Podcasts about empire center

Aug. 19, 2025- The latest federal review of hospital metrics from around the country found that New York continues to trail almost every other state. We discuss the findings and how they should be used with Bill Hammond, a senior fellow at The Empire Center for Public Policy.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are EPA Regional Administrator, Professor at Bennington College, and President of Beyond Plastics Judith Enck, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, and CEO of The Business Council of New York State Heather Mulligan.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, Albany Law School Professor and Director of the Justice Center Sarah Rogerson, and Former Times-Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of Political Science at Hartwick College in Oneonta, who studies gender in politics, women political candidates, women voters and women in elected office Laurel Elder, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, Tetherless World Professor of Computer, Web and Cognitive Sciences at RPI Jim Hendler, and Former Associate Editor for the Times-Union Mike Spain.

5 Freeway between Alameda and Olive, southbound side all jammed up. Police have shut down both sides of the freeway. Police are turning commuters around on the southbound. Talking to Brent, a commuter eyewitness, who said Verdugo Overpass has a jumper presently sitting on the bridge threatening to jump. Another caller, Martin, said he was on the 5 but was eventually able to get off the freeway. // #DirectBuyers.com. Traffic on the 5 around Burbank still bad, freeway shut down due to the man threatening to jump. Teen bikers assaulting people in LA. LA cracking down on “video-game-style driving,” more police presence. Traffic report. // Big problems in Burbank! Thanks to a guy hanging out on overpass hanging out, it's all jammed up. CHP rolling out new style of vehicle to blend into traffic to combat “video-game-style driving.” // Look Ahead. The 5 is still closed, due to a guy standing on Olive Overpass at Burbank. Empire Center is a good place to go if you're stuck in the area due to the freeway being closed. 134 to 210 is pretty clear. Southbound on the 5 is good, too.  

Longtime journalists Bill Hammond and Nick Reisman joined the show to discuss Andrew Cuomo's record as Governor of New York, with a focus on Cuomo's leadership style. Cuomo, leading the polls in the 2025 Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City, was Governor from January 2011 to August 2021. Hammond - formerly of the New York Daily News and now at the Empire Center - and Reisman, formerly of Capitol Tonight/State of Politics and now at Politico New York - have both covered Cuomo for many years and, in this discussion, help host Ben Max recap Cuomo's decade in power. This is the first in a series of Max Politics episodes that will examine Cuomo's record as Governor and bid to become Mayor. Cuomo has been invited to appear on the show himself but has yet to accept the invitation. Stay tuned for other episodes in this series. (Ep 498)

EP190: Orange Monday, Flu Vaccine Study, Hochul vs Feds Over Medicaid, Masters WeekSPORTSMasters Week https://golf.com/lifestyle/2025-masters-picks-win-staff-betting-augusta/CLICKSBitcoin/GameStop - https://decrypt.co/312732/gamestop-1-5-billion-offering-bitcoin-reserveFlu Vaccine https://www.trialsitenews.com/a/landmark-cleveland-clinic-study-finds-flu-vaccine-ineffectiveand-possibly-harmfulfor-working-adults-in-2024-2025-season-84b3b608POLITICSNew York State https://nypost.com/2025/04/06/opinion/new-york-is-plotting-another-tax-hike-to-keep-feeding-health-care-special-interests/Bill Hammond https://nypost.com/2025/03/07/opinion/kathy-hochul-cries-wolf-over-medicaid-cuts-to-hide-her-political-abuse-of-its-funds/Empire Center https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/health-workforce-jumps-by-another-10-percent/Orange Monday https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-trump-digs-in-says-markets-may-have-to-take-medicine-as-stocks-plunge-191201144.htmlLiberation Day!Trump announces reciprocal tariffsSummary of the top three points of the announcement:Baseline 10% tariffs on all imported goods to the United States.Reciprocal tariffs targeting approximately 60 countries deemed “worst offenders,” with rates ranging from 20% to 50%. Notable examples include 34% on Chinese goods and 20% on EU imports.A 25% tariff on foreign-made vehicles and the closure of duty-free loopholes for Chinese goods under $800.##  About the Sports, Clicks & Politics PodcastSCAPP is a weekly podcast with a Livestream every Monday at 12pm on eastern.  Join hosts Shawn Hannon and Ben Hussong as they separate the latest news from the noise impacting New York State. The podcast has frequent guest interviews for additional perspectives in the worlds or sports, politics and beyond!Follow the show on social mediaWebsite: scappodcast.comFacebook: facebook.com/scappodcastTwitter: @SCAPPodcastFollow Shawn & Ben on social mediaFacebook: facebook.com/hannon44 Twitter: @hannon44Facebook: facebook.com/ben.hussong.3Twitter: @benhussong 

