WELCOME TO THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF "THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM."

A LOOK BACK AT THE SESSION IN ALBANY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE STATE.

ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP NEXT.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO AND YOU ARE WATCHING "THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM" CAP, A COLLECTION OF INTERVIEWS WITH POLITICAL LEADERS, ADVOCATES JOURNALISTS COVERING ALL OF IT.

THIS MONTH'S SHOW IS A LOOK BACK AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE CAPITOL IN NEW YORK AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THIS FALL'S ELECTIONS AS WELL AS THE FUTURE OF THE EMPIRE STATE.

TO HELP US BREAK DOWN THE HEADLINES JOINED BY DAN CLARK AUTHOR OF THE CAPITOL CONFIDENT NEWSLETTER AND RAGA JUSTIN, CAPITOL REPORTER FOR BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE TALKING NOW A LITTLE AFTER THE SESSION HAS ENDED AND I JUST WANT TO DO A WELLNESS CHECK ON BOTH OF YOU.

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?

THE SESSION IS NOT A SPRINT.

IT'S A MARATHON SO MAYBE IT'S INVOLVES RECOVERY TIME.

DAN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING SINCE YOU DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS?

>> I WAS AS PREPARED FOR THIS SESSION AS I'M PREPARED TO RUN A MARATHON, YES.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT TO LOOK THROUGH.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED MORE THAN 700 BILLS.

THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL BUT I'M STILL TRYING TO UNPACK EVERY LITTLE BILL THAT GOES IN THERE.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE LOCAL BILLS LIKE TAX AUTHORIZATIONS BUT YOU HAVE THE SMALL BILLS THAT HAVE WIDE RANGING IMPACTS SO WE WILL BE WATCHING THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR TO SEE HOW THE GOVERNOR DECIDES THEM.

>> RAGA, HOW ARE YOU HOLING UP?

YOU SEEM LIKE HAVE YOU YOUR LIFE TOGETHER.

YOU SHOWED UP TODAY, YOU SEEM PUT TOGETHER.

>> I'M ICING MY WRITING MUSCLES BUT I FEEL GOOD.

AS DAN WAS SAYING, THERE WAS A SPRINT TOWARD THAT LAST WEEK AND NOW THE FOCUS IS SHIFTING NOT THE ONLY PRIMARY COVERAGE FOR ME BUT ALSO WHAT DOES THE GOVERNOR DO ON SOME OF THESE TOP TICKET ITEMS.

WE CARED A LOT ABOUT THE BILLS THAT BUSINESSES CARED ABOUT, THE SURVEILLANCE PRICING BAN.

I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO.

THE DATA CENTER MORATORIUM.

ALL OF THESE, AN OPEN QUESTION ON WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO GO.

AND I THINK TRACKING, YOU KNOW, HER TEMPERATURE ON IT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING OF GREAT INTEREST TO READERS IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> LET'S FLUSH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE RAGA BECAUSE COMING INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE WAS HIGH PROFILE ACTION ON HIGH TECH INDUSTRIES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE WERE EFFORTS TO REGULATE THE SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE FOR MINORS, REGULATION STILL IN THE WORKS ON THAT.

THERE WAS THE RAISE ACTED, SOMETHING YOU HAVE COVERED A LOT.

HIGH END BIG GROUNDBREAKING A.I.

DEVELOPMENTS.

WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE, AT LEAST FROM ADVOCATES PERSPECTIVE OR FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT CAME TO HIGH END, HIGH TECH RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ALBANY?

>> THEY WANTED TO SEE JUST SOMETHING DONE.

THE ISSUE IS INACTION IS WHAT LAWMAKERS WILL TELL YOU.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T DOING A TON ON A.I.

REGULATION, TRYING TO CURB SOME OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT FOLKS CALL THE WORST IMPACTS OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY ON DEVELOPING BRAINS MUCH AND SO THE GOVERNOR, I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO HER CREDIT AND TO YOUR EARLIER POINT HAS ALREADY TAKEN ON SOME OF THE TECH FIGHTS IN PREVIOUS YEARS AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

BUT THERE IS A GREATER INTEREST AS WITH THE RAISE ACT TO START GOING AFTER THE DEVELOPERS OF THE A.I.

MODELS.

THIS YEAR WE SAW SOME CHAT BOT BILLS.

MOSTLY DISCLOSURE.

THERE WAS ONE, YOU KNOW, REQUIRING NEWSPAPERS TO DISCLOSE WHEN THEY USE SYNTHETIC CONTENT ON THEIR PLATFORMS.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN INDUSTRY TERMS BETWEEN DISCLOSURE BILLS AND ACTUAL PROHIBITION.

THE PROHIBITION BILLS PEOPLE DON'T LOVE, RIGHT, THAT IMPACTS THEIR BOTTOM LINE IN MANY CASES AND THAT'S, AGAIN, WHERE WE ARE SEEING DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY REALLY WANT THOSE PROHIBITION BILLS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE TO SETTLE FOR SOME OF THE DISCLOSURE BILLS.

>> DAN, ANYTHING THAT YOU WERE TRACKING THIS YEAR IN THIS SPACE?

>> YEAH, THE DATA CENTER BILL I THINK WAS THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM THAT I WAS TRACKING.

>> CAN YOU FLUSH OUT WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE AND WHAT ENDED UP GETTING ADOPTION DON'TED IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BILLS ON THE TABLE.

LAWMAKERS WANTED TO DO A THREE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW PERMITS FOR DATA CENTERS.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IN THE FINAL BILL IT WAS A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM.

AS RAGA SAID WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW THE GOVERNOR NEGOTIATES THESE THINGS OVER THE REST OF THE YEAR.

SHE HAS TAKEN TO DOING THINGS CALLED CHAPTER AMENDMENT WHERE LAWMAKERS PASS THE BILL AND SHE SAYS I DON'T LIKE IT.

I WON'T VETO IT BUT LETS NEGOTIATE CHANGES.

OTHER THINGS IN THE DATA CENTER BILL, IT WOULD REQUIRE DATA CENTERS TO, THIS IS INTERESTING TO ME, TO INVEST IN RESIDENTIAL CLEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE SO TO HAVE DATA CENTERS SAY, WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR TO YOU HAVE HEAT PUMPS SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR STRAIN ON THE GRID SINCE WE ARE COMING INTO THESE COMMUNITIES ANYWAY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS IN IT.

BUT REALLY, THE LOOK AT IT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE STATE WANTS TO REGULATE IT.

AT THE SAME TIME THE STATE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, ENERGY REGULATOR HAS A PROCEEDING THAT IS OPEN THAT IS GOING TO DECIDE HOW THE DATA CENTER PAY THERE ARE FOYE ENERGY.

DO THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR THEIR ENERGY?

DO THEY HAVE TO SUPPLY THEIR OWN ENERGY?

THOSE ARE ALL OPEN QUESTIONS THAT I THINK WILL GO INTO THE CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR AS SHE IS NEGOTIATING THOSE CHANGES WITH LAWMAKERS.

>> AND KEEP IN MIND, THERE IS UNION OPPOSITION TO THIS DATA CENTER MORATORIUM.

THEY GOT A HOST OF BENEFITS WRITTEN FOR THE TRADES INTO THE BILL, AND YET WE STILL SAW SOME MAJOR LABOR VOICES COME OUT AGAINST THE MORATORIUM AND SAY THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR OUR MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A STAKEHOLDER THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES LISTEN TO.

SO... >> ARE EITHER OF YOU, AT THIS POINT, READY TO PREDICT WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS BILL?

DAN MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF CHAPTER AMENDMENTS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAFE MIDDLE GROUND FOR THE GOVERNOR BETWEEN SIGNING THIS AS IS AND VETOING IT BECAUSE GOVERNORS OF ALL STRIPES ARE GENERALLY LOATH TO TIE THEIR HANDS WHEN IT COMES TO MORATORIUMS OWE STRICKSES ON WHAT THEY CAN DO.

SO IS THAT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS, SIGN WITH CHAPTER AMENDMENTS?

>> I THINK SO.

HERE IS THE THING.

THE GOVERNOR IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CONSIDER THIS BILL UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION.

IT'S SOMETHING SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT ON HER PLATE UNTIL SHE HAS BEEN DEFEATED OR NOT.

>> AT THE SAME TIME SHE IS VERY COGNIZANT OF INDUSTRY AND TECH'S ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE.

NEW YORK CITY IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PLAYER, AS DAN MENTIONED, THERE ARE SEVERAL SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING PLANTS BEING DEVELOPED UPSTATE NEW YORK, PARTICULARLY IN SYRACUSE, WITH MICRON.

