODY COMPLAINING WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, SUPREME COURT SEAT WAS HELD OPEN FOR OVER A YEAR WHEN MITCH MCCONNELL DECIDED THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

SO IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE PROBLEMATIC THEN.

AGAIN, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS MATTER, AND I THINK IF PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT BEFORE, THEY SHOULD BE BEGINNING TO BELIEVE IT NOW.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE INTERVIEW, YOU ARE THE LONGEST-SERVING SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND YOU'RE ALSO THE FIRST.

WELL, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

YES, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN, FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HOLD THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW DO THESE INAUGURAL MILESTONES SORT OF IMPACT THE WAY THAT YOU APPROACH LEADERSHIP?

BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE ANY OF IT FOR GRANTED.

AND EVEN TODAY, YES, WE IN THIS CHAMBER CELEBRATED BLACK HISTORY, AND I SPOKE AND SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN PEOPLE TRY AND PRETEND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS ABOUT MERIT AND NOW PEOPLE TRYING TO JUMP AHEAD OR TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERYONE ELSE, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THE HISTORY AND WE REMEMBER AS WE SPOKE EARLIER, WHAT IT FEELS LIKE NOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO THE GETTING RID OF ALL CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS AS I'M TOLD WILL HAPPEN ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.

IT HAS BEGUN TO HAPPEN, IT'S VERY SAD.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE WE CAME FROM, THEN IT GIVES PEOPLE, AGAIN, A PERSPECTIVE OF NOT ONLY THE JOURNEY THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE IN ORDER TO GET TO THIS PLACE, BUT THE FACT, AGAIN, THAT NOTHING IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED, AND SO THAT INFORMS ME EVERY DAY.

I KNOW THAT, AS I SAID, I WAS ALIVE FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

I WAS ALIVE WHEN BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS SETTLED, WHEN THEY WERE SAYING, YES, BLACK CHILDREN CAN SIT IN A CLASSROOM WITH WHITE CHILDREN.

IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO.

MY PARENTS WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMT THAT I WOULD BE THE LEADER OF THE SENATE AND I DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE SITTING IN SEATS LIKE WHERE I AM WILL CHART THE COURSE FOR THE FUTURE AND I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAME FROM AND I DON'T MIND TELLING THEM AND I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN A DEMOCRACY, IN AN AMERICAN DREAM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE LIKE ME AND YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THAT CHAMBER TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST.

NOT ONLY FOR THEM BUT FOR THE COUNTRY.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY, LEADER.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS CONVERSATION.

I DID, TOO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND FOR AN EXTENDED CUT OF THAT INTERVIEW WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SENT A LETTER TO CON EDISON CALLING ON THE UTILITY COMPANY TO STOP THEIR PROPOSED RATE HIKE.

THE MOVE COMES AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS ALSO A RENEWED PUSH FOR THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT AT THE CAPITOL.

THE HEAT ACT WOULD PLACE A CAP ON ENERGY BILLS FOR LOW INCOME NEW YORKERS.

THIS YEAR, THE BILL HAS BEEN REINTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY SPONSOR, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOE M SIMONS.

HERE'S OUR ELISE KLINE WITH THE HEAT ACT.

THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT, THE NEW YORK HOME ENERGY AFFORDABLE TRANSACTION ACT, FOR MANY ADVOCATES IS A LABOR OF LOVE.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS TRAVELED TO THE CAPITOL TO LOBBY FOR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY END RATEPAYERS SUBSIDIES TO BUILD OUT MORE GAS LINES AND CURB UTILITY COSTS.

FOR SOME ADVOCATES, THIS LEGISLATION WOULD MEAN A LESS FINANCIAL STRESS.

DAVID ALEXIS LIVES IN BROOKLYN WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS WHERE HE SAYS HE OFTEN HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING ENERGY BILLS AND PAYING RENT OR HEALTH INSURANCE BILLS.

IT JUST GETS TO BE TOO MUCH, AND IF WORSE-- IT JUST PUTS ANOTHER LEVEL OF BURDEN ON OUR FAMILY.

ALEXIS SAYS THEY ARE SEVERAL MONTHS BEHIND ON THEIR ENERGY BILLS.

HE DOESN'T JUST WORRY ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL WELLBEING, BUT THEIR PHYSICAL WELLBEING AS WELL.

HE SAYS BOTH OF HIS DAUGHTERS HAVE ASTHMA AND HIS WIFE HAS SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.

