ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - This week in Albany, members of the Electoral College meet to cast their ballots and the chances of a special session focused on a legislative pay raise are receding as a key deadline approaches.
Meanwhile, Uber is hoping for a special holiday gift this year, and lawmakers take a look at cybersecurity.
A guide to what’s coming up in the Capitol:
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ELECTORS MEET
The New York members of the Electoral College include top Democrats like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, former President Bill Clinton and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The electors meet Monday in the Senate chambers in Albany. They’re expected to cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton, who won the state but lost the election to Republican Donald Trump.
Some members of the group, including Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and state Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have said electors should receive intelligence briefings on potential Russian interference in the election before casting their ballots.
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SPECIAL SESSION
Time is running out on talk of convening a special session focused on a legislative pay raise.
In order for any salary increase to take effect in 2017, lawmakers must authorize it by Dec. 31. Legislative leaders and Gov. Andrew Cuomo remain in negotiations.
Lawmakers now make $79,500 a year and haven’t seen a raise in nearly 20 years. A leading proposal would boost their salaries to $99,500. Cuomo has suggested various other topics for consideration during a special session, including significant government ethics reforms, funding for a new state police hate crimes task force, and authorizing Uber to expand into upstate.
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UBER
The app-based ride-hailing service is now prohibited from operating outside of New York City.
Efforts to allow it to move into cities like Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse and Rochester have met with sharp resistance from the taxi cab industry, which argues Uber must be held to the same rules. Both sides are running advertisements as the debate heats up.
Cuomo gave Uber some welcome news when he announced last week that he would push to authorize the upstate expansion. The company is now hoping that lawmakers make it a part of the special session.
“The voices of New Yorkers who have been demanding ridesharing in their communities have been heard,” said Uber New York General Manager Josh Mohrer. “It is time for the legislature to act so we can finally bring Uber to upstate New York.”
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CYBERSECURITY HEARING
The Assembly banking committee returns to Albany on Monday for a hearing on cybersecurity.
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