Comments on: Ask The Governor: Tough Economic Times http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/ What's going on at Thirteen and WNET.ORG Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:58:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Abigail Weinberg http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1185 Abigail Weinberg Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:13:31 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1185 New York is one of the top dairy producers in the country. With federally regulated milk prices at half the cost of production, farms are failing across the state. What can the state to help these businesses? New York is one of the top dairy producers in the country. With federally regulated milk prices at half the cost of production, farms are failing across the state. What can the state to help these businesses?

]]> By: Isaac Esterman http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1184 Isaac Esterman Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:34:43 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1184 Governor Patterson: Non-discretionary spending, including federal mandates and employee salaries and pensions occupies the majority of the state budget. Combined with the generally rising cost of construction, infrastructure investment becomes more and more difficult. Given this paradigm how can the state ensure the completion of critical infrastructure projects, such as Ground Zero and the second avenue subway line? Governor Patterson:

Non-discretionary spending, including federal mandates and employee salaries and pensions occupies the majority of the state budget. Combined with the generally rising cost of construction, infrastructure investment becomes more and more difficult. Given this paradigm how can the state ensure the completion of critical infrastructure projects, such as Ground Zero and the second avenue subway line?

]]> By: andrea vecchio http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1181 andrea vecchio Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:04:31 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1181 Governor - We support you in making the cuts. If you and the Legislature succeed in reducing the deficit it will have to include cuts -or at least no increase to state school aid - if no tax cap bill is passed school taxes will rise dramatically... unless a cap on the school tax levy is passed and in force. Will you re-submit the cap bill? Governor – We support you in making the cuts. If you and the Legislature succeed in reducing the deficit it will have to include cuts -or at least no increase to state school aid – if no tax cap bill is passed school taxes will rise dramatically… unless a cap on the school tax levy is passed and in force. Will you re-submit the cap bill?

]]> By: andrea vecchio http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1180 andrea vecchio Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:01:59 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1180 Governor - We support you in making the cuts. If you and the Legislature succeed in reducing the deficit it will have to include cuts -or at least no increase to state school aid - unless a tax cap bill is passed school taxes will rise dramatically... unless a cap on the school tax levy is passed and in force. Will you re-submit the cap bill? Governor – We support you in making the cuts. If you and the Legislature succeed in reducing the deficit it will have to include cuts -or at least no increase to state school aid – unless a tax cap bill is passed school taxes will rise dramatically… unless a cap on the school tax levy is passed and in force. Will you re-submit the cap bill?

]]> By: andrea vecchio http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1179 andrea vecchio Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:01:16 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1179 Governor - We support you in making the cuts. If you and the Legislature succeed in reducing the deficit it will have to include cuts -or at least no increase to state school aid - unless a tax cap bill is passed school taxes this will rise dramatically... unless a cap on the school tax levy is passed and in force. Will you re-submit the cap bill? Governor – We support you in making the cuts. If you and the Legislature succeed in reducing the deficit it will have to include cuts -or at least no increase to state school aid – unless a tax cap bill is passed school taxes this will rise dramatically… unless a cap on the school tax levy is passed and in force. Will you re-submit the cap bill?

]]> By: Elaina Loizou http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1178 Elaina Loizou Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:28:18 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1178 Apart from capping bonuses for banks that accepted TARP funding, what do you think should be done to keep Wall Street accountable to taxpayers? Apart from capping bonuses for banks that accepted TARP funding, what do you think should be done to keep Wall Street accountable to taxpayers?

]]> By: Linda Dickey http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1177 Linda Dickey Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:21:17 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1177 Can you pursue the LIRR disability boondoggle? It seems like the Feds can't/won't do anything. Can you pursue the LIRR disability boondoggle? It seems like the Feds can’t/won’t do anything.

