By flickr user deeptihari
ISSUES
Fast food workers’ push for fair wages goes global. “According to the New York Communities for Change, it would take 864 years for a McDonald’s worker on minimum wage to make what CEO Donald Thompson makes in a year.” The Guardian
Charter schools to be top issue in Albany. After the Senate Republicans won their majority, they’ll be teaming up with Governor Cuomo and well financed lobbyists to push a charter school expansion agenda. “Easton said political support for charter schools is payback to Wall Street investors at the expense of students.” Newsday
“Billy Easton is one of the good guys. He is committed to the education of our children. His campaign, the Alliance for Quality Education, is leading the war against those politicians who would climb on the backs of our kids in order to make their electoral way to the top.” Alan Chartock in the Daily Freeman
–Billy Easton was on Friday’s Capital Tonight to discuss fair distribution of state education aid. (TWC Login Required)
Cuomo avoids discussing “causes” of climate change. “This hesitance seems to be of a piece with Cuomo’s unwillingness to take a position on fracking, frustrating both the energy industry and environmentalists by leaving in place a moratorium that could theoretically be lifted at any time while his administration engages in a remarkably lengthy study. Cuomo has also tended to avoid deliberate action on other energy-related issues in favor of long or indefinite delay.” Capital New York
Second open enrollment season has begun. At a Friday press conference, groups and elected officials in the Capital region came together to encourage individuals to get in touch with a navigator to help with deciding on health care options. WAMC
–Our Bob Cohen makes the case that promoting Obamacare helps promote our broader progressive agenda. Citizen Action
Zephyr’s take on corruption. In this Q&A, Zephyr Teachout discusses corruption in American politics and some lessons learned from her campaign for governor. Huffington Post
North Dakota’s oil industry can’t be regulated. Yesterday’s Time cover story is an extensive piece on North Dakota’s oil industry and the politics behind it. New York Times
AG Schneiderman calls for climate action. He pointed to the storms in Western New York as more evidence of the need for urgent action on climate change. NPR
OPINION PAGES
Times Union Letter to the Editor by Bob Cohen – Of new enrollees, “”Nine of 10 said that they felt more confident they will be able to get care when needed, and around the same number said that they had greater piece of mind. And 78 percent said they had greater financial protection from big bills.”
Daily News Op-Ed by Brad Hoylman – The sitting State Senator argues that outside pay should be significantly limited if legislators are to vote themselves a pay raise.
INSIDE BASEBALL
Bharara’s investigations could make lawmakers’ pay raise harder. Lovett reports that some expect whatever horsetrading may occur for a legislative pay raise to be under increased scrutiny. Daily News
–Also possible, reforming the per diem system, where legislators are given $172/day (no receipts necessary) when they’re in Albany. NPR
Cuomo & Christie’s Alliance. This long piece details the relationship between Govs. Cuomo and Christie, and includes some interesting accounts of Cuomo’s influence in who the Republicans chose to run against him. City & State
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