Gov. Cuomo - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on March 20, 2017 March 20, 2017

Cuomo’s no-win Port Authority power grab

By Post Editorial Board

March 19, 2017 | 8:55pm

Think the Port Authority is slow and dysfunctional now? Watch what happens if lawmakers OK Gov. Cuomo’s demand for a new “New York” inspector general/prosecutor for the PA. A wooly mammoth trapped in a tar pit would move faster.

That became clear over the past two weeks amid a wave of scathing criticism — and not just from the New Jersey side of the bi-state agency.

Cuomo’s IG would be installed by — and answer to — him alone, with the power to prosecute crimes that affect New York. But a resolution in the Jersey Senate calls that “patently illegal.” Its Office of Legislative Services concludes the PA would “have no obligation to comply.”

So, expect the idea to be dragged into court, tying up vital agency business, possibly for years. That would slow or freeze a host of vital, multibillion-dollar projects, from airport renovation to a new Hudson rail tunnel.

In a letter to lawmakers, six PA commissioners (including Ken Lipper, who was tapped by Cuomo himself) say the gov wants “dictatorial” control over the PA by gaining the power to threaten prosecution. They say some of them would quit, along with top managers, if the IG were OK’d.

https://nypost.com/2017/03/19/cuomos-no-win-port-authority-power-grab/

Posted on October 5, 2016 October 5, 2016

Bridgegate witness says Cuomo and Christie discussed cover story

By Ryan Hutchins

10/04/16 12:03 PM EDT

NEWARK, N.J. — Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie personally discussed how to handle the fallout from the George Washington Bridge lane closures, even agreeing to release a report covering up the incident, according to the admitted mastermind of the political revenge scheme.

Cuomo’s administration — referred to in testimony as “Albany” — told the top official at the bistate Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to “lay off” Christie following the incident, former Port official David Wildstein testified here in U.S. District Court.

Posted on October 16, 2014 October 16, 2014

Gov. Cuomo Awarded for Outstanding Achievement in State Tax Reform in 2014

Gov. Cuomo Awarded for Outstanding Achievement in State Tax Reform in 2014

Washington, DC (Oct. 16, 2014)—Today, the nonpartisan Tax Foundation will award New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with the 2014 Outstanding Achievement in State Tax Reform award for championing a comprehensive corporate tax reform bill that will transform New York’s treatment of corporate taxes from one of the worst in the country to one of the best. The Tax Foundation will present Governor Cuomo with the award at a 12:00pm press conference this afternoon at the Museum of American Finance in New York City.

As the award’s name suggests, honorees are selected due to their extraordinary efforts to advance the cause of simpler, smarter tax policy in the previous year. New York’s reforms in 2014 reduced unnecessary complexity in the corporate tax base and lowered the corporate income tax rate to the lowest level since 1968 (read more on the reform bill). As these reforms phase in, New York’s ranking on the State Business Tax Climate Index will improve from 50th to 48th and its corporate tax system will improve from 25th place to 4th best in the nation.

“New York’s efforts mark a tremendous step towards reforming one of the least competitive tax codes in the nation,” said Joseph Henchman, Vice President of State Projects at the Tax Foundation. “New York’s economic successes occur because of strengths that overcome a challenging business tax environment, but with 2014’s reforms, one less obstacle will stand in the way of the economic growth in New York.”

“At a time when the gridlocked federal government is slow to enact substantive reforms, it’s encouraging to see states enacting crucial and well-crafted reforms,” added Henchman.

This year, six people will receive the award, the rest of whom will be announced next week.