Friday Morning Brief Jan 17, 2025

Jan 16

*Courtesy of Office of Assemblymember Pamela Hunter*

Member Spotlight Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter

Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter joins us to discuss her Central New York-based district, priorities, and her new role as the Speaker Pro Tempore. Dedicating her life to public service, she served in the US Army after graduating high school and then served her community in the Syracuse Common Council. She also served her community through participating in various nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels and Home Aides of Central New York. She is currently the Speaker Pro Tempore and Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Women Veterans. She also serves on various committees, such as on Insurance, Rules, and Ways and Means.

What district do you represent? Can you describe it for those that have never been there? What do you like the most about your district?
I represent the 128thAssembly District which encompasses the towns of Dewitt, Salina, Onondaga, the Onondaga Nation and a portion of the City of Syracuse. What I like most about the district I represent is its diversity. I represent urban areas in the City of Syracuse, the suburbs surrounding the city and even rural farmland in parts of the Town of Onondaga. I also represent the Onondaga Nation territory. Because of this, I have gotten to know and advocate for people from all walks of life.

What did you do before becoming a legislator?
After high school, I served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. After three years, I was honorably discharged with a commendation medal and two achievement medals. When I returned home, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Strayer College in Washington D.C. with concentrations in Human Resources and Computer Information Systems.
I moved to Syracuse in 1998 and became active in my community by working with various local nonprofits, serving as a board member for AccessCNY, Catholic Charities, Meals on Wheels, Home Aides of Central New York and the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency. Prior to being elected to the New York State Assembly in 2015, I served on the Syracuse Common Council for three years and chaired the Public Safety Committee.

Did your experience in the US Army benefit you down the road? Did it impact your political view/outlook?
My service in the Army instilled in me a greater sense of personal accountability and self-discipline; the importance of keeping your word and doing what you said you would do. I also learned the value of punctuality and respecting people’s time.

Being the only female veteran in the NYS Assembly has certainly impacted the way I approach my role as a legislator. Throughout my time in the Assembly, I’ve made veterans and active duty service members a top priority. I’ve introduced several pieces of legislation to make life easier for returning veterans and their families and focus a great deal of my efforts in the district toward reaching out to veterans and the local organizations that serve them.

My experience in the Army was also a perfect precursor to becoming Speaker Pro Tempore. Speaker Heastie referenced my time presiding over Majority Conference meetings during the pandemic and I aim to bring that sense of order and respect to this new position as I preside over floor activity and debates.

Why did you get into politics? What made you want to be a legislator and what is your favorite part of being a legislator?
Public service has always been important to me. It is part of the reason I enlisted in the Army and why I worked for years with various nonprofit organizations throughout Central New York. Politics, however, was not something I ever planned on pursuing but felt compelled to run for City Council the more I noticed the needs of my community not being met. I wanted to do more to create better opportunities and safer neighborhoods for my son and all children to grow up in. After three years in City Hall, I believed I could make an even greater impact by serving in the New York State Assembly where I’ve worked to address issues like housing insecurity, access to quality education and access to greater economic opportunities.

My favorite part of being a legislator is being able to make a tangible difference in the lives of my neighbors, whether that’s for something small, like providing funds to repave a sidewalk or something more significant such as working to provide more affordable housing.

What kind of music do you like - any favorite bands/artists?
I like listening to music that will put me in a good mood or keep my spirits up, especially on the drive to or from Albany. I’m a big fan of older Reggae music and I listen to Bob Marley and the Wailers. I also love the 80s channel on Sirius XM.

Central New York is home to so many festivals and events where you can enjoy live music from local artists. I had the chance to see two of my favorite local bands, The Blacklites and Atlas, perform during the Jazz in the City concert series this past summer.

How about sports - any favorite NY sports team and any favorite sports/activities to play?
Even though Syracuse University isn’t technically in my district, I still bleed orange. I always follow our SU sports teams. I also represent the Onondaga Nation territory, which is home to one of the greatest Lacrosse teams in the entire world, the Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse team! I’m also a huge boxing fan and have made multiple trips to the National Boxing Hall of Fame with my husband, a former Golden Glove boxer.

Favorite foods? Any favorite places to eat in your district?
Central New York is home to some incredible restaurants! There is never a shortage of great spots to go for a delicious meal: Munjed’s on Westcott Street has incredible Middle Eastern food. Heid’s in Liverpool is a community staple.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Because work requires me to be away in Albany for a good portion of the year, I really value my time at home with family. I’m also an avid reader. I get lost in multiple books every week, when time allows.

