February 14, 2025 • 26 mins
Democratic leaders were expected to move forward with a bill meant to extend state election law to provide more time for the guv to call a special election this week, but the measure was abruptly abandoned the measure before it could come to the debate floor. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins joins us to discuss election law, budget priorities and affordability in New York State. There's renewed energy around the New York Heat Act as the bill gets a new sponsor in the lower chamber: Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon as leaders turned their focus to affordability this year.
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
AT THE TOP OF THE WEEK,
DEMOCRATS AND THE LEGISLATURE
WERE EXPECTED TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH A CHANGE TO STATE ELECTION
LAW THAT WOULD EXTEND THE TIME
GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR TO SET A
SPECIAL ELECTION DATE FOR VACANT
CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.
IF ENACTED, THE LAW WOULD
(00:39):
DIRECTLY IMPACT THE ANTICIPATED
SPECIAL ELECTION RACE FOR NY21.
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
BLASTED DEMOCRATS FOR WHAT THEY
ARGUED WAS THE CONFERENCE TRYING
TO CIRCUMVENT ELECTION LAW FOR
THEIR OWN BENEFIT TO KEEP THE
VACANCY OF THAT SEAT OPEN FOR
LONGER.
(01:00):
THEN NOT TOO LONG AFTER, THE
BILL WAS ABANDONED BEFORE IT
COULD MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR OF
BOTH CHAMBERS FOR DEBATE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE UPDATES
ON THE BILL SHOULD IT MAKE A
RETURN THIS YEAR.
AND PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENTS OF
THIS WEEK, WE SAT DOWN WITH
STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS FOR A
(01:21):
BROAD-RANGING INTERVIEW.
WE ASKED THE LEADER ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF A CHANGE IN THE LAW
AT THE TIME, BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
AHEAD, AND PRIORITIES FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, LEADER.
>> IT IS REALLY GOOD TO BE WITH
YOU.
THANK YOU.
(01:41):
>> I'M SO EXCITED FOR OUR
CONVERSATION AND NATURALLY, YOU
WANTED TO START WITH
AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE.
OF COURSE, IT'S NO SECRET THAT
IS THE FOCUS THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION AND THAT HAS BEEN THE
FOCUS FOR YOUR CONFERENCE FOR
SOME TIME.
THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
PROPOSED IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET
ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY BY WAY
OF INFLATION REFUND CHECKS,
(02:03):
EXPANDING THE CHILD CARE TAX
CREDIT, MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AS
WELL AS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.
SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON
WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING.
ARE YOU FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S VISION, OR ARE YOU
HOPING TO POTENTIALLY DEVIATE
FROM THOSE PLANS IN THE
ONE-HOUSE BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, LET ME SAY THAT I AM
(02:25):
CERTAINLY ALIGNED WITH HER
VISION OF AFFORDABILITY AND THE
THING THAT I ALWAYS SAY IS IT'S
GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTNER IN
GOVERNMENT WHO IS ROWING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION.
WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THE
FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE
IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THE
FACT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE
MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
(02:46):
WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN
CHAMPIONING THINGS LIKE FREE
SCHOOL MEALS FOR YEARS.
SO AND ALSO THE EMPIRE STATE
CHILD TAX CREDIT, WE EXPANDED IT
BEFORE AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE TO
WORKING FAMILIES, SO WE ARE
DEFINITELY ON THE SAME PAGE.
OBVIOUSLY IN OUR ONE-HOUSE
(03:07):
BUDGET, WE WILL EXPLORE, YOU
KNOW, AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LIFE MORE
AFFORDABLE AND IN THE
INTERVENING WEEKS, I THINK YOU
MIGHT HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT
WE'VE DONE SEVERAL PACKAGES.
WE DID A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
PACKAGE JUST YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE-- RATHER WE DID A PRESS
CONFERENCE ON IT YESTERDAY.
(03:27):
LAST WEEK, IT WAS UTILITY BILLS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY ASPECT
OF OUR LIVES TO SEE IF WE CAN
CREATE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT THEY
HAVE A SHOT, THAT NEW YORK IS
AFFORDABLE AND THAT PEOPLE IN
THESE SEATS ARE WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE.
(03:48):
>> AND SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN PRETTY
CRITICAL OF WHAT THEY CALL
ONE-PARTY RULE HERE IN ALBANY
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE WHEN YOU
ALL HAD THE MINORITY AND NOW
YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE, IN THE
MAJORITY, DO YOU EMPATHIZE WITH
THAT AT ALL, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY
PLANS TO POTENTIALLY WORK WITH
REPUBLICANS TO ALLOW THEM TO
(04:09):
HAVE A SEAT AT TABLE, OR YOU
KNOW, COMPROMISE ON CERTAIN
POLICY ISSUES?
>> WELL, AGAIN, IN OUR CHAMBER
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT
REALIZE THIS, BUT IN OUR
CHAMBER, THE REPUBLICANS HAD THE
MAJORITY FOR THE BETTER PART OF
A HUNDRED YEARS.
I'M THE LONGEST-SERVING DEMOCRAT
MAKE JOTTER LEADER IN THE
HISTORY OF THE SENATE, AND I
(04:31):
HAVE BEEN MAJORITY LEADER FOR
SIX YEARS.
SO THIS WILL GIVE YOU--
(CHUCKLES) AN UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND I
ALWAYS SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, I JUST
WANT PARITY.
A HUNDRED YEARS, YOU KNOW, LIKE
YOU HAD IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID,
YEAH.
I THINK WHENEVER YOU'RE HAVING--
(04:54):
WHENEVER YOU'VE EXPERIENCED
BEING THE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE,
THE UNDERSERVED OR THE
DISREGARDED OR, YOU KNOW,
WHENEVER YOU'RE TREATED IN THAT
WAY, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO
REMEMBER HOW THAT FELT, YOU
KNOW, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
(05:14):
CHANGE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I'VE DONE AS MAJORITY
LEADER IS ALWAYS TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT.
I, YOU KNOW, HAVE A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MINORITY
LEADER.
UNLIKE WHEN WE WERE IN THE
MAJORITY, I HAVE SHARED
RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S CAPITAL
(05:34):
OR OTHER THINGS, AND FRANKLY,
NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND I WILL
ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE
MOTIVATORS WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR
WAS THE FACT THAT THE BRAND
CENTER BACK IN 2004 HAD NAMED
THE LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK STATE
LEGISLATURE, THE MOST
DYSFUNCTIONAL IN THE COUNTRY,
(05:58):
AND ONE OF THE MOTIVATORS WAS
THAT I WOULD NOT BE PART OF THAT
AND PART OF THAT BEING CALL
DYSFUNCTIONAL WAS THE INABILITY
FOR ANYONE IN THE MINORITY PARTY
IN THE SENATE, IN PARTICULAR, TO
BE ABLE TO PASS A BILL, THAT
THEY AUTHORED.
IF YOU HAD A GOOD IDEA AND YOU
WERE A DEMOCRAT, YOU HAD TO HAVE
A REPUBLICAN SPONSOR IT IN ORDER
(06:20):
FOR IT TO BE PASSED.
THERE WERE SO MANY OBSTACLES TO
ACTUALLY SEEING WHAT WAS GOING
ON IN MEETINGS.
THERE WEREN'T TRANSPARENCY.
NOBODY WAS LIVESTREAMING
ANYTHING.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
CHANGES THAT I'M HAPPY TO HAVE
BEEN, YOU KNOW, PART OF 3
CONTINUE TO BE PART OF IN TERMS
(06:41):
OF BRINGING THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE,
MINORITY TO THE TABLE AND GIVING
THEM RESOURCES AND ALLOWING, YOU
KNOW, BILLS TO PASS WITH THEIR
NAMES ON IT AND GIVING THEM, YOU
KNOW, APPROPRIATE HEARINGS.
SO WE HAVE, I THINK, REFLECTED A
MORE DEMOCRATIC CHAMBER.
>> AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE
BEEN CRITICIZED IN RECENT YEARS
(07:03):
FOR LATE BUDGETS.
SO I WANTED-- I KNOW YOU DON'T
HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT DO YOU
THINK YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO
REACH THAT APRIL 1ST DEADLINE
THIS YEAR?
I KNOW IT'S EARLY, BUT I WANTED
TO GET YOUR TAKE.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
(LAUGHS) WHEN I FIRST RAN, THE
BUDGET HAD BEEN LATE WITH,
(07:26):
AGAIN, REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP 20
YEARS CONSECUTIVELY.