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, Theatre Artist, Arts Advocate, Activist and Executive Director for "Project Sage" in Lakeville, CT Kristen van Ginhoven, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Publisher Emeritus of The Daily Freeman Ira Fusfeld, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, and Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, CEO of The Business Council of New York State Heather Mulligan, and Professor of Economics at Siena College Aaron Pacitti.

March 7, 2025 - What would Micron get? That's the question that Ken Girardin, research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy, thinks smalls businesses should ask when they're looking for incentives to grow, in light of the local and state sweeteners deployed to attract the high-tech manufacturing company to central New York.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are communications expert and Founder/President of Stanhope Partners Bob Bellafiore, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, a grants analyst based in Albany Emily Honen, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Partner with the Albany law firm of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, Cianna Freeman-Tolbert, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, Tetherless World Professor of Computer, Web and Cognitive Sciences at RPI Jim Hendler, and Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, Executive Director of The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York Nic Rangel, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., welcomes Howard Husock of the American Enterprise Institute and E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center for Public Policy to discuss the impact of the 2017 federal tax reforms on charitable giving. They explore how the doubling of the standard deduction reduced the number of taxpayers who itemize, significantly diminishing the tax incentives for charitable contributions. While overall charitable giving has increased in nominal terms since 2017, the share of adjusted gross income dedicated to philanthropy, particularly by middle- and upper-middle-income households, has notably declined. Howard and E.J. detail how the reforms affected donor behavior, especially among households earning $100,000 to $200,000—a critical demographic for many nonprofits. With fewer taxpayers itemizing deductions, the traditional end-of-year giving surge, driven by tax considerations, has weakened. Meanwhile, wealthier individuals earning $1 million or more have increased their giving, leveraging tax incentives tied to capital gains and higher incomes. This shift highlights a growing disparity in how different income groups approach charitable contributions under the current tax structure. The conversation also looks ahead to 2025, when the 2017 tax policy is set to expire, potentially reopening the door to significant reforms. Howard and E.J. advocate for a universal charitable tax deduction, which briefly existed during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue this policy could democratize tax benefits for giving, making it more inclusive and accessible across income levels, while protecting charitable incentives from being perceived as a "loophole for the rich." They also emphasize the potential of donor-advised funds (DAFs) to help donors bundle contributions for greater tax efficiency while maintaining consistent philanthropic support. For fundraisers, the episode underscores the importance of understanding the evolving tax landscape and its influence on donor motivations. Howard and E.J. suggest strategies like promoting DAFs and discussing "bundling" techniques with donors to maximize their giving impact. By staying informed and adapting to these changes, fundraisers can better engage donors and sustain giving in an increasingly complex tax environment.

Oct. 9, 2024 - We get an update on changes to the administration of a popular state home care program, including the potential unionization of the workforce, from Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy.

April 3, 2023 - After more than four decades of imposing 9 percent interest on money judgements, Empire Center for Public Policy adjunct fellow Cam Macdonald says its time to make the rates more flexible.