AND THE GOVERNOR KNOWS THIS AND SHE ALSO HEARS AND I THINK IS RESPONSIVE TO SOME OF THESE BUSINESS LEADERS SAYING, IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT EASY FOR US TO BUILD AND DEVELOP AND HAVE A WORKFORCE HERE, WE WILL PACK UP AND WE MIGHT MOVE TO TEXAS OR NORTH CAROLINA OR A STATE THAT IS PERCEIVED AS MORE WELCOMING TO US.

I THINK SHE CARES ABOUT THAT VERY DEEPLY.

SHE HAS CALLED HERSELF A PRO-BUSINESS GOVERNOR.

SOMETHING SHE IS NOT SHY ABOUT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD LIKE HER TO BE LESS RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CONCERNS.

SO I THINK, AGAIN, THE OPEN QUESTION IS WHO SHE SIDES WITH ON THE DATA CENTER MORATORIUM AND IS THERE AN OPTION FOR A MIDDLE GROUND HERE, GIVEN THAT IT'S ONE YEAR DOWN FROM THREE YEARS, WHICH I THINK BUSINESSES WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY FLATLY OPPOSED.

>> I THINK THAT WAS A BIG THEME THAT YOU TOUCHED ON WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE BUSINESS INTERESTS.

THAT WAS A BIG THEME THIS SESSION AND LAST SESSION, TOO, WHERE SHE HAS BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE TO WHERE THEIR PRIORITIES ARE IN TERMS OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PLASTICS REDUCTION BILL.

BUT I THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAS ALSO MOVED IN THE DIRECTION OF BUSINESS INTERESTS.

THEY HAD A LOT OF MAJOR WINS PUSHING BACK ON SOME OF THE FAR LEFT PRIORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY AN IMPACT OF THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

MAYBE THEY WERE CONCERNED BUSINESS INTERESTS WOULD GO AFTER THEM.

>> I THINK IT HAS SOME ELECTION YEAR IMPLICATIONS TO A LOT OF IT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT STICKING WITH THE IDEA OF THE GOVERNOR AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH BUSINESS INTERESTS, I WANT TO TURN TO THE STATE BUDGET MORE BROADLY BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS A VEHICLE WHERE WE SAW THE GOVERNOR KIND OF HAND IN HAND WITH A VARIETY OF BUSINESS INTERESTS WHETHER IT WAS ON ENERGY AND CHANGES TO THE 2019 CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED OR REQUIRED ACTUALLY ALREADY FOR THE STATE TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

THE STATE HAS BEEN DELINQUENT IN THAT AND THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO PUSH THAT BACK AND SHE ACTUALLY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING IT TO 2028.

THERE IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH USH AND USHER AND GETTING CAR INSURANCE REFORMS IN THE BUDGET.

THERE IS THE IDEA OF BUILDING NEW HOUSING AND THE GOVERNOR DELAYING OR LIMITING THE ROLE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT FOR NEW HOUSING.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME FROM THE BUDGET.

WHAT ABOUT YOU GUYS AND THE NOW $277 BILLION SPENDING PLAN, WHICH, IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU THINK BUDGETS, IT'S ALL THAT DOLLARS AND CENTS, BUT WE END UP TALKING ABOUT POLICY.

DAN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

ANYTHING THAT WAS REALLY GRABBING YOU FROM THIS BUDGET PROCESS?

>> I THINK HONESTLY AUTO INSURANCE WAS THE BIG THING THAT SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THE PRICE OF CAR INSURANCE IS HIGH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A SECRET TO ANYBODY WHO DRIVES A CAR.

BUT DID PEOPLE EXPECT IT TO BE THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE START OF IT?

I DON'T THINK SO NECESSARILY.

>> SURE.

>> I THINK WE STARTED OUT WITH AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES KIND OF DIPPING THEIR TOES INTO THE ISSUE AND SAYING, IS THIS A REALISTIC THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

WILL NEW YORK FOLLOW IN FLORIDA'S FOOTSTEPS?

THE LEGISLATURE REALLY PUSHED BACK HARD WITH AID OF THE TRIAL LAWYERS.

ONE THING I THINK WE SAW THIS YEAR WAS THE TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION DOES NOT HAVE AS MUCH POWER IN THE LEGISLATURE AS MAYBE IT DID AT ONE TIME.

>> AND JUST TO BUILD ON THAT THOUGH, I WOULD SAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE, DEMOCRATIC MARKET IN PARTICULAR ARE CLOSE WITH THE TRIAL LAWYERS.

WE SEE THEM PASS THE GRIEVING FAMILY ACT AND OTHER BILLS DESIGNED TO CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AND THOSE OFTEN BENEFIT PLAINTIFFS ATTORNEYS BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LESS INCLINED TO BE SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE CONCERNS AND HAS VETOED THE GRIEVING FAMILIES ACT AS LOOKING FOR CHANGES TO BILLS THAT WILL CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.

I WONDER, YOU KNOW, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE TRIAL LAWYER SEEMS TO BE PRETTY CLOSE.

GOVERNOR AND THE TRIAL LAWYERS MAYBE ARE NOT INVITING EACH OTHER FOR FRIENDLY NIGHTS OF SCRABBLE.

>> PART OF IT IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS TRIAL LAWYERS IN IT.

>> SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE TRIAL LAWYERS.

>> EXACTLY.

213 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MANY OF THEM ARE ATTORNEYS.

SO THEY COME FROM THIS PLACE WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE TRIAL LAWYERS ARE COMING FROM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO THIS-- YOU CAN CHANGE THE DYNAMICS IN THIS CONVERSATION IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT FROM THE TRIAL LAWYERS PERSPECTIVE WHERE THEY CLAIM TO BE ON THE SIDE OF CRASH VICTIMS AND I THINK THAT LAWMAKERS WERE REALLY SENSITIVE TO THAT.

I THINK THEY GOT SOME CHANGES TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS PROPOSING IN THAT REGARD.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT WAS REALLY TELLING THAT THEY COULDN'T DEFEAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS OVERALL AND THE LAWMAKERS ENDED UP BENDING TO THEM AT THE END OF IT.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES IN FUTURE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAYBE THERE IS MORE ATTENTION PAID THIS YEAR TO THE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS THAT TRIAL LAWYERS ARE GIVING TO LAWMAKERS.

DO WE SEE THAT CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE, GIVEN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH POWER IN THIS CONVERSATION WITH THIS GOVERNOR IN OFFICE?

>> THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE AN INTERESTING ISSUE TO TRACK AND SEE DOES THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET RESULT IN PEOPLE HAVING LOWER CAR INSURANCE COSTS IN 2027 AND BEYOND.

I'M JUST HOPING MAYBE IT STAYS FLAT BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE SKEPTICAL ABOUT WHETHER THESE CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BE DELIVERING MONEY BACK INTO OUR POCKETS BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE.

>> AS ANYONE CAN TELL YOU, THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED AREA OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK.

LIKE IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND, TO TRY TO EVEN REPORT ON IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS FOR YOU, DA THAN.

I THINK, TO YOUR POINT, DAVE, LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE TO TRIGGER THE EFFECT THAT WE WANT TO SEE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN HINGING HER ENTIRE PROPOSAL ON OTHER STATES DOING SIMILAR THINGS AND SEEING SIMILAR RESULTS LIKE FLORIDA BUT AS ANY TRIAL LAWYER IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL TELL YOU,WE AREN'T FLORIDA.

WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT AND OFTEN CONFLICTING SITE OF SET OF STATUTES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR NEW YORK TO SEE THE SAME EFFECTS.

>> RAGA, THINKING ABOUT YOU AND YOUR EXPERIENCE COVERING THIS BUDGET, WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU WERE PARTICULARLY GETTING INVOLVED IN?

I KNOW WITH BLOOMBERG TAX AND FINANCE IS USUALLY A BIG THING.

WAS THERE WAS SO MUCH POLICY TO CHOOSE FROM?

>> WE TEARED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR TAX INCREASES.

THAT WAS A BIG POLITICAL CONVERSATION AS WELL AS A POLICY ONE AT THE BEGINNING OF SESSION.

WE SAW MAYOR MAMDANI AND THE CITY AND HIS LEFT WING FLAKE OF ALLIES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE REALLY PUNCHING FOR THAT AND WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WOULD CAVE ON THOSE DEMANDS.

SHE ULTIMATELY, OF COURSE DIDN'T.

ALTHOUGH THEY CAME TO A SORT OF COMPROMISE TAX, WHAT WE CALL THE TAX ON SECOND HOMES THAT ARE OWNED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PRIMARY RESIDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY, THEY MIGHT LIVE ELSEWHERE?

IRKT NAH.

