Andrew Cuomo in 2012 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
Economic Blueprint: growth via development projects
Today, I am laying out a three-part plan:- The next phase in our economic blueprint for growth
- A reimagined government that can make our plans a reality
- And a New York vision for a progressive future
Our economic blueprint:
How does government spur job creation in a down economy while limiting spending and maintaining fiscal discipline? The answer: Creative public/private partnerships that leverage state resources to generate billions of dollars in economic growth. -
We Will Build the Largest Convention Center in the Nation
- We Will Master Plan the Javits Convention Center Site
- $1 Billion Economic Development Package for Buffalo
- A macro strategy with New York Open for Business
- A micro strategy with the
Regional Economic Development Councils
- Comprehensive Approach to Casino Gaming
- The NY Works Fund and Task Force
- MTA Investment (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Civil Rights:
Marriage equality for ALL New Yorkers
For decades, millions of New Yorkers had been treated as second-class citizens by their own government. We ended that injustice. We stopped the discrimination. We made history. We led the nation.
We passed marriage equality for ALL New Yorkers and we did it together. With this historic victory, New York is the largest state in the nation to grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Civil Rights:
$200M contract support to get 20% MWBE contracts
Last year, I created a Minority- and Women-Owned Business Task Force dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises ("MWBE"). The MWBE Task Force has aggressively sought ways to expand opportunities for
MWBEs. In this economy, obtaining credit is difficult for almost everyone, especially small and minority-and-women-owned businesses. MWBEs historically have not been able to compete with more established companies on large construction
projects because they lack credit and capital. The state will address this problem by extending credit that will give MWBE contractors the backing they need to compete.
This program will support at least $200 million in contracting for MWBE firms over a period of years. We will hit our target of doubling MWBE participation in state contracting to 20 percent.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Civil Rights:
Improved services to 2 million residents with disabilities
We must transform the way we deliver services to our over two million residents with disabilities. We spend more than any other state on services and support provided both by our government and a vast array of nonprofit and private agencies.
Yet New York ranks in the bottom quartile among states in serving adults with disabilities. This situation is fiscally irresponsible and morally unacceptable.Many of the problems our disabled residents encounter are not the result of limited
resources, but rooted instead in failures in the organization and management of services. We must develop a system that recognizes the potential of and the barriers faced by each individual we serve. We must focus on quality and prevention, and simplify
and streamline access to services.
We must erase stigmas and ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are fully recognized and fully protected. In addition, we must do all we can to ensure the safety of those in our care.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Corporations:
Prevent landlords from avoiding rent regulation
We passed the toughest rent regulation laws in 30 years. The new laws will protect more than one million New Yorkers from skyrocketing rent by, among other things, raising the deregulation rent threshold for the first time since
1993 and raising the income threshold for the first time since 1997. It will also help prevent landlords from manipulating the system to move apartments out of rent regulation.
We executed a new economic development policy with our New York Open for Business campaign and by establishing Regional Economic Development Councils across the state. We passed an affordable energy policy with
Recharge NY, on-bill energy efficiency financing, and, after a decade of trying, an Article X electric generation siting law. These programs will lower energy costs, promote energy efficiency, and reduce pollution.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Crime:
Prisons are not an economic development program
We eliminated over 3,800 prison beds and 370 juvenile facility beds--because we finally accepted that prisons are not an economic development program. In addition to the closure of Tryon Boys Residential Center in
January 2011, we shut four residential juvenile facilities and downsized another four. We have worked to put a greater emphasis on prevention and on community-based alternatives to incarceration.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Crime:
Collect DNA for all crimes, to exonerate the innocent
I propose that we expand our DNA databank. This databank helps establish guilt and innocence; it has provided leads in over 2,700 convictions and--just as important--led to 27 exonerations of the wrongfully accused. Currently, DNA is collected only from
those convicted of less than half the crimes on the books in New York State. Among the exclusions are numerous crimes that are often precursors to violent offenses. As a result, we are missing an important opportunity to prevent needless suffering of
crime victims. We are also failing to use the most powerful tool we have to exonerate the innocent. I will propose a bill requiring the collection of a DNA sample from any person convicted of a felony or Penal Law misdemeanor. DNA can be the key to
exonerating the innocent, convicting the guilty, and protecting all New Yorkers in a fair and cost-effective way. Let's put New York on the cutting edge of criminal justice and become the first state in the nation to collect DNA on all crimes.