Bill shares his deep, first hand knowledge of America's second largest Medicaid program. The current governor has departed from the historic efforts to rein in the always bloating health system to runaway growth in the program. This episode sets up the second part of this interview, the rise and fall of then governor Andrew Cuomo. Nursing home deaths, suppressed public data, and possible impeachment. 

Ken Girardin is an engineer who has been researching and writing about energy policy issues in New York for over a decade. In this episode, Ken talks about his new report for the Empire Center, Green Guardrails, which found that the state's Climate Act could cost taxpayers $4.9 trillion by 2050, the soaring cost of the offshore wind projects, land-use conflicts, and the “absolutism” that is driving much of the state's climate policy. (Recorded March 5, 2024.)

March 19, 2024 - New York is embarking on an expensive green transition without a comprehensive accounting of how much it's going to cost, according to Ken Girardin, research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy.

March 7, 2024 - A report by the Empire Center for Public Policy raises questions about Medicaid dollars that benefited 1199 SEIU, so we talked with the union's interim political director, Helen Schaub, about the money designed for training nursing home staff. We also explore 1199's push for more hospital funding in the budget.

New York State's Medicaid budget is one of the biggest in the country. Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center, and Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, explain why Medicaid spending is over budget and what all that spending provides for New Yorkers.

Empire Center's Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond reports on fast-moving developments in New York's health care industry and he joins Janice to discuss the nursing home mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell Janice who made your Dean's List! Follow Janice on Twitter: @janicedean Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 12, 2023 - Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, weighs in on premium rates for certain health insurance plans that require approval from state financial regulators.

New York City schools are preparing for a potential school bus strike, days ahead of the first day of school. Plus, the MTA has removed a feature from its tap-and-go payment system, OMNY, after privacy advocates raised alarm. And finally, WNYC's Sean Carlson talks with Empire Center researcher Bill Hammond about New York City's first wave of COVID-19 in the Spring of 2020. A recent analysis called it one of the deadliest outbreaks of the virus in the world.

It's  been 20 years since the big Northeast blackout. James Hanley, a fellow at the Empire Center for Public Policy spoke to Newsline with Brigitte Quinn about the lessons learned.

July 26, 2023 - An effort by Democratic state lawmakers to ensure a neutral arbitrator weighs in on disciplinary measures of public employees outside of New York City, isn't all it's cracked up to be, according to Ken Girardin, a fellow with the Empire Center for Public Policy.

May 29, 2023 - State education officials are changing how they evaluate certain standardized tests, which could lower the threshold for demonstration efficiency in a subject, according to Emily D'Vertola, an education policy analyst for the Empire Center for Public Policy.

March 15, 2023 - The population of New Yorkers on Medicaid has been growing annually, adding to the fiscal strain of health care providers, who get less money to serve patients on Medicaid than patients with Medicare or commercial insurance. Bill Hammond, of the Empire Center for Public Policy, makes the case for policies that transition New Yorkers off of Medicaid and on to commercial insurance, potentially saving the state billions.

Jan. 25, 2023 - Has the Public Service Commission deviated from its core mission of watching out for ratepayers? Ken Girardin, a policy analyst for the conservative Empire Center for Public Policy, argues that the powerful regulator has been led astray by labor organizations.

Courts have given public sector employees the ability to walk away from their unions, so unions have had to get creative in retaining those members. Ken Girardin of the Empire Center discusses the state of unions today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A government takeover of the energy utility on Long Island would risk higher costs, & less accountability. Why are government takeovers of utilities a bad idea? Empire Center's James Hanley discusses on #SwamptotheStates.