THEY COULD LIVE IN RUSSIA THAT WAS A COUNTRY THAT CAME UP A LOT.

THERE IS THIS IDEA OF RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS LIVING IN THESE HIGHPRICED MANSIONS OFF CENTRAL PARK.

AND I THINK THAT AGAIN WAS SORT OF CHEERED BY BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS AND BY THE GOVERNOR AND HER KIND OF FACTION.

THE MORE MODERATE FOLKS LIKE LOOK, WE DID SOMETHING ON TAXES.

THIS IS GOING TO GENERATE $500 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHICH HAS BEEN SAYING IT IS IN FISCAL CRISIS.

THIS IS A STOP GAP MESS TOWER HELP THEM FIX THAT BUDGET HOLE.

BUT IS IT THE FULL TAX INCREASE SET THAT LEFTISTS WANTED?

NO, NOT AT ALL AND THAT RAISES THE QUESTION WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

>> GENERAL LIN WI I THINK WE HAVE SOME CONVERSATION EVERY YEAR WHERE THE LEGISLATURE PUSHES FOR HIGHER INCOME TAXES ON THE WEALTHY AND HIGHER CORPORATE TAX RATES.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS NO I'M NOT ENTERTAINING THAT.

AND I THINK WE DID SEE SOME PRESS THUR YEAR FROM THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK.

BUT I DON'T SEE A SITUATION IN THIS SHE CAVES IN THE FUTURE ON THOSE TAXES I REALLY DON'T.

SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN OPPORTUNITY AFTER OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE HAVE MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET GAPS, TO SAY, YEAH, LET'S DO THIS.

THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

BUT SHE HAS CONTINUOUSLY SAID I'M NOT DOING THAT.

I'M NOT ENTERTAINING THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, SHE IS GOING TO CHANGE HER TUNE AND IMMEDIATELY BECOME SUPPORTIVE OF RAISING THOSE TAXES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT FACTORS COULD POSSIBLY LEAD SOMEBODY TO COME TO THAT CONCLUSION, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I THINK THAT SOMEBODY COULD CANING THEIR POSITIONS AFTER AN ELECTION, BUT SHE HAS BEEN ELECTED TO A FULL TERM ONCE NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WOULDN'T CHANGE THAT IN 2023 IF SHE IS GOING TO CHANGE IT IN 2027?

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IT'S THIS CONSTANT PUSH AND PULL WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THIS GOVERNOR JUST HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN RAISING THOSE TAXES.

AND I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING.

>> ABSOLUTELY, DAN, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY AND JUST HIS POLITICAL POPULARITY, HAS POTENTIALLY CHANGED THAT FUTURE OUTCOME, RIGHT?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS INFLUENCE IS YET OR WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF HIS INFLUENCE YET I SHOULD SAY.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR HAVE HAD AN OVERALL PRETTY CORDIAL PREAP, AT LEAST PUBLICLY.

>> I WOULD SAY MORE THAN CORDIAL.

THEY HAVE ESPECIALLY BRACED EACH OTHER TO THE SENSE THAT IF HE CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO HER OR SHE CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO HIM, THEY HAVE FOUND WAYS TO LEAN INTO THE PARTNERSHIP AND AVOIDED THOSE AREAS OF DIFFERENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON TAXING THE RICH.

THERE WAS A BIG RALLY IN ALBANY, PEOPLE EXPECTED THE MAYOR, WHO HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS, TO COME UP TO ALBANY.

LEE DID NOT.

I THINK THAT WAS VERY CONSCIOUS DECISION THAT WAS REFLECTIVE OF HIM TRYING TO HAVE THAT STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR, WHICH NETTED HIM LOTS OF MONEY FOR NEW YORK CITY'S BUDGET HOLE, NETTED THEM LOTS OF MONEY FOR CHILD CARE.

MONEY FOR PRE-K AND NOW 2K AND IT ALSO GOT THEM, YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH PIERRE de TEAR TAX.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER IN THIS LAST YEAR BUT AFTER THE ELECTION, THAT IS A BIG QUESTION WHETHER HE FEELS SOME FREEDOM TO PRESSURE HER MORE NOW THAT SHE IS LIKELY SECURED ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE.

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN HE MIGHT NOT FEEL THE SAME PRESSURE TO PULL HIS PUNCHES AT THAT POINT AND SAY LOOK, THE GLOVES ARE OFF, TO USE ALL OF THE METAPHORS AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BE MORE PUBLICLY AN ANTAGONISTIC TOWARDS THE GOVERNOR.

THAT MIGHT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE HER THINKING ON IT.

MAYBE NOT PRIVATELY BUT AT LEAST PUBLICLY.

>> I THINK YOU COULD LOOK AT IT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, TOO.

IF SHE WINS REELECTION AND, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS FOUR MORE YEARS IN OFFICE, DOES SHE COME OUT STRONGER AND SAY, I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE MAYOR?

I AM NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GO ALONG WITH THESE PRIORITIES BUT I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, SHE HAS CONSCIOUSLY BUILT THIS RELATIONSHIP, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, TOO, APPEARS POSITIVE AND IS A WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT SHE WANTS TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

OBVIOUSLY HE DOES, TOO, AS MAYOR.

I THINK THAT SHE REALLY IS EARNEST WHEN SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE DAYS OF GOVERNORS AND MAYORS,.

>> AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS.

SNIPING AT EACH OTHER?

>> I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF THE APPROPRIATE THING TO SAY.

>> BILL DEBLAZ YO' AND CUOMO IS EMBLEMATIC OF UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

I THINK YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT THOUGH, WHAT THE ELECTIONS MEAN FOR THE 2027 DYNAMIC.

IF THE GOVERNOR BEASTS HER G.O.P.

CHALLENGER, THE NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE WITH 55% OF THE VOTE, I THINK SHE COMES INTO THIS SESSION A LOT DIFFERENTLY THAN IF SHE GETS 60% OF THE VOTE OR EVEN HIGHER, WHICH I THIS I WOULD EMBOLDEN HER TO SAY I HAVE THIS MANDATE AND VOTERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE WAY I APPROACH BUDGETING, POLICY ISSUES, AND MAYBE MA'AM DAME-- MAMDANI, WINNING THROUGH HIS SURROGATES IN NOVEMBER COMES IN A LITTLE MORE SKITTISH.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE UNPREDICTABLE QUESTIONS WEEK REVISIT IN DECEMBER AS WE BUILD UP FOR THE NEXT BUDGET.

ANOTHER ITEM IN THE BUDGET, THE ROLL BACK OF THE CLCPA, THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT WHICH IN ADDITION TO THOSE DELAYS FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS THERE WAS ALSO A NEW ACCOUNTING FOR METHANE EMISSIONS THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT HOW AGGRESSIVE THE STATE NEEDS TO BE IN ITS CLIMATE GOALS.

THIS SEEMED LIKE IT WAS PART OF A LARGE ARE TREND WE HAVE SEEN FOR BASICALLY A YEAR NOW, WHERE THIS GOVERNOR HAS LOOKED FOR WAYS TO ESSENTIALLY UNDERMINE NEW YORK'S CLIMATE GOALS.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH THE DELAYS IN THE ALL ELECTRIC BUILDINGS ACT, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR.

WE SAW THAT WITH SOME WOULD SAY THE SEQR RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THEN IN THE BUDGET THERE WAS ALSO A DELAY ON ZERO EMISSION SCHOOL BUSS WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING EFFECT IN 2027.

LET'S PUSH THAT I THINK FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

IS IT FAIR TO SAY THIS WAS A TOUGH SESSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT OR WOULD EITHER OF YOU HOLD UP SOME MAJOR VICTORIES AND SAY NO, THE ENVIRONMENT HAD SOME WINS, TOO.

WE ARE STILL GREEN IN GRORK.

>> I COULDN'T THINK OF A WIN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>> STUFF AROUND THE MARGINS THOUGH.

>> SOLAR BUILDOUT.

>> YEAH, LAWN EQUIPMENT REBATE CHECKS.

>> AND THE PFAS IN WATER NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BILL THEY WERE LOOKING FOR BUT SOMETHING TO HOLD YOUR HAT ON.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE'S ENERGY PLAN, THE NEW SOFT MANDATE THE STATE HAS ESTABLISHED IN THE BUDGET IS A 60% REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS BY 2040.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE'S ENERGY PLAN, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY ON TRACK TO MEET THAT TARGET RIGHT NOW IF THE STATE TAKES ADDITIONAL ACTION, WHICH IS REALLY NOT DEFINED VERY WELL IN THE ENERGY PLAN.

