Wednesday Headlines: Data Hiding Edition

The second most powerful woman in New York says that Gov. Hochul and the insurance lobby are still holding out on data.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters yesterday that even though her conference wants to bring down prices and limit fraud, they haven’t been given data explaining how Hochul’s proposal makes life more affordable for New Yorkers, nor how insurance prices are connected to fraud.

“We want to fight fraud…” Stewart-Cousins said, “So we are looking for data, we’re looking for numbers, and we’re also trying to offer ways that we feel can also help lower insurance rates.”

State budget negotiations between the state Legislature and the governor are moving at a snail’s pace. There is a schedule of budget extenders in place to keep the state running in the meantime, and Hochul is well aware that dragging out negotiations has usually left her satisfied.

“Part of the conversation is, ‘give me the data that tells me that certain things that you’re proposing will lead to lower rates,’ because that’s ultimately what we’re trying to do,” she said. “And for a long time, there was a big emphasis on fraud, and so of course, we wanted that information.”

Not to be all, “state lawmakers should read Streetsblog,” but they should really read Streetsblog.

Our reporting has shown that the fraud component of the governor’s argument is overblown, with cases rarely leading to arrests, let alone convictions, and insurance companies are slow to say that a crackdown, as well as the curtailing of victims’ rights to compensation for pain and suffering, will lead to savings for customers.

And as one reporter explained to WCNY’s Brian Lehrer, even a car driver is puzzled by how the governor is going about this.

For lawmakers like Stewart-Cousins with her Westchester constituency, they just want to make a tangible difference in New Yorkers’ wallets. Playing whack-a-mole on victims’ rights isn’t exactly her style.

“We want to help people lower their car insurance,” she said.

More news:

State Democrats have gotten their wish, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has missed out on state matching funds in his Republican challenge against Hochul. (Newsday)

New York City government is daring to ask the question: What if you weren’t a creep on the subway? (The New York Post)

New York Transit Museum workers have unionized as they seek better wages and job security. (amNY)

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn may be losing her grip on the Brooklyn Democratic Party. (City & State)

The state budget is late, and state lawmakers passed an extender through April 7 (the first of many). (State of Politics)

New speed cameras in Kingston have picked up an average of 345 warning violations per day. (Mid-Hudson News)

Buffalo’s fleet manager (aka snowplow czar) was fired by new Mayor Sean Ryan as leaks suggest a toxic work environment. (WRGZ)