NY Senate, Assembly face rare election uncertainty

‘Fracking’ opponents pack budget hearing

By The Associated Press
POSTED: February 4, 2013
Tags: Albany, Albany Law School, budget hearing, hydraulic fracturing

ALBANY — Busloads of opponents of natural gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing were in Albany to hear the state’s top environmental official testify before lawmakers. State lawmakers are expected to question Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens about fracking. One shouting protester confronted Martens before he began his testimony Monday morning. Arun Gandhi, grandson [...]

Report: Gambling interests spend heavy in Albany

By The Associated Press
POSTED: September 19, 2012
Tags: Albany, campaign contributions, Gambling interests, lobbying

ALBANY (AP) — A new report says gambling interests spent nearly $50 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in Albany since 2005 and that the flow is accelerating as New York considers the expansion of casino gambling. The advocacy group Common Cause, which favors public campaign financing, says it tallied $40 million worth of lobbying [...]

Capitol restoration projects complete

By Daily Record Staff
POSTED: January 4, 2012
Tags: Albany, Capitol, restoration

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday announced the completion of major restoration projects at the New York State Capitol. Included is the installation of museum-quality exhibits, featuring many artifacts never before publicly displayed, that tell the history of New York. Cuomo commemorated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of the restored Assembly skylight. [...]

NY gay marriage bill now in hands of GOP Senate

By The Associated Press
POSTED: June 14, 2011
Tags: Albany, Archbishop of New York, communism, gay marriage, legislation, legislative session, redefining marriage, state Senate, Timothy Dolan

ALBANY — The effort to legalize gay marriage in New York is getting an all-out lobbying effort from Democrats and celebrities, but there’s still no sign of wavering among a critical bloc of Senate Republicans who led the defeat of the measure and blunted national momentum two years ago.

NY cyber security pros gather in Albany

By The Associated Press
POSTED: June 7, 2011
Tags: Albany, cyber security professionals, Department of Homeland Security, growing threat, Online, updates

ALBANY — Computer professionals from around New York are gathering in Albany this week for updates on what conference organizers call an evolving and growing threat to cyber security with an increasing portion of America’s economy and society now online.

Ex-GOP chief supports gay marriage in NY

By The Associated Press
POSTED: June 7, 2011
Tags: Albany, Ex-GOP chief, gay marriage, GOP senators, Ken Mehlman, legalize, RNC

ALBANY — The former chairman of the Republican National Committee is pushing GOP senators in Albany to legalize gay marriage. Former Chairman Ken Mehlman, who presided during the administration of President George W. Bush …

Senate Dems plan first ‘interactive’ ethics forum

By The Associated Press
POSTED: May 3, 2011
Tags: Albany, Democrats, interactive ethics forum, Internet, legislation, New York State Senate

ALBANY — New Yorkers long fed up with the behavior of politicians in Albany are expected to get a chance to tweet their opinions on myriad bills aimed at cleaning up state government. New York’s Senate Democrats plan what they claim will be the first ethics discussion …

Rally against ‘fracking’ draws hundreds to Albany

By The Associated Press
POSTED: April 11, 2011
Tags: Albany, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, Marcellus shale, natural gas, opposition, rally

ALBANY — Environmental groups from across New York rallied at the state Capitol on Monday, calling on lawmakers to protect the environment and the public against potential hazards related to high-volume hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region …

Senate, Assembly propose counter offers to Cuomo

By The Associated Press
POSTED: March 16, 2011
Tags: Albany, Budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, school aid

ALBANY — The big dance, Albany style, is beginning. The Republican-led Senate and Democrat-led Assembly on Tuesday each proposed in their versions of the state budget to restore some school aid cut in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s spending plan.

Protesters block stairs, halls in Albany

By The Associated Press
POSTED: March 2, 2011
Tags: Albany, arrests, Capitol, funding cuts, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, protestors

ALBANY — More than 100 protesters chanting opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to cut program funding for the poor coupled with tax breaks for the rich have vowed to return to Albany after their demonstration blocked central stairs and hallways in the Capitol for an hour.

NY to display rare artifacts at State Capitol

By The Associated Press
POSTED: November 8, 2010
Tags: Albany, documents, exhibit, New York State Capitol, rare artifacts

ALBANY — The public is getting a rare opportunity to see some of New York state’s most significant artifacts, including the documents that first exposed Benedict Arnold as a traitor and an original handwritten draft of George Washington’s Farewell Address.