The legislature has come to an end (sort of).
While the New York State Senate left town for the summer, the Assembly indicated it would return in the coming weeks to finish passing bills, including one to provide health care to residents of New York without legal status.
But more than any other session in recent years, these past few months have highlighted a divide between moderate and progressive Democrats, as well as friction between the Legislature and the governor.
Capital Tonight welcomed two veteran Albany observers to discuss these dynamics.
“The governor. Hochul proved to be a relatively conservative Democrat,” said Michael Kink, executive director of the Strong Economy for All Coalition. “Her budget did not raise taxes on the super-rich or the wealthiest corporations. He was looking for tuition increases at SUNY. His approach to government has been dramatically conservative, and I think the Legislature has a majority of progressive, pro-labor Democrats who wanted something bigger and better from government.”
It continued.
“And if you look at it substantively, the Legislature, the progressive, pro-labor Democrats are probably more connected to the real needs and wants of the people of New York than the governor is right now,” Kink said.
Morgan Hook, CEO of SKDK, agreed in part with Kink’s assessment, but also saw some political practicalities in how lawmakers and the governor negotiated with each other this session.
“If I have a big criticism of the Hochul administration this past session, it’s that I felt they were looking too much at the results of last year’s election when they have four years to govern and do important things.”, said Hook.
Hook noted that in multiple polls, New Yorkers have strongly indicated that they are concerned about crime and affordability, and to her credit, the governor focused on those areas.
Besides, he said, Hochul is not Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature is still trying to figure her out.
“It’s different, isn’t it? Kathy Hochul is not Andrew Cuomo and this Legislature is not the Legislature she had for a decade,” Hook said. “We all have Cuomo PTSD. We all expect the governor to act in this bullish, bully way and she is not that.”
