Issues: Public Assistance

Albany, NY – State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) today announced the passage of legislation in the New York State Senate that would result in more federal funding for food stamp programs in New York City. The bill (S. 452) passed the Senate with a unanimous 56-0 vote.

News From New York StateSenator Shirley L. HuntleyFor Immediate Release: April 9, 2012   Contact: Antonio Rodriguez | arodrigu@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

**PRESS RELEASE**

Senator Shirley L. Huntley Announces Strong Medicaid Relief in 2012-2013 State Budget

Governor Cuomo released the following announcement on March 27, 2012:

The Budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the New York Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state's roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.

Squadron Legislation to Come to Senate Committee Vote on Tuesday as Governor, Electeds Continue Fight to End Practice

NEW YORK – Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio joined advocates and elected officials to rally in support of passage of Senator Squadron's legislation to end the practice of finger imaging food stamp recipients, ahead of a committee vote on Tuesday.

New York City and the state of Arizona remain the only two places in the United States that use finger imaging to determine eligibility for food stamp assistance. Senator Squadron’s legislation (S740/A5303), sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblymember Keith Wright, would end the counterproductive practice that has cost New York taxpayer dollars and deterred eligible families from accessing the federally-funded food stamp program.  An Empire Justice Center analysis found that, between January 2009 and July 2010, 5,958 households were denied or cut off from food stamp benefits because they did not comply with finger imaging requirements.

In his State of the State address, the Governor laid out a vision to build on the progress of the past year and continue to move New York forward. Two priorities in particular that he laid out - an end to the practice of fingerprinting food stamp recipients and reforming our campaign finance system - are ready for immediate passage.

Senator Ball Urges NY Lawmakers to Follow Florida’s Lead

Albany, N.Y. — (06/11/11) — Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) is urging fellow legislators to do the right thing and demand drug testing for welfare recipients in New York. Senator Ball has long advocated for a law that would ensure that hard-working taxpayers are not subsidizing drug addictions.

Extended Benefits Will Provide Relief for 166,000 New Yorkers