Yesterday I issued comments on the rumor that Governor Cuomo was “punting” on the difficult conversation on the Triborough Amendment.  While the truth of his comments have yet to flushed out, I find it very disappointing on many levels.  First, the Governor has enormous popularity in this state.  With an approval rating of around 70%, Governor Cuomo clearly has the bully pulpit at his disposal.  Second, the financial cliff that is approaching our schools, municipalities is growing closer.  The topic of mandate relief has been discussed at length for a considerable amount of time.  The Cuomo administration itself held public hearings on mandate relief last winter for the very purpose of examining the very factors that are contributing to this crisis.

So the question needs to be asked…what’s the point?

If the Cuomo administration is not going to talk about Triborough where does that leave other significant issues like Wicks and Scaffold Law?  Does the administration not view the fiscal crisis in our communities seriously?  Is the call for mandate relief just a buzzword in our political rhetoric?

Also troubling by the rumor is that the Governor presumably states that because labor won’t discuss this issue that the legislature won’t look at it.  Why is the Governor, with enormous public appeal, punting on a difficult – but necessary – conversation and casting blame on the legislature?

Many questions…too few answers..

Now to some other news of the day..

The notorious MTA Payroll Tax, a perfect example of everything that is wrong with New York’s business climate, was ruled unconstitutional by a State Supreme Court Judge.  Many Small businesses had previously been exempted from the tax last December, but it still was impacting others.  The State is predictably appealing to the State Court of Appeals (New York’s highest court).

New York was awarded yet another grant from the federal government for the development of a health insurance exchange.