http://www.balconynewyork.com Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:20:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Says Recommendations Reflect Sound Public Policy and a Viable Proposal for Maintaining Region’s Transit System Asks Counsel to Draft Implementing Legislation Governor David A. Paterson today accepted the final report of the Ravitch Commission on Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Financing. The report provides recommendations on how to ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/12/04/governor-paterson-accepts-final-report-from-the-commission-on-metropolitan-transportation-authority-financing/ by Reed Abelson For these economically uncertain times, the UnitedHealth Group has a “first of its kind” product: the right to buy an individual health policy at some point in the future even if you become sick. Called UnitedHealth Continuity, the product is not actual medical insurance, but is aimed at people ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/12/03/unitedhealth-to-insure-the-right-to-insurance/ Wall Street’s Shift from Investment Banking Model Will Lower Industry Profits The financial crisis could cost New York State and New York City 225,000 jobs and $6.5 billion in securities industry-related tax revenue over the next two years, according a report released today by New York ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/24/dinapoli-report-wall-street%e2%80%99s-transformation-will-lead-to-lower-tax-revenues-continued-job-losses/ OPINION By Sandra Cassese Would you recognize the face of the uninsured in America? It's the 22-year-old recent college graduate who is no longer covered under a parent's insurance plan, the 45-year-old professional who is between jobs and cannot afford high-priced continuation coverage, the single parents who can get government-backed ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/24/my-view-access-to-health-care-is-a-life-and-death-issue-for-cancer-patients/ By William Neuman Deep cuts in subway, bus and commuter rail service could come as early as spring, followed by a double-digit rise in fares and tolls in June, transportation officials said on Thursday as they revealed a gloom-and-doom budget that came with a “cry for help” to elected officials to ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/24/mta-warns-of-service-cuts-and-fare-increases/ -Thompson also endorses resurrection of commuter tax for a combined potential revenue of more than $1.8 billion annually- In a move designed to meet New York City’s pressing transit fiscal needs, New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today unveiled a plan to impose a weight-based registration fee on private ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/24/thompson-plan-regional-weight-based-fees-on-private-commercial-vehicles-to-generate-transit-revenue/ By James T. Madore Gov. David A. Paterson is warning that next year's budget will be "grim," with retrenchment virtually everywhere, from schools and hospitals to building projects and social welfare agencies. The cuts will probably be deeper because of last week's failure by Paterson and lawmakers to close a $2-billion hole ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/24/tackling-nys-growing-budget-deficit-a-grim-task/ By Malcolm A. Smith Gov. David Paterson's proposals for significant cuts to the state budget are a prudent acknowledgment that our nation's economic problems and the continuing crisis on Wall Street will force big changes in the way we do business in Albany. We're going to have to slash state spending. We're ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/20/recovery-means-a-hand-from-dc/ By Rick Karlin Amid crisis, state pays $21,000 for mansion rug Gov. David Paterson's energetic response to the state budget crisis has been the hallmark of his tenure, but even as he was ordering state agencies to cut their spending and warning of even tougher times ahead, his Office of General Services ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/20/purchase-of-turkish-carpet-takes-taxpayers-for-a-ride/ By James T. Madore and Juliann Vachon Unable to reach agreement with lawmakers on the budget deficit, Gov. David A. Paterson said yesterday he would act unilaterally while preparing next year's fiscal plan. "There are some ways that I can still undertake, and will, to try to save the state further money," ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/20/paterson-makes-small-dent-in-lowering-deficit/ By Irene Jay Liu Gov. David Paterson may have sounded the alarm on the state's fiscal crisis, but it was drowned out Tuesday by partisan bickering and political rhetoric from state leaders, who did nothing to address the state's looming $1.5 billion budget deficit in what was supposed to be a ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/19/political-gridlock-persists/ By Kenneth Lovett and Glenn Blain A special fix-the-budget session fizzled Tuesday as Gov. Paterson and legislative leaders fought and bickered, but did nothing to remedy the fiscal crisis. "If it looks like a dysfunctional government and it acts like a dysfunctional government, it may actually be one," a frustrated Paterson said ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/19/no-budget-fix-as-gov-paterson-pols-only-bicker/ Albany-Members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) carried signs that read “We’re All In This Together,” as they listened to speeches from groups concerned about how the state intends to close a growing multi-billion dollar budget gap. Full Story: Better Budget http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/18/pef-joins-hundreds-at-%e2%80%9cbetter-budget%e2%80%9d-rally/ BALCONY Co-Chair Alan Lubin was honored for his work on behalf of the Medicare Rights Center Wednesday Night November 12th in New York. Lubin is seated in middle of photo along with other BALCONY supporters, Peter Slocum of the American Cancer Society (lower left) and attorney Jeffrey Krinsk (lower right) ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/14/balcony-co-chair-alan-lubin-honored/ View these important PSAs:  Insurance http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/14/uninsured-young-adults-forum-psas-available-for-viewing/ Paterson's plan set for release today has "reductions across virtually every area of state spending" By Casey Seiler and James M. Odato Gov. David Paterson will unveil $2 billion in budget cuts this morning, less than a week before the Legislature returns for a special session to address the state's ballooning deficit. The ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/12/sharing-the-pain-in-2b-cuts/   Groups Providing Critical State Services Call on Paterson to Stop Exempting Wealthy New Yorkers from Budget Pain and to Use the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund to Fill the Gap!   (Albany, N.Y)— On the day Governor Paterson is announcing billions in budget cuts, the Better Choice Budget Campaign and the ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/12/over-200-non-profits-service-providers-unions-and-faith-based-groups-to-governor-paterson-cuts-alone-will-devastate-new-york%e2%80%99s-future/ Statement by Alan Lubin and Bruce Ventimiglia, Co-Chairmen of BALCONY, The Business and Labor Coalition of New York. The Wall Street Meltdown was not created by working men and women and they must not be forced to bear the brunt of New York State’s Budget Crisis. Destruction of the public ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/11/working-men-and-women-must-not-bear-the-burden-of-nys-budget-crisis/ By Valerie BaumanThree of New York's most powerful public employee unions say they won't reopen contracts to any concessions despite the state's fiscal crisis, delivering an early blow to Gov. David Paterson's plans to fill a $2 billion deficit next week. "I don't see any local leader wanting to come ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/11/ny-public-worker-unions-oppose-reopening-contracts/ By Danny HakimSAN JUAN, P.R. — Gov. David A. Paterson said in an interview on Sunday that he would almost certainly seek billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, as well as midyear reductions in school aid, to address New York’s worsening fiscal condition. He also said he expected to ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/10/paterson-says-schools-and-medicaid-face-cuts/ By Frederic U. Dicker Gov. Paterson is heading for his first major defeat, as lawmakers appear likely to reject his $2 billion in proposed state spending cuts aimed at containing a ballooning budget deficit, The Post learned yesterday.Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau), smarting over last week's loss of majority control ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/10/pols-poised-to-bust-govs-budget-chops/ By Teresa Heinz Kerry and Jeffrey Lewis Political consultants and the media began creating labels for women voters eight years ago. First, it was the Soccer Mom, a symbol of the stress and rewards of prosperous women raising active children. Next was the Security Mom, a symbol of our nation's fears ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/06/waitress-moms-now-need-real-help-not-just-more-promises/ By Clare Trapasso Workers at a chain of city-supported Queens day care centers who said they were fired after forming a union are fighting to get their jobs back. But a company official denied they were let go due to union activities. Annette Olivero and 17 other Books & Rattles workers said they ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/04/fired-day-care-workers-fighting-hard-to-get-their-jobs-back/ By Valerie Bauman New York Gov. David Paterson is ruling out borrowing as state leaders try to close a $1.5 billion budget gap in the last five months of the fiscal year. Paterson says he fears rating agencies would downgrade the state's credit standing if New York used loans to address the ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/11/04/ny-gov-opposes-borrowing-to-bolster-budget/ Paterson, testifying before House committee, says government must pass an economic stimulus package to provide financial relief to states By Juliann Vachon As New York faces mounting budget shortfalls and a national financial crisis, Gov. David A. Paterson called on Congress yesterday for immediate aid, saying the federal government should help states ... http://www.balconynewyork.com/2008/10/30/governor-calls-for-federal-help/