MAKING SURE THAT THE HEAT IS ON ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE NOT HAVING THAT EXTRA HEAT CAN CAUSE ANYONE TO GO INTO THE HOSPITAL WHETHER THROUGH AN ASTHMA ATTACK OR A SICKLE CELL CRISIS.

ALEXIS SAYS HOSPITAL VISITS THEN ADD TO THEIR DEBT STRESS AND EMPHASIZES THIS STRESS IS SOMETHING MANY NEW YORK FAMILIES FEEL.

UTILITY BILLS ARE TOO DAMN HIGH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO GET HIGHER EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

LIKE, WE'RE SEEING THE PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP AND IT'S UNBEARABLE, AND UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

LIZ MORAN, AN ADVOCATE WITH EARTH JUSTICE, SAYS THAT THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT HAS A STRONG WELL OF SUPPORT.

IT MAKES SENSE.

UTILITY BILLS YEAR AFTER YEAR KEEP RISING FOR NEW YORKERS, AND IT'S NOT LIKE SERVICE HAS CHANGED.

THEY'RE RELYING ON THE SAME GAS SYSTEM.

THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT WOULD HELP ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY BY CAPPING UTILITY COSTS FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CUSTOMERS AT NO MORE THAN 6% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOMES.

IT WOULD ALSO END WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE 100-FOOT RULE, A CROSS SUBSIDY THAT ALLOWS NEW RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS TO AVOID PAYING FOR THE COST OF A NEW GAS LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING ONE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOR ALL THE OTHER RATEPAYERS, PRICES ARE HIGHER.

MORAN ESTIMATES THIS RULE COSTS RATEPAYERS ALTOGETHER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

BY ELIMINATING THAT SUBSIDY, THAT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY BACK IN PEOPLE'S WALLETS.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO HELP THE STATE TRANSITION AWAY FROM GAS SYSTEMS BY REQUIRING THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO DO SO.

MORAN SAYS THIS TRANSITION, IN ADDITION TO THE AFFORDABILITY ASPECTS OF THE BILL, WILL SAVE NEW YORKERS OVER $100 PER MONTH ON AVERAGE.

GAS IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH GAS, PIPE LINES, VERY EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY THOSE COSTS THAT ARE MAKING PEOPLE'S BILLS GO UP.

MORAN ADDS THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT WILL ALLOW THE STATE TO PLAN BETTER GIVE PEOPLE OPTIONS THAT MAY BE CHEAPER FOR THEM WHEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

SOME ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS SAY IT'S ALSO CRUCIAL FOR THE STATE TO MOVE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

ROBERT HOWARTH, A PROFESSOR OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AT CORNELL SAYS IT'S IMPERATIVE TO TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUEL HEATING TO SUSTAINABLE FORMS OF ENERGY NOT JUST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY OF THE WORLD IS NEAR UNANIMOUS IN SAYING WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO A DECARBONIZED ENERGY FEATURE, AND WE NEED TO DO SO QUITE QUICKLY.

HOWARTH SAYS NEW YORK HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD AND BEING ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE ENERGY HERE COULD INSPIRE OTHER STATES TO DO SO AS WELL.

NEW YORK CAN SET AN EXAMPLE, DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAN BE DONE, DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY THAT IS GOOD FOR CONSUMERS, GOOD FOR OUR CITIZENS AND IN SO DOING LEAD THE WAY FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THE LEGISLATION HAS STRONG SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS, MANY OF WHOM ARE EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT.

STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE CAPITOL REGION, SAYS AT A TIME WITH ANOTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN CHARGE, THE STATE NEEDS TO BE A LEADER.

WE HAVE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP IN NEW YORK DESPITE THE BACKWARD-LOOKING APPROACH THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING NOW.

SO I'M HOPING THAT EVEN IF WE START ON PIECES OF THIS, WE CAN BREAK THIS DOWN TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS BECAUSE THE COST OF DOING NOTHING IS IN THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF EVERY YEAR WITH THESE WEATHER-RELATED DISASTERS.

FAHY SAYS PART OF THE BILL, AN IMPORTANT PART, IS THE 100-FOOT RULE, WHICH WOULD STOP BUILDING OUT MORE GAS INFRASTRUCTURE.

LET'S STOP PERPETUATING THE PROBLEM.

