The Peru Gazette

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York lawmakers on Wednesday kicked off their 2016 session, which is expected to be dominated by debates over government corruption, education funding and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. While the Senate’s Republican majority will be an obstacle, Heastie told The Associated Press that he’s optimistic about the chances of passing Cuomo’s proposal. New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox criticized tax cuts Cuomo proposed for small businesses as “window dressing” to offset concerns about raising wages to what would be double the level in Pennsylvania. Flanagan wants to end the state policy of taking back some school aid to balance the budget, a practice that hits suburban districts the hardest. The state’s teachers union and public education advocates are calling for $2.4 billion in new funds. Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins, who leads that chamber’s Democratic minority, said it’s time for “a restart” for the Legislature after former Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver were convicted of trading their influence for personal financial gain. Sen. Jeff Klein, head of the five-member Independent Democratic Conference, listed priorities including bans on synthetic marijuana, funding after-school programs for 1.2 million children and enacting 12-week paid family leave to help New Yorkers stay employed while caring for a loved one. Brian Kolb, leader of the Assembly’s Republicans, said the state needs to do more to fight heroin addiction, which he said is ravaging both rural and urban parts of the state.

Source: NY lawmakers convene: $15 wage, schools, ethics top agenda – Times Union