State of the State

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in his State of the State speech, floated the idea of converting the state income tax to a payroll tax to help reverse the new federal law that limits deductibility for state and local taxes. Many support the concept, but businesses say it is not so easy to make the change and it could bring unforeseen complications.

Republicans and Democrats in both houses of the New York State Legislature met Wednesday to hear a very long State of the State message about the issues affecting their political perspective and their districts.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in his eighth State of the State speech, told lawmakers that 2018 will be the “most challenging” year, and he said they will have to fight against what he said are “threats” from the federal government. He also announced steps to combat sexual harassment and reform the state’s criminal justice system.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivers his State of the State address on Wednesday, kicking off a challenging year of budget deficits and re-election races.

For generations, there have been complaints around Western New York that minority and women businesses don't get their share of the pie, especially the construction pie. There's a meeting Wednesday afternoon to make some changes in that.

At least one person in the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts did not agree Monday when Governor Cuomo's State of the State message included a full-throated pitch for ridesharing, like Uber and Lyft.  Todd Vaarwerk, director of advocacy and public policy for the Western New York Independent Living Center, does not agree with the pitch, saying ridesharing companies do not allow access for people like him, the state's disabled community.

It's the next phase of state investment in Western New York and, although it amounts to $500 million, is being called "Buffalo Billion Squared." Governor Andrew Cuomo provided hints of the additional development it would fund during his State of the State address Monday afternoon in Amherst.

The State of the State is coming to Buffalo Monday afternoon, as Governor Cuomo has moved the Constitutionally-mandated message and speech from Albany to six sites around the state. Monday morning he will deliver the address in Manhattan before flying to Buffalo for an appearance at the University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts.

During a recent meeting in Amherst, many in attendance seemed startled by the death toll in their town from overdoses of heroin and prescription drugs. Western New York’s state legislators are saying Albany has to deal with the scourge of drugs.

Some members of the region's state delegation disagree over Governor Cuomo's $145 billion budget, though the reactions are generally mixed along party lines.

Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his joint State of the State/budget presentation in Albany Wednesday.

Over the past two weeks, as Governor Andrew Cuomo has laid the stepping stones to his 2016 State of the State and Executive Budget Address, local leaders have been vocal over what they hope to hear. High on the list – upstate infrastructure.

Governor Cuomo is scheduled to give his State of the State speech on Wednesday. The governor has already spent the past week rolling out a lengthy agenda for the New Year.

Governor Cuomo has some big ideas for rebuilding the state’s neglected infrastructure. But will it come with a big price tag?

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his fourth State of the State speech from Albany Wednesday afternoon. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo was credited for laying out an ambitious agenda by several members of the region's state delegation. Cuomo called for boosting the Upstate economy, expanding casino gaming, and increasing the minimum wage from $7.25-an-hour to $8.75 an hour.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown attended the State of the State address in Albany.  He described Cuomo's speech as "bold and aggressive" and said he believes the governor's call for the toughest gun control laws in the nation is the right thing to do.