'People First' Campaign Kicks Off

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to kick-off a statewide campaign on Tuesday, which will see him travelling throughout the state to talk to residents about the “issues that can move this state forward.”

The campaign, entitled “People First,” gets going in Syracuse at the Onondaga Community College, where the governor is expected to speak about ethics reform, a property tax cap, and marriage equality.

“"We need to pass a property tax cap, ethics reform, and marriage equality during this legislative session,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “The clock is ticking, but when the people speak, the politicians will listen. We will assemble a broad coalition of New Yorkers to support this agenda and work tirelessly to get it passed in Albany.”

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Court of Appeals Reinstates Cigarette Taxes on Indian Nations

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd District nullified parts of a 2010 injunction that prevents New York State from collecting taxes on cigarettes sold on reservations to non-tribal members.

The court rejected the Seneca nation, Mohawk tribe, Cayuga nation and Unkechauge nation’s arguments that the taxation would interfere with their sovereignty and cause an economic burden. The Indian nations have vowed to continue fighting to prevent the taxation.

There is no indication when the New York  Department of Taxation will begin collecting the millions in taxes they are likely to earn from the unanimous decision.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

N.Y. Lawmakers Say Victims Should Get bin Laden Bounty

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York lawmakers say the $50 million bounty offered for the capture or death of Osama bin Laden should be paid to the first responders, survivors, and familes of 9/11 victims.

Democratic Congressmen Anthony Weiner and Jerrold Nadler say that if the reward money isn't paid out to an individual -- and it remains unclear if anyone is in fact entitled to it following the U.S. Navy SEALs raid that killed bin Laden -- then it should be given to organizations that look after the families and victims of the September 11 attacks.

Senator Charles Schumer says the money should be used to improve security on trains or as bounties for other wanted terrorists.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

NY Awarded Over $350 Million in Federal Funds for Rail Projects

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- The state of New York has been awarded over $350 million in federal funding for high-speed rail projects across the state.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the state a total of $354.4 million that will go towards funding three rail projects. The award comes after Cuomo wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in April, asking that New York be given any federal high-speed rail money that was rejected by other states.

The three projects to benefit from the funding are: Northeast Corridor Congestion Relief -- Harold Interlocking ($295 million); Empire Corridor Capacity Improvements ($58 million); and Empire Corridor West -- Rochester Intermodal Station ($1.4 million).

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Schumer Calls For Do-Not Ride List

(NEW YORK) -- New York Senator Charles Schumer called for greater security on the U.S. railway system after intelligence gathered at Osama Bin Laden’s compound indicated that al Qaeda planned rail attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2011.

Schumer said a “do not ride” list for Amtrak riders should be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security. This measure would be similar to the no-fly list for airplanes. He also recommended increased funding for monitoring the vast network of rail lines across the country.

According to ABC News, 40 percent of the 140,000 miles of freight and passenger track in the United States do not have an automatic monitoring system. Steve Kulm, an Amtrak spokesman, said though they have inspectors on the Northeast Corridor tracks, they do not necessarily monitor every mile of track every day.

"Most of the time the railroad is unprotected, hundreds and hundreds of miles at a stretch," said Kevin Lynch, a retired freight rail police chief who consults on railroad police practices.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Bill Clinton Urges Lawmakers to Legalize Gay Marriage

(NEW YORK) -- Former President Bill Clinton urged New York lawmakers to legalize gay marriage on Thursday.

After the state legislature shot down a gay marriage bill in 2009, advocates have grown hopeful that with Gov. Cuomo's support of the cause, the bill might pass this year. Clinton has openly endorsed the Human Rights Campaign, which has gained media attention due to several of its celebrity endorsements. 

A gay marriage rally in Albany has been organized for Monday.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Property Tax Cap Will Affect Local Governments

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo is going on a statewide tour next week to promote his agenda on property taxes, same-sex marriage and ethics reform. Cuomo’s proposed two percent property tax cap is receiving mixed reviews.

While Republican legislators are pushing for the cap, school boards and local governments across the state are against the tax because it will force them to make spending cuts. They say relief is needed to avoid any service cuts.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Poll: NYers Against Donald Trump's Presidential Run

(NEW YORK) -- Most New Yorkers don't like the idea of Donald Trump running for president, according to a new NY1-YNN/Marist poll. 

The study says 75 percent of voters disapprove of Trump's presidential run, while 24 percent are in favor.

Trump isn't the only one New Yorkers don't want to see make a run for the White House. Seventy-six percent say they disapprove of former Governor George Pataki, while 66 percent oppose New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Mayor Michael Bloomberg got 64 percent and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani notched 60 percent.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

CEOs: New York Among the Worst States to Do Business

(GREENWICH, Conn.) -- According to Chief Executive magazine's annual "Best & Worst States," CEOs rated New York as the second worst state in the country to do business, slightly ahead of California.

Close to 550 CEOs across the nation were surveyed on various factors related to conducting business in a given state, such as regulations, tax policies, education resources, and workforce quality.

Texas was voted the best state to conduct business for the seventh straight year.

Rounding out the top five were North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Cuomo Will Tour State to Promote Reform

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- On Wednesday Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a statement a statewide tour to promote his message for reform in ethics, property taxes and same-sex marriage.

The "People First Tour" will begin next week and focus on Cuomo’s top priorities for the last six weeks of the state legislative session.

"From the early days of my campaign, I have said we need to bring the people back into government," Governor Cuomo said. "That is what we did during the budget process and we achieved historic reform. Now, we must do it again in order to keep moving forward. The people want their property taxes capped, they want Albany cleaned up through real ethics reform, and they want marriage equality. We are going to engage the people of this state to build a broad coalition behind this agenda so that these reforms are not just talked about but actually passed this session."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio