What’s missing from the State of the State?

For Reinvent Albany, the most important thing about the State of the State is what’s missing. 

There are dozens of good ideas in the State of the State, but not one of the 19 main sections in Governor Hochul’s book is dedicated to strengthening New York’s democracy or the transparency and accountability of New York’s sprawling and expensive state government. We believe it is obvious to anyone paying attention that government spending and policy in New York State is heavily influenced by big-spending campaign contributors and lobbyists, be they from business, organized labor, or vendors seeking state contracts. 

Basically, the Governor Hochul who said, “From day one, I’ve been committed to restoring New Yorkers’ faith in their government by improving transparency and increasing accountability” didn’t show up for the State of the State. 

Why not? Her staff is doing good work identifying the way forward on the state’s Open Meetings Law, and the Governor aggressively defended New York’s new public campaign finance law despite paying a potential political cost. Governor Hochul also revamped the state ethics commission, creating a far better way to select commissioners, and she has signed numerous laws that will increase voter participation.  

We think most of Hochul’s State of the State proposals simply will not work until the massive apparatus of New York government – with its thousands of programs, hundreds of agencies, public authorities, and complex web of subsidiaries – become far more transparent and accountable, and much better at turning public funds into public benefit.