The Inflation Reduction Act is a new law designed to hasten the United States' energy transition (and do nothing about inflation). In the last episode before the midterm election, learn about the energy path the Democratic Party has plotted for us and learn how this new law can possibly save you tens of thousands of dollars. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! View the show notes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd261-inflation-reduction-act Jen Podcast Appearances EP 63 Honest Government Analyst Jennifer Briney talks Privilege, White House & Hotels. The Living Numbers Podcast with Tony Rambles. Disaster - Jennifer Briney. A Word with Tom Merritt. Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD259: CHIPS: A State Subsidization of Industry CD250: Congress Saves the Postal Service CD246: BIF: Appalachian Chemical Storage CD240: BIF The Infrastructure BILL CD218: Minerals are the New Oil CD205: Nuclear Waste Storage CD146: Repeal & Replace CD048: The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Tax Credits and Refunds Home Energy Efficiency Tax Credits “Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Home Improvements.” eFile. Rocky Mengle. Sept 16, 2022. “Save More on Green Home Improvements Under the Inflation Reduction Act.” Kiplinger. “Federal Income Tax Credits and Other Incentives for Energy Efficiency.” Updated Aug 18, 2022. Energy Star. Electric Appliance Rebates “Quick Facts: United States.” U.S. Census Bureau. Electric Car Tax Credit 26 U.S. Code § 30D - Clean vehicle credit. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Alternative Fuels Data Center. “Electric Vehicles with Final Assembly in North America.” U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Kelley R. Taylor. Oct 18, 2022. “EV Tax Credits Are Changing: What's Ahead.” Kiplinger. Greg Iacurci. Oct 15, 2022. “The 'bummer' of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit: Its full value may be hard to get.” CNBC. John Bozzella. Aug 5, 2022. “What If No EVs Qualify for the EV Tax Credit? It Could Happen.” Alliance for Automotive Innovation. John Bogna. Jun 22, 2022. “Hydrogen-Powered Cars: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Explained.” PCMag. U.S. Geological Survey. “Mineral Commodity Summaries 2021.” U.S. Department of the Interior. “OFAC Sanctioned Countries.” Princeton University Research & Project Administration. Alternative Fuel vehicle refueling property credit Kelley R. Taylor. Sept 14, 2022. “The Federal Tax Credit for Electric Vehicle Chargers is Back.” Kiplinger. 26 U.S. Code § 30C - Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Hydrogen Catherine Clifford. Sep 8, 2022. “The clean hydrogen energy economy was a dream. The climate bill could make it a reality this decade.” CNBC. Emma Ochu et al. Jun 17, 2021. “Hydrogen Fact Sheet: Production of Low-Carbon Hydrogen.” Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, Center on Global Energy Policy. “Lisa Murkowski.” Open Secrets. Jay Bartlett and Alan Krupnick. December 2020. “Decarbonized Hydrogen in the US Power and Industrial Sectors: Identifying and Incentivizing Opportunities to Lower Emissions.” Resources for the Future. 24/7 Wall St. Feb 16, 2020. “How Many Gas Stations Are In U.S.? How Many Will There Be In 10 Years?” Market Watch. Health Care “The Inflation Reduction Act Lowers Health Care Costs for Millions of Americans.” Oct 5, 2022. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Inflation Reduction Act: CMS Implementation Timeline.” 2022. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Carbon Capture Angela C. Jones and Ashley J. Lawson. Oct 5, 2022. “Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the United States.” Congressional Research Service. Emily Pontecorvo. Aug 22, 2022. “Will the Inflation Reduction Act jumpstart carbon capture?” Grist. “Global Status of CCS 2021.” 2021. Global CCS Institute. “Carbon capture and storage could also impact air pollution.” Nov 17, 2011. European Environment Agency. Offshore Wind Leases Abby Husselbee and Hannah Oakes. Aug 25, 2022. “The IRA Offshore Energy Leasing Provisions' Potential Impacts.” Harvard University Environmental & Energy Law Program. “Memorandum on the Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition.” Sept 8, 2020. The White House. Fossil Fuels David Jordan. Oct 6, 2022. “Interior moves forward with oil and gas drill site leasing.” Roll Call. “Inflation Reduction Act Fossil Fuel Provisions.” Aug 18, 2022. Enersection. 30 U.S. Code § 226 - Lease of oil and gas lands. