Empire Center Presents: Messages of Necessity: Recent Episodes
Empire Center
The Empire Center for Public Policy, Inc. is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in Albany, New York.
Our mission: Make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government.
Here you can listen to podcast versions of our public events we host on pertinent topics surrounding New York State politics.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond unpacks his latest report, Medicaid Overdose: The Excessive Growth of State-Sponsored Health Coverage in New York. Bill explores how Medicaid enrollment has surged to include millions of residents exceeding income eligibility limits, raising critical concerns for taxpayers and policymakers.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond is joined by Cam Macdonald, the Center’s General Counsel, to dissect Governor Hochul's recently proposed “MCO tax” and the implications it may hold for New York's Medicaid financing. They delve into the tax’s origins, modeled on a similar approach in California, and discuss how this plan could bring in a fraction of the projected $4 billion in extra federal aid that state lawmakers anticipated. With details pulled from the state’s federal waiver application, Bill and Cam explore the estimated $2.8 billion in gross revenues and the net returns of $1.4 to $1.8 billion after state costs, unraveling the financial mechanics and potential legal and policy consequences for insurers, Medicaid recipients, and New York taxpayers.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond joins Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, to unpack Governor Hochul’s recent overhaul of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). They dive into the governor’s decision to place control of the $12 billion program in the hands of a single fiscal intermediary and discuss the wide-reaching implications for consumers, caregivers, and key stakeholders.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond joins Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, to discuss former Governor Cuomo’s recent Capitol Hill testimony. They explore the Empire Center’s crucial role in bringing transparency to the COVID-19 crisis, examine key insights from Cuomo’s pandemic response, and highlight recent efforts aimed at ensuring a safer future by understanding what went wrong.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Adjunct Fellow Cam Macdonald sits down with Al Karam, former Director of Transportation at Shenendehowa, to explore the challenges and potential pitfalls of implementing electric school buses as districts strive to comply with New York State's mandate. They discuss the logistical hurdles, financial burdens, and infrastructural needs that districts must navigate.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Executive Director Z sits down with Roger Caiazza, our newest Adjunct Fellow with an extensive background in energy policy. Together, they discuss Roger's views on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and his belief that while New York’s energy goals are admirable, the state needs to pursue these objectives in a more pragmatic and realistic manner.
In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Tim Hoefer, Executive Director at the Empire Center, sits down with Roberta Schaefer, Adjunct Fellow, to discuss her report, "Better Results with Lower Spending: Public Education in Massachusetts and New York." The report highlights how Massachusetts outperforms New York in national assessments despite spending 36 percent less per student. They explore key differences in educational policies and recommendations for New York to improve its outcomes and manage costs effectively.
In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Danyela Souza Egorov, the Project Director for Parent PowerEDNY, sits down with Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner to discuss a bill she is sponsoring that would help homeschool students receive substantial equivalency upon graduating. The legislation she is sponsoring would streamline this process for many families across the state and open up more opportunities for them.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Zilvinas Silenas, Executive Director at the Empire Center, has a conversation with Ken Girardin, the Empire Center Research Director. Together, they delve into the newly released Empire Index Poll and explore several important topics for New Yorkers, with an emphasis on taxes and healthcare.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Cam Macdonald, Adjunct Fellow at the Empire Center, and Ken Girardin, Research Director at the Empire Center, discuss the recent school budget votes and the electrification of school buses across New York State.
In this episode of "Messages of Necessity", Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs at the Empire Center, and Cam MacDonald, Adjunct Fellow, delve into recent developments. They begin by dissecting the latest ruling on Proposition 1 and how the rule of law was upheld. Then, they explore Cam's blog on squatters' rights, discussing how the State may need to take a different action to resolve this problem.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Ken Girardin and Bill Hammond dissect the latest NYS budget, focusing on healthcare, education, and budgetary trends. They offer valuable insights into the allocations and their implications for New Yorkers.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs at the Empire Center, engages in a conversation with the organization's new Executive Director, Zilvinas Silenas (also known as Z). Together, they delve into Silenas's background and expertise, exploring how his unique experiences will propel the Empire Center and the Empire State forward to new heights.
In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Cam Macdonald and Ken Girardin dive into the contentious debate surrounding New York's public pensions. Unraveling myths and confronting harsh realities, they analyze the union's arguments for retroactively sweetening pensions and explore the implications of such actions, including the potential burden on taxpayers.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Danyela Souza Egorov, Project Director of Parent PowerED NY, interviews Arthur Samuels, co-founder of MESA Charter High School. Since its establishment in 2013, MESA has boasted a remarkable 90% graduation rate, earning recognition as one of New York State's top charter high schools. Join us as we uncover the strategies and ethos behind MESA's success, straight from the co-founder himself.
Join Ken Girardin, Director of Research at the Empire Center, and Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, as they explore the findings of Ken's latest report, "Green Guardrails".
