This column reviews the “Annual Report on Public Authorities in New York State,” just released by the Authorities Budget Office (ABO). Its publication is probably one of Albany’s best kept secrets. more

My last two columns, “As promised: keeping tabs” (June 30 – July 6) and “Is the bloom off the rose?” (July 21-27) provided information to evaluate the session-ending accomplishments of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Two fundamental questions were raised. Has there been a real transformation in addressing the way the “people’s business” is being managed in Albany? Do our political leaders really understand that the state of New York is still headed down a path of fiscal instability and requires levels of real reform hardly evident to date? more

In 2004, the Brennan Center for Justice and New York University’s School of Law released a report describing the New York Legislature as “the most dysfunctional state [government] in the nation.” It was an excellent critique and its findings were well founded. more

People in New York state’s political arena spend a lot of time contrasting Gov. Andrew Cuomo with his father, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo. While the two sound alike and to some extent look alike, in less than six months, Andrew Cuomo has succeeded in gaining more notable victories than his father ever enjoyed in his distinguished 11 years in Albany. more

Voters in the Rockville Centre school district have approved the 2011-12 school budget of $95.7 million. In unofficial results Tuesday night, the spending plan passed with 1,956 votes, 59 percent of the ballots cast, while 1,369 residents voted against it. District officials described the voter turnout as moderate, despite periods of heavy rain during the day. more

The Rockville Centre Public Library is proposing a budget of $3.1 million, 2.9 percent larger than its current spending plan. Library Director Maureen Chiofalo says that much of the increase is … more

On Tuesday, Rockville Centre School District residents will vote on the proposed 2011-12 school budget of $95.7 million, a 2.4 percent budget-to-budget increase, the second-lowest in 19 years. The … more

It’s not easy being a Democrat these days. The president may be one, but the country is being run by Tea Party sympathizers. President Obama spends most of his time responding to the demands of a wild and crazy group of Congress members who want to turn America upside down. more

The House and Senate have finally agreed on a budget deal to keep government running through the end of the fiscal year. But just when you thought the fighting was over, it’s only just begun. more

On April 14 I will host a meeting in the Rockville Centre Public Library to discuss the need for meaningful reform with representatives from two state agencies and former Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman. more