Michael Gormley

Albany

Albany Reporter at Newsday

Michael Gormley covers Albany for Newsday. He covers Gov. Hochul, the Legislature and New York politics and issues important to New Yorkers.

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Articles

Key highlights of the 2025-26 New York State budget

5 days ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY — The 2025-26 state budget approved Thursday night over a month late will total $254.3 billion. It includes not just funding for government and aid to schools and hospitals, but also substantial new policies in law enforcement, education and taxes that touch New Yorkers directly. But one of the most contentious issues in this budget was the process of crafting the spending plan. The budget was due April 1. But the traditional secretive negotiations between Gov.
Police gain new mental health intervention powers

6 days ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY — Police will have greater latitude to send people believed to be mentally ill to psychiatric examinations from the streets and subways, with new protocols sought by the State Legislature to protect the people when and after they are detained, according to a bill passed as part of the state budget.
New York tax rebate checks: What residents need to know

6 days ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY — Most New Yorkers will receive tax rebate checks of $150 to $400 this fall under a provision in the state budget being passed this week. The deal between Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic leaders of the Senate and Assembly majorities also includes a bigger child tax credit, a reduced tax rate for middle- and lower-cost New Yorkers worth $1 billion, and free breakfast and lunch for all students regardless of family income.
Prison guard strike leads to hiring measure in state budget

6 days ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY – The longest prison guard strike in state history earlier this year has prompted new measures in the state budget to hire more correction officers to contend with a staff shortage that legislators said is dangerous for guards and prisoners and expensive for taxpayers.
Albany state legislature passes $254 billion budget

1 week ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY — The State Legislature on Wednesday began passing a $254 billion budget that was due April 1 and will increase state spending by $12.3 billion. The protracted, closed-door negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul and leaders of the Democratic majorities of the Senate and Assembly increased the spending plan by $2.3 billion from the budget Hochul proposed in January.
New York state to pay off $6 billion pandemic debt

1 week ago | newsday.com | John Asbury |Michael Gormley

The state will pay off a more than $6 billion pandemic-era debt to the federal government that’s been a burden on employers and has blocked an increase in unemployment insurance benefits to laid-off workers, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. She said the state’s takeover of the federal debt will be part of a state budget expected to be voted on this week. Employers have been paying an added cost for their share of unemployment insurance since 2023.
Albany budget process criticized for lack of transparency

1 week ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY — The State Legislature next week is scheduled to vote on a $254 billion state budget that was due more than a month ago and negotiated behind closed doors. The details of what's in it won't become known to the public until a short time before lawmakers have to vote on it. While Albany for decades has been notorious for its budget process, this year has laid the problems bare, say veterans of Albany in and outside government.
Albany state budget process to continue into next week

1 week ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY – The protracted state budget process will continue into next week when legislators and the public will get a shortened amount of time to review how the $254 billion will be spent, legislators said Thursday. The state budget was due by April 1. The latest plan is to introduce budget bills Monday at the earliest.
New Yorkers rush to apply for REAL ID licenses

1 week ago | newsday.com | Michael Gormley

ALBANY — Nearly 7 million New Yorkers have applied for REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses, permits and nondriver IDs which will be required for air travel even within the country starting Wednesday. The rush to obtain the documents labeled REAL ID or enhanced driver's license continues with about 200,000 New Yorkers securing the licenses since mid-April.
Albany state budget negotiations continue amid delays

2 weeks ago | newsday.com | Keshia Clukey |Michael Gormley

ALBANY — Despite Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement Monday of a "general agreement" on a state budget that is nearly a month late, Democratic legislators said Tuesday that negotiations will continue this week before a deal is final. "It appears we are approaching the end ... but we’re not there yet," said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday afternoon. The Yonkers Democrat said negotiations alone could take several more days.