AND WHEN I SAY LATE, I'M NOT
TALKING ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO.
I AM SAYING LATE.
SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO
STRIVE FOR AN ON-TIME BUDGET
(07:46):
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR
REACHING OUR BUDGET DEADLINE
HELPS ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES
THAT ARE DEPENDING ON US TO GET
TO THAT PLACE, DO THEIR WORK, SO
WE REALLY DO STRIVE FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO CRYSTAL
BALL, BUT I DON'T SEE A REASON
WHY THIS WOULD BE LATE AND
(08:07):
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, I
WOULD SAY-- WE'VE BEEN PASSING
BUDGETS PRETTY MUCH ON TIME FOR
THE MOST PART AND YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET TO
THAT DEADLINE.
WE DON'T THINK IT'S A GAME.
>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT
ELECTION LAW.
SO RECENTLY, THE CAPITAL PRESS
ROOM REPORTED THAT DEMOCRATS ARE
(08:30):
CONSIDERING A CHANGE TO THE
STATE ELECTION LAW TO ALLOW THE
GOVERNOR TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE
MORE TIME TO CALL A SPECIAL
ELECTION, AND THIS WILL, OF
COURSE, IMPACT THE NY21
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT WHEN IT
BECOMES VACANT.
YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE
ALREADY SAID THAT SHOULD THAT
MEASURE MOVE FORWARD, THEY WILL
BE CHALLENGING IT AND THEY SEE
(08:51):
IT AS A WAY FOR DEMOCRATS TO TRY
TO CIRCUMVENT ELECTION LAW.
SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT CRITICISM
FROM REPUBLICANS.
>> WELL, I THINK IT GETS BACK TO
THE WHOLE CONVERSATION WHICH
WE'VE HAD BEFORE WHICH IS THE
AFFORDABILITY.
WHEN WE CONSOLIDATE ELECTIONS,
IT SAVES MONEY.
(09:12):
IT SAVE MONEY FOR THE VARIOUS
ELECTION BOARDS AND
MUNICIPALITIES.
IT SAVES MONEY.
SO GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY ALIGN ELECTIONS SAVES
MONEY.
IT ALSO BOOSTS VOTER TURNOUT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY.
YOU'VE GOT THIS ELECTION, THAT
ELECTION, PEOPLE GET CONFUSED.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
(09:33):
VOTING FOR ANYMORE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO VOTE OR HOW.
AGAIN, THAT CONSOLIDATION NOT
ONLY SAVE MONEY BUT IT BOOSTS
VOTER TURNOUT, AND THIRDLY, I
WILL SAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE SUED US FOR EVERY VOTING
CHANGE WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE.
I MEAN, WE DID NOT HAVE EARLY
VOTING.
I MEAN, WHEN I TELL THIS TO
(09:53):
PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT
NEW YORK DID NOT HAVE EARLY
VOTING UNTIL WE TOOK THE
MAJORITY IN 2019, THEY CAN'T
BELIEVE IT.
AND NOW CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE STANDING IN
LINES DURING THIS LATEST
PRESIDENTIAL ONLY ON THAT
TUESDAY?
SO THE REALITY OF WHETHER IT WAS
VOTE BY MAIL OR EARLY VOTING,
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER-- WHATEVER
(10:14):
WE'VE DONE, THEY DIDN'T LIKE
ANYTHING WE'VE DONE.
THEY'VE SUED US FOR EVERYTHING.
THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SUPPORTIVE
AND OH, BY THE WAY, I DON'T
REMEMBER ANYBODY COMPLAINING
WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, SUPREME
COURT SEAT WAS HELD OPEN FOR
OVER A YEAR WHEN MITCH MCCONNELL
(10:35):
DECIDED THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GOING
TO DO.
SO IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE
PROBLEMATIC THEN.
AGAIN, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT
AFFORDABILITY.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT
INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT BECAUSE
WE BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW,
ELECTIONS MATTER, AND I THINK IF
PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT
BEFORE, THEY SHOULD BE BEGINNING
TO BELIEVE IT NOW.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN
(10:56):
THE INTERVIEW, YOU ARE THE
LONGEST-SERVING SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER AND YOU'RE ALSO THE
FIRST.
>> WELL, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
>> YES, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE,
YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN, FIRST
BLACK WOMAN TO HOLD THAT
LEADERSHIP ROLE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW DO THESE
INAUGURAL MILESTONES SORT OF
IMPACT THE WAY THAT YOU APPROACH
LEADERSHIP?
>> BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE ANY OF
(11:17):
IT FOR GRANTED.
AND EVEN TODAY, YES, WE IN THIS
CHAMBER CELEBRATED BLACK
HISTORY, AND I SPOKE AND SO MANY
OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE BECAUSE
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN PEOPLE
TRY AND PRETEND THAT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS ABOUT
MERIT AND NOW PEOPLE TRYING TO
(11:37):
JUMP AHEAD OR TO MAKE THEMSELVES
MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERYONE
ELSE, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT
WE REMEMBER THE HISTORY AND WE
REMEMBER AS WE SPOKE EARLIER,
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE NOT TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO THE GETTING RID OF ALL
CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS AS I'M
(11:58):
TOLD WILL HAPPEN ON A FEDERAL
LEVEL.
IT HAS BEGUN TO HAPPEN, IT'S
VERY SAD.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
WHERE WE CAME FROM, THEN IT
GIVES PEOPLE, AGAIN, A
PERSPECTIVE OF NOT ONLY THE
JOURNEY THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE IN
ORDER TO GET TO THIS PLACE, BUT
THE FACT, AGAIN, THAT NOTHING IS
TAKEN FOR GRANTED, AND SO THAT
(12:22):
INFORMS ME EVERY DAY.
I KNOW THAT, AS I SAID, I WAS
ALIVE FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
I WAS ALIVE WHEN BROWN V. BOARD
OF EDUCATION WAS SETTLED, WHEN
THEY WERE SAYING, YES, BLACK
CHILDREN CAN SIT IN A CLASSROOM
WITH WHITE CHILDREN.
IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO.
MY PARENTS WOULD NEVER HAVE
(12:42):
DREAMT THAT I WOULD BE THE
LEADER OF THE SENATE AND I DON'T
TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, AND I
KNOW THAT PEOPLE SITTING IN
SEATS LIKE WHERE I AM WILL CHART
THE COURSE FOR THE FUTURE AND I
WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
WE CAME FROM AND I DON'T MIND
TELLING THEM AND I'M HOPING THAT
IT WILL INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO
(13:04):
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN A
DEMOCRACY, IN AN AMERICAN DREAM
THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE LIKE ME AND
YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THAT
CHAMBER TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT
THEY THINK IS BEST.
NOT ONLY FOR THEM BUT FOR THE
COUNTRY.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US
TODAY, LEADER.
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS
CONVERSATION.
(13:25):
>> I DID, TOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
AND FOR AN EXTENDED CUT OF THAT
INTERVIEW WITH THE MAJORITY
LEADER, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER TOPIC.
THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
(13:46):
SENT A LETTER TO CON EDISON
CALLING ON THE UTILITY COMPANY
TO STOP THEIR PROPOSED RATE
HIKE.
THE MOVE COMES AT A TIME WHEN
THERE IS ALSO A RENEWED PUSH FOR
THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT AT THE
CAPITOL.
THE HEAT ACT WOULD PLACE A CAP
ON ENERGY BILLS FOR LOW INCOME
NEW YORKERS.
THIS YEAR, THE BILL HAS BEEN
(14:08):
REINTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE
WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY SPONSOR,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOE M SIMONS.
HERE'S OUR ELISE KLINE WITH THE
HEAT ACT.
>> THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT, THE
NEW YORK HOME ENERGY AFFORDABLE
TRANSACTION ACT, FOR MANY
ADVOCATES IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
ENVIRONMENTALISTS TRAVELED TO
THE CAPITOL TO LOBBY FOR
(14:29):
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY END RATEPAYERS
SUBSIDIES TO BUILD OUT MORE GAS
LINES AND CURB UTILITY COSTS.
FOR SOME ADVOCATES, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD MEAN A LESS
FINANCIAL STRESS.
