Politics & Policy

Congressional face-off

As the Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling draws nearer, Republicans and Democrats in Congress are still far from consensus.

Rep. Nan Hayworth (N.Y.-19), a Republican, said that her party would not accept any deal that included tax increases.

“We are adamant about not raising taxes on any sector of the economy,” Hayworth told the Business Journal. “There will not be consent from the House Republican conference if tax increases are part of a deal.”

She said that many small-business owners from her district have been unable to expand their companies or add new employees, and that the only way to fix that is by putting money back in people”™s pockets by cutting spending.

“Less federal government spending will grow jobs,” she said.

In contrast, Rep. Nita Lowey (N.Y.-18), a Democrat whose district neighbors Hayworth”™s, called the demands of some Republican Party members “outrageous.”

“It is outrageous that some demand drastic cuts to critical services ”¦ at the price of preventing default,” Lowey said. “The health and finance of senior citizens and the most vulnerable Americans depend on these services.”

Lowey said that the most immediate task of Congress is to raise the debt ceiling before the deadline. The U.S. Treasury Department has said that if the limit is not raised before Aug. 2, then the country will face default on its loans.

“Number one, it”™s clear that the debt ceiling must be raised. Defaulting on the federal debt can have catastrophic effects.”

 

School bond bill vetoed

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have allowed school districts to borrow more than $1 billion through bonds to cover current pension costs.

The bonds plus interest would have been paid off over 15 years, resulting in drastic tax increases for many residents and forcing taxpayers in some cases to pay back significant levels of interest on amounts borrowed, according to a statement from the governor”™s office.

 

Hall won”™t run in 2012

Former Rep. John Hall, a Democrat who represented the state”™s 19^th District in Congress for a decade, announced that he would not run for office in 2012 to regain his former seat.

Hall was defeated by Rep. Nan Hayworth in the 2010 mid-term elections.

 

Board passes housing bill

The Westchester County Board of Legislators voted unanimously for legislation that will require universal design standards for any new residential housing units and improvements supported by county funding.

The legislation”™s approval will increase the availability of affordable and accessible housing for seniors and people with disabilities, the release stated.

 

Schwartz gets promoted

On July 8, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Larry Schwartz would replace Steven Cohen as secretary to the governor.

Schwartz had been serving as the senior adviser to the governor since the beginning of the year, where he served as the governor”™s principal negotiator for the 2011-12 budget and has helped to draft numerous other pieces of legislation, the release stated.

Cohen, who previously served Cuomo when he was the state”™s attorney general, stepped down to pursue private practice work.