January 03, 2018 09:53 AM
UPDATED 1 MINUTE AGO
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will lay out his 2018 agenda to lawmakers — including calls to overhaul state sexual harassment policies, create new disclosure rules for online political ads and make it easier to cast a ballot.
The Democrat on Wednesday will also propose legislation intended to protect domestic violence victims and water quality, expand renewable energy and impose new disclosure rules for online political ads. He's also proposing to end monetary bail for low-level suspects and boost investments in workforce training.
He'll provide the details during his annual state of the state address as lawmakers begin their legislative session in the Capitol.
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.
Cuomo, a possible presidential candidate in 2020, is expected to use his speech 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.
He's said he is considering changes to the state tax code in response to the Republican tax overhaul in Washington, and also has raised the possibility of a legal challenge to the new tax code. He has yet to release any details about possible state changes, however.
He's already announced many of the details for his other proposals. Here's a look at some of the most important:
VOTING CHANGES: New Yorkers would be allowed to cast a vote up to 12 days before an election under Cuomo's voting reform proposal. He also wants to change voter registration rules to allow for same-day registration and the automatic enrollment of new voters when they visit a motor vehicles office or other state agency.
ONLINE POLITICAL ADS: Cuomo says voters deserve to know more about who is behind online political ads. His proposal would require ads to contain the name of the group paying for the content, and direct platforms like Facebook to maintain a public file containing greater information about campaign ads.
STEWART AIRPORT UPGRADES: Cuomo is calling for a $34 million investment to upgrade, expand and modernize Stewart Airport, north of New York City, to handle more international flights
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime would have to surrender any firearms under another proposal from Cuomo. The governor's proposal was drawn up following the mass shootings in Las Vegas and Texas, where Cuomo said the gunmen in each shooting had a record of violence against women or threatening violence against women.
FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT: Cuomo wants to see New York state's pension fund get out of investing in fossil fuels.
BAIL: Cuomo has introduced legislation to eliminate the longstanding practice of requiring defendants to post monetary bail in misdemeanor and non-violent felony cases. He says it's 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.
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