NCPR News Staff: Karen DeWitt
Capitol Correspondent

The group that coined the phrase "Dysfunctional Albany" has opened the New Year with another scathing report on trouble that goes deep and wide. The nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law finds reforms promised by Albany leadership four have largely not materialized. The report finds legislative committees are still woefully weak. According to the center's website, most standing committees met infrequently or not at all in 2006 and 2007. There were almost no hearings on major legislation. Committees hold almost no debates. Members simply approve the measures allowed by each house's leaders. But NYU's Brennan Center says that there's hope that in the Senate, at least, things could be changing for the better. Karen DeWitt has our report.

With less than 24 hours to go before the official start of the legislative session, Senate Democrats finally coalesced around Leader Malcolm Smith, and are poised to take over the Senate for the first time in over 40 years when the session convenes on Wednesday. Karen DeWitt reports.

The NYS Health Commissioner has taken to YouTube to promote a proposed 18% fat tax on soda and sugared juice drinks in New York. So far, though, he's not getting rave reviews in cyberspace. Karen DeWitt reports.

In 2008 David Paterson became New York's first disabled and legally blind governor, when the previous governor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned amid a sex scandal. Karen DeWitt looks back on Paterson's eventful first nine months in office.

Governor David Paterson is on the last leg of a pre-holiday trip to visit soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Paterson and the two Congressmen who accompanied him say that, while Iraq is looking up, the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating. Karen DeWitt reports.

Governor David Paterson says he doesn’t feel “rushed” about making his choice to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. But he says gossip surrounding his possible pick has reached a new low. Karen DeWitt reports.

One of the many cuts that Governor Paterson proposed in his new budget is to eliminate the STAR property tax rebate checks. STAR, originally designed to help alleviate the state’s highest in the nation property taxes, has been controversial, but the program has many supporters in the legislature. Karen DeWitt reports.

The New York State legislature is officially on break for the Holidays, but in the Senate, there is plenty of anxiety behind the scenes over which party will control the chamber come January. Karen DeWitt reports.

Governor David Paterson is holding fast against demands that he raise the income tax on New York's wealthiest in order to help balance the state budget. Correspondent Karen DeWitt reports.

Governor David Paterson, saying New York faces the "worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," released a $121 billion budget that slashes spending for health care and education, and proposes a wide array of increased fees on everything from soda-pop to cable TV. Karen DeWitt reports.