Second to last day of the legislative session is already under way. Much like my update yesterday, things remain functional and less subdued than we have seen in past years.
Has Governor Cuomo lost his “fizz” in year two? Former Assemblyman Michael Benjamin thinks so. I will hold off on my thoughts on year two until the legislature vacates the Capitol at the end of the week.
Natural gas development in New York continues to make news. Safe bet that this will be a significant topic of conversation throughout the summer.
Yesterday Governor Cuomo introduced a “wage deduction bill”.
Where was the mandate relief in 2012? The fact that, absent pension reform, there was no action on significant immediate relief on unnecessary and costly state unfunded mandates has been very disappointing.
Finally, as session winds down, Speaker Silver has not given up hope that lawmakers will increase the minimum wage at some point in the very near future.
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About Mike Durant
Mike Durant was named New York State Director of NFIB in May 2011.
Prior to joining NFIB as the Assistant State Director in May 2010, Durant began his career in the New York Senate working in the Office of Member Services. From there, he served in a number of positions during former New York Governor George E. Pataki’s administration. As a Research Specialist in the New York State Office of Demographic Policy, Mike was responsible for drafting a redistricting proposal for Governor Pataki. In addition, Mike served as a Research Specialist for the Empire State Development Corporation, as well as the Associate Commissioner of Human Resource Management with the New York Department of Labor. Durant also spent four years working at the Questar III BOCES as a specialist focusing on the complex formulas that drive aid to school districts across the state while also taking a lead role in the state legislative/budget process as it related to education policy. These past positions have given Mike a deep understanding of the complex political economics of the State of New York.
Active in the community, Durant has served on a number of boards in both the village of Ballston Spa and Town of Milton.
Durant received his bachelor’s degree from Siena College in Loudonville, New York and resides in Ballston Spa with his wife and two children.
