The Vito Lopez scandal is now starting to spill over into policy debates. Opponents of public campaign finance are bringing up Lopez's planned city council run in their arguments against using taxpayer money to fund campaigns. As Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman explains, supporters of the Women's Equality Agenda are also using the case as a call for reform.
05/17/2013 08:04 PM
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The House Ways and Means Committee convened a hearing into the scandal surrounding the IRS. There are allegations the IRS targeted conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. Former acting director Steven Miller testified, saying he's sorry for the way the agency mistreated taxpayers and groups. Michael Scotto has more.
05/17/2013 07:40 PM
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State Assemblyman Vito Lopez announced Friday he intends to resign at the end of this year's legislative session on June 20th. The decision comes just days after a special prosecutor cleared the Brooklyn lawmaker of criminal wrongdoing over accusations he groped female staffers. Zack Fink has more on the announcement and the pressure that came from leaders to have Lopez step down.
Updated 05/17/2013 07:54 PM
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Governor Andrew Cuomo has been pushing to get the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment expanding non-Indian casino gambling this year. And Thursday, he cleared a big hurdle in the process by striking an agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation to give them exclusivity in Central New York. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has more on the deal and what it means for the larger fight to expand gaming.
05/16/2013 08:31 PM
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Congress is preparing to take action after a military official in charge of sexual assault investigations was accused of sexual assault. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced legislation that would change the way these cases are handled. Meanwhile, President Obama is asking Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to figure out how to deal with the growing problem of sexual assault in the armed forces. YNN's Washington, D.C. bureau reporter Michael Scotto has the details.
05/16/2013 08:20 PM
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Governor Andrew Cuomo says there should be “zero tolerance”' for sexual harassment in Albany. He's calling for Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign. Lopez is accused of groping several young female staffers in Brooklyn. Zack Fink reports.
Updated 05/16/2013 08:06 PM
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While a special prosecutor found Assemblyman Vito Lopez committed no crime, a report from the Joint Commission on Public Ethics says he violated the public officers law through years of sexual harassment and the use of power over female staffers. Zack Fink has more on the ethics group's report.
05/15/2013 07:22 PM
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This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo has been doing everything he can to focus attention off the scandals in Albany and onto the agenda he is pushing to get passed before the end of the session. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has more.
05/15/2013 07:15 PM
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Governor Andrew Cuomo says restructuring could be the answer for local governments trying to solve financial woes. He wants to create a state board to work with governments that need assistance. Zack Fink has more.
05/14/2013 09:45 PM
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In Washington, the Senate Agriculture Committee signed off on a Farm Bill on Tuesday. It's the groundwork for legislation that would cut spending while creating new subsidies for farmers. Washington, D.C. bureau reporter Michael Scotto has the story.
05/14/2013 09:04 PM
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As local governments continue to face the difficult financial headwinds of skyrocketing pension costs and a shrinking tax base, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday pressed lawmakers to back his plan to help them through the creation of a restructuring board.
05/14/2013 08:21 PM
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It's a short work week in Albany as lawmakers continue to reel over the recent corruption scandals. As Zack Fink explains, Governor Andrew Cuomo is downplaying suggestions the dark climate in Albany will affect his agenda.
05/13/2013 08:54 PM
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During a press conference Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo touched on several other issues on his end of session agenda. Cuomo did not show much optimism that the legislature would actually pass any of his plans. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has the story.
05/13/2013 07:40 PM
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President Barack Obama will be in New York City Monday evening, at least for a little while. YNN's Josh Robin is along the President's motorcade route with more.
05/13/2013 06:24 PM
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A major plan to reform the nation's immigration laws survived its first day of edits in Congress. As Michael Scotto tells us, some Senators successfully fought off attempts to make it harder for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status.
05/09/2013 08:22 PM
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A former Queens State Senator convicted of embezzlement was sentenced Thursday to one year and one day in prison. Shirley Huntley pleaded guilty in January to charges she embezzled money from a Queens nonprofit. Zack Fink has more on her day in court.
05/09/2013 08:03 PM
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In the wake of a growing corruption scandal, state lawmakers are insisting that business in Albany will go on as usual. But the cloud over the Capitol is raising serious questions about how much governing can take place in this climate. YNN's Grace Rauh has the story.
05/09/2013 07:53 PM
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Governor Andrew Cuomo is showing his cards, outlining his plan for non-Indian run casinos in New York State. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has more on the plan to build three new casinos.
05/09/2013 07:38 PM
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Court documents containing the names of lawmakers secretly recorded by former state Senator Shirley Huntley were unsealed Wednesday afternoon and include several of her senate colleagues. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has more on the corruption case and who was named in court.
Updated 05/08/2013 06:58 PM
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Former State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno was back in court Wednesday, arguing that he should not be re-tried by federal prosecutors after his 2009 conviction was thrown out following a Supreme Court ruling. After the hearing, he spoke with Bobby Cuza and as he explains, Bruno was quick to blast the government for continuing to pursue him.
Updated 05/08/2013 07:54 PM
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