DAVID ALEXIS LIVES IN BROOKLYN
WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS
WHERE HE SAYS HE OFTEN HAS TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING ENERGY
BILLS AND PAYING RENT OR HEALTH
INSURANCE BILLS.
>> IT JUST GETS TO BE TOO MUCH,
(14:50):
AND IF WORSE-- IT JUST PUTS
ANOTHER LEVEL OF BURDEN ON OUR
FAMILY.
>> ALEXIS SAYS THEY ARE SEVERAL
MONTHS BEHIND ON THEIR ENERGY
BILLS.
HE DOESN'T JUST WORRY ABOUT
THEIR FINANCIAL WELLBEING, BUT
THEIR PHYSICAL WELLBEING AS
WELL.
HE SAYS BOTH OF HIS DAUGHTERS
HAVE ASTHMA AND HIS WIFE HAS
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.
>> MAKING SURE THAT THE HEAT IS
ON ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER IS
(15:11):
CRUCIAL BECAUSE NOT HAVING THAT
EXTRA HEAT CAN CAUSE ANYONE TO
GO INTO THE HOSPITAL WHETHER
THROUGH AN ASTHMA ATTACK OR A
SICKLE CELL CRISIS.
>> ALEXIS SAYS HOSPITAL VISITS
THEN ADD TO THEIR DEBT STRESS
AND EMPHASIZES THIS STRESS IS
SOMETHING MANY NEW YORK FAMILIES
FEEL.
>> UTILITY BILLS ARE TOO DAMN
HIGH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO GET
(15:33):
HIGHER EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
LIKE, WE'RE SEEING THE PRICES
CONTINUE TO GO UP AND IT'S
UNBEARABLE, AND UNLESS WE DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THIS IS
GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
>> LIZ MORAN, AN ADVOCATE WITH
EARTH JUSTICE, SAYS THAT THE NEW
YORK HEAT ACT HAS A STRONG WELL
OF SUPPORT.
>> IT MAKES SENSE.
UTILITY BILLS YEAR AFTER YEAR
(15:53):
KEEP RISING FOR NEW YORKERS, AND
IT'S NOT LIKE SERVICE HAS
CHANGED.
THEY'RE RELYING ON THE SAME GAS
SYSTEM.
>> THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT WOULD
HELP ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY BY
CAPPING UTILITY COSTS FOR LOW TO
MODERATE INCOME CUSTOMERS AT NO
MORE THAN 6% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD
INCOMES.
IT WOULD ALSO END WHAT IS KNOWN
AS THE 100-FOOT RULE, A CROSS
SUBSIDY THAT ALLOWS NEW
(16:14):
RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS TO AVOID
PAYING FOR THE COST OF A NEW GAS
LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100
FEET OF AN EXISTING ONE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOR ALL THE
OTHER RATEPAYERS, PRICES ARE
HIGHER.
MORAN ESTIMATES THIS RULE COSTS
RATEPAYERS ALTOGETHER MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
>> BY ELIMINATING THAT SUBSIDY,
THAT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY BACK
IN PEOPLE'S WALLETS.
>>THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO
(16:34):
HELP THE STATE TRANSITION AWAY
FROM GAS SYSTEMS BY REQUIRING
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TO DO SO.
MORAN SAYS THIS TRANSITION, IN
ADDITION TO THE AFFORDABILITY
ASPECTS OF THE BILL, WILL SAVE
NEW YORKERS OVER $100 PER MONTH
ON AVERAGE.
>> GAS IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED
WITH GAS, PIPE LINES, VERY
(16:54):
EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY
THOSE COSTS THAT ARE MAKING
PEOPLE'S BILLS GO UP.
>> MORAN ADDS THE NEW YORK HEAT
ACT WILL ALLOW THE STATE TO PLAN
BETTER GIVE PEOPLE OPTIONS THAT
MAY BE CHEAPER FOR THEM WHEN
THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS SAY
IT'S ALSO CRUCIAL FOR THE STATE
TO MOVE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING
BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
ROBERT HOWARTH, A PROFESSOR OF
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOLOGY AT CORNELL SAYS IT'S
(17:16):
IMPERATIVE TO TRANSITION FROM
FOSSIL FUEL HEATING TO
SUSTAINABLE FORMS OF ENERGY NOT
JUST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BUT
ALSO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY OF
THE WORLD IS NEAR UNANIMOUS IN
SAYING WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM
FOSSIL FUELS TO A DECARBONIZED
ENERGY FEATURE, AND WE NEED TO
DO SO QUITE QUICKLY.
>> HOWARTH SAYS NEW YORK HAS ONE
(17:37):
OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIES IN THE
WORLD AND BEING ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY HERE COULD
INSPIRE OTHER STATES TO DO SO AS
WELL.
>> NEW YORK CAN SET AN EXAMPLE,
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAN BE DONE,
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAN BE DONE
IN A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY THAT IS
GOOD FOR CONSUMERS, GOOD FOR OUR
CITIZENS AND IN SO DOING LEAD
(17:57):
THE WAY FOR THE REST OF THE
WORLD.
>> THE LEGISLATION HAS STRONG
SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS, MANY OF
WHOM ARE EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT.
STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE CAPITOL REGION, SAYS AT A
TIME WITH ANOTHER TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IN CHARGE, THE
STATE NEEDS TO BE A LEADER.
>> WE HAVE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP IN
NEW YORK DESPITE THE
(18:18):
BACKWARD-LOOKING APPROACH THAT
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
TAKING NOW.
SO I'M HOPING THAT EVEN IF WE
START ON PIECES OF THIS, WE CAN
BREAK THIS DOWN TO REALLY MAKE
SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF
THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS BECAUSE
THE COST OF DOING NOTHING IS IN
THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF EVERY
YEAR WITH THESE WEATHER-RELATED
(18:39):
DISASTERS.
>> FAHY SAYS PART OF THE BILL,
AN IMPORTANT PART, IS THE
100-FOOT RULE, WHICH WOULD STOP
BUILDING OUT MORE GAS
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> LET'S STOP PERPETUATING THE
PROBLEM.
LET'S ADDRESS THIS 100-FOOT RULE
SO THAT WE'RE NOT AUTOMATICALLY
DOING GAS HOOKUPS, AND LET'S
INVEST IN THE FUTURE MEANING
(19:01):
SOLAR, WIND, AND OTHER RELATED
ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
>> OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE THE
100-FOOT RULE, WHICH IS PART OF
THE STATE'S OBLIGATION TO SERVE
LAW REQUIRING UTILITIES BE
PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS LIVING
WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING
LINE IS A CRUCIAL PART OF BILL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANNA KELLES, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
TOMPKINS AND CORTLAND COUNTIES,
SAYS AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER THIS
(19:22):
BILL AGAIN THIS SESSION, THEY
WILL HAVE TO PROTECT THIS PIECE
OF IT.
>> THIS IS SAYING, WE HAVE TO
EXPAND WHAT TYPE OF POWER IS
DELIVERED.
SO INSTEAD, THIS SAYS YOU HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE POWER.
IT JUST DOESN'T NEED TO BE GAS.
THAT NEEDS TO STAY AND I THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE SITUATIONS
WHERE IT MIGHT BE THAT ALL
(19:42):
ELECTRIC IS WHAT IS COST
EFFECTIVE FOR THAT HOUSE.
>> WHILE LEGISLATION HAS
SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, IT ALSO HAS
QUITE A BIT OF PUSHBACK.
REPUBLICANS EXPRESS CONCERNS
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND THE
STATE'S ABILITY TO HANDLE A
TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE HEAT
SYSTEMS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ED RA, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING NASSAU
COUNTY AND A RANKING MEMBER OF
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE,
SAYS THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE
HAS TREMENDOUS CONCERNS.
(20:04):
>> WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO
AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY
WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE
ENERGY GOALS.
WE WANT TO GET GREENER, BUT WE
CAN'T HAVE BLINDERS ON ABOUT IT.
SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE NOT
READY FOR SO MANY OF THESE
THINGS, AND THAT IT'S GOING TO
INCREASE COSTS ON OUR CONSUMERS.
>> RA SAYS HE IS CONCERN CAPPING
COSTS FOR SOME CUSTOMERS, LOW TO
(20:25):
MIDDLE INCOME, MEANS COSTS COULD
GO UP FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS.
OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LIKE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARY-BETH WALSH
WHO REPRESENTS SARATOGA,
SCHENECTADY AND FULTON COUNTIES,
AGREES SAYING THIS BILL WOULD
LIMIT CONSUMERS AND ULTIMATELY
DRIVE UP COSTS FOR AT LEAST SOME
CONSUMERS.
>> PART OF WHAT GETS ME IS THAT
THE HEAT ACT A, AND A STANDS FOR
(20:46):
AFFORDABILITY AND I JUST THINK
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE THE EXACT
OPPOSITE RESULT BECAUSE IT'S
GOING TO TAKE AWAY SOME CONSUMER
CHOICE.
I THINK IT'S A GAS BAN JUST
UNDER A DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING
TO IT.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS SAY
REPUBLICANS' OPPOSITION IS
POLITICALLY DRIVEN.
>> I HOPE THAT WE'VE COME TO A
PLACE WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE
(21:06):
HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS-- WHAT
IS GOOD FOR ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT IS
AFFORDABLE, AND A LOT OF THAT
HAS BEEN WORKED OUT THROUGH THE
NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED,
INCLUDING SOME OF THE UTILITIES
THAT NOW SUPPORT THE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S A HUGE WIN, SO HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN GET ON THE SAME PAGE THIS
YEAR.
>> OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE.
(21:26):
STATE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE UPPER EAST SIDE IN MANHATTAN
AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF BILL FOR
SEVERAL YEARS NOW IN THE SENATE,
SAYS THE ARGUMENTS FROM
REPUBLICANS ARE TIRED.
THE BILL HAS FAILED TO PASS IN
BOTH HOUSES FOR SEVERAL YEAR.
HOWEVER, LAST YEAR, IT WAS VERY
CLOSE.
IT PASSED THE SENATE FOR THE
SECOND TIME AND WAS CLOSE TO
GETTING TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
(21:46):
LAWMAKERS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
SAY THEY SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
KELLES SAYS THIS YEAR, HOWEVER,
THE BILL HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF
MOVING GIVEN THAT MUCH OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THE BILL
LANGUAGE WITH STAKEHOLDER LIKE
GAS COMPANIES, HAS ALREADY BEEN
SORTED OUT.
>> THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE NOW
BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT
COORDINATION HAS HAPPENED AND
THE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN AMENDED
TO, YOU KNOW, TO REFLECT THOSE
(22:07):
NEGOTIATIONS.
THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO START THERE.
>> LAST YEAR, NEW YORK HEAT ACT
WAS ALSO PART OF BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS.
THERE WAS A GREATER PUSH FOR IT
TO END UP IN THE BUDGET GIVE
THAN THE GOVERNOR INCLUDED SOME
KEY PROVISIONS OF BILL SUCH AS
ELIMINATING THE NEW 100-FOOT
RULE IN HER PROPOSAL.
WHILE MANY LAWMAKERS AND
ADVOCATES WANT THIS LEGISLATION
TO BE A PART OF THE BUDGET
DISCUSSION AGAIN, SOME LAWMAKERS
(22:28):
ARE SKEPTICAL.
>> I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH ELSE
RIGHT NOW, THIS MAY BE-- IT'S
NOT CLEAR IF THIS WILL BE IN THE
BUDGET.
LAST YEAR, IT WAS A BUDGET
CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WAS IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, PART OF
IT, A SMALL PART OF IT WAS.
THIS YEAR, I THINK IT'S GOING TO
HAVE TO BE,-PROBABLY HAVE TO BE
SEPARATE BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE--
THAT'S A DECISION THAT HAS NOT
BEEN MADE.
(22:49):
>> SOME DEMOCRATS AGREE SAYING
THERE IS LIMITED TIME AND
LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO UNDER
ENORMOUS PRESSURE FROM RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIAL CUTS TO
PROGRAMS THE STATE RELIES ON.
HOWEVER, SOME DEMOCRATS SAY IT
COULD END UP IN BUDGET TALKS IF
IT'S IN JUST ONE OF THE CHAMBERS
ONE-HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS.
AND IF IT DOES END UP IN BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS, MANY REPUBLICANS
WON'T BE HAPPY.
(23:09):
STATE SENATOR ANTHONY PALUMBO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
SUFFER FOLK COUNTY, SAYS THIS
LEGISLATION IS TOO COMPLICATED
TO SORT OUT IN THE BUDGET.
>> YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE THIS IS
WAY TOO COMPLEX TO BE IN BUDGET.
I THINK THAT SOME ADVOCATES MAY
WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.
>> OTHER REPUBLICANS AGREE.
STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORE
RHELLOW, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PART OF THE FINGER
LAKES WHO HAS VOTE AGAINST THIS
(23:30):
BILL PREVIOUSLY, SAYS HE IS
AGAINST POLICY IN THE BUDGET.
>> IF YOU NEED PROOF THIS IS A
BAD BILL, THEY'RE TRYING TO
FORCE IT INTO THE BUDGET BILL SO
THEY CAN SUPPRESS DISCUSSION AND
DEBATE.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DO WITH ALL
THE BAD LEGISLATION THAT THEY
PASS THAT THEY KNOW A MAJORITY
OF NEW YORKERS ARE OPPOSED TO.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS DISAGREE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOANN SIMON, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
BROOKLYN AND THE NEW ASSEMBLY
(23:51):
BILL SPONSOR, ARGUES THE BUDGET,
ITSELF, IS COMPLEX.
>> NUMBER ONE, THE BUDGET HAS
NEVER BEEN KNOWN AS BEING A
PARAGON FOR CLARITY.
RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS A
COMPLICATED BUDGET LANGUAGE IN
MANY RESPECTS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE
REVISIONS MAKE IT MUCH MORE
CLEAR.
SO WHERE PEOPLE MAY HAVE HAD
(24:12):
QUESTIONS BEFORE, IT'S MUCH
CLEARER IN THE BILL WHAT WOULD
ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
>> SIMON ALSO STRESSES THIS BILL
HAS A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT.
>> IT'S VERY POPULAR.
I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
BILLS THAT HAS-- ENJOYS A GREAT
DEAL OF POPULARITY AROUND THE
STATE.
>> THE BILL HAS BEEN RECENTLY
REINTRODUCED IN THE SENATE AND
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
THE BILL HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY
SINCE LAST YEAR.
(24:32):
SENATOR KRUEGER SAYS THE NEW
BILL VERSION CREATED EXPLICIT
PROTECTION FOR GAS CUSTOMERS AND
TRANSITIONING CUSTOMERS,
ADDRESSING CONCERNS THAT SOME
CUSTOMERS WHO DIDN'T HAVE AN
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTION WOULD
BE LEFT WITHOUT ENERGY.
SIMON SAYS THE BILL HAS MANY
GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.
SHE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THERE WILL
BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
LEGISLATION AS UTILITIES WORK ON
(24:53):
A TRANSITION PLAN.
>> I THINK THAT THE PREVIOUS
COMPLEXITY IS A LITTLE MORE
CLARIFIED NOW.
AND I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS
THINGS PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND, AND
I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR BECAUSE
WE HAD BUILT IN SO MUCH
RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PUBLIC IN
THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH THIS
WOULD GO.
(25:14):
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT, RIGHT.
NOBODY WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT
HEAT.
>> KRUEGER SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT
THE LEGISLATION WILL PASS AGAIN
IN THE SENATE.
MEANWHILE, SIMON SAYS SHE IS
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC GIVEN ALL
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO
THE BILL SO FAR.
>> AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME,
CONFIDENCE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS
(25:34):
COUCHED WITH A LITTLE HEALTHY
SKEPTICISM.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS
THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER.
THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER MAYBE
NOODLING WITH THE BILL IN SOME
RESPECT, BUT I FEEL VERY
POSITIVE ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE THUS FAR WITH THE
BILL THAT ANSWER A LOT OF THOSE
CONCERNS, AND SO I THINK WE'RE
(25:56):
STARTING FROM A BETTER PLACE.
>> BUDGET CONVERSATIONS WILL
CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS AS LAWMAKERS WRAP UP
BUDGET HEARINGS, PROPOSE THEIR
RESOLUTIONS AND NEGOTIATE WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
WHETHER OR NOT THIS BILL WILL BE
A PART OF THAT REMAINS TO BE
SEEN, BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN.
LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES WILL
RALLY FOR THIS LEGISLATION EVEN
IF THEY HAVE TO DO SO AFTER THE
BUDGET IS SIGNED INTO LAW.
