Cuomo's State Address May Touch On Budget Gap, Expanded Gambling

By: Zack Fink

To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to deliver his State of the State address on Tuesday and and insiders expect him to discuss the consolidation of state agencies, legislative redistricting, the closing of a $2 billion budget gap and the expanding of casino gambling beyond Indian reservations. NY1's Zack Fink filed the following report.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has already taken on some of the state's most vexing issues. Working with the state Legislature last year, he signed a bill legalizing same sex-marriage,

Live State Of The State

NY1 will bring Governor Cuomo's State of the State address live, starting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Just last month he struck a deal to restructure the tax code which will cost higher income-earners more money but give tax cuts to most everyone else.

"The honeymoon is still on, so I think people are looking for this governor to do a couple of things to wrap up what he passed last year. One of those things would be mandate relief," said Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters.

Last year, lawmakers approved a 2-percent cap on local property taxes outside of New York City. But now, municipalities are struggling to stay within it.

Insiders say cutting back state-mandated costs for local governments is one form of relief the governor may address in his speech. The other is consolidation of state agencies.

Also on the agenda is legislative redistricting, including a possible battle over expanding the size of the State Senate, something that Democrats say will help Republicans maintain a majority.

"There's a good chance that we will go to 63 [senate districts]," said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican.

"Well, what the Senate Republicans are now proposing just confirms everyone's worst fears about the unfairness of the redistricting process," said Queens Senator Michael Gianaris, a Democrat. "Currently, what they are proposing is tearing up the state constitution and submitting an illegal plan just so they can maintain their political power."

Looking for new revenue, the governor has also expressed serious interest in expanding casino gambling beyond the state's Indian reservations. But critics say that is hardly a new idea.

"Legalized gambling and casino gambling is the sort of thing you do for job growth when you are fresh out of any other ideas about what to do for promoting economic growth," said E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center. "Any economic gain, if there's any at all from casino gambling, won't come for at least two years."

Legalizing gaming would not be immediate because it requires a constitutional amendment.

The governor is also expected to touch on education reform, and it remains to be seen how he plans close a $2 billion budget gap.