PolitickerNY

Governor Andrew Cuomo and the legislature both gave things up in the new State budget deal.

The budget deal doesn’t include a health insurance exchange, which is part of President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan that’s currently being debated in the Supreme Court, but Governor Cuomo vowed to create an exchange in the Empire State by executive order.

New York City was a “big winner” in the budget deal with increased aid for city schools, a fully-funded MTA capital plan and a Bloomberg-backed plan to have non-violent youthful offenders serve their time closer to home rather than upstate.

There is $1.2 billion for infrastructure construction projects in the budget. Governor Cuomo said: “It’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs — it’s all about economic development.”

If you haven’t had enough budget news this morning, check out this footage of Governor Cuomo and his staff discussing the deal. Read More

The Republican-controlled State Senate will include Governor Cuomo’s Tier VI pension reform plan in its budget proposal, but the Democrats in the Assembly won’t. Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO launched a $1 million ad blitz attacking Tier VI.

Yorkshire Terriers, flamboyant suits, questionable military ribbons and strip club stings: Inside the world of embattled Congressman Michael “Mikey Suits” Grimm.

There are pros and cons to the latest jobs numbers in New York City leaving room for both Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his critics to spin the data.

White House security brass conducted a simulated cyberattack on New York City’s power grid to shore up Senate support for a new cybersecurity bill.

The Dominican American National Roundtable, which is angling for a predominantly Latino district that would include Upper Manhattan, the Bronx and parts of Queens, filed a legal challenge to the redistricting plan proposed by the special master. Read More