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. The Associated Press. Apr 16, 2022. “Biden increases oil royalty rate and scales back lease sales on federal lands.” NPR. Taxes Kelley R. Taylor. Oct 10, 2022. “The Inflation Reduction Act and Taxes: What You Should Know.” Kiplinger. “Inflation Reduction Act includes 15% corporate minimum tax on book income.” August 16, 2022. EY. Jacob Bogage. Aug 12, 2022. “The new Wall Street tax key to Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act.” The Washington Post. Peter Warren. Aug 11, 2022. “‘Inflation Reduction Act' Holds the SALT.” Empire Center. “Lobbying: Intuit Inc.” Open Secrets. “CBO Cost Estimate: H.R. 1 - the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” November 13, 2017. Congressional Budget Office. The Law H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 “Summary: Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” Revised August 5, 2022. Congressional Budget Office. Audio Sources Full Committee Hearing On Opportunities and Challenges in Deploying Innovative Battery and Non-Battery Technologies for Energy Storage September 22, 2022 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Witnesses: Tim Hemstreet, Managing Director for Renewable Energy Development, PacifiCorp Spencer Nelson, Managing Director, Research and New Initiatives, ClearPath Ted Wiley, President and Chief Operating Officer, Form Energy 19:19 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): When it comes to storage, there has rightly been a focus on the supply chain, particularly for lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles and phones in our pockets and many other modern technologies. While we have benefited from the use of this important battery chemistry, the fact that China is responsible for 75% of global lithium ion battery production, including 60% of the world's cathode production and 80% of the world's anode production, should give everyone pause. That is why I was proud to champion Inflation Reduction Act which incentivized the onshoring of the entire battery supply chain, from the production and processing of raw materials, to the battery pack assembly and everything in between. Full Committee Hearing On Domestic Critical Mineral Supply Chains March 31, 2022 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Witnesses: Dr. Steve Fortier, Director, USGS National Minerals Information Center, U.S. Department of the Interior Scott Melbye, President, Uranium Producers of America Julie Padilla, Chief Regulatory Officer, Twin Metals Minnesota Abigail Wulf, Vice President, Critical Minerals Strategy and Director of the Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, Securing America's Future Energy Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, Director, West Virginia Water Research Institute, West Virginia University 24:14 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): It makes no sense to remain beholden to bad actors when we have abundant resources in manufacturing know-how here in the United States. And make no mistake, we are beholden, particularly when it comes to many of the minerals that go into clean energy technologies. That is why I've sounded the alarm about going down the path of EVs alone and advocated for equal treatment for hydrogen 45:08 Abigail Wulf: As things stand, without some significant course corrections on America's critical minerals enterprise, the leading automobile power won't be the United States. It will be China. Not because of superior design or technology, but because of their massive head start and established market power, if not utter dominance, in all aspects of the supply chain that powers these [electric] vehicles. But simply mining alone does not begin to address the fundamentals of America's mineral supply chain challenge. Where we are most lacking and where China is most dominant is in that crucial but largely hidden processing phase and midstream component production. We simply can't dig up a rock and stick it in a Tesla. You have to crush it, smelt it, and refine it into precursor material that has been sold to somebody else to turn it into battery guts, namely cathodes, anodes and electrolytes. Today, the United States has less than 4% of all minerals processing capacity and makes 0% of the world's cathodes and anodes. By contrast, China is the world's largest processor of copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements, and they control 60% of anode production and 40% of global cathode production. Consider that in 2019, about 70% of the world's cobalt supply was mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but more than 70% of that cobalt was refined in or controlled by China. Full Committee Hearing On Clean Hydrogen February 2, 2022 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Witnesses Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, Hydrogen Program Coordinator, U.S. Department of Energy Dr. Glen Richard Murrell, Executive Director, Wyoming Energy Authority Jonathan Lewis, Senior Counsel and Director of Transportation Decarbonization, Clean Air Task Force Michael J. Graff, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. Brian Hlavinka, Vice President, New Energy Ventures, Corporate Strategic Development, Williams 21:07 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): However, we have some challenges to tackle in order to build a clean hydrogen economy. Producing hydrogen without emissions is two to six times the cost of current production methods. Also, retrofitting end-use applications to use hydrogen as a feedstock, from chemical plants to cars and trucks, will take huge investments from both public and private sectors. This is the demand that we need to develop hydrogen markets that can sustain themselves. The other big challenge is the safe and efficient transport and storage of large volumes of hydrogen, given its physical properties. There's a lot of promising work being done in this space and will allow us to leverage our vast natural gas pipeline network to transport hydrogen to market. 