What are/is your greatest/proudest legislative achievement(s) from the past legislative session?
For this most recent session my proudest legislative achievement was probably passing the bill to expand additional screenings for breast cancer, which in a way built upon my biomarker test coverage bill from the prior year. When physicians are working to comprehensively diagnose and treat an illness, time is of the essence, especially when it comes to cancer. These bills set reasonable standards to improve coverage and I am hopeful to see improved outcomes for patients.

Any favorite priority/issues throughout your legislative career?
Housing. Since first arriving in Albany nearly a decade ago, housing has been one of my top priorities. With almost every top issue discussed among my colleagues, a lack of affordable housing is something that exacerbates the problem. As affordability remains a top concern for most households, inflation in rent has been the most burdensome. The number of rent burdened households was alarming when I first entered office, but now there is no denying it is a full crisis. In addressing this issue, I’m not only interested in the vital tenant protection and rent discussions, but also securing affordable pathways to first-time homeownership.

What was the most challenging piece of legislation/policy that you worked on this past year?
Unless I’m sponsoring a routine extender, almost every piece of legislation I sponsor presents its own unique challenges. From a policy perspective, I am proud of the work I did chairing the Assembly Banks Committee. While I only chaired the committee for two years, my staff and I were able to get a lot done. It came at a time when a handful of banks were failing, new innovations were gaining traction in the fintech space and a burgeoning cannabis industry was largely unbanked. I feel that I was able to navigate these issues and elevate the committee to rise to the circumstances. While I am immensely grateful for the new responsibilities of Speaker Pro Tempore, I am also happy to have had my recent experience navigating banking policy.

As the new Speaker Pro Tempore, what issue/priorities do you see arising this year?
We have a big session ahead of us and I am somewhat hesitant to speculate on exactly how it will go. Inflation and affordability will continue to dominate discussions and there are a lot of open questions at the national level. However things go, my highest priority will be to serve my constituents, and I have been working on affordability issues for as long as I’ve been in office. With renewed attention on affordability and kitchen table issues, I am hopeful we can deliver real tangible benefits and opportunities to those that are most in need.

As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Women Veterans, what priorities do you think is important to focus on this year?
For many years, veteran services have mainly focused on men, but we know the proportion of women serving in the armed forces is growing each year. Elevating the Division of Veterans Services to a department created new avenues to better serve this population and I would like to continue to build on that progress. Veterans can find themselves in many troubling circumstances, but when it comes to women veterans, we’ll be taking a closer look at mental health services, housing stability and childcare needs.

What is your office going to focus on at the beginning of this year's legislative session?
In the Albany office, we are focused on working on our legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Again, that largely includes housing and other issues that have material impacts on households. At my district office, we are focused on constituent services, which takes many forms. My staff is always working to support residents in our district. They do everything from helping people obtain unemployment benefits to assisting individuals experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.

What are your priorities/goals for this year?
With the economic situation as it is, I’ll be focusing on what brings immediate relief to struggling New Yorkers. It’s unacceptable to me that some people from my district have come to me explaining how they’ve had a 100% increase in the cost of rent while there’s a hole in the ceiling. Syracuse actually had rent increasing at some of the highest rates in the state, even outpacing New York City in terms of percentage increases. The cost of living is out of control and I will be working with my colleagues during the budget process and through legislation to bring some relief.

What advice would you give to young folks getting into politics?
Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged or disheartened by the spectacle of national politics today. Most of what happens in government isn’t what we see on TV or social media. It’s about public service. Serving your community is still a noble endeavor and we desperately need service-minded individuals to step forward and run for office.

Any last comments you want to mention?
While this is outside of my direct legislative responsibilities in New York, I also wanted to invite collaboration in my capacity as the incoming President of the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL). In that role, I have been vetting policy to improve the insurance experience for New Yorkers, which has also been a pain point in terms of premium inflation. I will be in the position for one year, so if it is something any readers are interested in, I would love to see a great New York based turnout to our periodic meetings.

I would also like to say that after a long off-session period I am excited to get back to work in Albany. My new Speaker Pro Tempore position will likely present new challenges, but it also provides new opportunities to work with my colleagues to deliver for the people of New York. I look forward to a productive session and seeing everyone back in the halls of the Capitol.

