Westchester County Executive, Rob Astorino (scheduled to speak at our conference in Albany [more details at www.cpnys.org]) has an informative article in today's NY Post on how NY's Labor Law is choking NY's government. Bill Hammond writes in the NY Daily News that Cuomo must break public unions' grip over New York. The Buffalo News prints Russell Sykes article on the same issue: Drop Triborough Amendment to control expenses.

Early analysis from Liz Benjamin on NYS Budget proposal here. Tobacco gets taxed again. Expect non-profits to howl. State Agencies to merge. A look at Agency appropriations (last year and this year) here. So far, have not seen anything on possible new pension. Take a look at this, they say a picture is worth a thousand words....this is real money to be saved by taxpayers.
Background on the budget and process is provided by Robert B. Ward.

It is only January and this presidential election year is in full bloom as President Obama heads to Church, Valerie Jarrett blasts republicans from the pulpit and President Obama likes the benefits from Marcellus Shale hydrofracking.

This is disturbing news: nearly half of U. S. lives in households receiving government benefits.
Does this make you proud, Mr. President? How will all those families feel when you make an announcement on Thursday from Disney World? If they had a job maybe they would be able to plan a trip there, instead of you opting to expand VISAs for non-citizens to go to Disney World to help tourism.

We can thank President Obama for one thing....William McGurn explains.

Tuesdays with Thomas Sowell.