{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"As Lawmakers Return to Albany, They Can't Stop Talking About One Thing: Affordability","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":140,"description":"As state lawmakers return to Albany on Wednesday to kick-start this year’s legislative session, the focus seems to be all in one place: pocketbooks.“I don’t want to spoil anything,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Friday ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State speech next week. “But I think people are going to be pleased to see how much of a concentration we’re going to have on trying to put money back into people’s pockets.”With President-elect Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, Republicans saw victories in the November elections over their promises to fight inflation and tighten border policies — including in New York.Although state Democrats still control all branches of government, Republicans chipped away at their supermajority in the Senate by flipping one seat last November. They also saw the largest appeal for conservative policies in recent years.The appetite for measures that address affordability, along with the border and public safety, is not lost on Democrats as they head into session.“I've always known that affordability and safety are the most important issues in people's minds, and we need to make sure that we are walking the walk and talking the talk when we come to those terms,” said Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, who represents the 108th district in the Capital region.That’s why Hochul, with the backing of state Democratic leadership, is presenting her “affordability agenda” for the Legislature to consider: That includes sending rebate checks of up to $500 for qualifying families and individuals, expanding the state’s child tax credit system, and increasing access to child care.State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat whose constituents are in the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas, said she hopes the conference provides more affordable health care and incentivizes housing developments that aren’t just apartment buildings and larger projects.“Our small towns and villages aren’t able to manage those kinds of developments,” she...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}