22:00 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): That is why I made research, development, and demonstration of these technologies a central part of the Energy Infrastructure Act, which this committee reported with bipartisan support last year, and which was subsequently included in the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In that bill, we fund $9.5 billion in research, development and demonstration of clean hydrogen, and we tasked the Department of Energy to develop a national strategy and a roadmap to get us to a clean hydrogen economy. 27:25 Sen. James Lankford (R-OK): I'm concerned that the conversation around green versus blue hydrogen will pit technologies against each other rather than working together to establish a robust hydrogen marketplace. The simple truth right now is that 95% of hydrogen produced in the United States is made from natural gas. 1:42:00 Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Can you share what the administration's policy is with regards to converting natural gas to hydrogen? We recognize that there are some within the [Biden] administration, certainly some groups that may have influence on the administration, who are very firm about not using fuel sources like natural gas. So the question is, is there a role for conversion to play? And what might we anticipate with regards to support and funding that might come with it? Dr. Sunita Satyapal: Thank you again for the question. And as mentioned, with hydrogen shot, we're really looking at all of the pathways. It's really about clean hydrogen. So whether it's natural gas, carbon feedstocks, nuclear renewables, you know, any pathway to get to the low carbon intensity, we're really pivoting away from the colors. There's a lot of complexity: green, blue, purple, turquoise….Pyrolysis is another approach. In fact, our loan program office just announced financing of $1 billion solid carbon, which is another value added product, no need for the CCS portion. So definitely an all-of-the-above strategy needed to meet all of our goals. Full Committee Hearing to Examine Development and Deployment of Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Management Technologies July 28, 2020 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Witnesses: Steven Winberg, (Former) Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the US Department of Energy Shannon Angielski, Executive Director of the Carbon Utilization Research Council Dr. Julio Friedmann, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University 25:06 Dr. Julio Friedmann: Net zero means that any residual emissions must be balanced by removal, as Secretary Moniz said. It means that reduction of co2 emissions and removal of co2 emissions are complementary but distinct actions and that both are necessary. The National Academies and the IPCC find that this must be done at enormous scale exceeding the size of the global oil and gas industry today. We are not where we need to be to make this real. 48:35 Shannon Angielski: In addition, the International Energy Agency modelled the contributions of different technologies to meet that mid-century 2 degree scenario. And it shows that CCUS accounts for approximately 100 Giga tons of needed global co2 emissions reductions by 2060. To put this into perspective, this would be achieved by the operation of 1100 carbon capture systems on the equivalent of 500 megawatt coal fired units, or 3200 natural gas combined cycle units, which would need to be operating for the next 30 years. 1:59:00 Steven Winberg: The rest of the world is going to continue using fossil energy, whether it's coal or oil or natural gas. And that's why we have moved forward quickly on the coal first program, because it offers the opportunity for what I think of as 21st century coal. Right now the Chinese own the space in power generation — coal fired power generation. We have an opportunity to take technology and springboard over what the Chinese are building, which is basically 1970s vintage technology that we built, and they now have improved slightly, but they're selling it around the world, to countries that have coal under their feet, and they're going to continue using that coal. But with the coal first program, we can move into power generation, and we can move into hydrogen production, because these countries also, as they build out their transport sector, may not do it the same way that developed countries, they may move more swiftly into hydrogen. And so there's an opportunity there to take our technology using their natural resources that are under their feet, and produce zero emitting power generation and zero emitting hydrogen and perhaps even net negative hydrogen and net negative electricity and they can use that hydrogen in the transportation sector as well as the industrial sector. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