(26:18):
ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE ON THE NEW YORK
HEAT ACT, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
AT THE TOP OF THE WEEK,
DEMOCRATS AND THE LEGISLATURE
WERE EXPECTED TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH A CHANGE TO STATE ELECTION
LAW THAT WOULD EXTEND THE TIME
GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR TO SET A
SPECIAL ELECTION DATE FOR VACANT
CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.
IF ENACTED, THE LAW WOULD
(00:39):
DIRECTLY IMPACT THE ANTICIPATED
SPECIAL ELECTION RACE FOR NY21.
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE
BLASTED DEMOCRATS FOR WHAT THEY
ARGUED WAS THE CONFERENCE TRYING
TO CIRCUMVENT ELECTION LAW FOR
THEIR OWN BENEFIT TO KEEP THE
VACANCY OF THAT SEAT OPEN FOR
LONGER.
(01:00):
THEN NOT TOO LONG AFTER, THE
BILL WAS ABANDONED BEFORE IT
COULD MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR OF
BOTH CHAMBERS FOR DEBATE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE UPDATES
ON THE BILL SHOULD IT MAKE A
RETURN THIS YEAR.
AND PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENTS OF
THIS WEEK, WE SAT DOWN WITH
STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS FOR A
(01:21):
BROAD-RANGING INTERVIEW.
WE ASKED THE LEADER ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF A CHANGE IN THE LAW
AT THE TIME, BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
AHEAD, AND PRIORITIES FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY, LEADER.
>> IT IS REALLY GOOD TO BE WITH
YOU.
THANK YOU.
(01:41):
>> I'M SO EXCITED FOR OUR
CONVERSATION AND NATURALLY, YOU
WANTED TO START WITH
AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE.
OF COURSE, IT'S NO SECRET THAT
IS THE FOCUS THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION AND THAT HAS BEEN THE
FOCUS FOR YOUR CONFERENCE FOR
SOME TIME.
THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
PROPOSED IN HER EXECUTIVE BUDGET
ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY BY WAY
OF INFLATION REFUND CHECKS,
(02:03):
EXPANDING THE CHILD CARE TAX
CREDIT, MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AS
WELL AS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.
SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON
WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING.
ARE YOU FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S VISION, OR ARE YOU
HOPING TO POTENTIALLY DEVIATE
FROM THOSE PLANS IN THE
ONE-HOUSE BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, LET ME SAY THAT I AM
(02:25):
CERTAINLY ALIGNED WITH HER
VISION OF AFFORDABILITY AND THE
THING THAT I ALWAYS SAY IS IT'S
GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTNER IN
GOVERNMENT WHO IS ROWING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION.
WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THE
FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE
IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THE
FACT THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE
MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
(02:46):
WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN
CHAMPIONING THINGS LIKE FREE
SCHOOL MEALS FOR YEARS.
SO AND ALSO THE EMPIRE STATE
CHILD TAX CREDIT, WE EXPANDED IT
BEFORE AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE TO
WORKING FAMILIES, SO WE ARE
DEFINITELY ON THE SAME PAGE.
OBVIOUSLY IN OUR ONE-HOUSE
(03:07):
BUDGET, WE WILL EXPLORE, YOU
KNOW, AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LIFE MORE
AFFORDABLE AND IN THE
INTERVENING WEEKS, I THINK YOU
MIGHT HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT
WE'VE DONE SEVERAL PACKAGES.
WE DID A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
PACKAGE JUST YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE-- RATHER WE DID A PRESS
CONFERENCE ON IT YESTERDAY.
(03:27):
LAST WEEK, IT WAS UTILITY BILLS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY ASPECT
OF OUR LIVES TO SEE IF WE CAN
CREATE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT THEY
HAVE A SHOT, THAT NEW YORK IS
AFFORDABLE AND THAT PEOPLE IN
THESE SEATS ARE WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE.
(03:48):
>> AND SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN PRETTY
CRITICAL OF WHAT THEY CALL
ONE-PARTY RULE HERE IN ALBANY
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE WHEN YOU
ALL HAD THE MINORITY AND NOW
YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE, IN THE
MAJORITY, DO YOU EMPATHIZE WITH
THAT AT ALL, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY
PLANS TO POTENTIALLY WORK WITH
REPUBLICANS TO ALLOW THEM TO
(04:09):
HAVE A SEAT AT TABLE, OR YOU
KNOW, COMPROMISE ON CERTAIN
POLICY ISSUES?
>> WELL, AGAIN, IN OUR CHAMBER
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT
REALIZE THIS, BUT IN OUR
CHAMBER, THE REPUBLICANS HAD THE
MAJORITY FOR THE BETTER PART OF
A HUNDRED YEARS.
I'M THE LONGEST-SERVING DEMOCRAT
MAKE JOTTER LEADER IN THE
HISTORY OF THE SENATE, AND I
(04:31):
HAVE BEEN MAJORITY LEADER FOR
SIX YEARS.
SO THIS WILL GIVE YOU--
(CHUCKLES) AN UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND I
ALWAYS SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, I JUST
WANT PARITY.
A HUNDRED YEARS, YOU KNOW, LIKE
YOU HAD IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID,
YEAH.
I THINK WHENEVER YOU'RE HAVING--
(04:54):
WHENEVER YOU'VE EXPERIENCED
BEING THE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE,
THE UNDERSERVED OR THE
DISREGARDED OR, YOU KNOW,
WHENEVER YOU'RE TREATED IN THAT
WAY, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO
REMEMBER HOW THAT FELT, YOU
KNOW, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
(05:14):
CHANGE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I'VE DONE AS MAJORITY
LEADER IS ALWAYS TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT.
I, YOU KNOW, HAVE A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MINORITY
LEADER.
UNLIKE WHEN WE WERE IN THE
MAJORITY, I HAVE SHARED
RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S CAPITAL
(05:34):
OR OTHER THINGS, AND FRANKLY,
NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND I WILL
ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE
MOTIVATORS WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR
WAS THE FACT THAT THE BRAND
CENTER BACK IN 2004 HAD NAMED
THE LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK STATE
LEGISLATURE, THE MOST
DYSFUNCTIONAL IN THE COUNTRY,
(05:58):
AND ONE OF THE MOTIVATORS WAS
THAT I WOULD NOT BE PART OF THAT
AND PART OF THAT BEING CALL
DYSFUNCTIONAL WAS THE INABILITY
FOR ANYONE IN THE MINORITY PARTY
IN THE SENATE, IN PARTICULAR, TO
BE ABLE TO PASS A BILL, THAT
THEY AUTHORED.
IF YOU HAD A GOOD IDEA AND YOU
WERE A DEMOCRAT, YOU HAD TO HAVE
A REPUBLICAN SPONSOR IT IN ORDER
(06:20):
FOR IT TO BE PASSED.
THERE WERE SO MANY OBSTACLES TO
ACTUALLY SEEING WHAT WAS GOING
ON IN MEETINGS.
THERE WEREN'T TRANSPARENCY.
NOBODY WAS LIVESTREAMING
ANYTHING.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
CHANGES THAT I'M HAPPY TO HAVE
BEEN, YOU KNOW, PART OF 3
CONTINUE TO BE PART OF IN TERMS
(06:41):
OF BRINGING THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE,
MINORITY TO THE TABLE AND GIVING
THEM RESOURCES AND ALLOWING, YOU
KNOW, BILLS TO PASS WITH THEIR
NAMES ON IT AND GIVING THEM, YOU
KNOW, APPROPRIATE HEARINGS.
SO WE HAVE, I THINK, REFLECTED A
MORE DEMOCRATIC CHAMBER.
>> AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE
BEEN CRITICIZED IN RECENT YEARS
(07:03):
FOR LATE BUDGETS.
SO I WANTED-- I KNOW YOU DON'T
HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT DO YOU
THINK YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO
REACH THAT APRIL 1ST DEADLINE
THIS YEAR?
I KNOW IT'S EARLY, BUT I WANTED
TO GET YOUR TAKE.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
(LAUGHS) WHEN I FIRST RAN, THE
BUDGET HAD BEEN LATE WITH,
(07:26):
AGAIN, REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP 20
YEARS CONSECUTIVELY.
AND WHEN I SAY LATE, I'M NOT
TALKING ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO.
I AM SAYING LATE.
SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO
STRIVE FOR AN ON-TIME BUDGET
(07:46):
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR
REACHING OUR BUDGET DEADLINE
HELPS ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES
THAT ARE DEPENDING ON US TO GET
TO THAT PLACE, DO THEIR WORK, SO
WE REALLY DO STRIVE FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO CRYSTAL
BALL, BUT I DON'T SEE A REASON
WHY THIS WOULD BE LATE AND
(08:07):
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, I
WOULD SAY-- WE'VE BEEN PASSING
BUDGETS PRETTY MUCH ON TIME FOR
THE MOST PART AND YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET TO
THAT DEADLINE.
WE DON'T THINK IT'S A GAME.
>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT
ELECTION LAW.
SO RECENTLY, THE CAPITAL PRESS
ROOM REPORTED THAT DEMOCRATS ARE
(08:30):
CONSIDERING A CHANGE TO THE
STATE ELECTION LAW TO ALLOW THE
GOVERNOR TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE
MORE TIME TO CALL A SPECIAL
ELECTION, AND THIS WILL, OF
COURSE, IMPACT THE NY21
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT WHEN IT
BECOMES VACANT.
YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE
ALREADY SAID THAT SHOULD THAT
MEASURE MOVE FORWARD, THEY WILL
BE CHALLENGING IT AND THEY SEE
(08:51):
IT AS A WAY FOR DEMOCRATS TO TRY
TO CIRCUMVENT ELECTION LAW.
SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT CRITICISM
FROM REPUBLICANS.
>> WELL, I THINK IT GETS BACK TO
THE WHOLE CONVERSATION WHICH
WE'VE HAD BEFORE WHICH IS THE
AFFORDABILITY.
WHEN WE CONSOLIDATE ELECTIONS,
IT SAVES MONEY.
(09:12):
IT SAVE MONEY FOR THE VARIOUS
ELECTION BOARDS AND
MUNICIPALITIES.
IT SAVES MONEY.
SO GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY ALIGN ELECTIONS SAVES
MONEY.
IT ALSO BOOSTS VOTER TURNOUT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY.
YOU'VE GOT THIS ELECTION, THAT
ELECTION, PEOPLE GET CONFUSED.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
(09:33):
VOTING FOR ANYMORE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO VOTE OR HOW.
AGAIN, THAT CONSOLIDATION NOT
ONLY SAVE MONEY BUT IT BOOSTS
VOTER TURNOUT, AND THIRDLY, I
WILL SAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE SUED US FOR EVERY VOTING
CHANGE WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE.
I MEAN, WE DID NOT HAVE EARLY
VOTING.
I MEAN, WHEN I TELL THIS TO
(09:53):
PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT
NEW YORK DID NOT HAVE EARLY
VOTING UNTIL WE TOOK THE
MAJORITY IN 2019, THEY CAN'T
BELIEVE IT.
AND NOW CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE STANDING IN
LINES DURING THIS LATEST
PRESIDENTIAL ONLY ON THAT
TUESDAY?
SO THE REALITY OF WHETHER IT WAS
VOTE BY MAIL OR EARLY VOTING,
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER-- WHATEVER
(10:14):
WE'VE DONE, THEY DIDN'T LIKE
ANYTHING WE'VE DONE.
THEY'VE SUED US FOR EVERYTHING.
THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SUPPORTIVE
AND OH, BY THE WAY, I DON'T
REMEMBER ANYBODY COMPLAINING
WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, SUPREME
COURT SEAT WAS HELD OPEN FOR
OVER A YEAR WHEN MITCH MCCONNELL
(10:35):
DECIDED THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GOING
TO DO.
SO IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE
PROBLEMATIC THEN.
AGAIN, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT
AFFORDABILITY.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT
INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT BECAUSE
WE BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW,
ELECTIONS MATTER, AND I THINK IF
PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT
BEFORE, THEY SHOULD BE BEGINNING
TO BELIEVE IT NOW.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN
(10:56):
THE INTERVIEW, YOU ARE THE
LONGEST-SERVING SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER AND YOU'RE ALSO THE
FIRST.
>> WELL, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
>> YES, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE,
YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN, FIRST
BLACK WOMAN TO HOLD THAT
LEADERSHIP ROLE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW DO THESE
INAUGURAL MILESTONES SORT OF
IMPACT THE WAY THAT YOU APPROACH
LEADERSHIP?
>> BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE ANY OF
(11:17):
IT FOR GRANTED.
AND EVEN TODAY, YES, WE IN THIS
CHAMBER CELEBRATED BLACK
HISTORY, AND I SPOKE AND SO MANY
OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE BECAUSE
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN PEOPLE
TRY AND PRETEND THAT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS ABOUT
MERIT AND NOW PEOPLE TRYING TO
(11:37):
JUMP AHEAD OR TO MAKE THEMSELVES
MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERYONE
ELSE, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT
WE REMEMBER THE HISTORY AND WE
REMEMBER AS WE SPOKE EARLIER,
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE NOT TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO THE GETTING RID OF ALL
CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS AS I'M
(11:58):
TOLD WILL HAPPEN ON A FEDERAL
LEVEL.
IT HAS BEGUN TO HAPPEN, IT'S
VERY SAD.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
WHERE WE CAME FROM, THEN IT
GIVES PEOPLE, AGAIN, A
PERSPECTIVE OF NOT ONLY THE
JOURNEY THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE IN
ORDER TO GET TO THIS PLACE, BUT
THE FACT, AGAIN, THAT NOTHING IS
TAKEN FOR GRANTED, AND SO THAT
(12:22):
INFORMS ME EVERY DAY.
I KNOW THAT, AS I SAID, I WAS
ALIVE FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
I WAS ALIVE WHEN BROWN V. BOARD
OF EDUCATION WAS SETTLED, WHEN
THEY WERE SAYING, YES, BLACK
CHILDREN CAN SIT IN A CLASSROOM
WITH WHITE CHILDREN.
IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO.
MY PARENTS WOULD NEVER HAVE
(12:42):
DREAMT THAT I WOULD BE THE
LEADER OF THE SENATE AND I DON'T
TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, AND I
KNOW THAT PEOPLE SITTING IN
SEATS LIKE WHERE I AM WILL CHART
THE COURSE FOR THE FUTURE AND I
WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
WE CAME FROM AND I DON'T MIND
TELLING THEM AND I'M HOPING THAT
IT WILL INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO
(13:04):
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN A
DEMOCRACY, IN AN AMERICAN DREAM
THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE LIKE ME AND
YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THAT
CHAMBER TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT
THEY THINK IS BEST.
NOT ONLY FOR THEM BUT FOR THE
COUNTRY.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US
TODAY, LEADER.
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS
CONVERSATION.
(13:25):
>> I DID, TOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
AND FOR AN EXTENDED CUT OF THAT
INTERVIEW WITH THE MAJORITY
LEADER, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.
NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER TOPIC.
THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
(13:46):
SENT A LETTER TO CON EDISON
CALLING ON THE UTILITY COMPANY
TO STOP THEIR PROPOSED RATE
HIKE.
THE MOVE COMES AT A TIME WHEN
THERE IS ALSO A RENEWED PUSH FOR
THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT AT THE
CAPITOL.
THE HEAT ACT WOULD PLACE A CAP
ON ENERGY BILLS FOR LOW INCOME
NEW YORKERS.
THIS YEAR, THE BILL HAS BEEN
(14:08):
REINTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE
WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY SPONSOR,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOE M SIMONS.
HERE'S OUR ELISE KLINE WITH THE
HEAT ACT.
>> THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT, THE
NEW YORK HOME ENERGY AFFORDABLE
TRANSACTION ACT, FOR MANY
ADVOCATES IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
ENVIRONMENTALISTS TRAVELED TO
THE CAPITOL TO LOBBY FOR
(14:29):
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY END RATEPAYERS
SUBSIDIES TO BUILD OUT MORE GAS
LINES AND CURB UTILITY COSTS.
FOR SOME ADVOCATES, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD MEAN A LESS
FINANCIAL STRESS.
DAVID ALEXIS LIVES IN BROOKLYN
WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS
WHERE HE SAYS HE OFTEN HAS TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING ENERGY
BILLS AND PAYING RENT OR HEALTH
INSURANCE BILLS.
>> IT JUST GETS TO BE TOO MUCH,
(14:50):
AND IF WORSE-- IT JUST PUTS
ANOTHER LEVEL OF BURDEN ON OUR
FAMILY.