IT BASICALLY MEANS IF WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT SOLAR, IF WIND STARTS TO COME ONLINE, WE CAN PRETTY FEASIBLY MEET THAT TARGET.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS REALLY-- LIKE THIS IS POLITICAL MASTERY, IF YOU WILL.

IN THE SENSE THAT SHE HAS TAKEN HER PROJECTIONS FROM HER AGENCIES AND SAID LET ME CRAFT THE LAW TO ALIGN WHAT I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

>> SURE.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S A REFLECTION OF WHAT SHE SAID OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AT WHAT HAS I AM PACKED THE CLIMATE ACT MANDATES, SUPPLIERS, HOSTILE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK SHE IS GOING WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT SHE MAY NOT HAVE A ROSIER PICTURE IN TERMS OF CLIMATE OVER THE NEXT 14 OR SO YEARS, AND SHE WANTS TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT POSSIBILITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WILL BE IN OFFICE BY 2040, NOBODY KNOWS THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT SHE IS SETTING HERSELF UP FOR SUCCESS.

>> I WANT TO TURN TO AN AREA WHERE WE DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT ACTION AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE NEW YORKERS ON THE ESSENTIAL PLAN AND YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

IT'S A GOVERNMENT-RUN PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE TOO MUCH MORE MEDICAID AND DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO IT THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER OR CAN'T GET IT THROUGH THE MARKET.

THERE WAS MORE THAN A BILLION PEOPLE IN THE SORT OF LIMBO-- EXCUSE ME, A MILLION PEOPLE IN THE SORT OF LIMBO WITH THE FEDERAL CHANGES LAST YEAR AND THE STATE FOUND A WAS I TO TO ENSURE THE VAST MARKET OF THEM WILL STILL GET COVERED BUT THE POPULATION OF 450,000 THAT COME THIS SUMMER, ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT VERY BENEFICIAL COVERAGE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NO CO-PAYS, NO PREMIUMS IN SOME CASES AND THERE ISN'T THAT ACCESS TO THE INSURANCE MARKETPLACE.

DAN, I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD TO FOLLOW THIS ISSUE.

THERE WERE DIFFERENT IDEAS ON THE TABLE ABOUT HOW TO GET COVERAGE FOR THESE PEOPLE BUT ULTIMATELY, NOTHING IN THE BUDGET, NOTHING STAND ALONE LEGISLATION.

AND WE WERE LEFT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY BASICALLY POINTING THE FINGER AT THE GOVERNOR SAYING, SHE WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THESE PEOPLE.

>> EXACTLY.

AND CONTEXT AROUND THIS IS IMPORTANT IN THE SENSE THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS THE STATE IS ROLLING BACK-- LOWERING THE CAP FOR INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ESSENTIAL PLAN ESSENTIALLY.

NO PUN INTENDED.

THAT BECOME CAP WAS RAISED JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE REFERRING-- WE ARE REVERTING BACK TO WHERE IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, ABOUT 300,000 OF THEM WILL BE ABLE TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYERS AND THAT MIGHT SOUND WELL AND GOOD BUT THESE PEOPLE NOW HAVE TO PAY PREMIUMS.

THEY HAVE TO PAY COST SHARING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY UNDER THE ESSENTIAL PLAN.

I'VE TALKED TO HOSPITAL GROUPS ABOUT THIS THANK AND AS MUCH AS THEY COULD GET INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYERS AND PROBABLY WILL, THERE IS THIS MAJOR GAP WHERE HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATE BID PEOPLE GOING INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITHOUT INSURANCE AND WHO PICKS UP THE TAB TORE THAT?

THOSE PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY.

THE STATE PICKS UP THE STAB FOR THAT AND BY EXTENSION ALL OF US.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS THAT I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE AFTER JULY 1 WHEN THE CHANGE TAKES EFFECT.

WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPACT IS OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

THE LEGISLATURE HAD CONTEMPLATED TAKING A FEW BILLION DOLLARS STAT THE STATE HAS AND PAYING FOR THE STATE TO ESSENTIALLY FUND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THESE PEOPLE THROUGH THE ESSENTIAL PLAN.

AS YOU SAID, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

BUT I KNOW THAT LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT AS AN OPTION NEXT YEAR AND I THINK THAT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

IF IT IS AS DEVASTATING AS HOSPITALS SAY, I THINK YOU WILL SEE A VERY STRONG PUSH FOR FROM THEM FOR LAWMAKERS TO DOING SOME.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO CONTROLS CONGRESS AND WHAT HAPPENS IN 2028.

THERE IS A LOT THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED IN THE NEXT YEAR IN THE HEALTHCARE DEBATE ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK WHERE WE SPEND OH MY GOSH, SO MUCH MONEY ON MEDICAID.

THE GOVERNOR IS HESITANT TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO A PUBLIC HEALTHCARE OPTION.

>> I THINK SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING AS A REPORTER COVERING THIS AND NOT COVERING IT DIRECTLY BUT LISTENING IN AT PRESS CONFERENCES WHEN YOU TALK TO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE OR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, THEY'RE VERY QUICK TO POINT FINGERS AT NOT JUST THE GOVERNOR BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE IS A REAL-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE IS A POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY BEHIND THIS BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS CAUSE TO SAY LOOK WHO WHOSE FAULT IT IS.

THE SEVEN REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

I MEAN THAT'S SORT OF A CATCH PHRASE AT THIS POINT OF CARL HEASTIE TO SAY THIS IS NOT ON US.

THIS IS ON OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THAT ARE NOT PLEADING OUR CAUSE OR THE CAUSE OF THESE 450,000 NEW YORKERS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

AND SO, I THINK IT DOES, YOU KNOW, NOT TO BE CYNICAL ABOUT IT, BUT I DO THINK IT BENEFITS THEM AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE DONE AND DO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME FEELINGS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR NOT CHOOSING TO GO FOR SOME OF THESE OPTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE PUT FORTH, BUT IT DOES, YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY EASY TO LAY THE BLAME ON THESE SEVEN REPUBLICANS WHO HAVEN'T REALLY WEIGHED IN ON THIS VERY HEAVILY.

>> ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS ACTUALLY LOCAL OFFICIALS HERE IN NEW YORK IS LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET THAT REDEFINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS THE STATE AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS LESS COOPERATION WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT CRIMINAL IN NATURE OR THERE IS NOT A WARRANT FROM A JUDGE, IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE IS LANGUAGE RESTRICTING WHEN MASKS CAN BE WORN BY LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE BROADLY BUT THAT'S TARGETED AT ICE AND THERE IS ALSO THIS ISSUE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SUE ICE AGENTS IF THEY'RE GOING BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THEIR AUTHORITY.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF WHAT WAS IN THIS FINAL BUDGET DEAL BECAUSE WE HAD VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INTERESTS COMING AT THIS WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY HAS EVOLVED A LOT ON THESE ISSUES SINCE SHE WAS AN ERIE COUNTY CLERK AND WAS LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS AND YOU ALSO HAD PROGRESSIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE PUSHING FOR THINGS EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE, EVEN MORE DEFINED IN STATUTE.

AND THEN HANGING, OVERALL OF THIS, IS HOW IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOING TO RESPOND?

WE ARE RECORDING IN MID JUNE SO COULD COULD BE AN EVOLVING ISSUE.

WE COULD HAVE ICE DATED INUNDATED IN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER NEW YORK MORE SO THAN WE ARE NOW.

BUT FOR YOU TWO, AND YOU HAD TO COVER THIS.

WAS THERE ANY THREAD YOU BULLED ON THAT YOU FOUND PARTICULARLY INTERESTING.

JUMP BALL, WHOEVER WANTS IT.

GO FOR IT.

>> I THINK GENUINELY THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THIS IS HOW LONG IT TOOK THEM TO DO IT.

THE MINNESOTA DEATHS HAPPENED IN JANUARY, AND THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT STRONG IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

SO DID DEMOCRATS THIS THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR SAID AT THE TIME IN JANUARY AS DID DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THAT THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY.

AND THEY HAD SEVERAL BILLS INTRODUCED THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PASSING.

THEY CHOSE NOT TO.

THEY CHOSE TO DO LITERALLY NOTHING UNTIL THE BUDGET.

AND I THINK FOR IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES THAT WAS DEEPLY, DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING THAT LAWMAKERS COULDN'T PASS BILLS AND I THINK THAT THAT REALLY PLAYS INTO A DYNAMIC THAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WANTS TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON THESE ISSUES.

INSTEAD OF USING THEIR FULL POWER AS A BRAND OF GOVERNMENT TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO PASS BILLS AND YOU ARE GOING TO DECIDE THESE BILLS.