Are you a public official or staffer that would like to be featured in our spotlight? If so, reach out to your favorite D&A team member or contact us at team@dickinsonavella.com to set up an interview!

Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

2025 State of the State Address

On Tuesday, Governor Hochul gave her fourth State of the State address at the Egg Performing Arts Center. The address came after President-elect Trump and the Republican Party had a strong showing throughout the state during the November general election, publicized subway crimes, and affordability being a top issue for voters. In her 2025 State of the State book, Hochul outlined affordability, public safety, and mental health as three of her top priorities for this year.

Affordability

Profiled as her first State of the State proposal back in December, Hochul plans to deliver $3 billion in direct payments to around 8.6 million residents, with $300 to single taxpayers who make up to $150,000 per year and a payment of $500 for joint tax filers making up to $300,000 per year. Hochul also proposes to implement a $1 billion tax cut, which would impact 77% of all taxpayers in the state. As part of her affordability agenda, Hochul also plans to increase the child tax credit, universal free school meals, and create a joint public-private partnership to find a path for universal childcare.

Public Safety

On public safety, Hochul expresses her support for reforming the state’s discovery laws to give more power to the prosecutors. As part of her agenda to reform the state’s discovery laws, Hochul proposes to “streamline” the discovery process by separating the discovery laws from the state’s speedy trial law and certifying discovery compliance before prosecutors obtain subpoenas. To address the recently publicized subway crimes, Hochul proposes to ban individuals convicted of assaulting riders or MTA personnel from using the subways. Notably, Hochul throw her support behind reforming the involuntary commitment law to help people who do not “possess the mental capacity to care for themselves, such as refusing help with the basics: clothing, food, shelter, medical care.”

Mental Health

In addition to supporting reforming the state’s involuntary commitment laws, Hochul also proposes to strengthen Kendra’s Law by mandating outpatient treatment ordered by a judge and investing more funds into counties for Assisted Outpatient Treatment programs. While Hochul’s public safety and mental health initiatives stem from recent publicized fears of violent crimes on the subways, it remains to be seen if the leaders of the Legislature will adopt Hochul’s initiatives. “The hell is in the details,” explained Speaker Carl Heastie.

MTA

After expressing support for the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan and the leaders of the Legislature rejecting it, Hochul reiterates her support for the plan. While not detailing her key funding proposals for the MTA, she proposes installing modern signal systems on some train lines and a plan for a Subway Phase 2 extension for the Second Ave station. The issue of how to properly fund the MTA after the implementation of congestion pricing is poised to be a big sticking point between Hochul and the leaders of the Legislature.

Healthcare

For her healthcare agenda for 2025, abortion access and reproductive health are to be her central focus amidst the incoming Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress. In addition to abortion access and reproductive health, Hochul also proposes to increase the scope of practice for non-physicians to increase access to healthcare in healthcare deserts. In hopes of lowering prescription drug costs, Hochul is proposing that the state work with other states to bring down the cost of Ozempic and implement a form of prescription importation plan with Canada.

Education

On education, Hochul proposes to provide free community college for adults aged 25 to 55. Notably, Hochul supports restrictions on in-class cellphone use and hinted at new proposals to incentivize kids to use less of their phones outside the classroom as part of her “Unplug and Play” Initiative. However, Hochul did not mention her plans to change the Foundation Aid formula for school funding, although it is expected that any major changes to the Foundation Aid formula would result in backlash from various lawmakers.

Environment

While the state’s Cap-and-Invest program is set to roll out its draft regulations later this year, Hochul did not mention the program. The book also only mentions that the DEC and NYSERDA “will take steps forward on developing the cap-and-invest program, proposing new reporting regulations by the end of this year.” Hochul said that she plans to increase the use of nuclear energy in the state by proposing a Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development.

Other notable proposals from the State of the State include:

Pro-Housing Infrastructure Fund
A new State Office of Innovation and Efficiency
On-Site Supportive Housing Investments
Algorithmic Price Discrimination

Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

The day before the 2025 State of the State Address, Hochul held her first State of the State for Future Leaders with high school and community college students at Hudson Valley Community College. At the SotS for Future Leaders, Hochul laid out her youth mental health and higher education agenda, including investing in youth mental health in after-school programs, developing safe spaces, and launching a College-in-High School Opportunity Fund. The SotS for Future Leaders builds upon Hochul’s commitment to investing in high school and college students and reiterates her support for expanding mental health services for youth. “New York’s next generation of leaders deserves the full range of resources it takes to get ahead,” explained Hochul

Yesterday, Hochul announced the start of construction of a 256-unit affordable housing development in Binghamton at Town and County Apartments. The $94 million housing project is expected to renovate units in the existing 22-building garden-style complex, and the newly renovated units will be reserved for 60% or less of the area’s median income. The construction is part of Homes and Community Renewal’s existing implementation of creating more than 1,200 affordable housing units in Broome County. This directly supports Hochul’s $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes in the state and builds upon her commitment to expand the housing supply to lower the cost of buying or renting a home.

