Opinion

If you feel like Congress has become less productive, less functional, and more partisan — you’re right. I have been thinking a lot lately about how it’s changed over the years since I served there in the 1960s to the 1990s, and several issues help explain why it often struggles to get things done.  Heightened partisanship may […]

Though the COVID-19 virus has taken a horrific toll on our state, our disciplined adoption of social-distancing practices has prevented even worse outcomes. Public-health experts were hopeful that a rigorous commitment to social distancing could prevent an onslaught of cases from completely overwhelming the emergency capacity of our health system. They were right. While we

The toughest issue in foreign policy is when, where and how to intervene in the affairs of other countries — and when to walk away. Given America’s role as a global leader, the question arises for U.S. leaders again and again.  We tend to think first of military intervention, but there are multiple ways to

This year’s budget process was one unlike any of us have ever seen, with face-to-face interaction nearly impossible, late-night debates taking place in an empty chamber, and negotiations being shaped by an overwhelming public-health crisis. During these unprecedented and unpredictable times, everyone in government has done their best to adjust to significant challenges and provide

One of the intriguing features of the coronavirus pandemic is how sharply it has illuminated the importance of effective political leadership. Wherever we stand on the political spectrum, we’re looking to elected officials to help steer us through this crisis.  While I don’t want to talk about specific politicians, a lifetime in politics has given

“We have the power, but do they have the will? It’s time for the legislature to regain its mojo.” I said those words about three years ago. I was trying to inspire some urgency in my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what our constituents elected us to do — promote reform

The U.S. has been the world’s leader for decades in promoting democracy, political liberalization, free trade, and collective security. For the most part, Americans support that role, but many are wondering about its costs, and are growing ambivalent about our global engagement. We have sometimes acted unilaterally, but by and large over the decades, we

The coronavirus isn’t just an unprecedented public-health emergency. It has turned life as we know it upside down. Tens of thousands of afflicted New Yorkers are fighting the virus, and selfless health-care professionals are working around the clock to help them win. They’re in our thoughts and prayers every day.  Our efforts to contain the spread

Our society is aging at a rapid pace. Soon, a sizable population will need some form of long-term care. But who will care for them?  The number of Americans over the age of 65 will nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060, and will occupy a higher percentage of the

The coronavirus is an unprecedented threat to our public health system. We’re taking such aggressive measures to combat the spread of the virus because we know how important it is to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers, particularly our most vulnerable populations.  It’s also important to recognize that the very actions we’re taking