FOR A LOT OF IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES THAT I TALK TO OVER THE COURSE OF THE SESSION, THEY WERE TOLD BY LAWMAKERS TO STOP MAKING NOISE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS IRRITATING THE GOVERNOR.

AND IRRITATING PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THIS ISSUE THAT MAYBE DIDN'T ALIGN WITH THEM.

AND COULDN'T GET ON THE SAME PAGE AS THEM.

AND I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING PART ABOUT IT IS THAT AS WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE CAR INSURANCE AND SEQR AND, YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE, LAWMAKERS REALLY DID TRY TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION IN A TWO WAY DEAL BETWEEN BOTH CHAMBERS YOU THE ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO INCLUDE IT IN THE BUDGET.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THEIR CHOICE OR THE GOVERNOR'S CHOICE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

IF THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING I WILL AGREE TO THE IMMIGRATION CHANGES IF YOU AGREE TO MY AUTO INSURANCE CHANGES.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

IT REMINDS ME OF LAST YEAR'S LACK OF URGE URGENCY AROUND THE PRISONS ISSUE WHEN WE HAD THE DEATH OF ROBERT BROOKS AND LAWMAKERS CAME INTO SESSION SAYING WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND DIDN'T PASS SOMETHING UNTIL JUNE.

IT MAKES STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE ISSUES QUESTION THEIR COMMITMENT TO THESE ISSUES AND I THINK THE GOVERNORS, TOO, WHEN THEY CAN'T COME TOGETHER ON SOMETHING AS URGENT AS THEY CLAIM TO BE AS ICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> I WANT TO POINT OUT FOR CONTEXT, A STARK COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR, ANDREW CUOMO WHEN I THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING IN 2012 AND THEY CAME BACK AND I DON'T WANT TO JUDGE THE SAFE ACT BUT THEY IMMEDIATELY HAD SOMETHING TO GO THAT HE WAS CHAMPIONING AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ANDREW CUOMO WOULD HAVE LET THE LEGISLATURE LEAD ON PRISON REFORM BILLS IN THE WAKE OF A PRISON STRIKE.

WOULD I IMAGINE HIM IN A PRISON THROWING ON A UNIFORM, GOVERNOR OF ACTION, WHAT NOT.

BUT I INTERRUPTED YOU RAGA.

>> ONE MORE N.

2022 WHEN THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE CONCEALED CARRY LAW IN NEW YORK, HOCHUL AND LAWMAKERS CAME BACK WITHIN TWO WEEKS TO DO SOMETHING IN RESPONSE TO THAT TO.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY ANY ISSUE SINCE THEN HAS TAKEN ON THAT URGENCY.

>> NOT FOR NOTHING, THERE IS A MORE SORT OF INFLAMMATORY TOP-DOWN APPROACH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE PRESIDENT IS OF COURSE A NEW YORKER AND HAT HAS HELPED AS A BARGAINING CHIP FOR THE GOVERNOR TO MAYBE ON THESE DAILY PHONE CALLS OR FREQUENT PHONE CALLS SHE SEEMS TO HAVE WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

I'M SURE SHE REMINDS HIM OF THAT THAT THIS IS YOUR HOMETOWN AND MAYBE HOLD OFF ON SENDING THE SURGE THAT YOU HAVE PROMISED.

AND BARGAINING WITH SOMEONE LIKE THE PRESIDENT, ESPECIALLY IN IN ADMINISTRATION, DOES SEEM TO BE DIFFICULT AND I THINK THERE IS A REAL JUST UNCERTAINTY AROUND WHAT THE NEXT MOVE IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT THAT THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION COULD WAKE UP AND CHOOSE TO GO AFTER THAT DAY SO I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, SHE IS SORT OF TRYING TO ASSESS THIS CHESS BOARD, IF YOU WILL, ON WHICH THERE IS ONE PLAYER WHO REALLY NO ONE CAN PREDICT HIS NEXT MOVE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT JUSTIFIES THIS INACTION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT I DO CERTAINLY THINK IT PLAYS INTO IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND WE MENTION THE AMBIGUITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL RESPOND.

THERE IS CONCERN AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

I MEAN RIGHT NOW WE ARE RECORDING IN RENSSELAER COUNTY WHERE THEIR COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS SAID WE HAVE ENJOYED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS.

THESE RELATIONSHIPS, THREES 287G IF I'M GETTING IT RIGHT, THE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS HAVE WORKED OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THEM WHICH WILL PUT THEM AT ODDS WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFINITELY ANOTHER QUESTION TO FOLLOW UP.

>> THE GOVERNOR CAME INTO POWER WHEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THIS ISSUE OF CRIME RIDDEN STREETS WAS REALLY ADD ITS SEEN IDS.

THAT'S WHAT THE POLITICAL TALKING POINT WAS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS REALLY TIED TO IMMIGRATION AND WE WERE SEEING A SURGE OF IMMIGRANTS COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND TEXAS TO NEW YORK.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RHETORIC SWIRLING AROUND ABOUT THE IMPACT THOSE FOLKS WERE HAVING ON THE CITY AND UPSTATE.

AND REPUBLICANS WERE REALLY POUNCING ON SOME OF THE CRIME STATISTICS AND THE CRIME RATES AT THE TIME AND TYING THAT TO IMMIGRATION.

I MEAN THAT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE ARE SEEING NOW MAYBE CAN BE VIEWED THROUGH THAT'S WHERE THE GOVERNOR HAS REALLY COME TO THIS ISSUE, AT LEAST ORIGINALLY, MAYBE THAT'S NOT WHERE SHE IS NOW.

MAYBE SHE HAS EVOLVED ON IT.

BUT THAT'S SORT OF, IN MY OPINION, HOW SHE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS?

>> STICKING WITH LOOKING AT THINGS THROUGH THE PRISM OF 2022.

WE ALSO HAVE A NEW PUSH FOR REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE DEMOCRATS, I THINK, TOOK A LOT OF LICKS IN 2022 AFTER MAPS WERE REDRAWN, NOT NECESSARILY IN THEIR HANDS, A SPECIAL MASTER WAS APPOINTED BY THE COURTS AND NOW THERE IS A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO SAY HASHTAG NEVER AGAIN AND HAVE APPROACHED THIS BY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH IS GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO DO IT INSTEAD OF EVERY 10 YEARS, WHENEVER THEY WANT BASICALLY.

AND ELIMINATES THE CONSTITUTIONAL RESTRICTION ON PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

AND DAN, WE HAD THE FIRST PASSAGE OF THIS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

IT IS GOING TO MOVE AGAIN IN THE FOLLOWING SESSION.

AND THEN HAS TO BE APPROVED BY VOTERS IN THE STATEWIDE REFERENDUM.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS GETTING APPROVED GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE HAD IN NEW YORK WHEN DEMOCRATS DID TRY TO CHANGE THE REDISTRICTING AND VOTING EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK, THINK TWAIN AND HOON-- 2021 AND STATEWIDE AMENDMENTS 1, 3 AND 4 ALL FELL.

ARE WILL DIFFERENCES IN THE NEXT GO AROUND POTENTIALLY IN 2027 THAT WERE NOT PRESENT IN 2021?

>> WELL, YEAH, THEY HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES A POWERFUL NEW TOOL IN THIS FIGHT.

>> SURE.

>> DEMOCRATS PASSED A BILL AT THE END OF SESSION THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PHRASE HOW THEY WANT THE QUESTION PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR THE APPROVAL OF THESE AMENDMENTS.

THAT'S CURRENTLY DONE BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL SO IT WILL HAPPEN.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN 2021 DEMOCRATS DIDN'T NECESSARILY LIKE THE WAY THAT THEY PHRASED THE AMENDMENTS THAT FAILED.

SO NOW THEY GET TO SAY EXACTLY MA THEY WANT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT VOTERS TO SEE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHAT RESTRICTIONS THEY GAVE THEMSELVES, IF ANY IN PHRASING THOSE AMENDMENTS.

BUT I THINK, IF YOU TAKE THAT, PLUS IF THEY REALLY PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THIS CAMPAIGN THAT THEY DID NOT PUT INTO IT IN 2021, I THINK THAT YOU COULD SEE A REALLY STRONG PUSH AND MAYBE A STRONG TURNOUT FROM DEMOCRAT VOTERS IN NEW YORK WHO SAY WE WANT TO GIVE OUR STATE MORE POWER IN A TIME WHEN WE SEE STATES LIKE TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA BE ABLE TO DO THIS MUCH QUICK QUICKER THAN WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT.

I THINK ONE THING ABOUT NEW YORK VOTERS, THEY DO NOT LIKE TO BE PUSHED AGAINST THE CORNER, BASICALLY.