Discover the significant costs outlined in the report, with projections indicating New Yorkers could face expenses of $4.9 trillion by mid-century, offset by $4.3 trillion in "avoided" costs. Gain insights into the implications of these figures for residents, including the potential impact on the cost of living and the reliability of the electric grid.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Ken Girardin and E.J. McMahon from the Empire Center discuss New York's taxpayer-funded subsidies for film and television production. Together, they examine the findings of an independent study commissioned by the state Department of Taxation and Finance, providing a critical analysis of the economic impact of these subsidies.
In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Adjunct Fellow Cam MacDonald and Research Director Ken Girardin delve into the increasingly important topic of Cap and Invest. They explore what aspects have been thoroughly examined and which details still lack clarity.
Empire Center experts discuss the Governor's budget address and proposal, offering their initial reactions to the executive proposal.
Tim Hoefer interviews Ken Girardin, Bill Hammond, and Cam Macdonald on their reaction to Governor Hochul's State of the State address and what it means for New Yorkers.
In this podcast episode, Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, and Bill Hammond, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at the Empire Center, delve into the intricacies of healthcare staffing in New York. They discuss the uneven recovery of the healthcare workforce post-pandemic, the shift towards home-based care and outpatient settings, and the impact of recent minimum staffing laws. The conversation provides a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future trends of healthcare staffing in New York.
In this podcast episode, Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, engages in a conversation with Ken Girardin, Director of Research, to explore the borrowing practices of New York highlighted in the Empire Center article "Snips, Strikes and Skaters: NY Borrows To Cover Its Pork Habit."
They analyze the allocation of nearly $200 million in borrowed state funds by New York lawmakers and Governor Hochul, discussing specific projects like the $125,000 state-funded bowling alley. The episode provides insights into the implications and history of government pork-barrel spending in New York.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Tim Hoefer, President and CEO of the Empire Center, takes the lead in a thought-provoking interview with Cam Macdonald, Executive Director of the Government Justice Center. Together, they delve into the complexities of New York State redistricting and discuss the legal challenges surrounding the current electoral maps.
In this episode, Ken Girardin and Bill Hammond discuss a former Cuomo administration official's new book that seeks to rewrite the history of how New York state government responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Delving deep into the issues surrounding the March 25 directive, concealed data, and political finger-pointing, they emphasize the need for a thorough examination to ensure New York's readiness for future health crises.
Empire Center Research Director Ken Girardin and Senior Fellow Bill Hammond delve into the complexities of Medicaid and its implications for New Yorkers.
Empire Center Research Director Ken Girardin and Adjunct Fellow Cam Macdonald dive into the State's current budget challenges and their implications for New Yorkers.
In the latest episode, Tim talks to Eric Ooms of A. Ooms & Sons Dairy Farm in Valatie, NY about farming and agriculture policy in New York. Kyle and Bill Hammond discuss Medicaid spending swings.
Tim Hoefer interviews Michelle Taylor and Matthew Taylor, the creative team behind the new movie "Gotham: The Fall and Rise of New York." Ken and Cam discuss the latest MTA overtime report.
Links:
Gotham Movie: https://gothammovie.com/
Electrolift Creative: http://electroliftcreative.com/
MTA Overtime Report: https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/8-mta-workers-got-200k-in-overtime-as-total-ot-neared-record-high/
In this episode, Debi Ghate interviews Irshad Manji, Founder and CEO of Moral Courage College, about the state of political discourse in our country. Kyle and James Hanley discuss the latest Short-Term Assessment of Reliability report from the New York Independent System Operator.
Tim Hoefer interviews Tim DeRoche, author and President of Available to All, and the two discuss education reform and unfair public school enrollment practices. Kyle and Cam Macdonald discuss the Supreme Court's ruling in Biden v. Nebraska.
Tim Hoefer interviews Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) about her role on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Ian Kingsbury discusses recent trends in absenteeism in New York City schools.
After James recaps the latest Empire Center research, Debi interviews Cody Snider, Co-President & Co-Founder of UNIT Solutions. The two talk about New York City's post-pandemic recovery, and the state of political discourse in Manhattan. E.J. McMahon joins the show to talk to Ken Girardin about a new proposal to extend tenure-like protections to virtually every public employee outside New York City.
Mentioned articles:
- https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/emails-show-cuomo-staff-working-on-book/
- https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/mayors-and-school-leaders-face-punishing-new-discipline-rules/
After a quick research recap, Tim talks to Daniel and Peter Arbeeny, two brothers whose father passed away after contracting COVID-19 in a Brooklyn nursing home. Bill and Kyle continue this discussion, talking about Bill's recent testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on nursing home mortality during the pandemic.
In this episode, James covers the news and Tim interviews Ken Moltner about voter access and election integrity in New York. To close, James and Ken Girardin discuss the use of messages of necessity in the latest state budget.
