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 bring in a fraction of the projected $4 billion in extra federal aid that state lawmakers anticipated. With details pulled from the state’s federal waiver application, Bill and Cam explore the estimated $2.8 billion in gross revenues and the net returns of $1.4 to $1.8 billion after state costs, unraveling the financial mechanics and potential legal and policy consequences for insurers, Medicaid recipients, and New York taxpayers.

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 wide-reaching implications for consumers, caregivers, and key stakeholders.

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 ensuring a safer future by understanding what went wrong.

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 districts must navigate.

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 pragmatic and realistic manner.

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 key differences in educational policies and recommendations for New York to improve its outcomes and manage costs effectively.

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 opportunities for them.

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.