THEY DON'T LIKE TO BE BACKED INTO A CORNER.

THEY LIKE TO GIVE THE STATE POWER TO DO WHAT IT WANTS TO DO TO GAIN POLITICAL POWER.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT SEATS IN CONGRESS, THAT DETERMINES FEDERAL FUNDING.

THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE THERE.

AND I THINK THAT IF ALL OF THESE STARS ALIGN AND THEY CAN GET SECOND PASSAGE AS WE EXPECT THEM TO NEXT YEAR, I THINK THE BIG FACTOR IS HOW MUCH MONEY DO REPUBLICANS PUT INTO A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THESE AMENDMENTS?

IS IT-- AND I ASKED CONGRESSMAN LIKE LAWLER FROM THE HUDSON VALLEY IN MAY WHEN HE WAS UP HERE, DO YOU EXPECT THIS TO BE A NATIONAL FIGHT IN NEW YORK TO PUSH AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT AND HE SAID YES.

I THINK A LOT OF MONEY IS GOING TO GO INTO THIS OPPOSING THIS AMENDMENT.

BUT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

YOU KNOW, LIKE WE HAVE A WHOLE YEAR BEFORE ANYBODY HAS TO WORRY ABOUT REALISTICALLY PUSHING AGAINST THIS.

I THINK A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO MONEY AFTER SECOND PASSAGE NEXT YEAR WHICH THEY PUT MORE INTO IT.

>> LAWLER HAS REASON TO BE CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN THE DEMOCRATS LOOK AT THE MAP OF NEW YORK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS THEY CAN KNOCK OFF.

THEY'RE LOOKING THEY HUDSON VALLEY IN THE 17th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND LONG ISLAND WHERE DEMOCRATS CURRENTLY HAVE TWO OF FOUR SEATS AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A THIRD ONE.

THEY'RE LOOKING IN STATEN ISLAND WHERE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A SEAT AND THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE A MAP THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE THE MOST SENSE TO YOU GRAPHICALLY BUT COULD BE MORE FAVORABLE TO DEMOCRATS.

IS THIS SOMETHING YOU LOOKED AT AT ALL?

THERE IS INTERSECTION BETWEEN CONGRESS WHO CONTROLS IT AND THE PHENOMENON ISSUES THAT YOU LOOK AT.

WHAT SORT OF PRISM DO YOU LOOK AT REDISTRICTING THROUGH?

>> WE ARE INTERESTED IN NEW YORK TAKING SOME SORT OF STANCE ON THIS AS, YOU KNOW, A LEADER AMONG BLUE STATES.

THIS IS REALLY BEEN FRAMED NATIONALLY AS THE FIGHT BETWEEN RED AND BLUE.

AND YOU KNOW, TEXAS WAS THE FIRST STATE TO DO THIS AT THE BEHEST OF DONALD TRUMP.

AND THAT WAS WHEN WE SAW NEW YORK SORT OF RESPONDING.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE, AGAIN, THESE SORT OF PLAYERS ASSEMBLE.

IT FEELS LIKE THE AVENGERS, EVERYBODY IS LINING UP ON THEIR SIDES AND THEY'RE USING-- >> THE ONLY THING IF YOU ASK ABOUT STAR TREK OR "STAR WARS."

>> LET'S NOT START REVEALING MY IGNORANCE, PLEASE.

I THINK WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IS THIS FIERY RHETORIC WE ARE STARTING TO SEE.

THIS HAS BEEN FRAMED AS A BATTLE MPLEGHT AA WAR, AS I FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF DEMOCRACY.

AND NOT FOR NOTHING, 10 YEARS AGO DEMOCRATS WERE NOT USING THIS LANGUAGE.

THEY WERE THE PARTY OF INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THEY WERE THE PARTY OF NO GERRYMANDERING.

AND AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY, MAYBE NEW YORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN SORT OF AN OUTLIRE BUT THE PARTY ITSELF HAS ALWAYS HAD THESE SORT OF PRINCIPALS WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING AND DISTRICT ON PORTIONMENT AND I SEE THAT GOING OUT THE WINDOW AND I THINK WE HAVE ASKED THEM A LOT.

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TELLING VOTERS IN A DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT YOU ARE SORT OF WILLING TO BETRAY THOSE PRINCIPLES IN ORDER TO GAIN THIS, YOU KNOW, THESE POLITICAL POINTS.

AND THEY SAY THIS IS ABOUT SOMETHING MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN POLITICS.

THEY SAY THIS IS ABOUT AGAIN DEMOCRACY AND KIND OF WHERE AMERICA IS GOING AND SO YOU GET AGAIN THESE REALLY HIGH LEVEL EXISTENTIAL LIFE AND DEATH SORT OF FRAMINGS AROUND THIS QUESTION, WHICH I THINK PERSONALLY ARE REALLY INTERESTING.

I MEAN WHO KNOWS HOW VOTERS WILL RESPOND TO THAT.

>> THEY'RE FRAMING THIS IDEA THAT IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, WE MUST HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WHEREAS IF WERE YOU IN TEXAS, THEY WOULD SAY AS A REPUBLICAN, WE MUST HAVE A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND OUR VOTERS.

AND HOW IT SHAKES OUT FROM A GOOD GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE IS ONE IN WHICH THEY KIND OF HEM AND HAW AND DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MOST ARTICULATE ANSWER.

DAN, I WANT TO DUMB BACK TO YOU THOUGH, YOU RECENTLY LED A FORUM LOOKING AT THE STATE'S ENERGY AND WHAT THE DEPENDENCE ON ENERGY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE AND WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GET THE POWER FROM.

AND WE HAVE HAD SOME DEVELOPMENTS MORE ON THE REGULATORY SIDE IN NEW YORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS OKAYING A NEW GAS PIPELINE, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN FULL SPEED AHEAD ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NUCLEAR ENERGY, EFFORTS TO PAUSE OR SLOW THAT DOWN, LEGISLATIVELY GAINED CLOSE TO ZERO TRACTION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE DEBATE OVER THE FUTURE UTILIZATION OF LARGE SCALE SOLAR WITH THE PUSH BETWEEN PRESERVING LAND, WHAT FARMERS CAN DO WITH THEIR LAND, WHETHER IT'S ACTUALLY THAT BENEFICIAL AND THEN THE WHOLE OFFSHORE WIND THING, WHICH THE PRESIDENT IS PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS ISSUE MOVING FORWARD?

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF NEW ENERGY SOURCES DURING 2026.

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.

SO THE BIG QUESTION THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE NOT REALLY POSED IN TERMS OF HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS ENERGY INSURANCE.

IT'S WHAT I KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE HAVE IN NEW YORK A LOT OF WHAT IS CALLED DISPATCHABLE ENERGY, WHICH IS INCOMER THAT CAN BE PRODUCED ON DEMAND.

ESSENTIALLY IF YOU HAVE GAS AND YOU CAN BURN IT, YOU CAN CREATE THAT RING-- THAT ENERGY.

WHAT IS NOT DISPATCHABLE IS WIND ENERGY.

IF THE WIND DOES NOT BLOW, YOU ARE NOT CREATING ELECTRICITY.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU HAVE BIG BATTERIES THAT BASICALLY STORES ALL OF THE ENERGY SO WHEN THE WIND IS NOT BLOWING, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO PRODUCE POWER FOR THE GRID OR AT LEAST PUT POWER INTO THE GRID.

THAT'S A BIG QUESTION THAT LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE-SCALE BUILDOUT OF RENEWABLES IN TERMS OF THAT'S DISPATCHABLE THAT WE CAN'T RELY ON, HOW DO WE SOLVE THE QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE SUN ISN'T SHINING, WHEN THE WIND ISN'T BLOWING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE NEW ENERGY SOURCES COMING ONLINE.

IN JULY THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LINE COMING FROM QUEBEC TO NEW YORK CITY THAT WILL SUPPLY HYDRO POWER ENERGY, ABOUT 20% OF NEW YORK'S ELECTRICITY, THAT'S HUGE.

THAT'S NEARLY AS MUCH AS INDIAN POINT PROVIDED WHEN IT WAS ONLINE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OPEN QUESTIONSES ON WHERE THE STATE GOES WITH ITS ENERGY FUTURE.

YOU MENTIONED THENESSESY PIPELINE FROM NEW JERSEY OFF THE SHORE OF QUEENS.

ANOTHER PIPELINE UNDER CONSIDERATION CALLED CONSTITUTION PIPELINE COMING FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

AND THEY COULD APPROVE THE PIPELINE WITHOUT ANY SAY IN THE STATE.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE DECIDING FACTOR IN 2026.

