Empire Center

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond unpacks his latest report, Medicaid Overdose: The Excessive Growth of State-Sponsored Health Coverage in New York. Bill explores how Medicaid enrollment has surged to include millions of residents exceeding income eligibility limits, raising critical concerns for taxpayers and policymakers.

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond is joined by Cam Macdonald, the Center’s General Counsel, to dissect Governor Hochul's recently proposed “MCO tax” and the implications it may hold for New York's Medicaid financing. They delve into the tax’s origins, modeled on a similar approach in California, and discuss how this plan could brin...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond joins Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, to unpack Governor Hochul’s recent overhaul of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). They dive into the governor’s decision to place control of the $12 billion program in the hands of a single fiscal intermediary and discuss the wid...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond joins Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, to discuss former Governor Cuomo’s recent Capitol Hill testimony. They explore the Empire Center’s crucial role in bringing transparency to the COVID-19 crisis, examine key insights from Cuomo’s pandemic response, and highlight recent efforts aimed at e...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Adjunct Fellow Cam Macdonald sits down with Al Karam, former Director of Transportation at Shenendehowa, to explore the challenges and potential pitfalls of implementing electric school buses as districts strive to comply with New York State's mandate. They discuss the logistical hurdles, financial burdens, and infrastructural needs that dist...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Empire Center Executive Director Z sits down with Roger Caiazza, our newest Adjunct Fellow with an extensive background in energy policy. Together, they discuss Roger's views on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and his belief that while New York’s energy goals are admirable, the state needs to pursue these objectives in a more pr...

In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Tim Hoefer, Executive Director at the Empire Center, sits down with Roberta Schaefer, Adjunct Fellow, to discuss her report, "Better Results with Lower Spending: Public Education in Massachusetts and New York." The report highlights how Massachusetts outperforms New York in national assessments despite spending 36 percent less per student. They explore k...

In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Danyela Souza Egorov, the Project Director for Parent PowerEDNY, sits down with Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner to discuss a bill she is sponsoring that would help homeschool students receive substantial equivalency upon graduating. The legislation she is sponsoring would streamline this process for many families across the state and open up more opportunit...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Zilvinas Silenas, Executive Director at the Empire Center, has a conversation with Ken Girardin, the Empire Center Research Director. Together, they delve into the newly released Empire Index Poll and explore several important topics for New Yorkers, with an emphasis on taxes and healthcare.

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Cam Macdonald, Adjunct Fellow at the Empire Center, and Ken Girardin, Research Director at the Empire Center, discuss the recent school budget votes and the electrification of school buses across New York State.

In this episode of "Messages of Necessity", Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs at the Empire Center, and Cam MacDonald, Adjunct Fellow, delve into recent developments. They begin by dissecting the latest ruling on Proposition 1 and how the rule of law was upheld. Then, they explore Cam's blog on squatters' rights, discussing how the State may need to take a different action to resolve this pro...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Ken Girardin and Bill Hammond dissect the latest NYS budget, focusing on healthcare, education, and budgetary trends. They offer valuable insights into the allocations and their implications for New Yorkers.

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs at the Empire Center, engages in a conversation with the organization's new Executive Director, Zilvinas Silenas (also known as Z). Together, they delve into Silenas's background and expertise, exploring how his unique experiences will propel the Empire Center and the Empire State forward to new heights.

In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Cam Macdonald and Ken Girardin dive into the contentious debate surrounding New York's public pensions. Unraveling myths and confronting harsh realities, they analyze the union's arguments for retroactively sweetening pensions and explore the implications of such actions, including the potential burden on taxpayers.

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Danyela Souza Egorov, Project Director of Parent PowerED NY, interviews Arthur Samuels, co-founder of MESA Charter High School. Since its establishment in 2013, MESA has boasted a remarkable 90% graduation rate, earning recognition as one of New York State's top charter high schools. Join us as we uncover the strategies and ethos behind MESA's success, str...

Join Ken Girardin, Director of Research at the Empire Center, and Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, as they explore the findings of Ken's latest report, "Green Guardrails". Discover the significant costs outlined in the report, with projections indicating New Yorkers could face expenses of $4.9 trillion by mid-century, offset by $4.3 trillion in "avoided" costs. Gain insights into the implic...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Ken Girardin and E.J. McMahon from the Empire Center discuss New York's taxpayer-funded subsidies for film and television production. Together, they examine the findings of an independent study commissioned by the state Department of Taxation and Finance, providing a critical analysis of the economic impact of these subsidies.

In this episode of "Messages of Necessity," Adjunct Fellow Cam MacDonald and Research Director Ken Girardin delve into the increasingly important topic of Cap and Invest. They explore what aspects have been thoroughly examined and which details still lack clarity.

Empire Center experts discuss the Governor's budget address and proposal, offering their initial reactions to the executive proposal.

Tim Hoefer interviews Ken Girardin, Bill Hammond, and Cam Macdonald on their reaction to Governor Hochul's State of the State address and what it means for New Yorkers.

In this podcast episode, Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, and Bill Hammond, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at the Empire Center, delve into the intricacies of healthcare staffing in New York. They discuss the uneven recovery of the healthcare workforce post-pandemic, the shift towards home-based care and outpatient settings, and the impact of recent minimum staffing laws. The conversation...

In this podcast episode, Kyle Davis, Director of Public Affairs, engages in a conversation with Ken Girardin, Director of Research, to explore the borrowing practices of New York highlighted in the Empire Center article "Snips, Strikes and Skaters: NY Borrows To Cover Its Pork Habit." They analyze the allocation of nearly $200 million in borrowed state funds by New York lawmakers and Governor Hoch...

In this episode of Messages of Necessity, Tim Hoefer, President and CEO of the Empire Center, takes the lead in a thought-provoking interview with Cam Macdonald, Executive Director of the Government Justice Center. Together, they delve into the complexities of New York State redistricting and discuss the legal challenges surrounding the current electoral maps.

In this episode, Ken Girardin and Bill Hammond discuss a former Cuomo administration official's new book that seeks to rewrite the history of how New York state government responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Delving deep into the issues surrounding the March 25 directive, concealed data, and political finger-pointing, they emphasize the need for a thorough examination to ensure New York's readi...

Empire Center Research Director Ken Girardin and Senior Fellow Bill Hammond delve into the complexities of Medicaid and its implications for New Yorkers.