Governor Cuomo Delivers 2013 State Of The State Address & How His Plans Will Affect CNY
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: January 9, 2013
Governor Andrew Cuomo has officially outlined his priorities for the
year. He delivered his 2013 State of the State Address in Albany today.
We're diving into his goals, plans, and concerns for the year.
The Governor launched a plan that would give New York the strictest gun laws in the country. He outlined growing our economy and investing in education... But what we're bringing you tonight is how his plans would affect us here at home.
"We can do it, we've done it before, we can do it again," says Governor Andrew Cuomo.
"The governor made a strong commitment to upstate New York, mentioned Utica a number of time," says Anthony Brindisi, Assemblyman (D-Utica).
"I really am impressed with the focus on upstate," says Joseph Griffo, Senator (R/C/IP- Rome).
"We've implemented a number of programs to revitalize upstate. It's been a priority for the past 2 years, as you know," says Governor Cuomo.
"He talked about economic development, workforce development, a real commitment to upstate economy, including reforming workers compensation, our unemployment insurance system," says Assemblyman Brindisi.
"Apply additional resources and pay special attention to economic challenges in Central New York and the North Country," says Senator Griffo.
The Governor developed Market New York, a multi-faceted marketing plan to bolster Upstate growth.
"First we will have a coordinated marketing plan around New York products; wine, beer and yogurt. We will start a Taste Of New York Program to aggressively market these products," says Governor Cuomo.
"We have some great attractions in upstate New York, right in our region. We have Cooperstown, Baseball Hall of Fame, and I think once they come here they'll see this is a great place to visit and spend their money while they're here," says James Seward, Senator (R/C/IP- Oneonta).
The governor also proposed a casino gaming plan that would bring up to three more casinos to our region. It was a ambitious speech, but some lawmakers still have concerns.
"So many programs and promises and no taxes, and all I could think all the way trough is how are we going to pay for this?" says Claudia Tenney, Assemblywoman (R/C/IP- New Hartford).
"We're going to have the Governor's budget presentation in a couple of weeks and there we will see in dollars and cents how he proposed to cover some of these new initiatives he's talked about," says Senator Seward.
The Governor also discussed gender pay equality, raising the minimum wage, and stimulating the economic recovery.
More From The 2013 Agenda:
Economic Development
This year's economic development program will build upon the work of the Regional Economic Development Councils as well as partnerships with higher education, because New York's one-two punch is jobs and education.
Tech Transfer--from Academia to Commercialization: As many of the country's most significant high-tech economic clusters owe their success to technology transfer, the Governor proposed steps to accelerate the commercialization of good ideas and the creation of new businesses to take them to market. Steps include:
Reforming Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Insurance for Businesses and Workers: To continue to lower the cost of doing business in New York and reduce the crushing burden of unemployment insurance and workers' compensation, the Governor proposed reforms to both systems that will save businesses $1.3 billion, while also increasing unemployment insurance benefits to workers for the first time since 1999.
Making New York the Leader in the Clean Tech Economy: To continue to establish New York as a national leader in building a clean tech economy program, the Governor announced the following steps:
Preparing the Workforce of Today and Tomorrow: To retool New York's workforce to be prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow, the Governor proposed steps to reimagine the SUNY and CUNY community colleges to ensure the state's job training programs produce the trained personnel that businesses need:
The Governor launched a plan that would give New York the strictest gun laws in the country. He outlined growing our economy and investing in education... But what we're bringing you tonight is how his plans would affect us here at home.
"We can do it, we've done it before, we can do it again," says Governor Andrew Cuomo.
"The governor made a strong commitment to upstate New York, mentioned Utica a number of time," says Anthony Brindisi, Assemblyman (D-Utica).
"I really am impressed with the focus on upstate," says Joseph Griffo, Senator (R/C/IP- Rome).
"We've implemented a number of programs to revitalize upstate. It's been a priority for the past 2 years, as you know," says Governor Cuomo.
"He talked about economic development, workforce development, a real commitment to upstate economy, including reforming workers compensation, our unemployment insurance system," says Assemblyman Brindisi.