LET'S ADDRESS THIS 100-FOOT RULE SO THAT WE'RE NOT AUTOMATICALLY DOING GAS HOOKUPS, AND LET'S INVEST IN THE FUTURE MEANING SOLAR, WIND, AND OTHER RELATED ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE THE 100-FOOT RULE, WHICH IS PART OF THE STATE'S OBLIGATION TO SERVE LAW REQUIRING UTILITIES BE PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS LIVING WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING LINE IS A CRUCIAL PART OF BILL.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANNA KELLES, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF TOMPKINS AND CORTLAND COUNTIES, SAYS AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER THIS BILL AGAIN THIS SESSION, THEY WILL HAVE TO PROTECT THIS PIECE OF IT.

THIS IS SAYING, WE HAVE TO EXPAND WHAT TYPE OF POWER IS DELIVERED.

SO INSTEAD, THIS SAYS YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE POWER.

IT JUST DOESN'T NEED TO BE GAS.

THAT NEEDS TO STAY AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE IT MIGHT BE THAT ALL ELECTRIC IS WHAT IS COST EFFECTIVE FOR THAT HOUSE.

WHILE LEGISLATION HAS SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, IT ALSO HAS QUITE A BIT OF PUSHBACK.

REPUBLICANS EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND THE STATE'S ABILITY TO HANDLE A TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE HEAT SYSTEMS.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER ED RA, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING NASSAU COUNTY AND A RANKING MEMBER OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, SAYS THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE HAS TREMENDOUS CONCERNS.

WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE ENERGY GOALS.

WE WANT TO GET GREENER, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE BLINDERS ON ABOUT IT.

SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE NOT READY FOR SO MANY OF THESE THINGS, AND THAT IT'S GOING TO INCREASE COSTS ON OUR CONSUMERS.

RA SAYS HE IS CONCERN CAPPING COSTS FOR SOME CUSTOMERS, LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME, MEANS COSTS COULD GO UP FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS.

OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LIKE ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARY-BETH WALSH WHO REPRESENTS SARATOGA, SCHENECTADY AND FULTON COUNTIES, AGREES SAYING THIS BILL WOULD LIMIT CONSUMERS AND ULTIMATELY DRIVE UP COSTS FOR AT LEAST SOME CONSUMERS.

PART OF WHAT GETS ME IS THAT THE HEAT ACT A, AND A STANDS FOR AFFORDABILITY AND I JUST THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE THE EXACT OPPOSITE RESULT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY SOME CONSUMER CHOICE.

I THINK IT'S A GAS BAN JUST UNDER A DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING TO IT.

SOME DEMOCRATS SAY REPUBLICANS' OPPOSITION IS POLITICALLY DRIVEN.

I HOPE THAT WE'VE COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS-- WHAT IS GOOD FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT IS AFFORDABLE, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN WORKED OUT THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, INCLUDING SOME OF THE UTILITIES THAT NOW SUPPORT THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

THAT'S A HUGE WIN, SO HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET ON THE SAME PAGE THIS YEAR.

OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE.

STATE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE UPPER EAST SIDE IN MANHATTAN AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF BILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW IN THE SENATE, SAYS THE ARGUMENTS FROM REPUBLICANS ARE TIRED.

THE BILL HAS FAILED TO PASS IN BOTH HOUSES FOR SEVERAL YEAR.

HOWEVER, LAST YEAR, IT WAS VERY CLOSE.

IT PASSED THE SENATE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND WAS CLOSE TO GETTING TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE IN THE ASSEMBLY.

LAWMAKERS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL SAY THEY SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME IN THE ASSEMBLY.

KELLES SAYS THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, THE BILL HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF MOVING GIVEN THAT MUCH OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THE BILL LANGUAGE WITH STAKEHOLDER LIKE GAS COMPANIES, HAS ALREADY BEEN SORTED OUT.

THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE NOW BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT COORDINATION HAS HAPPENED AND THE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN AMENDED TO, YOU KNOW, TO REFLECT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE.

WE'RE GOING TO START THERE.

LAST YEAR, NEW YORK HEAT ACT WAS ALSO PART OF BUDGET CONVERSATIONS.

THERE WAS A GREATER PUSH FOR IT TO END UP IN THE BUDGET GIVE THAN THE GOVERNOR INCLUDED SOME KEY PROVISIONS OF BILL SUCH AS ELIMINATING THE NEW 100-FOOT RULE IN HER PROPOSAL.

WHILE MANY LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES WANT THIS LEGISLATION TO BE A PART OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AGAIN, SOME LAWMAKERS ARE SKEPTICAL.