Source: 2012 State of the State into New York voting record A2958
Jan 4, 2012
On Education:
Additional SUNY Challenge Grants
Our SUNY system has been the great equalizer for the middle class. It has allowed countless New Yorkers from working families to gain a quality college education. Last year, we enacted NYSUNY2020, offering challenge grants to SUNY research centers for
plans to connect academic excellence and economic development. This year, we will offer SUNY's 60 other campuses the ability to compete for three $20 million challenge grants, with $10 million coming from the Executive and $10 million from SUNY.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Energy & Oil:
Focus more attention on exploiting our solar potential
Now it is time to focus more attention on exploiting our solar potential. But we need to do this in ways that protect the ratepayer. Solar power is still more expensive per megawatt hour to develop than other renewables. Therefore, we will greatly expand
the state's solar programs, but as we do so we will keep an eye firmly on costs. We will increase competitive procurement of large, commercial-sized solar projects. And we will expand rebate programs for residential and commercial small-to-medium
systems. In its first year, the NY-Sun Initiative will be capable of doubling the customer-sited photovoltaic capacity that was installed in 2011. By 2013, we estimate that NY-Sun will quadruple the 2011 capacity. We will continue to establish New York's
technology leadership in this important emerging market while balancing investments in other renewable resources and protecting the taxpayer. This approach will create jobs, expand solar power, and protect ratepayers--a win, win, win.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Government Reform:
Public Integrity Reform Act: state ethics disclosures
We passed ethics reforms to restore trust in government. The Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011 contains some of the most comprehensive ethics improvements enacted in state government. Among other things, it requires state officials
to disclose outside clients and customers, requires a detailed disclosure of officials' income and assets, creates a database of all individuals and firms that represent clients
before state agencies, requires all lobbyists and clients of lobbyists to disclose all business relationships with public officials, and broadens the definition of lobbying.
And it strips public officials convicted of a felony in relation to their office from receiving their taxpayer-funded pension.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Health Care:
Implement the N.Y. Health Exchange with federal funds
Almost 16% of New Yorkers under the age of 65--2.7 million people--are uninsured. Most are working people and their dependents. We have a unique opportunity to address this challenge by developing a New York State Health Insurance Exchange that will be
financed entirely by the federal government. When the Exchange is implemented, more than one million New Yorkers will gain health coverage and individuals who currently buy their coverage directly will see their cost drop by 66%. Small businesses will
see the cost of providing coverage to their employees drop by 22%.In addition to the benefits to the uninsured and small businesses, the Exchange will benefit New York's taxpayers. The $1.7 billion that taxpayers currently contribute to offset the
cost of providing care to the uninsured will be significantly reduced. The increased federal Medicaid match that recognizes New York's higher Medicaid eligibility levels will bring an additional $18 billion in funds to the state over 10 years.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Jobs:
Attack chronic unemployment among inner-city youth
We attacked chronic, high unemployment among disadvantaged inner-city youth with an innovative jobs program that will provide immediate tax credits to businesses that hire our youth and will also provide training to
make sure these youths are ready for employment. We restored New York's reputation as the progressive capital of the nation. We passed landmark achievements in social justice and economic justice.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Tax Reform:
A flat tax is not a fair tax
We fought for tax fairness. For decades, millions of New Yorkers were burdened with an unfair tax code. Whether a person made $20,000 or $20 million, they paid the same rate. It was just wrong--because a flat tax is not a fair tax. We added new brackets
for the middle class and for high earners. The more you make, the higher rate you pay. And we stimulated our economy by cutting taxes for New Yorkers earning $40,000 to $300,000. Today, the middle class is paying the lowest rate in 58 years.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Tax Reform:
Enacted NY's first-ever property tax cap: 2% per year
We began the year by closing a $10 billion deficit with no gimmicks, and we did it on time. The budget included historic reforms to redesign and consolidate state government, eliminate automatic spending increases that cost
New Yorkers billions of dollars, and cap spending increases for education and Medicaid. After 20 years of failure, we enacted the state's first-ever property tax cap.
New York's property taxes are among the highest in the nation, but for more than 15 years, both houses of the Legislature and three governors failed to bring these skyrocketing costs under control. The tax cap that we enacted limits increases in property
taxes to 2 percent, or the rate of inflation--whichever is less. Schools and local governments can go beyond the cap, but only if 60 percent, respectively, of the voters or local legislative body approve.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Welfare & Poverty:
Create a Foreclosure Relief Unit to keep people in homes
Foreclosure Prevention Assistance: Creation of a Foreclosure Relief Unit The financial crisis has taken a terrible toll on our state's homeowners, forcing many out of their homes and putting many others at risk of foreclosure.
Banks are unable or unwilling to renegotiate loans, and many of their foreclosure practices were questionable. Last year, I announced the new Department of Financial Services to provide meaningful oversight of our banks.
The Department of Financial Services was a New York State innovation, combining financial regulation with consumer protection. This year, I'm proud to announce that DFS is fully functioning and will soon include a
Foreclosure Relief Unit to provide counseling and mediation services to help New Yorkers stay in their homes. We need to resolve this crisis so we can move on.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
On Welfare & Poverty:
Remove barriers to food stamps: stop fingerprinting for food
No Child Should Go to Bed Hungry in New York: For all of our progress, there are still basic wrongs to right. There is never an excuse for letting any child in New York go to bed hungry.
Statewide, 1 in 6 children live in homes without enough food on the table. Yet 30 percent of New Yorkers eligible for food stamps--over 1.4 million people--do not receive them, leaving over $1 billion in federal funds unclaimed every year.
We must increase participation in the food stamp program, remove barriers to participation, and eliminate the stigma associated with this program.
And we must stop fingerprinting for food. No child should go hungry in the great State of New York and we will do all that we can to prevent it.
Source: 2012 New York State of the State Address
Jan 4, 2012
Page last updated: Aug 10, 2019