>> ALEXIS SAYS THEY ARE SEVERAL
MONTHS BEHIND ON THEIR ENERGY
BILLS.
HE DOESN'T JUST WORRY ABOUT
THEIR FINANCIAL WELLBEING, BUT
THEIR PHYSICAL WELLBEING AS
WELL.
HE SAYS BOTH OF HIS DAUGHTERS
HAVE ASTHMA AND HIS WIFE HAS
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.
>> MAKING SURE THAT THE HEAT IS
ON ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER IS
(15:11):
CRUCIAL BECAUSE NOT HAVING THAT
EXTRA HEAT CAN CAUSE ANYONE TO
GO INTO THE HOSPITAL WHETHER
THROUGH AN ASTHMA ATTACK OR A
SICKLE CELL CRISIS.
>> ALEXIS SAYS HOSPITAL VISITS
THEN ADD TO THEIR DEBT STRESS
AND EMPHASIZES THIS STRESS IS
SOMETHING MANY NEW YORK FAMILIES
FEEL.
>> UTILITY BILLS ARE TOO DAMN
HIGH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO GET
(15:33):
HIGHER EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
LIKE, WE'RE SEEING THE PRICES
CONTINUE TO GO UP AND IT'S
UNBEARABLE, AND UNLESS WE DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THIS IS
GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
>> LIZ MORAN, AN ADVOCATE WITH
EARTH JUSTICE, SAYS THAT THE NEW
YORK HEAT ACT HAS A STRONG WELL
OF SUPPORT.
>> IT MAKES SENSE.
UTILITY BILLS YEAR AFTER YEAR
(15:53):
KEEP RISING FOR NEW YORKERS, AND
IT'S NOT LIKE SERVICE HAS
CHANGED.
THEY'RE RELYING ON THE SAME GAS
SYSTEM.
>> THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT WOULD
HELP ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY BY
CAPPING UTILITY COSTS FOR LOW TO
MODERATE INCOME CUSTOMERS AT NO
MORE THAN 6% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD
INCOMES.
IT WOULD ALSO END WHAT IS KNOWN
AS THE 100-FOOT RULE, A CROSS
SUBSIDY THAT ALLOWS NEW
(16:14):
RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS TO AVOID
PAYING FOR THE COST OF A NEW GAS
LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100
FEET OF AN EXISTING ONE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOR ALL THE
OTHER RATEPAYERS, PRICES ARE
HIGHER.
MORAN ESTIMATES THIS RULE COSTS
RATEPAYERS ALTOGETHER MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
>> BY ELIMINATING THAT SUBSIDY,
THAT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY BACK
IN PEOPLE'S WALLETS.
>>THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO
(16:34):
HELP THE STATE TRANSITION AWAY
FROM GAS SYSTEMS BY REQUIRING
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TO DO SO.
MORAN SAYS THIS TRANSITION, IN
ADDITION TO THE AFFORDABILITY
ASPECTS OF THE BILL, WILL SAVE
NEW YORKERS OVER $100 PER MONTH
ON AVERAGE.
>> GAS IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED
WITH GAS, PIPE LINES, VERY
(16:54):
EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY
THOSE COSTS THAT ARE MAKING
PEOPLE'S BILLS GO UP.
>> MORAN ADDS THE NEW YORK HEAT
ACT WILL ALLOW THE STATE TO PLAN
BETTER GIVE PEOPLE OPTIONS THAT
MAY BE CHEAPER FOR THEM WHEN
THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS SAY
IT'S ALSO CRUCIAL FOR THE STATE
TO MOVE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING
BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
ROBERT HOWARTH, A PROFESSOR OF
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOLOGY AT CORNELL SAYS IT'S
(17:16):
IMPERATIVE TO TRANSITION FROM
FOSSIL FUEL HEATING TO
SUSTAINABLE FORMS OF ENERGY NOT
JUST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BUT
ALSO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY OF
THE WORLD IS NEAR UNANIMOUS IN
SAYING WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM
FOSSIL FUELS TO A DECARBONIZED
ENERGY FEATURE, AND WE NEED TO
DO SO QUITE QUICKLY.
>> HOWARTH SAYS NEW YORK HAS ONE
(17:37):
OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIES IN THE
WORLD AND BEING ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY HERE COULD
INSPIRE OTHER STATES TO DO SO AS
WELL.
>> NEW YORK CAN SET AN EXAMPLE,
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAN BE DONE,
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAN BE DONE
IN A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY THAT IS
GOOD FOR CONSUMERS, GOOD FOR OUR
CITIZENS AND IN SO DOING LEAD
(17:57):
THE WAY FOR THE REST OF THE
WORLD.
>> THE LEGISLATION HAS STRONG
SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS, MANY OF
WHOM ARE EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT.
STATE SENATOR PATRICIA FAHY, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE CAPITOL REGION, SAYS AT A
TIME WITH ANOTHER TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IN CHARGE, THE
STATE NEEDS TO BE A LEADER.
>> WE HAVE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP IN
NEW YORK DESPITE THE
(18:18):
BACKWARD-LOOKING APPROACH THAT
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
TAKING NOW.
SO I'M HOPING THAT EVEN IF WE
START ON PIECES OF THIS, WE CAN
BREAK THIS DOWN TO REALLY MAKE
SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF
THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS BECAUSE
THE COST OF DOING NOTHING IS IN
THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF EVERY
YEAR WITH THESE WEATHER-RELATED
(18:39):
DISASTERS.
>> FAHY SAYS PART OF THE BILL,
AN IMPORTANT PART, IS THE
100-FOOT RULE, WHICH WOULD STOP
BUILDING OUT MORE GAS
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> LET'S STOP PERPETUATING THE
PROBLEM.
LET'S ADDRESS THIS 100-FOOT RULE
SO THAT WE'RE NOT AUTOMATICALLY
DOING GAS HOOKUPS, AND LET'S
INVEST IN THE FUTURE MEANING
(19:01):
SOLAR, WIND, AND OTHER RELATED
ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
>> OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE THE
100-FOOT RULE, WHICH IS PART OF
THE STATE'S OBLIGATION TO SERVE
LAW REQUIRING UTILITIES BE
PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS LIVING
WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING
LINE IS A CRUCIAL PART OF BILL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANNA KELLES, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
TOMPKINS AND CORTLAND COUNTIES,
SAYS AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER THIS
(19:22):
BILL AGAIN THIS SESSION, THEY
WILL HAVE TO PROTECT THIS PIECE
OF IT.
>> THIS IS SAYING, WE HAVE TO
EXPAND WHAT TYPE OF POWER IS
DELIVERED.
SO INSTEAD, THIS SAYS YOU HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE POWER.
IT JUST DOESN'T NEED TO BE GAS.
THAT NEEDS TO STAY AND I THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE SITUATIONS
WHERE IT MIGHT BE THAT ALL
(19:42):
ELECTRIC IS WHAT IS COST
EFFECTIVE FOR THAT HOUSE.
>> WHILE LEGISLATION HAS
SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, IT ALSO HAS
QUITE A BIT OF PUSHBACK.
REPUBLICANS EXPRESS CONCERNS
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND THE
STATE'S ABILITY TO HANDLE A
TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE HEAT
SYSTEMS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ED RA, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING NASSAU
COUNTY AND A RANKING MEMBER OF
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE,
SAYS THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE
HAS TREMENDOUS CONCERNS.
(20:04):
>> WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO
AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY
WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE
ENERGY GOALS.
WE WANT TO GET GREENER, BUT WE
CAN'T HAVE BLINDERS ON ABOUT IT.
SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE NOT
READY FOR SO MANY OF THESE
THINGS, AND THAT IT'S GOING TO
INCREASE COSTS ON OUR CONSUMERS.
>> RA SAYS HE IS CONCERN CAPPING
COSTS FOR SOME CUSTOMERS, LOW TO
(20:25):
MIDDLE INCOME, MEANS COSTS COULD
GO UP FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS.
OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LIKE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARY-BETH WALSH
WHO REPRESENTS SARATOGA,
SCHENECTADY AND FULTON COUNTIES,
AGREES SAYING THIS BILL WOULD
LIMIT CONSUMERS AND ULTIMATELY
DRIVE UP COSTS FOR AT LEAST SOME
CONSUMERS.
