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In today’s CapCon:
Democrats have changed their plans on overhauling redistricting in New York and now no longer intend to approve two constitutional amendments.
U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler was at the Capitol Monday to push back, calling Democrats’ plans “full of s—.”
A data center moratorium is still on the table in the final week of session but disagreements among members remain.
As lawmakers move to approve hundreds of bills over the next few days, here are a few on the move.
That includes bills to ban surveillance pricing, prohibit AI chatbots in toys, prevent the proliferation of illegal cannabis and increase public spending transparency.
This Week in New York History: Giant Mountain, Charles Steinmetz, and King George VI
Names in today’s CapCon: Mike Lawler, Donald J. Trump, Michael Gianaris, Hakeem Jeffries, Joseph Morelle, Anna Kelles, Gov. Kathy Hochul
(Will Waldron/Times Union)
🗺️ Redistricting amendments now expected to be combined into one proposal
Democrats in the state Legislature had anticipated approving two proposed amendments to the state constitution to overhaul the state’s redistricting process this week.
They’re now planning to combine them into a single, larger proposed amendment and give it first passage by the end of this week. The state Legislature will have to approve it a second time next year before it can head to voters in November 2027.
The details of what will be included in that proposed amendment remain elusive but it’s expected to include language that would allow the state’s districts for Congress to be redrawn ahead of the 2028 elections.
It’s also expected to make larger changes to the state’s redistricting process. The language of the proposed amendment is expected to be released sometime overnight Monday into Tuesday.
U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler made a rare appearance at the state Capitol Monday to rail against the anticipated amendment alongside Republicans in the state Legislature. Lawler and Republicans don’t want the state’s redistricting process to change.
I asked him if, assuming the amendment makes it on the ballot this year, Republicans at the national level will help fund a campaign to defeat it.
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