RIGHT NOW IN 2028 THE STATE CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL RECONVENE AND DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.

THE SAME YEAR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO MEET THAT 2040 EMISSIONS MANDATE.

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW WHAT WILL THE REGULATIONS LOOK LIKE.

A CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM WHERE CARBON EMISSIONS ARE CAP AND POLLUTERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM?

A CLEAN FUEL STANDARD WHERE WE REQUIRE FUEL PRODUCERS TO MAKE THEIR FUELS LESS EMITTING, LESS POLLUTING SO WE CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS THAT WAY.

SO A LOT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF 2028 AND UNTIL THEN IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH WE CAN BUILD OUT.

THINGS LIKE DISTRIBUTED SOLAR ENERGY ON ROOFTOPS, AND AS YOU SAID, FARMLAND WHERE CAN THAT MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE ARE LOSING FROM DECOMMISSIONING GAS POWERED POWER PLANTS?

AS THE NEW YORK INDEPENDENT OPERATORS SYSTEM SAID EARLIER IN JUNE, WE ARE DECOMMISSIONING POWER AT A RATE THAT IS MUCH FASTER THAN POWER IS COMING ONLINE SO WE ARE FACING VERY NARROW RELIABILITY MARGINS WHERE I BELIEVE THEY SAID IN THE SPRING IF NEW YORK CITY EXPERIENCES FIVE DAYS OF 90 PLUS DEGREE TIMP WE HAVE A REAL DANGER OF LOSING ELECTRICITY IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS.

THIS IS AN URGENT ISSUE BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS ONE SOLVED OVERNIGHT AND A LOT RIDES ON 2028 AND WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AT THE SAME TIME YOU ARE SAYING WE HAVE THESE LARGE ENERGY USERS COMING ONLINE, THE I.S.O.

HAS POINTED OUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PROJECTSES REQUIRING MANY MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY THAT ARE JUST WAITING FOR THAT SAY SO THAT GO AHEAD AND THEY CAN'T GET IT BECAUSE THERE ARE THESE REALLY, YOU KNOW, DEEP OPEN QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND THAT ENERGY?

WHERE IS THAT POWER REALLY COMING FROM?

>> THERE IS 12,000 MEGAWATTS IN THE Q&A QUEUE TO COME ONLINE.

THAT'S SO MUCH ENERGY.

THE STATE'S OFFSHORE WIND GOAL IS 9,000 MEGAWATTS.

TO ESSENTIALLY POWER NEW YORK CITY.

12,000 MEGA WASTS IS-- MEGAWATTS IS SUCH A FEAT.

IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS TO EVEN PRODUCE THE ENERGY FOR THAT QUEUE AND IN THE TIME THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE THAT ENERGY, THAT NUMBER IS JUST GOING TO KEEP ON GROWING IN DEMAND AS TO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO COME ONLINE WITH NEW HOUSING BEING BUILT, WITH PEOPLE SHIFTING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ALL OF THIS ADDS INTO THE GRID.

AND IT DOES TAKE AWAY FROM EMISSIONS BUT AT THE SAME TIME NEW YORK HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE LESS OF ITS ENERGY PRODUCED THROUGH NATURAL GAS, OTHERWISE WE DON'T SOLVE THAT EMISSION PROBLEM.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT NUCLEAR BUT IT IS NOT A SILVER BULLET SOLUTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, ACCORDING TO I THINK ENERGY FOLKS, THAT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 10, 15 YEARS TO START BUILDING OUT THAT CAPACITY AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE.

AND SO AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO THINK THAT THERE IS ONE PERFECT ENERGY SOLUTION AND THAT NUCLEAR COULD BE ONE VERSION OF THAT, THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, AT LEAST BY 2028 TO YOUR POINT.

>> AND WE ARE JUST HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THROUGH THE LENS OF RELIABILITY.

WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WHICH WAS A MAJOR CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AS PEOPLE WERE GETTING THEIR UTILITY BILLS AND SEEING THINGS IN THE HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

DAN, GOING VIRAL WITH THE MONTHLY UPDATES OF HIS BILL.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THE LAWMAKERS, TO, I GUESS THEIR CREDIT OR DETRIMENT PUT ASIDE A BILLION DOLLARS FOR UTILITY RELIEF.

THESE ARE CHECKS RAKING FROM $100 TO $200 INCOME DEPENDENT, KIND OF A DROP IN THE BUCKET DEPENDING ON WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING AND THOSE CHECKS-- >> TELL ME ABOUT IT.

>> CHECK OUT YOUR MAIL BOX THIS FALL.

YOU MIGHT BE GETTING ONE.

BUT I WANT TO TURN TO SORT OF A CHANGING OF THE GUARD THIS SESSION, RAGA BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF STATE LAWMAKERS IN KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION.

AND THE LIST INCLUDES THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER, THE ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE CHAIR, THE SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER, THE SENATE HOUSING CHAIR, FORMER ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER.

HOW, IF AT ALL, THAT HANG OVER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS TO LOSE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE OR ANY OF THEM IN PARTICULAR?

DO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE STAND OUT TO YOU FOR THEIR ROLE ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OR THE POLITICAL SIDE OF THINGS?

>> YOU KNOW, JUST FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING AT THE END OF SESSION TO WATCH STEWART-COUSINS, SEND OFF HER SECOND IN COMMAND, ESSENTIALLY, DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER MICHAEL GIANARIS.

AND ON THE ASSEMBLY SIDE, TO SEE CARL HEASTIE REALLY TEARING UP AS HE SPOKE ABOUT CRYSTAL PEOPLE PEOPLES-STOKES.

YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THESE HAVE BEEN TRUSTED RIGHT HANDS FOR LEADERS WHO REALLY HAVE TO MANAGE A VERY COMPLEX BALANCE OF THEIR MEMBERS NEEDS BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND I THINK YOU SAW THAT SORT OF RELIANCE ON THESE STEADY HANDS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE MANAGING THE FLOOR OPERATIONS, THAT VERY COMPLICATED LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT WE ALL WATCH PLAY OUT EVERY DAY.

AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL SIDE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHAT MOVES, WHAT DOESN'T MOVE.

A LOT OF TIMES, SOUNDS LIKE THOSE CAME DOWN TO CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING BETWEEN YOU KNOW, THE SECONDS IN COMMAND AS WELL.

SO I THINK THAT JUST WATCHING THOSE SENDOFFS WAS A REALLY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE AS A REPORTER.

I THOUGHT WOW, THESE ARE-- THEY'RE LEAVING MASSIVE SHOES TO FILL NEXT YEAR.

AND WHO THEY CHOOSE, WHO STEWART-COUSINS AND HEASTIE CHOOSE TO APPOINT TO FILL THOSE ROLES IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG QUESTION.

>> YOU TEXTED ME ABOUT HOW EMOTIONAL THE SPEAKER WAS.

IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN HIS OWN PARTY WHO WERE LEAVING.

ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER WILL BARCLAY WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS POST FOR A LONG TIME STEPPED DOWN AND THE ASCENSION OF LONG ISLAND REPUBLICAN ED RA MUCH THE SPEAKER HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THEIR CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP INVITING REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WERE THEY HAVE EVENTS HERE.

AND HE SAID A LOT OF NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM.

HE SAID DON'T CALL ME SPEAKER ANYMORE.

YOU CAN CALL ME CARL.

>> I THINK THE WORDS I LOVE YOU, BROTHER, WERE USED.

THERE WAS A REAL CHUMMINESS, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS PERHAPS BUT THERE IS A REAL CAMARADERIE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THESE PARTIES.

I MEAN ICE NOT AS PARTISAN... >> JUST IN NEW YORK.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD EXPECT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

MIKE JOHNSON IS NOT SAYING GOODBYE TO WHAT JETSTREAM JEFFERIES OR VICE VERSE A. THIS IS NOT THE SAME SITUATION.

>> BUT I THINK THE PARTISANSHIP IS A FACADE AND MANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER TO GET CERTAIN PIECES OF LEGISLATION ACROSS, WHETHER AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR STATE LEAF.

AT SOME POINT YOU RELY ON FOLKS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> THEY'RE NOT RELYING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HERE IN ALBANY.

THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ALL THEIR OWN VOTES LINED UP AND IF SOME REPUBLICANS WANT TO VOTE FOR IT, THAT'S JUST GRAVE AGREE BUT THE DANCE OF THINGS, RIGHT, REPUBLICANS DO ENGAGE IN DEBATE.

THERE IS A REAL QUESTION OF WHICH BILLS THEY CHOOSE TO DEBATE ON AND WHICH BILLS DO END UP MOVING AT THE END OF SESSION.