"Apply additional resources and pay special attention to economic challenges in Central New York and the North Country," says Senator Griffo.
The Governor developed Market New York, a multi-faceted marketing plan to bolster Upstate growth.
"First we will have a coordinated marketing plan around New York products; wine, beer and yogurt. We will start a Taste Of New York Program to aggressively market these products," says Governor Cuomo.
"We have some great attractions in upstate New York, right in our region. We have Cooperstown, Baseball Hall of Fame, and I think once they come here they'll see this is a great place to visit and spend their money while they're here," says James Seward, Senator (R/C/IP- Oneonta).
The governor also proposed a casino gaming plan that would bring up to three more casinos to our region. It was a ambitious speech, but some lawmakers still have concerns.
"So many programs and promises and no taxes, and all I could think all the way trough is how are we going to pay for this?" says Claudia Tenney, Assemblywoman (R/C/IP- New Hartford).
"We're going to have the Governor's budget presentation in a couple of weeks and there we will see in dollars and cents how he proposed to cover some of these new initiatives he's talked about," says Senator Seward.
The Governor also discussed gender pay equality, raising the minimum wage, and stimulating the economic recovery.
More From The 2013 Agenda:
Economic Development
This year's economic development program will build upon the work of the Regional Economic Development Councils as well as partnerships with higher education, because New York's one-two punch is jobs and education.
Tech Transfer--from Academia to Commercialization: As many of the country's most significant high-tech economic clusters owe their success to technology transfer, the Governor proposed steps to accelerate the commercialization of good ideas and the creation of new businesses to take them to market. Steps include:
- Innovation Hot Spots: Ten
higher education/private sector high-tech incubators will be selected
as "Hot Spots" through a competitive
process that fosters innovation by offering inventors and entrepreneurs
support to grow their businesses and to be part of a tax-free zone,
where start-ups will not be subject to business, real property, and
sales taxes, to encourage business growth in New
York State.
Innovation NY Network: To break down barriers to commercialization of academic ideas, the Governor proposed creating the Innovation NY Network to build collaboration among academics, venture capitalists, business leaders, patent lawyers and other professionals and entrepreneurs to facilitate and grow the commercialization process.
Innovation Venture Capital Fund: A $50 million Innovation Venture Capital Fund will provide incentives for successful start-ups to stay in the state and grow. Support from the Innovation Venture Capital Fund will help these entrepreneurs make the transition from research and other ideas through prototyping and ultimately to the creation of marketable products.
Reforming Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Insurance for Businesses and Workers: To continue to lower the cost of doing business in New York and reduce the crushing burden of unemployment insurance and workers' compensation, the Governor proposed reforms to both systems that will save businesses $1.3 billion, while also increasing unemployment insurance benefits to workers for the first time since 1999.
Making New York the Leader in the Clean Tech Economy: To continue to establish New York as a national leader in building a clean tech economy program, the Governor announced the following steps:
- NY Green Bank: The $1 billion Green Bank will leverage public dollars with a private sector match to spur the clean economy.
Extend NY-Sun Solar Jobs: The program will be expanded at $150 million annually for 10 years to increase solar panel installations for homes and businesses.
Charge NY Program: The Charge NY Program will invest in an electric car network to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by installing a statewide network of charging stations and providing charging infrastructure tax credits.
Cabinet-Level Energy Czar: To coordinate the state's clean-tech agenda and oversee the state government's energy portfolio, the Governor has named Richard Kauffman, a senior advisor to the nation's Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, to serve as a member of the Cabinet as the "Energy Czar."
Preparing the Workforce of Today and Tomorrow: To retool New York's workforce to be prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow, the Governor proposed steps to reimagine the SUNY and CUNY community colleges to ensure the state's job training programs produce the trained personnel that businesses need:
- Next Generation Job Linkage Program: The
Governor outlined a Job Linkage Program that will link community
colleges with employers
to identify the job, to define the skill, and to provide the training
for it. The state will pay for performance by funding colleges based on
student job placement.
- Taste-NY: The Taste-NY initiative will coordinate around promoting New York products, including creating duty-free "Taste-NY" stores
across the state to promote New York grown and produced products.