]]> By: Ben Fishman http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1176 Ben Fishman Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1176 Given the huge state budget deficit, and proposed cuts to the MTA and the state's environmental protection fund, why not reconsider raising revenue through a congestion pricing plan in NYC? Given the huge state budget deficit, and proposed cuts to the MTA and the state’s environmental protection fund, why not reconsider raising revenue through a congestion pricing plan in NYC?

]]> By: Thomas Dickey http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1175 Thomas Dickey Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:32:41 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1175 In the past several years, state auditors have recovered many millions of dollars from detecting Medicaid fraud and abuse, which is certainly laudable. But what steps are being taken to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place? In the past several years, state auditors have recovered many millions of dollars from detecting Medicaid fraud and abuse, which is certainly laudable. But what steps are being taken to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place?

]]> By: Evan Casper-Futterman http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1174 Evan Casper-Futterman Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:14:27 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1174 One of the state's biggest budget outlays, in comparison with other more solvent ("red") states is the pension system for state employees. Given the dramatic cutbacks necessary across the board, is it not necessary to also rethink these pensions as well? I don't want to suggest dissolving them simply with the goal of solvency, but shouldn't cutbacks be a part of any budget restructuring considering that these pensions are more generous than any comparable packages in the private sector? One of the state’s biggest budget outlays, in comparison with other more solvent (“red”) states is the pension system for state employees. Given the dramatic cutbacks necessary across the board, is it not necessary to also rethink these pensions as well? I don’t want to suggest dissolving them simply with the goal of solvency, but shouldn’t cutbacks be a part of any budget restructuring considering that these pensions are more generous than any comparable packages in the private sector?

]]> By: Daniel Schloss http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1173 Daniel Schloss Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:13:59 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1173 If a public option isn't passed on a national level, would you consider a state health insurance program like the one Massachusetts has? If a public option isn’t passed on a national level, would you consider a state health insurance program like the one Massachusetts has?

]]> By: Gene Epstein http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1172 Gene Epstein Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:59:39 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1172 two questions 1. Regarding recent reports on huge migration out of NY State, what do you think is causing it, does it disturb you--and if so, what do you propose to do about it? 2.In light of Gov. Corzine's failed attempt to get re-elected despite President Obama's quite visible support, do you now regard Obama's thumbs-down on your prospects an asset rather than a liability? two questions
1. Regarding recent reports on huge migration out of NY State, what do you think is causing it, does it disturb you–and if so, what do you propose to do about it?
2.In light of Gov. Corzine’s failed attempt to get re-elected despite President Obama’s quite visible support, do you now regard Obama’s thumbs-down on your prospects an asset rather than a liability?

]]> By: Daniel Hennefeld http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1171 Daniel Hennefeld Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:58:35 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1171 How can the state balance the need to close the budget gap versus the harmful effect of cutting goverment services and laying off public employees during the recession? How can the state balance the need to close the budget gap versus the harmful effect of cutting goverment services and laying off public employees during the recession?

]]> By: Andrew Shapiro http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1170 Andrew Shapiro Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:44:49 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1170 What additional regulation or legislation do you anticipate coming from the Senate or SEC particularly around high frequency trading or related practices? Could this have a material impact on NY state's revenue from Wall Street? What additional regulation or legislation do you anticipate coming from the Senate or SEC particularly around high frequency trading or related practices? Could this have a material impact on NY state’s revenue from Wall Street?

]]> By: Rahul Mukhi http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1169 Rahul Mukhi Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:25:59 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1169 Has the economic downturn affected rebuilding at Ground Zero? What are the other reasons that progress has been so slow? Has the economic downturn affected rebuilding at Ground Zero? What are the other reasons that progress has been so slow?

]]> By: Dana Lossia http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/2009/11/03/ask-the-governor-tough-economic-times/#comment-1168 Dana Lossia Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:28:09 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/?p=457#comment-1168 Do you think that the state should mandate health care workers to receive the H1N1 vaccination? No other state is requiring it, why New York? Do you think that the state should mandate health care workers to receive the H1N1 vaccination? No other state is requiring it, why New York?

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