January 03, 2018 03:44 PM
UPDATED 1 MINUTE AGO
The Latest on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's state of the state address (all times local):
2:55 p.m.
New Yorkers would be allowed to cast a vote up to 12 days before an election under an early voting proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The Democrat detailed his plan Wednesday in his state of the state address.
He's also calling for changes in voter registration to allow for same-day registration and the automatic enrollment of new voters when they visit a motor vehicles office or other state agency.
New York is now one of a minority of states without early voting, and traditionally has one of the lowest turnout rates in the country.
Cuomo says the state needs to modernize its voting rules to encourage greater participation while still ensuring the integrity of election results.
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2:21 p.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York will join the growing list of states taking legal action against pharmaceutical companies over the opioid epidemic.
The Democrat says in his state of the state address Wednesday that he'll work with the state Attorney General's Office to take "enforcement actions" against opioid distributors in the U.S. He says the legal moves will be part of his five-point plan to enhance the state's efforts in battling addiction to opioids such as painkillers and heroin.
Cuomo says any funds received from actions taken against the companies will be used to support the state's anti-opioid addiction campaigns.
New York would join a growing number of states and even some municipalities that are seeking to recoup costs of dealing with the opioid epidemic.
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2:15 p.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants more offshore wind energy projects in New York waters.
The Democratic governor says in Wednesday's state of the state address to lawmakers that he'll propose New York seek 800 megawatts of new offshore wind projects in 2018 and 2019, enough to power 400,000 households.
He's also calling on state environmental officials to impose a carbon emissions cap on smaller power plants that aren't currently covered by existing emission limits.
Additionally, Cuomo is proposing investments in energy storage and new incentives for solar power for low-income homeowners.
He says that taken together the proposals would all advance efforts to transition from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable power sources.
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2 p.m.
The recent wave of harassment allegations is fueling calls for changes in state government in Albany.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo says Wednesday in his state of the state address he wants to prohibit secret, taxpayer-funded legal settlements that allow office holders to resolve harassment complaints privately.
He says the national attention on harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace gives the state a fresh opportunity to tackle a societal problem.
Cuomo's proposal includes replacing the current patchwork of policies covering state and local government with a uniform standard that makes it easier for victims to come forward without fear of retaliation.
Several lawmakers from both parties have already proposed similar measures. The details of any changes will be worked out in the coming months.
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1:40 p.m.
New York state will sue the federal government over the recently enacted Republican tax overhaul.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state will challenge the new law on the grounds that it's unconstitutional and violates states' rights.
Cuomo, a possible presidential contender, will announce the plans for the lawsuit during his state of the state address Wednesday.
The overhaul caps the former tax deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000. The full deduction had been especially popular in high-tax states like New York. Cuomo says the change is unfair and could raise some families' taxes by as much as 25 percent.
Cuomo says he will encourage Congress to repeal the tax law, and will consider other changes in state taxes to reduce the burden of the new federal tax law in New York.
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10:00 a.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to end the practice of requiring criminal defendants to post monetary bail in misdemeanor and non-violent felony cases.
The Democrat says the longstanding practice of accepting cash bail is unfair, since it allows suspects with financial resources to go free while those without must wait in jail until their trials begin.
Cuomo is proposing instead to release those defendants on their own recognizance or require them to check in with officials.
Suspects accused of violent crimes or felonies could still be required to post bail to win release or be held without bail entirely in some circumstances.
The changes must be approved by lawmakers and are part of a broader criminal reform package announced ahead of Cuomo's state of the state address Wednesday.
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12:36 a.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is poised to deliver his annual state of the state address to lawmakers, and the ideas already are piling up.
The Democrat will outline his 2018 agenda in the speech Wednesday, the first day of the legislative session.
He's already announced plans to overhaul state sexual harassment policies, create new disclosure rules for online political ads and join most other states in allowing early election voting.
Cuomo, a possible presidential candidate in 2020, also is expected to discuss the state's efforts to resist Republican President Donald Trump when it comes to new policies on environmental protection, taxes, immigration and health care.
This year's budget will be especially difficult for Cuomo and lawmakers, who have to contend with a $4 billion deficit in the $150 billion spending plan.
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