Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his 2019 agenda on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018
ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo will deliver his annual budget address on Tuesday in Albany.
The schedule was revealed Thursday. Cuomo said the speech, which also serves as this year’s State of the State address, will be held in the Empire State Plaza convention center.
Cuomo indicated that he plans on using his executive budget proposal to address any items in his agenda that the state Legislature doesn’t initiate on its own.
He laid out 20 priorities in an address last month, including legalizing recreational use of marijuana, criminal justice reform and environmental investments and initiatives.
The budget could be one of the first stumbling blocks for the Democrats in control of state government, as there is a faction of far-left state legislators who want to dramatically increase state spending on education and they also support higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers.
The governor is opposed to both policies, and has predicted there will also be resistance from newly elected state senators in the suburbs and Long Island.
Once the governor releases his budget the state legislature will have until March 31 to finalize it.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers, who control the Senate and the Assembly, are wasting no time moving long-stalled progressive measures through the Legislature.
In addition to voting reforms, both houses are expected next week to take up bills focusing on Election reform, ending the LLC loophole used to circumvent campaign finance limits, banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and banning conversion therapy – a discredited practice of trying to change someone’s gender or sexual orientation.
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