NY Governor Andrew Cuomo
ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to deliver his fourth State of the State this afternoon. Many insiders say this year’s state of the state will feature a robust, election-year platform that will focus on property-tax relief and boosting the upstate economy.
The speech has also already garnered attention because the governor plans to call for the legalization of medical marijuana. But the main focus will be the state’s economic recovery and his ongoing plans to improve it. He will also highlight his plans to cut property and business taxes in what many say is the highest taxed states in the nation.
On Monday, the Governor detailed a $2 billion plan to freeze property taxes for two years and then tie property taxes to household incomes. It was coupled with an array of business tax cuts for companies, including upstate manufacturing firms.
Cuomo is also going to discuss the development of his tax-free zones near college campuses that was approved by the Legislature last June.
Cuomo pushed for the women’s agenda in his speech last year, but it’s uncertain whether he can get the Senate to approve it this year. He also made a call for gun control last year in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. Just a few days later the state Legislature passed a tougher gun-control law.
Published reports say both Gun-rights groups and anti-fracking groups are planning to protest the speech Wednesday. Cuomo has yet to decide whether to move forward with the controversial drilling technique.
The speech begins at 1:30 p.m. and can be seen live on the governor’s website at governor.ny.gov.
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