(UPDATE) State of the State: Cuomo Calls for 'Toughest Assault Weapon Ban in the Nation'

UPDATE: 3:30 p.m.

In his State of the State message in Albany, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for significant steps in New York State to safeguard residents from continued gun violence that has come with high-volume ammunition assault weapons.

"We must stop the madness," Cuomo said. "It has been enough. We need a gun policy that is reasonable, balanced and respects hunters. It's about ending the unecessary risk of high-capacity assault rifles."

Cuomo called for the "toughest assault weapon ban in the nation" in New York, along with new laws that would close private gun sale loopholes, keep weapons out of hands of the mentally ill and regulate ammunition purchases.

Cuomo said gun regulation leadership is not new to New York, citing the 1911 Sullivan Act, which required registration of handguns.

Making a emotionally-charged plea to lawmakers, Cuomo asked them to set aside politics 

"What we are proposing today are common sense measures," Cuomo said. "No one needs to hunt with an assault weapon. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer."

Click here to read the full text of Cuomo's address.

UPDATE: 3 p.m.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo today called for the state Legislature to again pass an on-time state budget and not to create any new taxes.

"We can accomplish anything we want when we work together," Cuomo said.

Cuomo said the state has made major progress in the way it does business, becoming more business-friendly and ending the "politics as usual" mentality that created years of deadlock among lawmakers in Albany.

As an example of the change in the state, Cuomo cited the planned replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge connecting Westchester and Rockland.

"We put it together in one year after they talked about it for 10," Cuomo said.

Among the steps Cuomo has called for in his address:

- Reduce the burden of unemployment insurance and workmen's compenstation insurance on employers in the state.

- Extend the state's solar jobs program.

- Put a new focus fixing the terrible economic climate in upstate New York.

To help the upstate economy, Cuomo called for expanding casinos. He said casinos in upstate New York would boost that region's economy. Step one: Three casinos upstate to bring downstate residents upstate.

This would require a referendum in November.

On education, Cuomo said we need more education.

"We need more learning time my friends if we are really serious about improving education," Cuomo said.

Options:

- Longer school days.

- A longer school year.

- Or, a combination of both.

"Our proposal is that we make it an option for every school district in the state and how they would want to opt in," said Cuomo, noting the state would pay for the additional costs related to longer school days/years.

He also called for more early childhood education. Cuomo called for full-day Pre-K programs, especially in poorest communities.

For teachers, Cuomo said New York must reward high-performing teachers, calling for a master teachers programs in which those teachers would see extra pay. He also praised the state's school districts for following through with formalized teacher evaluation plans.

On minimum wage, Cuomo said the state's current minimum wage of $14,000 is not a living wage.

"My friends, it does not add up," Cuomo said, urging a raise of the minimum wage.

Stop and frisk

In New York City, Cuomo called for an end to the city's "stop and frisk" methods, calling the technique unfair. "It's unfair, it's not right and it must end now," Cuomo said.

He called for changes in the law so that minor marijuana possession does not become a misdemeanor - keeping it at the violation level.

Affordable housing

Cuomo said New York State will step in with a $1 billion effort over the next five years to boost affordable housing.

Campaign reform

Cuomo called for significant changes in the state's political campaign financing laws.

He called for faster reporting of political and lobbying campaign contributions. And, he called for lowering limits on contributions.

Environment

Cuomo called for reducing C02 output in New York.

"Climate change is real," Cuomo said.

Also, he called for the "Recreate NY-Smart Home" to help homeowners in storm-prone areas to avoid rebuilding homes only to have them destroyed a few years later.

In New York City, Cuomo called for steps to safeguard underground facilities, utilities and the subway system. On Long Island, he called for eliminating the LIPA system of providing power.

UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

After lengthy introductions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken the podium to begin his State of the State address.

Among those noted before the speech were the familiy members of two Webster, NY, volunteer firefighters who were slain in an abush.

In noting major incidents in New York in 2012 from Hurricane Sandy to the deadly incident in Webster, Cuomo said, "We saw New York at its worst and we saw new york at its best. You saw unparalleled heroism ...."

UPDATE: 1:58 p.m.

State lawmakers have filed into the state's convention center in Albany and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is about to deliver his State of the State address. 

Watch the speech live online at http://www.governor.ny.gov/NY/2013-State-of-the-State

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to deliver is State of the State message today at 1:30 p.m., when he will outline his goals for New York in 2013.

The message can be seen live online from Albany via the state government's web site, http://www.governor.ny.gov/NY/2013-State-of-the-State

In previous messages, Cuomo has targeted school reform an efforts to make government smaller and more efficient. Today, Cuomo is expected to discuss gun control in the wake for the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. Cuomo is also expected to discuss the state's minimum wage and the economy.

After his speech, share your reaction to his proposal here on Patch. Tell us what you think should be the state's priorities for 2013.

About the State of the State message:

- The State of the State address allows the Governor to lay out his yearly agenda for the legislators and the people of New York.

- The Governor is required to give the State of the State by Article IV Section 3 of the New York State Constitution.

- The State of the State message is not only a message from the Governor to the Legislature but is also the beginning of the Legislative year.

- Only three governors, Charles Poletti, John Tayler and Horace White, have never given a State of the State message.

- The State of the State address was traditionally held in the Assembly Chamber until Gov. Andrew Cuomo moved it to the Convention Center.

- Article XIII section 4 of the State Constitution sets the day for the beginning of the legislative term as the first Wednesday after the first Monday in the month of January.

- Colonial governors gave speeches, but our first governors after winning Independence thought that was too pretentious and so instead delivered a written message to the Legislature.

- Even today, the actual State of the State is a document given by the Governor to the legislative leaders and not the speech that accompanies it.