Budget negotiations are well underway, and it’s been an eventful week advocating for the critical funding items in the budget important to the Capital District including a number noted below. .

On Wednesday, I joined CDTA and the New York Public Transit Association this week to advocate for public transit systems in NYS. Ridership is up across the state. In the Capital District, CDTA has seen an all-time high of 17.1 million total rides in fiscal year 2015-2016.

Over 75,000 jobs are supported by public transit in New York, and every $1 invested into public transportation generates more than $4 in infrastructure will help spur further economic development in our region, while offering increased mobility to seniors and the disabled.

Congress: Collins Amendment to Proposed Healthcare Bill.

This week saw a much talked about “carve-out” amendment for New York added to the proposed Healthcare bill added by Western New York Rep. Chris Collins. The amendment Reps. Collins and Faso have proposed would force a shift of Medicaid costs from New York counties to the state. The reality is that this measure would blow a $2.3 billion hole in the New York State budget and force a financial scramble to cover the loss.

The Assembly has helped relieve counties of their share of Medicaid costs. In recent years, the State has taken over the annual growth in Medicaid spending and the program’s administrative costs. More than one million New Yorkers could lose their health insurance under House Republicans’ proposed health care plan.

Trump Administration's Proposed Federal Budget Cuts.

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo has compiled a list of the President's proposed federal budget cuts. Below is a sampling of some cuts of particular interest- all with serious implications for NYS:

• Water and Wastewater loan and grant program ($498 million)
• Community Development Block Grant program ($3 billion); includes cutting funding for “Meals on Wheels”
• Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund ($70 million): The account allows the president to "provide humanitarian assistance for unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs worldwide."
• Decreases Department of Education Funding by $9.2 billon
• Eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service ($771 million): The agency is best known for its Americorps community service program,
• Eliminates all $148 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and all $148 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities
• Decreases Environmental Protection Agency budget by $2.5 billion
• Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants ($499 million)
• The Global Climate Change Initiative ($1.3 billion) was an Obama administration proposal to support the Paris climate agreement. It includes the Green Climate Fund ($250 million), the Strategic Climate Fund ($60 million) and the Clean Technology Fund ($171 million).
• Senior Community Service Employment Program ($434 million): SCSEP is a job training program for low-income people 55 and older

Proposed State Empire Trail Update.

On Monday, advocates as diverse as the American Heart Association, the outdoor company REI, and Parks and Trails New York came together to advocate for the Empire State Trail. The proposed trail would create an estimated 9.6 jobs for every $1 million invested. The trail would be the longest multi-use trail in the nation, bringing tourism dollars to New York. Good health is good business - and I continue to advocate for this trail.

Rebuild NY Now Rally- Water Infrastructure Update.

This week, advocates for water infrastructure investment rallied to rebuild New York. I have introduced legislation to incentivize communities to cooperate as they address these shared challenges. Watersheds don’t respect municipal boundaries, and communities in New York have some of the oldest water infrastructure in the entire country.

The Albany Community Sewer Overflow Pool has been a great success in aiding Capital District communities address their shared infrastructure needs, and should serve as a model for communities across New York.

The need for this legislation and investment was made salient last Sunday, when due to the recent snow storm, over 100,000 gallons of untreated sewage was released into the Hudson. Failing to address our infrastructure needs invites environmental disaster.

Nuclear “Bailout” Press Event.

I stood with fellow lawmakers on Wednesday to demand greater transparency and additional time for review for the proposed “bailout” of three upstate nuclear power facilities. The legislature needs more time and transparency to review this unprecedented payment to a private corporation. The lack of transparency on the cost of this “bailout” is a cause for concern- especially considering the 12 year at minimum timeline given- as Colin Powell would say, we need an exit strategy!

Assembly Passes Anti-Discrimination Legislation.

This week the Assembly again passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) to protect the rights of transgender individuals in New York State. The Assembly Majority has now passed GENDA for 10 consecutive years. Current law protects News Yorkers from discrimination based on sex, creed, nationality, disability, military status, marital status and sexual orientation. GENDA expands New York State’s protected classes to include gender identity and expression.

Community Updates

Grand Opening of New Cafe Adjacent to Downtube Bicycle Works.

A new café attached to Albany’s Downtube Bicycle Works will be having a Grand Opening the last weekend of this month, March 24, 25 and 26. It will include an art opening in the cafe, run by Albany Center Galleries. Downtube and the new café are located at 466 Madison Avenue.

Art by Albany High Students Selected for Regional Art Show.

Artwork by Capital Region High School students has been selected for display at an Art Exhibition at the Opalka Gallery, and will be on display from March 21-April 23.

The exhibit will feature work from 21 Capital Region schools. Their work was selected from almost 500 pieces submitted.

Hackett Middle Schoolers Visit Schuyler Mansion

I joined a group of schoolchildren from Albany’s Hackett Middle School on Thursday as they visited the historic Schuyler Mansion thanks to a grant program administered by NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The Connect Kids to Parks program covers transportation and admission costs to New York state parks for K-12 classrooms. I’m pleased to continue to urge support for this vital tool to ensure that kids who would not otherwise, have access to our state’s rich historic and scenic beauty. With the Connect Kids to Parks grant program, educators can teach with park experiences to bring history to life – what books alone cannot fully do.

Hackett Middle Schoolers Visit Schuyler Mansion

I joined a group of schoolchildren from Albany’s Hackett Middle School on Thursday as they visited the historic Schuyler Mansion thanks to a grant program administered by NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The Connect Kids to Parks program covers transportation and admission costs to New York state parks for K-12 classrooms. I’m pleased to continue to urge support for this vital tool to ensure that kids who would not otherwise, have access to our state’s rich historic and scenic beauty. With the Connect Kids to Parks grant program, educators can teach with park experiences to bring history to life – what books alone cannot fully do.

Remembering Our History

Erie Canal Prepares to Celebrate 200th Anniversary.

The Erie Canal will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of its groundbreaking this year. The Erie Canal truly opened the way- by connecting distant waterways - for New York to become the economic engine it is today. This marvel of infrastructure transformed New York into an economic powerhouse and continues to support development in upstate communities to this day. The Albany Institute of History & Art has a diverse collection of items that relate to the Erie Canal. The next “spotlight” exhibition will include materials that narrate a story of the original Erie Canal through the Barge Canal using paintings, drawings, maps, photographs, books, broadsides, silver, ceramics, and more. The exhibition opens March 25 and will run through August 20, 2017.

Job Opportunities: New York State has setup a new job portal entitled Jobs Express, where thousands of private and public sector jobs are listed. Visit jobs.ny.gov for more information on how to apply for these opportunities.

As always, for the latest news or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note.

Sincerely---

Pat