THAT DOES SOMETIMES HINGE ON WHAT A REPUBLICAN IS WILLING TO PUT ASIDE OR NOT, YOU KNOW.

AND SO THERE ARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN ACROSS THE AISLE AND I DO THINK THAT DEMONSTRATED BY THE SPEAKER AND THE MINORITY LEADER, THERE IS ALSO SOME AFFECTION THAT GROWS FROM THAT OR AT LEAST A VERY CLOSE COLLEGIAL SORT OF VIBE.

>> DAN, ANYTHING STAND OUT TO YOU ABOUT THESE DEPARTURES OR WHAT THEY SET UP FOR THE FUTURE WHICH INCLUDES A GAME OF MOWS MUSICAL CHAIRS IN BOTH HOUSES.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO GETS CHOSEN AS DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE.

THAT COULD TRIGGER A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT WHO COULD POSSIBLY REPLACE MIKE GIANARIS AS DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> DISPATCHES FROM ALBANY FOR SOME OF THE SPECULATION IN ALL OF OR INSIDER ALBANY NEEDS.

>> IT'S REALLY A GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS, ESPECIALLY IN THE ASSEMBLY, TOO.

WHOEVER BECOMES THE MAJORITY LEADER PRESUMABLY COULD BE CHAIR OF A POWERFUL COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW AND THAT COULD SET OFF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC IN ALBANY NEXT YEAR DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PRIMARY CHALLENGERS AGAINST INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS.

AND THE LARGER OF A FACTION THAT THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS HOLD, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FURTHER YOU SEE MAYBE THE SPEAKER CONSIDER WHO HE PUTS UP AS MAJORITY LEADER.

I DON'T THINK IN THE SENATE THEY HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF PUSH AND PULL.

I THINK ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, THE MAJORITY LEADER, IS VERY WELL RESPECTED, AS IS CARL IN THE ASSEMBLY, BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS MAYBE A SHORTER LIST IN THE SENATE OF WHO ENDS UP TAKING THAT SPOT OF DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER.

LIKE YOU SAID, I THINK IT'S A GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS AND ONCE THEY FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING TO FILL THAT SECOND IN COMMAND SPOT, THEN EVERYTHING STARTS TO MOVE.

>> SO WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT AND I WANT TO HIT ON SOME OF THE ODDS AND ENDS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN TERMS OF WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU GUYS.

FOR ME, I'VE GOT A LIST OF THINGS HERE THAT INCLUDES NO MAJOR NEW CHANGES TO THE STATE'S CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR LIVE EVENT TICKET REGULATIONS.

THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERATION ABOUT CAPPING THE ABILITY TO CHARGE MORE FOR CONCERT TICKETS ON THE SECONDARY MARKETMENT THAT DIDN'T MOVE THROUGH.

WE WENT THIS ENTIRE SESSION RIGHT NOW WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT ELISE STEFANIK AND HER BID FOR GOVERNOR AND NOT BID FOR GOVERNOR, CLEARED THE WAY FOR THE NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO BE THE G.O.P.

NOMINEE.

WE'VE GOT THE APPROVAL, FIRST OF APPROVAL FOR AMENDMENT OF EVEN YEAR ELECTIONS, ILLEGAL SALE OF MARIJUANA IN NEW YORK, WE'VE GOT THE SENATE PICKING UP A LOT OF CONFIRMATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR BUT MAYBE NOT ALL OF THE CONFIRMATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR.

WE'VE GOT AN EXTRA TWO YEARS FOR NEW YORK CITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS SCHOOL CLASS SIZE LEGISLATION.

I MEAN AS DAN POINTED OUT, THEY PASSED MORE THAN 700 BILLS THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS INCLUDING A BAN ON SURVEYANCE PRICING, THE EPSTEIN LOOPHOLE PERPETRATORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO HAVE SINCE DIED AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEIR ESTATES.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE WILL LOOK TO UNPACK IN THE FUTURE BUT FOR YOU TWO, ANYTHING THAT YOU WERE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THAT MAYBE DIDN'T GET AS MUCH LOVE AS ALL THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER BECAUSE THEY DID OR DIDN'T MOVE.

DAN YOU ARE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

>> I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THING.

>> IT MIGHT BE TWO DEPENDING ON HOW WE LAND THIS.

>> THERE WAS A PUSH EARLIER THIS SESSION AND LATE LAST YEAR, THE SENATE DOES NOT PUBLISH ONLINE ITS VOTES FOR CONFIRMATIONS.

WHY?

WHY.

THERE IS NO REASON FOR THEM NOT NO TO.

AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER DOING IT.

I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT THIS YEAR WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF YES AND NO IS ETHICS.

THAT'S ONE OF THEM BUT THEY ALSO PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOBBYISTS TO DISCLOSE THEIR CLIENTS' POSITIONS ON BILLS.

>> THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES.

>> PASSED BOTH HOUSES.

>> INTERESTING.

>> THANK GOODNESS.

>> IT'S A MIXED BAG IN TERMS OF ETHICS, BUT I HONESTLY THINK THE STORY OF THIS SESSION, AS I SAID EARLIER, BUSINESS INTERESTS WIN.

>> AND WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN THIS WAY, I ALSO WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR WHY CAN'T THE ASSEMBLY JUST, AFTER THREE BROADCAST OR TAPE THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHY CAN'T THEY JUST POST THEM ONLINE LIKE THE SENATE HAS DONE FOR 16 YEARS NOW.

>> CAN WE SNAP.

>> A GREAT QUESTION.

>> PLEASE DO THAT.

RAGA ANYTHING STAND OUT TO YOU, ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE GNAWING ON NOW THAT THE SESSION IS BEHIND US?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY GNAWING ON IT NECESSARY NECESSARILY BUT WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS THE INFUSION OF CASH THAT THE CITIES GOT.

I MEAN, OF COURSE NEW YORK CITY GOT BILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

BUT I THINK OTHER UPSTATE CITIES ALSO SAW THE BENEFITS OF THAT.

AND I THINK THERE WAS A REALLY INTERESTING-- I'M NOT ROB GAVIN FROM THE BUFFALO NEWS BUT BUFFALO WAS AN INTERESTING TEST CASE HERE.

MAYOR SEAN RYAN, ALSO A NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AS MAMDANI AND FORMER STATE LAWMAKER, WE SAW HIM THREATENING TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES IF WE WAS NOT ABLE TO BACKFILL A $19 MILLION HOLE IN THE BUDGET AND, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT ULTIMATELY.

I THINK THE TO EXTENT THAT HE NEEDED TO OR SAID THAT HE NEEDED TO.

BECAUSE OF THAT IT WAS $100 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT THE GOVERNOR INCREASED FOR TEMPORARY MUNICIPAL ASSISTANCE.

AND I THINK REALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS JUST THE TAIL LIGHT EFFECT OF WHAT HAPPENED FOR NEW YORK CITY, BUT I THINK UPSTATE MAYORS ARE CELEBRATING IT AND, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN AN UPSTATE CITY THAT GOT A LARGE INFUSION OF CASH LAST YEAR AND WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT THIS YEAR, CITY REALLY FEEL THAT NEED.

AND ANOTHER THING IS PENSION COSTS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE RISE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK LOCAL CITY AUDITORS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO AS WELL AS THEY GAME OUT THEIR BUDGETS THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE GOVERNOR GAVE THEM THAT BOON, IT WASN'T AS PUBLIC OR IT DIDN'T GET AS MUCH MEDIA ATTENTION PERHAPS AS THE CITIES CASH INFUSION BUT BUFFALO I THINK IS PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

SO IS SYRACUSE.

AND CERTAINLY ALBANY AS WELL.

>> AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FOR THESE LOCAL LEADERS IS HOW WILL THEY APPROACH MUNICIPAL AID IN THE FUTURE.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S A QUESTION WE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IN THE NEXT EPISODE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS MONTH'S EPISODE OF "THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM."

MY THANKS TO CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL AUTHOR DAN CLARK AND BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT REPORTER RAGA JUSTIN FOR CHATTING WITH ME AND THANKS TO WHMT FOR SHARING THEIR STUDIO.

CHECK OUT "THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM" WHERE EVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS AND DEEPER DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF NEW YORK POLITICS WITH DAN AND RAGA CHECK OUT OUR INSIDER PODCAST DISPATCHES FROM ALBANY AVAILABLE ON ALL YOUR PODCAST PLATFORMS AND FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE WHERE YOU CAN REVISIT THIS MONTH'S EPISODES OR CATCH UP ON THE PAST EPISODES WHERE WE SHARE SHORT DIGESTIBLE VIDEOS FROM INTERVIEW AT THE CAPITOL.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.