Amidst the wildfires in California, Hochul announced that a team of 10 DEC Forest Rangers was sent to California to help contain the wildfires near Los Angeles. The wildfires in California have so far killed an estimated 25 people, burned more than 40,000 acres, and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings. The DEC Forest Rangers being sent to California is part of the regular state’s effort to assist combat wildfires in other states and nations as part of interstate and international firefighting compacts. “New York’s expert wildland firefighting Forest Rangers were eager to answer the call and will do what they can to help in response to the extraordinary devastation in and around Los Angeles. I thank them for their bravery and look forward to their safe return,” said Hochul.

Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday, Hochul announced that the state’s annual commemoration of MLK will be presented as a statewide broadcast event, “We Press On: New York State Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” on PBS stations and on Empire Plaza website. The annual commemoration of MLK, coordinated by OGS, highlights MLK’s work and contributions to social justice. Later today, a special showing of the broadcast event will be showcased at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center at 5:30 PM. “This year’s film tribute to Dr. King shares the stories of some remarkable New Yorkers who uphold his legacy in their communities and strive towards a more just and equitable future for our state,” said Hochul.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Next week, the Legislature is scheduled to be in session on Tuesday to Wednesday
The Executive Budget is due on Tuesday, January 21st.

Courtesy of Office of Assemblymember Pamela Hunter

Assemblymember Pam Hunter as the New Voice of the Assembly

Assemblymember Pam Hunter has been appointed Speaker Pro Tempore, succeeding former Assemblymember Jeff Aubry as the "Voice of the Assembly". During Tuesday's session, Heastie explained that Hunter was chosen for the position because of “how well she moved our [Democratic] Conference, particularly during the [Covid-19] Pandemic.” As Speaker Pro Tempore, Hunter will now preside over the Assembly on each session day, overseeing floor proceedings and debate.

Leaders of the Legislature on Hochul's State of the State Address

After Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Carl Heastie expressed support for Hochul. While not explicitly supporting all of Hochul’s proposals, Heastie explained that Hochul “touched on everything that people have been concerned about.” “Looking at the budget will tell its own story, but I think it’s a good start,” said Stewart-Cousins. However, the leaders of the Legislature did not mention if the state has the necessary revenue to pay for all of Hochul’s proposals, including the proposed Inflation Refunds and a $1 billion tax cut for mostly middle-class families. “I’ve got to put the shopping list together and figure out where we go,” explained Heastie.

Republican Leaders on Hochul's State of the State

Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay applauded some of Hochul’s 2025 State of the State proposals, explaining, “It was encouraging to hear several Assembly Republican proposals referenced in Gov. Hochul’s State of the State Address – inflation relief, public safety, and child care accessibility.” However, Barclay warned that Hochul’s proposals would result in new taxes and the state need to “rein in out-of-control state spending.” Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt published an op-ed criticizing Hochul’s proposals as “More spending and bureaucracy.” “Gov. Hochul’s State of the State address Tuesday was another display of empty promises and political posturing,” explained Ortt.

Aung Hset/D&A

Senate Passes Annual Elections "Democracy Day" Legislative Package

This year, Senate Democrats introduced and passed their annual election legislative package. This year’s election legislative package focuses on securing election integrity, protecting election workers, easing voting and voter registration restrictions, and improving the state’s election infrastructure. “This comprehensive package of legislation protects the integrity of our elections while supporting the dedicated workers who make them possible,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins explained. Some of the bills in this year’s legislative package include:

Back-End Automatic Voter Registration: would upgrade automatic voter registration by utilizing a “back-end” registration model to make voter registration easier
Crimes of Voter Deception and Suppression: would prohibit deceptive practices to combat voter suppression
ERIC Bill: would authorize the state’s Board of Election to join the multi-state Electronic Registration Information Center
Democracy Preservation Act: would ban political spending by foreign-based business entities in state and local elections

With the bills in the legislative package passed by the Senate, the bills would need to be passed by the Assembly before heading to Hochul’s desk for a signature or veto.

