Opinion

OPINION: Why You Should Want Your Representative to Learn Things

In the pantheon of political attacks on sitting legislators, probably none is more damaging than the charge that they’ve lost touch with the people back home. Read More

OPINION: New York’s Medicaid Shuffle Will Devastate Localities

As the New York State executive budget proposal inches closer to a final product, its insufficiencies and impacts become clearer. Read More

OPINION: In the U.S., We Have Chosen Representative Democracy

We Americans live in a represenTative democracy. That’s a fundamental feature of public life in the United States, a part of who we are as a people. We elect leaders to make decisions on our behalf. Read More

OPINION: Small Firms Get the Short End of the Stick Again in New York

The New York State budget process is a complex undertaking with an enormous impact on New York’s residents and businesses. Read More

OPINION: Biden lied about debt ceiling, Social Security in SOTU address

On Feb. 7, President Joe Biden engaged in a baseless fear-mongering campaign, accusing U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and the new House Republican majority of attempting to withhold approval of increasing the $31.4 trillion national debt ceiling unless steep cuts are made to Social Security and Medicare. Read More

OPINION: Plenty of Work Ahead as State-Budget Process Begins

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal, delivered recently, sets another record high for state spending. Read More

OPINION: It’s time to do away with the debt ceiling

Here we go again. The United States crashed through the nation’s debt ceiling on Jan. 19, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. For now, the government is relying on accounting tweaks and shifting money from one pot to another to pay the bills. But that only works for so long. Read More

OPINION: A Lawmaker’s Impossible Task

I don’t remember when it first occurred to me after arriving in Washington, D.C. many years ago that at its heart, being a member of Congress meant never being entirely satisfied. Read More