Mentioned research:
https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/ny-schools-plan-to-spend-nearly-32k-per-student/
https://www.nextnewyork.net/reforms-2/voter-access-election-integrity/
https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/albanys-belated-budget-binge/
We start this episode with a recap of the Empire Center blog, then Debi interviews Tony Woodlief, State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice President, about federalism in the United States. We close this week with a discussion between Kyle and Bill about the financials of New York's hospital system.
In this special episode, Empire Center's Tim Hoefer and James E. Hanley talk about the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act with New York Climate Action Council members Donna DeCarolis (President, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation) and Gavin Donohue (President and CEO, Independent Power Producers of New York).
In this episode of the podcast, Tim talks to Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute (and contributing editor of City Journal, and a columnist at the New York Post), about the roads, bridges, and trains in New York. Emily and James talk about the states quest to electrify the school buses.
The latest episode is out! After a brief news recap with James, Debi interviews Frank Suits, Jr., CEO and Chairman of the Board at Suit-Kote and a board member at the Empire Center. The two discuss New York infrastructure—specifically our roads and highways—and the proper role of regulation. Ken and Bill talk about the history of prevailing wage.
It this episode, Tim Hoefer interviews Howard Husock from the American Enterprise Institute about housing policy in New York. Ken and Cam then talk about the end of the LaSalle Saga.
In this episode, Debi talks to Ashara Baker from the National Parents Union about school choice in Rochester — and New York more broadly. Kyle and Emily unveil a new tool that can help parents get a fuller picture of education in their district.
Use the tool linked here to look at the educational profile of each legislative district in New York: https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/education-in-new-york/
In the latest episode, James breaks down the news; Debi interview Mark Moses, author of The Municipal Financial Crisis: A Framework for Understanding and Fixing Government Budgeting; Kyle and Cam discuss the latest in New York's Chief Justice saga.
In this episode, we start with a recap of some Empire Center research highlights. Debi interviews Jai Nanda, founder and executive director of Urban Dove charter school network. Emily and Cam discuss charter school law in New York state.
In this special episode, Empire Center's founding senior fellow E.J. McMahon leads a roundtable discussion reacting to Governor Kathy Hochul's 2023 State of the State address.
State of the State Book: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/2023SOTSBook.pdf
The Next New York: https://www.nextnewyork.net/
Empire Center Statement: https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/empire-center-experts-react-to-the-2023-state-of-the-state/
The 2023 legislative session begins in just a few days — and in this special first episode of the year, we’ll go over what you could expect from Albany. Tim interviews E.J. McMahon about our latest project, The Next New York, which outlines policy reforms and recommendations that can help restore the Empire State. Empire Center experts outline the legislative year ahead.
James covers recent Empire Research on the Taylor Law, home health care, and millionaire tax filers fleeing New York.
Debi Ghate interviews Wai Wah Chin, Charter President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York, and the two discuss charter schools in New York state.
Peter and Emily discuss changes to the Regents Exams.
In this episode of Messages of Necessity, we recap some of the latest Empire Center research published on our blog. Debi Ghate interviews Gavin Donohue, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. Peter Warren and James Hanley discuss the recently-passed Environmental Bond Act.
In Part 3 of the first episode of the Empire Center's podcast, Empire Center CEO Tim Hoefer interviews Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, the longest-serving member of the New York legislature.
In Part 2 of the first episode of the Empire Center's podcast, the team covers some of the biggest news stories from the last couple of weeks — including how national politics could soon find themselves in a New York state of mind.
In Part 1 of the first episode of the Empire Center's podcast, we discuss the mission of the podcast. What is a Message of Necessity — and what’s ours?
In the first episode of the Empire Center's podcast, we discuss the mission of the podcast. What is a Message of Necessity — and what’s ours?
The team covers some of the biggest news stories from the last couple of weeks, and Empire Center CEO Tim Hoefer interviews Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, the longest-serving member of the New York legislature.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) lays out an ambitious slate of policy goals to promote clean energy and fight climate change. But can the state meet its energy needs under the new law and what will be the cost to New Yorkers?
The second panel discussion from the Empire Center's energy event analyzes the costs, benefits and impacts of the CLCPA on New York consumers.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) lays out an ambitious slate of policy goals to promote clean energy and fight climate change. But can the state meet its energy needs under the new law and what will be the cost to New Yorkers?
The first panel discussion from Empire Center's energy event focuses on how New York can meet its energy needs under the CLCPA.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) lays out an ambitious slate of policy goals to promote clean energy and fight climate change. But can the state meet its energy needs under the new law and what will be the cost to New Yorkers?
Empire Center Senior Policy Analyst James Hanley delivers opening remarks on new research.
Empire Center's E.J. McMahon talks with Bill Hammond about New York's nursing home polices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.