Politics and policy

Lowey sees agreement on deficit reduction

Last week, Democratic U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, who represents New York”™s 18^th Congressional District, told the Business Journal that she thinks Congress will come to an agreement on a deficit reduction package in time to avoid a default on the nation”™s debt.

The U.S. Treasury Department has set Aug. 2 as the date at which the U.S. will default on its loans if no agreement is reached in Congress by that time.

“It”™s clear that Speaker (John) Boehner wants the talks to continue,” she said. “What we need is a short-term stimulus and a long-term debt reduction.”

Part of what Democrats are seeking is an end to tax loopholes and subsidies, including those that are enjoyed by the oil industry, she said.

“There is no reason that special interests have to get special tax privileges,” Lowey said, adding that closing those loopholes could save billions of dollars.

In addition, she said she opposed any cuts to unemployment benefits and Medicare spending. “We cannot cut investments in the priorities that will help the economy recover. If you cut lifelines that New Yorkers and others rely on, you are doing damage to the economy because you”™re taking money out of people”™s pockets.”

 

Clinic closings criticized

Three members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators held a joint press conference last week outside the board”™s chambers in White Plains where they criticized the poor handling of the closings of four county-run mental health clinics.

Board Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers), Community Services Committee Chairwoman Alfreda Williams (D-Greenburgh), and Community Services Committee member Bill Burton (D-Ossining) each spoke about the closing of facilities in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Mount Kisco and Peekskill.

A total of 2,000 patients needed to be transitioned to one of a dozen privately run mental health clinics as a part of the county”™s plan to phase out four of its facilities by June 30. However, as of June 28 there were more than 100 patients who had not yet been transitioned and the project was $350,000 over-budget, according to the legislators.

“There is no excuse for not doing this and not doing it right,” Burton said.

 

”˜B”™ in environmental matters

The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund”™s 2011 Legislative Progress Report gave the state Legislature a “B” grade for the progress it made on a number of environmental sustainability fronts in 2011, up from a “C” in 2010.

“Although New York missed an opportunity by not passing comprehensive solar energy legislation, the Assembly and Senate made headway in other important areas, including green jobs and making it easier to bring wind energy to New York,” Marcia Bystryn, president of the NYLCVEF, said in a release.

 

Public integrity appointment

State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the appointment of Wanda Perez-Maldonado to the newly created position of public integrity officer. Perez-Maldonado, who has worked in the attorney general”™s office since 2003, will work out of the Westchester regional office.

 

Roach names senior adviser

White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach last week announced the appointment of Karen Pasquale as “senior adviser to the mayor.” Pasquale, who served as an aide to former Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, will inherit responsibilities including government relations, economic development, city operations and policy planning.