1) Rick Lapkowski reports on Governor Cuomo's call for a task force to investigate possible effects of divesting state money in South Africa. Comptroller Regan opposes divestiture, while Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell and the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Arthur Eve, support divestiture. 2) Gerald Benjamin, legislator from Ulster county, questions whether the budget flexibility gained through state layoffs is worth the of disruption of lives and services. 3) Fred Dicker, of the New York Post, comments on a recent vandalism case in which a man painted over a collection of publicly-owned modern art which were vulnerable to vandalism, due to non-existent security. 4) Interview with Norman Adler, a lobbyist and political consultant, compares Japanese and Chinese governments with New York State legislature.
1) Rick Lapkowski summarizes Sol Wachtler's, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, formal address to the legislature. Wachtler proposed judges should determine if there is enough to indite, individual assignment system, allowing TV cameras in courtrooms and for judges to be selected using a merit system. 2) Lee Maringoff, of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, comments on Governor Cuomo's criticizing President Reagan for visiting a S.S. cemetery in Germany and thereby honoring oppression. 3) An interview with State Health Commissioner, David Axelrod, discusses the quality of health care, the need to downsize the health care system in the state and the cost of malpractice.
1) Rick Lapkowski reports on the controversy surrounding Thomas Coughlin, the New York Corrections Commissioner. Senator Israel Ruiz accuses Coughlin of rigging a prison food contract. Coughlin's comments about black and hispanic crime rates upset the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. Arthur Eve, Deputy speaker of the Assembly, demands Coughlin's resignation for racist comments, while Governor Cuomo stands firm in support of Coughlin. 2) Fred Dicker, of New York Post, comments on the key issues lawmakers will face when they return to Albany. Issues include: an increase in the drinking age, a switch from indeterminate to determinate sentencing system, clean up of hazardous and toxic waste sites, a dumping ground for nuclear waste and finger printing of child care workers. 3) Interview with Senator Charles Cook on the big issues facing the session, toxic torts and clean up, asbestos, the death penalty, and the increased drinking age.
1) Governor Cuomo proposed building a domed stadium. Documents the debate between building in Queens or in Brooklyn. 2) Lee Maringoff, of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, comments on Governor Cuomo endorsement of raising the drinking age from 19 to 21 in order to keep federal funding. Public opinion supports the change. 3) Fred Dicker, New York Post, describes a fall out between Attorney General Abrams and Governor Cuomo over Abrams appointing a Special Prosecutor for New York City without the Governor's approval. 4) Discussion with Frank Mauro, on the Ways and Means Committee, questions whether sunset taxes should be continued or are needed to afford the personal income tax reductions.
1) Rick Lapkowski reports on the budget which was agreed on a week late. 2) Gerald Benjamin comments about when the New York State Constitution rights may extend beyond those guaranteed on the national level. Judges recently decided the right to freedom of expression is protected under some circumstances on private property in New York State. 3) Interview with Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell on the pros and cons of deregulating insurance and banking to allow banks to offer insurance and insurance companies to own banks.
1) Bill Gralty reports on the April 1st budget deadline. With only a few days left agreement has been reached on most topics, but the budget is not yet finished. 2) Lee Maringoff, of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, comments on a recent poll which found many people unaffected by the economic recovery. 3) Rick Lapkowski reports on the bottle bill and who should receive the unredeemed bottle deposits. Governor Cuomo has proposed using deposits for toxic waste clean up. 4) Bill Gralty gives a background report on Grand Juries. Assemblyman Arnold Proskin, comments the public considers an indited person guilty, but it is no worse than alternatives. Assemblyman Ralph Goldstein proposes using pre-trial hearings. Interview with Sol Greenberg, Albany County District Attorney discusses the secretive nature of grand juries and the check and balances that make the system works.
1) Rick Lapkowski reports on Governor Cuomo's budget proposals. Continued sunset taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and fuel will fund personal income tax cuts and give an incentive for people to live in New York. Comments from John Markey, Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Governor Cuomo, and Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink are included. 2) Bill , comments on the proposal to allocated for more environmental enforcement personnel. 3) Fred Dicker, of the New York Post, describes the proposed budget as expensive and so complicated that the size of the budget can be estimated several ways. 4) Interview with Assemblyman Arthur Jerry Kremer, Chairman of Ways and Means Committee, on the budgets's surplus, tax cut, debt reduction program, gap balance budget and extending the sunset taxes.
1) Rick Lapkowski reports on the Senate Sentencing Commission's preliminary report outlining a determinate sentencing system. 2) Lee Maringoff, of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, examines Governor Cuomo's positive popularity and wide appeal. 3) Fred Dicker, of the New York Post, gives the opinion that when Governor Cuomo seeks reelection he will win easily with little competition and high popularity. 4) Interview with Senator Mary Goodhue, chair of the Senate Child Care Committee, on the need to protect children at daycare centers from abuse.
1) Rick Lapkowski reports on Governor Mario Cuomo's State of the State Address and various reactions to it. Comptroller Edward Regan, summarizes the speech as a break from borrowing and a start to paying bills on time. 2) Bill Gralty reports on the shift in leadership positions and committee chairs. 3) Fred Dicker, of the New York Post, comments on the leak of the three main points of the the Governor's State of the State Address before it was given. 4) Interview with Jim Ryan, a lawyer-lobbyist in Albany, on how lobbyists and special interest groups will be affected by the proposed revision and changes in tax structure.
1) Jim Hartmen, President of Citizen's Budget Commission of New York City, advocates not cutting state taxes due to an accumulated deficit. 2) Governor Cuomo nominated Sol Wachtler as Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals and Fritz Alexander, II as Associate Judge of Appeals, the first black ever nominated to a full term on the Court of Appeals. 3) Lee Maringoff, of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, discusses the importance of opinion polls as a means of providing elected officials a clear sense of public opinion. 4) Interview with Roderick Chu, New York State Tax Commissioner, examines what is fair for New York State tax payers and possible changes to to the tax system.