New York NOW

Last week a pay commission recommended a hefty raise for lawmakers, but many of them aren't happy with the strings attached including a limit on outside income.
We have an expanded Reporters Roundtable this week to discuss the issue with journalists Joe Spector of the USA Today Network, Rachel Silberstein of the Times Union, and Ken Lovett of the Daily News.
Also, we'll sit down with some Capitol reporters to analyze what may lie ahead for Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2019....and maybe in 2020.Visit New York NOW online for more. 

This week on New York NOW, the Reporters Roundtable discuss the pay commission’s recommendation that lawmakers get a hefty raise. Also, do New York schools have enough psychologists to meet the needs of their students? Learn about the new study by the New York State School Boards Association with their executive director.

Westchester native Alessandra Biaggi stunned the political world when she defeated powerful, longtime Senator Jeff Klein in a September primary. Now she is one of fifteen new incoming Democrats, a number of which seized on the anger against not only Donald Trump's policies but the IDC's alignment with the GOP. This week, Biaggi discusses her priorities.
Learn More: nynow.org

New York knows a thing or two about father-son legacies at the State Capitol.  Andrew Cuomo became the first son of a governor to be elected to the same office in 2010.  This week we explore a similar story that occurred on the West Coast.
Former Capitol reporter Miriam Pawel has a new book out titled "The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation."  It features the unusual political career of outgoing California Governor Jerry Brown who had a 28 year gap between the times he was elected by Californians.
Tune in this weekend on your local PBS station. 

Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins is looking ahead to 2019 when Democrats will seize control of the chamber and will become the first woman and first African-American woman to lead the chamber. She outlines for us this week her conference's priorities and why she thinks it will be different this time around now that Democrats have control of the Senate for the first time since 2010.
Learn More: nynow.org

While the expected "Blue Wave" of Democratic wins wasn't as big as some may have expected or hoped, it came upon the shores of the Empire State. Governor Cuomo and other statewide candidates cruised to victory, numerous Congressional seats flipped and the State Senate is back firmly in the hands of the Democratic Party.
Learn More: nynow.org

In a year in which some expect a "Blue Wave," Marc Molinaro is hoping to somehow stem the tide and pull off a statewide win for governor, something a Republican hasn't accomplished since 2002. The numbers have not been encouraging. He has been down by at least 20 points in the last several polls and has struggled to raise funds. Despite this, he says there is a path for victory.
Learn More: nynow.org

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) and Republican challenger Joe Vitollo faced off in a mid-term election debate. Tonko, a former state assemblyman, was first elected in 2008 replacing the retiring Mike McNulty. Vitollo is a nurse and veteran of the Air Force. This was a rematch of the 2016 race, won by Tonko.
Learn More: nynow.org

Listen to a discussion about North Country politics with longtime Mountain Lake PBS journalist Thom Hallock. Featuring clips from the first TV debate between NY21 candidates Elise Stefanik, Tedra Cobb, and Lynn Kahn & analysis on the one, and likely only, debate between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Marc Molinaro.
Learn More: nynow.org

19th Congressional District candidates Antonio Delgado and Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) debate.
The race for the 19th Congressional District seat is traditionally one of the most watched and most expensive in the country. A Democrat has not held the seat since 2010, but Barack Obama did win the district in both 2008 and 2012. 
Faso won decisively over Zephyr Teachout two years ago (watch their WMHT debate here), but recent polls by SienaCollege and Monmouth show the race to be a virtual dead heat.