Senate Republicans Unveil "Liberate New York" Legislative Agenda

In addition to the 2025 State of the State address, Senate Republicans unveiled this year’s “Liberate New York” agenda. The agenda would focus on:

Affordability & Economic Opportunity
Safer and Healthier New York
End New York’s Migrant Crisis
Protect Students and Defend Parental Rights
Call for Government Accountability and Responsibility

While more details of the agenda would be unveiled in the coming weeks, Senate Republicans explained that the main priority of the agenda is to lower the state’s out-migration by reducing taxes, addressing public safety, and lowering the cost of living. Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt explained that the current Democratic leadership has led to “endless taxes, migrant spending, and out-of-touch energy mandates,” and Senator Jake Ashby said that the Senate Republican agenda is “a comprehensive plan to drive down housing and childcare costs, cut utility bills, and restore public safety.”

Lawmakers Criticize Hochul on Lack of Environmental Policies

In response to Hochul’s silence on the Cap-and-Invest Program during her State of the State address as a nod to delay the program, various lawmakers criticized Hochul. Senate Energy Chair Kevin Parker said that Hochul and her team “haven’t talked to anybody… haven’t had hearings, they don’t know what the community thinks, [and] they haven’t talked to the Legislature with their ideas about it.” Cap-and-Invest would mandate companies to buy credits from the state for its emissions of greenhouse gases, and the funds collected from the program would be given back to taxpayers as rebates. The program was originally planned to begin rolling out later this year.

Senate Environmental Conservation Chair Pete Harckham and Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger also publically expressed dismay at Hochul’s silence on other environmental policies, such as the Heat Act. On Wednesday, Hochul explained that she is waiting for “the right information” and she is “not letting [climate mandates] unfunded. I think that’s an important distinction to make here.”

Assemblymember Chris Tague Potentially Chosen to Run for Elise Stefanik's Seat

With Congressmember Elise Stefanik expected to be the Ambassador to the UN, Assemblymember Chris Tague is emerging to be the GOP pick to run for Stefanik’s congressional district in a special election. Tague has previously said that he has been “very much been part of the process to find a successor” to Stefanik’s seat. Alongside Tague, Liz Joy is another GOP favorite to run for Stefanik’s seat. Tague was first elected to the Assembly in 2018 and is currently the ranking member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture.

OTHER UPDATES

Senator James Skoufis Drops Out of Race for DNC Chair

Yesterday, Senator James Skoufis dropped out of the race for DNC Chair and endorsed Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin. Skoufis said Martin “is laser-focused on winning” and will “re-center what is most important for our party: expanding the map and rebuilding our once-big Democratic tent.” Skoufis, long seen as a long-shot and an outsider, explained that Martin shares the same view of the Democratic Party as him and will “shed our elitist reputation, deliver for the working class, and return us to electoral dominance” if Martin is elected as Chair.

Trump Taps Brandon Williams to Lead Nuclear Security and Energy

Yesterday, President-elect Trump announced that he will nominate former Congressmember Brandon Williams as the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. Williams represented the Syracuse-based congressional district until former Senator John Mannion defeated Williams in the November general election. Williams’ appointment by Trump comes after it has been rumored that Williams will be given a post in the Trump administration after his loss to Mannion. “If and when confirmed by the Senate, I will be honored to lead the tremendous scientific and engineering talent at NNSA,” said Williams.

Eric Adams Unveils $114.5 Preliminary Budget

Yesterday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced a $114.5 Preliminary Budget, a $2 billion higher than the Enacted Budget adopted by the City Council last year. Adams explained that budget growth resulted from $3 billion in savings from higher tax revenues. However, Adams explained, “We cannot anticipate the impacts of the incoming federal administration on our city.” This year's Preliminary Budget does not include any potential budget cuts, marking a departure from Adams’ previous Preliminary Budgets. “Strong fiscal management, combined with our investments in making this a safer, more affordable city, is allowing us to make New York City the best place to raise a family,” explained Adams. Some of the proposals in the Preliminary Budget include:

$554 million in new unhoused shelter funding
$64.2 million for supportive housing
$241 million for the MTA
Abolish NYC Personal Income tax for working-class families
$170 billion for a 10-Year Capital Plan to upgrade infrastructure for roads, bridges, schools, water and sewer facilities, libraries, and transportation systems

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