Episode Details

Blair Horner provides his perspective on this year's legislative session, discussing Governor Hochul's approach to the budget process, the legislature's power, the bills that passed (redistricting), the ones that didn't (lobbying), and Zohran Mamdani

00:00 – Cold open and introduction to Blair Horner, NYPIRG
00:29 – Hochul’s budget “hostage” strategy and compressed legislative calendar
01:33 – Primaries, pay pressure, and why lawmakers left Albany
02:04 – Governor’s constitutional budget power and late-budget leverage
04:05 – Pros and cons of strong executive power and secretive budget add-ons
05:34 – Lobbying muscle in Albany: Uber, auto insurance, and rising spending
06:19 – What needs to change: extenders, reforms, and an independent budget office
07:17 – Legislative leadership, lack of political will, and fear of courts
09:19 – Missed transparency bills and why “no-brainer” reforms stalled
11:21 – Packaging bill, floor debate time, and organized industry opposition
12:03 – Redistricting fight, partisan gerrymandering, and the 2014 reforms rollback
15:28 – How “independent” is the IRC and what’s really at stake
15:57 – Governor–NYC mayor alliance, city influence, and Democratic unity
17:18 – Urban aid, tradeoffs, and looming budget crunch

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