NY Lawmakers To Review Spending On Environmental Protection

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state lawmakers are kicking off their budget work for the year by examining state spending on environmental protection.

The Assembly and Senate have scheduled a joint budget hearing on Wednesday to examine funding for programs relating to water quality, land conservation, wildlife management and efforts to clean up pollution.

This year Cuomo is proposing an additional $500 million for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, an added $110 million for state parks and historic sites as well as a statewide ban on plastic shopping bags intended to reduce plastic pollution.

Wednesday's hearing in Albany is the first of several focused on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed $175 billion state budget proposal. Another hearing set for Thursday will review social service spending..