The Capitol Pressroom

01/03/2025

We talked with the Fiscal Policy Institute about some of the major health care issues in Albany.

Dec. 23, 2024 - Michael Kinnucan, a senior health policy advisor with the Fiscal Policy Institute, discusses his papers on the pace of home care enrollment growth in the state and the trajectory of Medicaid spending on long-term care.

01/02/2025

The AARP New York is looking to address the cost of living for seniors in the Empire State.

Dec. 23, 2024 - Kristen McManus, senior associate state director for advocacy at AARP New York, discusses her group's agenda for the 2025 state legislative session, which focuses on affordability issues and quality of care for seniors.

01/01/2025

Dr. Jim McDonald joined the show to talk about paid leave for prenatal appointments and other efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.

Dec. 24, 2024 - State Health Commissioner Jim McDonald discusses the state's prenatal leave policy starting in 2025 and addresses other policies to improve maternal health outcomes.

01/01/2025

We talked with Sen. Julia Salazar about the appetite of state legislators to tackle progressive criminal justice priorities in 2025.

Dec. 19, 2024 - State Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses her criminal justice priorities for the 2025 legislative session and addresses how politics could impact what's the possible in Albany.

12/31/2024

State regulators are imposing restrictions on the use of HFCs in commercial refrigerants that can contribute to global warming.

We talked with Environmental Advocates NY about the new rules.

Dec. 23, 2024 - Environmental Advocates NY Deputy Executive Director Katie McNamara makes the case for state regulations requiring a phase out of chemical commonly found in commercial and residential cooling technology, which is a major greenhouse gas emitter.

12/31/2024

The governor vetoed efforts to expand access to child care, including a bill from Assemblymember Sarah Clark.

We talked with the Rochester-area Democrat about access to care.

Dec. 19, 2024 - Assemblymember Sarah Clark, a Rochester-area Democrat, responds to the governor's veto of her bill expanding child care assistance and talks about what should be done in 2025 to improve access to high-quality care.

12/31/2024

Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin joined us to talk about tax on managed care organizations, the delivery of home care, and her legislative agenda in Albany.

Dec. 19, 2024 - Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin, a Westchester County Democrat, previews the 2025 legislative session, including the likely fight over Medicaid funding, the implementation of CDPAP changes, and abortion access.

12/30/2024

Pet stores are forbidden from selling animals in New York.

The industry is worried this will kill their business.

Dec. 19, 2024 - This December, a state law took effect prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet stores, despite the industry trying to stop the implementation in court. We talk about the legal challenge and the industry's critique of this bill with Mike Bober, CEO

12/27/2024

State Sen. Sean M. Ryan is skeptical of the alleged benefits of the state's economic development programs.

Interview➡️ https://capitolpressroom.org/2024/12/12/senate-examines-efficacy-of-economic-development-subsidies/

12/26/2024

Albany is one of more than a dozen communities around New York lowering speed limits to 25 mph.

Should your municipality be next?

Dec. 17, 2024 - More than a dozen municipalities, including Albany, have taken advantage of a state law that allows local speed limits to be set at 25 miles per hour. We talk about this safety measure with NY SAFE Streets Coalition members Anne Savage and Rose Quinn.

12/25/2024

We talked with the two incident commanders responsible for overseeing the response to a massive fire in the Hudson Valley this fall, which claimed the life of a first responder.

Dec. 17, 2024 - Wildfires that hit the Hudson Valley this fall reached a scope that hasn't been seen in New York in more than a decade. We discuss the state's response to these fires, which claimed the life of one responder, with state Forest Ranger Major Bob

12/24/2024

Progressive criminal justice advocates don't want video conferencing to replace in-person visits in prisons and jails around New York.

Dec. 17, 2024 - Video conferencing provides an easy medium for connecting with people behind bars, but criminal justice advocates don't want it to replace in-person visits. We highlight legislation ensuring in-person visits continue with Tanya Krupat, vice president of policy and advocacy at The Osb...

12/23/2024

Financial problems are not new at the MTA, so Senator Dean Murray says it's past time to impose a financial monitor on the downstate transit system.

Dec. 16, 2024 - State Senator Dean Murray, a Long Island Republican, makes the case for imposing financial control board on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

12/22/2024

We talked with the director of the state Office of Indian Nation Affairs at the state DEC about the mandate of his recently created job and what his experience has been like.

Dec. 16, 2024 - We get to know the work of Peter Reuben, director of the state Office of Indian Nation Affairs with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, including the process of contacting different communities and working within the Hochul administration.

12/21/2024

In rural communities, counties can struggle to find doctors to serve on local boards of health.

A new law could make it easier to fill vacancies by lowering professional standards.

Dec. 16, 2024 - We talk with Paul Pettit, public health director Genesee and Orleans counties, about a new law lowering the professional standards for who serves on county boards of health so rural communities can fill these important positions.

12/20/2024

A coalition of fossil fuel businesses and labor unions is urging the governor to veto a bill that could cost billions of dollars to companies that were major greenhouse gas emitters in the past.

Dec. 16, 2024 - Environmental activists want to pay for billions of dollars of infrastructure upgrades - responding to the threats of climate change - by retroactively penalizing major past emitters of greenhouse gases. We hear the case against this legislative effort from Daniel Ortega, executive d...

12/20/2024

The quality of care at nursing homes could be improved with higher staffing levels, according to an advocacy group.

Dec. 13, 2024 - Long Term Care Community Coalition Executive Director Richard Mollot discusses staffing levels at nursing homes in New York and considers what they mean for the quality of care being received.

12/20/2024

We talked with the head of the New York City Campaign Finance Board about their decision to deny matching funds to Mayor Eric Adams and got his initial take on the state's program for distributing public campaign funds.

Dec. 18, 2024 - New York City Campaign Finance Board Executive Director Paul Ryan compares the state's nascent public financing program to the long-established system in New York City and addresses a recent decision to deny matching funds to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.