New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has unexpectedly lowered the employer contributions to the pension system made by governments, school districts and their taxpayers, which have all been slammed by years of pension cost increases.
As a lobbyist in New York's statehouse, Stephen Acquario is doing pretty well. He pulls down $204,000 a year, gets a Ford Explorer as his company car and is afforded another special perk: he is entitled to a full state pension.
The New York state comptroller wants President Obama to order federal agencies and programs around the country to recognize gay marriages performed in New York.
Several labor unions say more than $400,000 in contributions by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. since 2010 helped bring about the creation of an unusual taxpayer-paid subsidy last month to help employers offset a higher minimum wage in New York.
New York state has shredded some bureaucracy to speed the payment of insurance claims to 360,000 victims of Superstorm Sandy, while creating an online system to grade insurers whose state licenses are on the line as they respond to New Yorkers.
Advocates for the working poor on Monday urged New York's government leaders who are poised to raise their salaries in coming weeks to also raise the minimum wage and replenish food banks for victims of Superstorm Sandy.
New York taxpayers paid more than $5 million in the last two years to settle more than a dozen sexual harassment cases against state workers, according to records obtained Thursday.
A new study shows low-income smokers in New York spend 25 percent of their income on cigarettes, a finding that led a smokers' rights advocate to say it proves high taxes are regressive and ineffective.
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"articles": [
{
"uri": "/2013/08/27/new-york-pension-contribution-costs-cut/",
"title": "New York pension contribution costs cut",
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"prettyDate": "August 27, 2013",
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"summary": "New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has unexpectedly lowered the employer contributions to the pension system made by governments, school districts and their taxpayers, which have all been slammed by years of pension cost increases.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2013/08/26/private-lobbyists-get-public-pensions-in-20-states/",
"title": "Private lobbyists get public pensions in 20 states",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "August 26, 2013",
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"summary": "As a lobbyist in New York's statehouse, Stephen Acquario is doing pretty well. He pulls down $204,000 a year, gets a Ford Explorer as his company car and is afforded another special perk: he is entitled to a full state pension.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2013/08/06/cuomos-jobs-program-cuts-projected-tax-take/",
"title": "Cuomo’s jobs program cuts projected tax take",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "August 06, 2013",
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"summary": "Gov. Andrew Cuomo's \"tax-free\" program for businesses may not be so free for New Yorkers after all.",
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{
"uri": "/2013/07/19/feds-pushed-to-recognize-gay-marriages/",
"title": "Feds pushed to recognize gay marriages",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "July 19, 2013",
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"summary": "The New York state comptroller wants President Obama to order federal agencies and programs around the country to recognize gay marriages performed in New York.",
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},
{
"uri": "/2013/04/16/unions-argue-wal-mart-had-role-in-new-york-wage-de/",
"title": "Unions argue Wal-Mart had role in New York wage deal",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "April 16, 2013",
"timeToRead": "4 minute",
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"summary": "Several labor unions say more than $400,000 in contributions by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. since 2010 helped bring about the creation of an unusual taxpayer-paid subsidy last month to help employers offset a higher minimum wage in New York.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2012/12/21/pension-funds-reconsider-gun-maker-investments/",
"title": "Pension funds reconsider gun maker investments",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "December 21, 2012",
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"summary": "From California to New York, teacher and public-worker retirement funds are reconsidering their investments in gun makers.",
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{
"uri": "/2012/11/30/new-york-governor-acts-to-speed-up-sandy-claims/",
"title": "New York governor acts to speed up Sandy claims",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "November 30, 2012",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
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"summary": "New York state has shredded some bureaucracy to speed the payment of insurance claims to 360,000 victims of Superstorm Sandy, while creating an online system to grade insurers whose state licenses are on the line as they respond to New Yorkers.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2012/11/20/advocates-push-for-new-york-minimum-wage-bump/",
"title": "Advocates push for New York minimum wage bump",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "November 20, 2012",
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"summary": "Advocates for the working poor on Monday urged New York's government leaders who are poised to raise their salaries in coming weeks to also raise the minimum wage and replenish food banks for victims of Superstorm Sandy.",
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{
"uri": "/2012/10/05/new-york-pays-millions-in-sex-harass-cases/",
"title": "New York pays millions in sex harass cases",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
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"prettyDate": "October 05, 2012",
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"summary": "New York taxpayers paid more than $5 million in the last two years to settle more than a dozen sexual harassment cases against state workers, according to records obtained Thursday.",
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{
"uri": "/2012/09/20/poor-new-yorkers-burn-through-quarter-of-income-on/",
"title": "Poor New Yorkers burn through quarter of income on smokes",
"byline": "Michael Gormley",
"kicker": "",
"prettyDate": "September 20, 2012",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
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"summary": "A new study shows low-income smokers in New York spend 25 percent of their income on cigarettes, a finding that led a smokers' rights advocate to say it proves high taxes are regressive and ineffective.",
"body": null
}
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}
