Category Archives: Articles

13 Feb

From Nystateofpolitics.com: Bill Samuels Backs A Full-Time (And Better Paid) Legislature

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by Nick Reisman on nystateofpolitics.com Count Bill Samuels among those supporting a full-time Legislature. Samuels, a businessman, good-government activist and Democratic Party donor, on Friday released a report calling for state lawmakers to receive a pay increase from their current base salary of $79,500, but with the stipulation they be barred from earning outside income. “The

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13 Feb

From Syracuse.com: Gov. Cuomo should apologize to Syracuse for ‘cold-hearted’ remark — and mandates (Commentary)

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By Special to syracuse.com Bill Samuels is the founder of EffectiveNY, a statewide nonprofit good government group. Morgan Pehme is EffectiveNY’s executive director. By Bill Samuels and Morgan Pehme How many years does Andrew Cuomo have to be governor before he starts taking responsibility for the economic woes he is imposing upon the cities and counties

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24 Aug

From the “Times Union”: A Sham Of An Amendment

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By TU Editorial Board for Times Union Our opinion: The not-so-fine print reveals a constitutional amendment on this year’s ballot as a sham. The battle lines are already being drawn for a referendum this November to change New York’s constitution to create what supporters are touting as an independent redistricting commission. Adding to the confusion,

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08 Aug

From “Lohud”: Samuels: Redistricting Reform “Republican” Driven

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by Joseph Spector, Westchester for lohud Democratic activist Bill Samuels urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to withdraw his support for a redistricting amendment on the November ballot, saying it wouldn’t create the independence needed in the state to draw district lines for legislative and congressional seats every 10 years. Samuels is the latest critic of the

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01 May

From The “Times Union”: Groups Slam Proposal For Redistricting Reform

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By Rick Karlin for The Times Union A trio of good-government groups is urging voters to vote against a constitutional amendment that would create what the advocates see as a self-serving sham reform of the legislative redistricting process. “We’re calling for voters to reject the proposed amendment in November,” said Blair Horner of the New

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26 Apr

“Times Union” Editorial: The Medicaid Solution

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Editorial for Times Union Gov. Andrew Cuomo says property taxes are too high. State lawmakers, particularly Republicans, say the state’s mandates on local governments are too onerous. Well, here’s something they can all do: Take over Medicaid. Property taxpayers in New York pay for about 15 percent of the state’s Medicaid costs, for no reason, really, than the

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26 Apr

Solving The Fiscal Crisis of New York’s Counties

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by Bill Samuels for City & State New York is the only state in the country that still forces counties to pay a huge portion of Medicaid costs by raising property taxes every year. It’s time to lift the county property tax burden once and for all, and that can only be done through a

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