February 3, 2012 · www.gothamgazette.com |
![]() |
|
Governing
Newsletter
Sign up for our monthly Governing newsletter:
Recently on our Topic Pages
- Jane C. Timm on Promises Kept
- Igor Kossov on Demanding Accountablity
- Eliza Ronalds-Hannon on Know Before You Owe
- Alec Hamilton on Sick House
- Igor Kossov on Under Review
Links in the News ...
- Cuomo Appointee to Police Cuomo Administration (WNYC)
- Quinn’s Friendship With Lobbyist May Pose Test in Mayor Bid (NY Times)
- Weiner Hired Investigators with Campaign Money Over Twitter 'Hacking' (Daily News)
- Albany Redistricting Plan Faulted as Unfair to Minorities (NY Times)
- Senate GOP Wants to Merge Four Queens Democratic Districts Into Two (Daily News)
- Stringer Gets Major Donations From Firm Whose Project he Backed (NY Post)
Researching Governing ...
Eliminating Local Funding for Medicaid
The state's unusual requirement for substantial local government financing of Medicaid places an inequitable burden on taxpayers in less affluent communities, according to this report by the Citizens Budget Commission. Because Medicaid provides health care services primarily to the poor, low‐income counties pay a disproportionately large portion of Medicaid costs relative to their population size and wealth. (December 13, 2011)
Ballot Design Deficiencies and Lost Votes
In 2010, tens of thousands of votes in New York state did not count due to overvotes — the invalid selection of more than one candidate. This report by the Brennan Center for Justice demonstrates how the lack of adequate overvote protections disproportionately affected the state's poorest communities, suggests commonsense reforms, and examines national implications. (December 8, 2011)
Mandate on Mandates?
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's team reviewing state mandates on local government that the state does not fully fund has released its preliminary report. The report calls for procedures to reduce the number of such mandates in the future, creating a new pension tier and giving local government more power to administer mandates, among other proposals. (March 2, 2011)
Albany's Ethical Failure
An ethics bill enacted by New York State in 2007 in many ways has "been a complete failure" according to a report by the Brennan Center. The report, ''Meaningful Ethics Reform for the New Albany," examines the Public Employees Ethics Reform Act, which banned honoraria, increased penalties and reduced the allowable value of gifts. However, the report says, it did not create an independent, bipartisan commission with jurisdiction over the executive and legislative branches and lobbyists. As a result, the authors say, "New York was left with the bifurcated and confusing system of ethics oversight that has largely stood by, mute, through a series of scandals on the legislative side." (February 23, 2011)
Campaign Spending 2010
A new report from good government groups Citizens Union, the New York Public Interest Research Group, the League of Women Voters and Common Cause found business interests dominated the 2010 campaign cycle -- with real estate leading the pack in individual contributions. The report calls for reform of the state's campaign finance laws, including lowering contribution limits. (January 4, 2011)
The state's unusual requirement for substantial local government financing of Medicaid places an inequitable burden on taxpayers in less affluent communities, according to this report by the Citizens Budget Commission. Because Medicaid provides health care services primarily to the poor, low‐income counties pay a disproportionately large portion of Medicaid costs relative to their population size and wealth. (December 13, 2011)
Ballot Design Deficiencies and Lost Votes
In 2010, tens of thousands of votes in New York state did not count due to overvotes — the invalid selection of more than one candidate. This report by the Brennan Center for Justice demonstrates how the lack of adequate overvote protections disproportionately affected the state's poorest communities, suggests commonsense reforms, and examines national implications. (December 8, 2011)
Mandate on Mandates?
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's team reviewing state mandates on local government that the state does not fully fund has released its preliminary report. The report calls for procedures to reduce the number of such mandates in the future, creating a new pension tier and giving local government more power to administer mandates, among other proposals. (March 2, 2011)
Albany's Ethical Failure
An ethics bill enacted by New York State in 2007 in many ways has "been a complete failure" according to a report by the Brennan Center. The report, ''Meaningful Ethics Reform for the New Albany," examines the Public Employees Ethics Reform Act, which banned honoraria, increased penalties and reduced the allowable value of gifts. However, the report says, it did not create an independent, bipartisan commission with jurisdiction over the executive and legislative branches and lobbyists. As a result, the authors say, "New York was left with the bifurcated and confusing system of ethics oversight that has largely stood by, mute, through a series of scandals on the legislative side." (February 23, 2011)
Campaign Spending 2010
A new report from good government groups Citizens Union, the New York Public Interest Research Group, the League of Women Voters and Common Cause found business interests dominated the 2010 campaign cycle -- with real estate leading the pack in individual contributions. The report calls for reform of the state's campaign finance laws, including lowering contribution limits. (January 4, 2011)
The Federal Election Commission
A dense but informative guide to who can give how much and how, all across the country is available, among other resources for nationwide voting.
NYC Board of Elections
The City Board of Elections Web site has a series of useful resources, like frequently asked questions, district maps, a poll site locator, and a sample ballot.
Voting Arcade
New York's voting machines are so old that they were already out of date when the first video game, Pong, hit the market over three decades ago. Embark on a tour of New York's broken down voting system with a nostalgic journey thorough Gotham Gazette's versions of ancient video games.
Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany Campaign 2002
Coverage of the state-wide races and the contests for NYC representatives in the New York State Legislature, with a separate page for each race. Though this section
Village Voice Voter's Digest
The Village Voice is keeping a running list of links to media coverage of the latest voter fraud allegations. News stories from around the country keep up with possible electoral problems from Florida to Colorado to New York.
A dense but informative guide to who can give how much and how, all across the country is available, among other resources for nationwide voting.
NYC Board of Elections
The City Board of Elections Web site has a series of useful resources, like frequently asked questions, district maps, a poll site locator, and a sample ballot.
Voting Arcade
New York's voting machines are so old that they were already out of date when the first video game, Pong, hit the market over three decades ago. Embark on a tour of New York's broken down voting system with a nostalgic journey thorough Gotham Gazette's versions of ancient video games.
Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany Campaign 2002
Coverage of the state-wide races and the contests for NYC representatives in the New York State Legislature, with a separate page for each race. Though this section
Village Voice Voter's Digest
The Village Voice is keeping a running list of links to media coverage of the latest voter fraud allegations. News stories from around the country keep up with possible electoral problems from Florida to Colorado to New York.
Sites of Interest from Collegester:
Tattoo |
Fundraisers |
Place
Your Link Here
