NCPR News Staff: Karen DeWitt
Capitol Correspondent

When the state wrestles with tight budgets, it’s common for well-funded education and health care groups to run ads, and bring busloads of protesters to Albany to rally against proposed cuts. This year, an authentic grassroots movement has begun in response to Governor Paterson’s plan to close a number of state parks and historic sites. This movement involves little money and, in keeping with modern tactics, has been conducted primarily on the Internet. Karen DeWitt reports.

The New York State Senate welcomed its newest member yesterday—Senator Jose Peralta. He replaces Hiram Monserrate, who was expelled in February. Democrats now have the 32 votes they need to pass legislation, and Senator Peralta’s vote will likely be needed to approve the state budget, due at the end of the month. Karen DeWitt reports.

It was 17 years in the making, but Governor David Paterson signed into law health care reforms enabling family members to make end-of-life decisions for loved ones. Karen DeWitt reports. More...

State lawmakers have just ten days, according to their own time line, to agree on a state budget closing a more than $9 billion gap. Karen DeWitt reports.

New York State's Lieutenant Governor, Richard Ravitch is now the driving force behind a plan to rescue New York from its chronic budget deficits. But outside the inner circles of government, most New Yorkers don’t know much about the state’s first appointed lieutenant governor. Karen DeWitt fills us in.

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has handed over two probes of the Paterson Administration to an independent counsel, former New York Chief Judge Judith Kaye. Karen DeWitt reports. More...

Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch has proposed a five-year plan for getting New York State's notorious overspending under control.

First — it calls for borrowing. But Ravitch says his plan would do much more than authorize more state borrowing. It’ll require balancing budgets through the fiscal year. And it includes an independent financial review board, and a law that would give a governor power to make cuts to balance budgets — without the legislature's approval.

Karen DeWitt has more of the details, and reaction. More...

Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch has been quietly presenting a plan to state lawmakers to have New York borrow it’s way out of severe multi-billion dollar budget shortfalls predicted for the next several years. Karen DeWitt reports. More...

Governor David Paterson was back at state business on Monday as he tried to ignore two scandals and calls for his resignation. The governor held a number of official events, including a town hall meeting and a forum promoting the soda tax, but the controversies continued to overshadow other topics. Karen DeWitt reports. More...

The state legislature has not yet gone public with any ideas about how to respond to Governor Paterson’s austere state budget proposal. New York faces with a multi-billion dollar deficit, and the budget is due in three weeks. With back to back scandals threatening the governor’s role in the talks last week, a coalition of interest groups made its own suggestions, including new revenue from some targeted new taxes, and more federal stimulus money. Karen DeWitt has more.