I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH ELSE RIGHT NOW, THIS MAY BE-- IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THIS WILL BE IN THE BUDGET.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS A BUDGET CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, PART OF IT, A SMALL PART OF IT WAS.

THIS YEAR, I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE,-PROBABLY HAVE TO BE SEPARATE BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE-- THAT'S A DECISION THAT HAS NOT BEEN MADE.

SOME DEMOCRATS AGREE SAYING THERE IS LIMITED TIME AND LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE FROM RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIAL CUTS TO PROGRAMS THE STATE RELIES ON.

HOWEVER, SOME DEMOCRATS SAY IT COULD END UP IN BUDGET TALKS IF IT'S IN JUST ONE OF THE CHAMBERS ONE-HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS.

AND IF IT DOES END UP IN BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, MANY REPUBLICANS WON'T BE HAPPY.

STATE SENATOR ANTHONY PALUMBO, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF SUFFER FOLK COUNTY, SAYS THIS LEGISLATION IS TOO COMPLICATED TO SORT OUT IN THE BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE THIS IS WAY TOO COMPLEX TO BE IN BUDGET.

I THINK THAT SOME ADVOCATES MAY WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.

OTHER REPUBLICANS AGREE.

STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORE RHELLOW, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PART OF THE FINGER LAKES WHO HAS VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL PREVIOUSLY, SAYS HE IS AGAINST POLICY IN THE BUDGET.

IF YOU NEED PROOF THIS IS A BAD BILL, THEY'RE TRYING TO FORCE IT INTO THE BUDGET BILL SO THEY CAN SUPPRESS DISCUSSION AND DEBATE.

THIS IS WHAT THEY DO WITH ALL THE BAD LEGISLATION THAT THEY PASS THAT THEY KNOW A MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS ARE OPPOSED TO.

SOME DEMOCRATS DISAGREE.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOANN SIMON, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF BROOKLYN AND THE NEW ASSEMBLY BILL SPONSOR, ARGUES THE BUDGET, ITSELF, IS COMPLEX.

NUMBER ONE, THE BUDGET HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN AS BEING A PARAGON FOR CLARITY.

RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS A COMPLICATED BUDGET LANGUAGE IN MANY RESPECTS.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE REVISIONS MAKE IT MUCH MORE CLEAR.

SO WHERE PEOPLE MAY HAVE HAD QUESTIONS BEFORE, IT'S MUCH CLEARER IN THE BILL WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

SIMON ALSO STRESSES THIS BILL HAS A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT.

IT'S VERY POPULAR.

I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BILLS THAT HAS-- ENJOYS A GREAT DEAL OF POPULARITY AROUND THE STATE.

THE BILL HAS BEEN RECENTLY REINTRODUCED IN THE SENATE AND IN THE ASSEMBLY.

THE BILL HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY SINCE LAST YEAR.

SENATOR KRUEGER SAYS THE NEW BILL VERSION CREATED EXPLICIT PROTECTION FOR GAS CUSTOMERS AND TRANSITIONING CUSTOMERS, ADDRESSING CONCERNS THAT SOME CUSTOMERS WHO DIDN'T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTION WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT ENERGY.

SIMON SAYS THE BILL HAS MANY GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.

SHE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LEGISLATION AS UTILITIES WORK ON A TRANSITION PLAN.

I THINK THAT THE PREVIOUS COMPLEXITY IS A LITTLE MORE CLARIFIED NOW.

AND I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND, AND I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR BECAUSE WE HAD BUILT IN SO MUCH RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PUBLIC IN THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH THIS WOULD GO.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, RIGHT.

NOBODY WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT HEAT.

KRUEGER SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT THE LEGISLATION WILL PASS AGAIN IN THE SENATE.

MEANWHILE, SIMON SAYS SHE IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC GIVEN ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE BILL SO FAR.

AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, CONFIDENCE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS COUCHED WITH A LITTLE HEALTHY SKEPTICISM.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER.

THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER MAYBE NOODLING WITH THE BILL IN SOME RESPECT, BUT I FEEL VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THUS FAR WITH THE BILL THAT ANSWER A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS, AND SO I THINK WE'RE STARTING FROM A BETTER PLACE.

BUDGET CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS LAWMAKERS WRAP UP BUDGET HEARINGS, PROPOSE THEIR RESOLUTIONS AND NEGOTIATE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WHETHER OR NOT THIS BILL WILL BE A PART OF THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN.

LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES WILL RALLY FOR THIS LEGISLATION EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO DO SO AFTER THE BUDGET IS SIGNED INTO LAW.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

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WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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