>> PART OF WHAT GETS ME IS THAT
THE HEAT ACT A, AND A STANDS FOR
(20:46):
AFFORDABILITY AND I JUST THINK
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE THE EXACT
OPPOSITE RESULT BECAUSE IT'S
GOING TO TAKE AWAY SOME CONSUMER
CHOICE.
I THINK IT'S A GAS BAN JUST
UNDER A DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING
TO IT.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS SAY
REPUBLICANS' OPPOSITION IS
POLITICALLY DRIVEN.
>> I HOPE THAT WE'VE COME TO A
PLACE WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE
(21:06):
HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS-- WHAT
IS GOOD FOR ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT IS
AFFORDABLE, AND A LOT OF THAT
HAS BEEN WORKED OUT THROUGH THE
NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED,
INCLUDING SOME OF THE UTILITIES
THAT NOW SUPPORT THE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S A HUGE WIN, SO HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN GET ON THE SAME PAGE THIS
YEAR.
>> OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE.
(21:26):
STATE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
THE UPPER EAST SIDE IN MANHATTAN
AND THE LEAD SPONSOR OF BILL FOR
SEVERAL YEARS NOW IN THE SENATE,
SAYS THE ARGUMENTS FROM
REPUBLICANS ARE TIRED.
THE BILL HAS FAILED TO PASS IN
BOTH HOUSES FOR SEVERAL YEAR.
HOWEVER, LAST YEAR, IT WAS VERY
CLOSE.
IT PASSED THE SENATE FOR THE
SECOND TIME AND WAS CLOSE TO
GETTING TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
(21:46):
LAWMAKERS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
SAY THEY SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
KELLES SAYS THIS YEAR, HOWEVER,
THE BILL HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF
MOVING GIVEN THAT MUCH OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THE BILL
LANGUAGE WITH STAKEHOLDER LIKE
GAS COMPANIES, HAS ALREADY BEEN
SORTED OUT.
>> THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE NOW
BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT
COORDINATION HAS HAPPENED AND
THE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN AMENDED
TO, YOU KNOW, TO REFLECT THOSE
(22:07):
NEGOTIATIONS.
THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO START THERE.
>> LAST YEAR, NEW YORK HEAT ACT
WAS ALSO PART OF BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS.
THERE WAS A GREATER PUSH FOR IT
TO END UP IN THE BUDGET GIVE
THAN THE GOVERNOR INCLUDED SOME
KEY PROVISIONS OF BILL SUCH AS
ELIMINATING THE NEW 100-FOOT
RULE IN HER PROPOSAL.
WHILE MANY LAWMAKERS AND
ADVOCATES WANT THIS LEGISLATION
TO BE A PART OF THE BUDGET
DISCUSSION AGAIN, SOME LAWMAKERS
(22:28):
ARE SKEPTICAL.
>> I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH ELSE
RIGHT NOW, THIS MAY BE-- IT'S
NOT CLEAR IF THIS WILL BE IN THE
BUDGET.
LAST YEAR, IT WAS A BUDGET
CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WAS IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, PART OF
IT, A SMALL PART OF IT WAS.
THIS YEAR, I THINK IT'S GOING TO
HAVE TO BE,-PROBABLY HAVE TO BE
SEPARATE BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE--
THAT'S A DECISION THAT HAS NOT
BEEN MADE.
(22:49):
>> SOME DEMOCRATS AGREE SAYING
THERE IS LIMITED TIME AND
LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO UNDER
ENORMOUS PRESSURE FROM RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIAL CUTS TO
PROGRAMS THE STATE RELIES ON.
HOWEVER, SOME DEMOCRATS SAY IT
COULD END UP IN BUDGET TALKS IF
IT'S IN JUST ONE OF THE CHAMBERS
ONE-HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTIONS.
AND IF IT DOES END UP IN BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS, MANY REPUBLICANS
WON'T BE HAPPY.
(23:09):
STATE SENATOR ANTHONY PALUMBO, A
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF
SUFFER FOLK COUNTY, SAYS THIS
LEGISLATION IS TOO COMPLICATED
TO SORT OUT IN THE BUDGET.
>> YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE THIS IS
WAY TOO COMPLEX TO BE IN BUDGET.
I THINK THAT SOME ADVOCATES MAY
WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.
>> OTHER REPUBLICANS AGREE.
STATE SENATOR GEORGE BORE
RHELLOW, A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING PART OF THE FINGER
LAKES WHO HAS VOTE AGAINST THIS
(23:30):
BILL PREVIOUSLY, SAYS HE IS
AGAINST POLICY IN THE BUDGET.
>> IF YOU NEED PROOF THIS IS A
BAD BILL, THEY'RE TRYING TO
FORCE IT INTO THE BUDGET BILL SO
THEY CAN SUPPRESS DISCUSSION AND
DEBATE.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DO WITH ALL
THE BAD LEGISLATION THAT THEY
PASS THAT THEY KNOW A MAJORITY
OF NEW YORKERS ARE OPPOSED TO.
>> SOME DEMOCRATS DISAGREE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOANN SIMON, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF
BROOKLYN AND THE NEW ASSEMBLY
(23:51):
BILL SPONSOR, ARGUES THE BUDGET,
ITSELF, IS COMPLEX.
>> NUMBER ONE, THE BUDGET HAS
NEVER BEEN KNOWN AS BEING A
PARAGON FOR CLARITY.
RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS A
COMPLICATED BUDGET LANGUAGE IN
MANY RESPECTS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE
REVISIONS MAKE IT MUCH MORE
CLEAR.
SO WHERE PEOPLE MAY HAVE HAD
(24:12):
QUESTIONS BEFORE, IT'S MUCH
CLEARER IN THE BILL WHAT WOULD
ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
>> SIMON ALSO STRESSES THIS BILL
HAS A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT.
>> IT'S VERY POPULAR.
I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
BILLS THAT HAS-- ENJOYS A GREAT
DEAL OF POPULARITY AROUND THE
STATE.
>> THE BILL HAS BEEN RECENTLY
REINTRODUCED IN THE SENATE AND
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
THE BILL HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY
SINCE LAST YEAR.
(24:32):
SENATOR KRUEGER SAYS THE NEW
BILL VERSION CREATED EXPLICIT
PROTECTION FOR GAS CUSTOMERS AND
TRANSITIONING CUSTOMERS,
ADDRESSING CONCERNS THAT SOME
CUSTOMERS WHO DIDN'T HAVE AN
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTION WOULD
BE LEFT WITHOUT ENERGY.
SIMON SAYS THE BILL HAS MANY
GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.
SHE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THERE WILL
BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
LEGISLATION AS UTILITIES WORK ON
(24:53):
A TRANSITION PLAN.
>> I THINK THAT THE PREVIOUS
COMPLEXITY IS A LITTLE MORE
CLARIFIED NOW.
AND I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS
THINGS PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND, AND
I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR BECAUSE
WE HAD BUILT IN SO MUCH
RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PUBLIC IN
THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH THIS
WOULD GO.
(25:14):
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT, RIGHT.
NOBODY WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT
HEAT.
>> KRUEGER SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT
THE LEGISLATION WILL PASS AGAIN
IN THE SENATE.
MEANWHILE, SIMON SAYS SHE IS
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC GIVEN ALL
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO
THE BILL SO FAR.
>> AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME,
CONFIDENCE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS
(25:34):
COUCHED WITH A LITTLE HEALTHY
SKEPTICISM.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS
THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER.
THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER MAYBE
NOODLING WITH THE BILL IN SOME
RESPECT, BUT I FEEL VERY
POSITIVE ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE THUS FAR WITH THE
BILL THAT ANSWER A LOT OF THOSE
CONCERNS, AND SO I THINK WE'RE
(25:56):
STARTING FROM A BETTER PLACE.
>> BUDGET CONVERSATIONS WILL
CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS AS LAWMAKERS WRAP UP
BUDGET HEARINGS, PROPOSE THEIR
RESOLUTIONS AND NEGOTIATE WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
WHETHER OR NOT THIS BILL WILL BE
A PART OF THAT REMAINS TO BE
SEEN, BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN.
LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES WILL
RALLY FOR THIS LEGISLATION EVEN
IF THEY HAVE TO DO SO AFTER THE
BUDGET IS SIGNED INTO LAW.
(26:18):
ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> AND FOR MORE ON THE NEW YORK
HEAT ACT, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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