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Zeldin town hall events draw clamorous crowd

Apr
27
2017

Since being sworn in for a second term in January, Congressman Lee Zeldin has faced mounting pressure to hold a town hall meeting for constituents in New York’s First District. Winter temperatures did not stop protesters, sometimes a dozen or so and sometimes nearing 200, from calling on their congressman to hold a town hall.

These rallies, organized by the creators of the Let’s Visit Lee Zeldin Facebook page, were meant to bring attention to Zeldin’s refusal to hold a town hall. A canceled meeting scheduled for April at the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton only fueled their fire. “Unfortunately, this meeting was co-opted, renamed and rebranded by a group of liberal obstructionists, who were already holding strategy meetings...| read more ››

New York Becomes Only to Offer Free Four-Year College

Apr
10
2017

New York will be the only state in the country to cover four-year college tuition for residents after the program was included in the budget package approved Sunday night.

The state's Excelsior Scholarship program will be rolled out in tiers over the next three years, starting with full coverage of four-year college tuition this fall for students whose families make less than $100,000.

The income cap will increase to $110,000 in 2018 and $125,000 in 2019.

"With this budget, New York has the nation's first accessible college program. It's a different model," said Governor Andrew Cuomo Saturday in a statement. "Today, college is what high school was—it should always be an option even if you can't afford it."

According to...| read more ››

Schumer announces filibuster to stop Gorsuch Supreme Court appointment

Mar
23
2017

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer took to the Senate floor Thursday morning to announce his widely expected opposition to Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court -- and to say that Democrats will try to block his nomination.

“After careful deliberation, I have concluded that I cannot support Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. “His nomination will have a cloture vote. He will have to earn 60 votes for confirmation. My vote will be no, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.”

By saying Gorsuch’s nomination will have a cloture vote, Schumer indicated that Democrats will try to block Gorsuch’s nomination through a filibuster -- which they can do unless Gorsuch...| read more ››

GOP health care plan would harm NY children, advocates say

Mar
18
2017

A children’s advocacy organization contends the American Health Care Act — the proposed replacement for Obamacare — would be devastating for youngsters in New York who are covered through Medicaid and the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.

House Republicans are seeking support for a bill some have dubbed Trumpcare, which calls for deep cuts in public forms of insurance as the GOP attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama’s signature legislation.

“What we’re saying is that currently there are slightly more than 2 million kids covered by Medicaid and CHIP in New York, and both of these programs receive a significant amount of federal money,” said Benjamin Anderson, director of health policy for the Children’s Defense...| read more ››

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