Oct. 7, 2022 - The leaking of a donor list for a conservative advocacy organization is being blamed on the state attorney general's office, which maintains these types of records. Empire Center for Public Policy President & CEO Tim Hoefer explains why his think tank is trying to find out how the state protects this type of information for charities it oversees.

Oct. 7, 2022 - The leaking of a donor list for a conservative advocacy organization is being blamed on the state attorney general's office, which maintains these types of records. Empire Center for Public Policy President & CEO Tim Hoefer explains why his think tank is trying to find out how the state protects this type of information for charities it oversees.

Oct. 7, 2022 - The leaking of a donor list for a conservative advocacy organization is being blamed on the state attorney general's office, which maintains these types of records. Empire Center for Public Policy President & CEO Tim Hoefer explains why his think tank is trying to find out how the state protects this type of information for charities it oversees.

July 15, 2022 - Empire Center for Public Policy's Bill Hammond dove into a state repository of nursing home data to examine how these facilities structure their businesses and explore what it means for their finances.

Many nursing home owners claim that they are operating on razor-thin margins or even in the red. But the reality of nursing home finances is a lot more complicated – perhaps, intentionally. On this episode, Bill Hammond from the Empire Center for Public Policy talks about a new report, “Following the Money,” examining the [...]

June 29, 2022 - We learn how the financial securities industry is responsible for funding New York's state budget and consider what a down turn on Wall Street could mean for next year's spending plan with E.J. McMahon, founder of the Empire Center for Public Policy.

This week we're joined by one of the hosts of Podcast: The Ride, Jason Sheridan, as we make a return trip to the Empire Center! Is it as bad as we made it out to be the first time around? Listen and see! 

Peter Warren, research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy, joined the show to discuss the vision for New York's fiscal policies, what's broken in state government, and more.

Dec. 30, 2021 - It's been about a decade since the state implemented changes to the state's pension plans, so the Empire Center for Public Policy has examined the cost savings that have been realized from these reforms in the ensuing years. The group's founder, EJ McMahon, joins us to talk dollars and cents and make the case for adding more flexibility to future retirement plans for public employees.

Nov. 17, 2021 - The interview transcripts from the state attorney general's office's investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by the former governor, also shed additional light on the state's pandemic response. The Empire Center's Bill Hammond discusses some of the most troubling revelations about the Cuomo administration's approach to this public health disaster.

Listen live weekday mornings 5:30am-9:00am on WGY

September 2, 2021 - Empire Center for Public Policy founder EJ McMahon provides an introductory class on the state's public pension, explaining the latest growth projections from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and how much the system could end up costing taxpayers in the near future.

$209 billion is the total spending in New York State's Enacted Budget for Fiscal Year 2022. Six months ago, New York State was staring down a four-year revenue shortfall totaling $60 billion—however, revenues have strengthened and the federal government passed a stimulus bill that includes what may be the largest state and local government relief program in history. Still, the State decided to raise taxes, boost education aid, and fund a host of economic recovery programs. Joining the podcast are three guests to discuss what this means for the State's fiscal future: State Senator Liz Krueger, Senior Fellow at the Empire Center and Adjunct Fellow at the Manhattan Institute E.J. McMahon, and CBC's Director of State Studies Patrick Orecki.

April 21, 2021 - For months, very little was known about the deliberations of the state task force empowered to judge the safety of COVID-19 vaccines before they're administered to New Yorkers. But Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, has finally gotten some answers and he joins the show to share what he learned.

Today's guest is Bill Hammond, senior fellow of health policy at the Empire Center. Bill discussed his efforts to obtain the true number of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes and why that data is critical to understanding the problem skilled nursing facilities faced and for learning from the pandemic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.