President
Jim Malatras is president of SUNY Empire State College. As president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government from February 2017 to July 2019, he led the Institute’s modernization effort to offer policymakers evidence-based policy analysis and recommendations on timely topics. Prior to that, Dr. Malatras held several high-ranking positions in New York State government, including director of state operations to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, where he managed the day-to-day operation of state government and served as the administration’s point person on policy. He previously served as deputy secretary for policy management to Governor Cuomo and as deputy director of policy on Governor Cuomo’s successful campaign for governor. An education policy expert, Dr. Malatras served as the executive director of the governor’s New NY Education Reform Commission from 2012-2014. Dr. Malatras also previously served as executive directive of legislative affairs and state policy to Attorney General Cuomo and legislative director to former assemblyman and current Rockefeller Institute board member, Richard L. Brodsky. Dr. Malatras received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in political science from the University at Albany.
Ep. 29. Epidemic in a Pandemic
September 23, 2020
Patricia Strach, Katie Zuber, and Elizabeth Pérez-Chiqués discuss what has happened to substance-use treatment access and effectiveness during COVID-19. Continue Reading...
The Politics of Healthcare Reform vs. the Problems of Healthcare Reform
June 9, 2019
Even with the healthcare reform occurring under the ACA, there is a push to do more to expand healthcare further to make insurance more accessible and affordable. But the question is what. Continue Reading...
A Preliminary Analysis of Teacher Salaries in New York by Region and Wealth
April 17, 2019
While there are significant differences in how teachers are compensated between regions in New York, the median salary paid to teachers is consistently higher compared to other workers with bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Continue Reading...
If the Cap Fits, Let Them Wear It
March 6, 2019
We conservatively estimate that the tax cap has saved property taxpayers more than $25.6 billion since its enactment. Continue Reading...
Can Mass Shootings be Stopped?
March 1, 2019
Columbine spurred a national debate — from personal safety to the security of schools, workplaces, and other locations and to broader considerations of guns and mental illness. To this day, communities still are grappling to find solutions to the complex and multifaceted nature of mass shootings. Continue Reading...
By the Numbers: Regional School Property Tax Growth under the Tax Cap
February 15, 2019
School property tax rates have been dramatically cut in every region after the tax cap was put into effect and, using conservative estimates, homeowners have saved at least $16.7 billion on school taxes as a result. Continue Reading...
As Albany Debates a Permanent Property Tax Cap, How Is the Cap Affecting School Budgets?
January 23, 2019
New York State's local property tax cap has significantly reduced school property taxes and helped stabilize school budget adoption since it was enacted in 2012. Continue Reading...
Uneven Distribution of Education Aid within Big 5 School Districts in New York State
November 14, 2018
Even with spending disparities among districts across the state, every school district in New York spends more per student than the national average. Within districts, however, is aid distributed equitably to individual schools? Continue Reading...
For Many, Is College Out of Reach?
June 13, 2018
Exploring scalable innovative state programs to close the college access and success gaps. Continue Reading...
Federalism and the Trump Administration’s Energy Doctrine
April 18, 2018
As the federal government rolls back Obama-era climate change programs, the Rockefeller Institute of Government provides a roadmap for states and other institutional players to fill the void. Continue Reading...
A New Frontier for Saving for Retirement? The Creation of State Retirement Savings Marketplaces
March 23, 2018
Will a program such as New York's proposed Secure Choice Savings Program benefit private-sector workers? We found that even a voluntary program will likely reduce the number of New Yorkers without any retirement savings. Continue Reading...
The State of the New York Teacher Workforce
March 22, 2018
New York State as a whole is not experiencing a teacher shortage. But school districts with high child poverty and minority populations are facing severe problems in teacher staffing. Continue Reading...
Opioid Deaths Continue to Surge in New York State
March 15, 2018
Using the most recent Center for Disease Control data from 2016, we find that opioid deaths continue to mount in New York State. In fact, from 2015 to 2016, New York saw the single greatest annual increase in drug-related deaths in six years. Continue Reading...
Does Education Aid Flow to the Schools that Need it the Most?
February 15, 2018
Our researchers highlight the need to go beyond district-level funding disparities to learn how districts distribute funds among schools and ensure that resources are going to those who need them the most. Continue Reading...
The Citizens’ Guide to the Constitutional Convention
In New York, there are two ways to change the state constitution: through the legislative process or a constitutional convention. Either way, any changes must be approved by voters. A constitutional convention could be convened by the state legislature at any time but, at the very least, the question of whether to convene a convention is automatically placed on the ballot every twenty years. Continue Reading...
One Hundred and Six Ideas for Constitutional Change
February 12, 2018
The New York State Constitution requires that every twenty years, voters be presented with a question on the statewide ballot,“Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?” Continue Reading...
Phase One Analysis of the Teacher Workforce in South Dakota
December 20, 2017
The attention given to staffing schools with qualified teachers is understandable and critical exercise. In education, teachers are the heart of the matter, as studies of learning and life outcomes show. Concerns about teacher shortages, therefore, correspond to concerns about learning — and life — opportunities for children and young adults. Continue Reading...
The Growing Drug Epidemic in New York
This is the first in a series of reports by the Rockefeller Institute addressing the opioid crisis and the solutions governments are taking. Continue Reading...
A Background on Potential Teacher Shortages in the US
December 19, 2017
Rockefeller Institute researchers examine the factors driving changes in the K-12 teacher workforce across the nation. This report sets the stage for more in-depth analysis and focus on policies to address any coming teaching shortages. Continue Reading...
Using Data to Combat the Opioid Crisis
November 10, 2017
The latest figures from the New York State Department of Health give an up-to-date view of the opioid crisis in New York State. Continue Reading...
November 3, 2017
New York State House Republicans are diverging over a proposal to cap and eliminate the state and local tax deduction (SALT) included in the GOP tax reform plan announced November 2. Continue Reading...
Using Data to Combat the Opioid Crisis
The latest figures from the New York State Department of Health give an up-to-date view of the opioid crisis in New York State. In order to give the public and policymakers better data with which to understand and combat the epidemic, the Rockefeller Institute will continue to update its interactive map with quarterly reports. Continue Reading...
As Opioid Deaths Rise, a National Public Health Emergency to be Declared: So Now What?
October 26, 2017
With President Donald Trump on the cusp of declaring the opioid epidemic a “public health emergency,” Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras reviews the data for New York and introduces a new, interactive tool for tracking the crisis in the state. Continue Reading...
A Burden Too Great to Bear: Addressing the Mounting Student Loan Debt Crisis
October 6, 2017
With U.S. student loan debt increasing at a rate of $2,671 per second, according to one measure, more and more states are stepping up to address the mounting crisis and protect borrowers. Continue Reading...
As Opioid Deaths Rise, a National Public Health Emergency to be Declared: So Now What?
October 3, 2017
With President Donald Trump on the cusp of declaring the opioid epidemic a “public health emergency,” Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras reviews the data for New York and introduces a new, interactive tool for tracking the crisis in the state. Stay tuned to the Rockefeller Institute for further analysis of New York’s opioid epidemic as well as the quality of available health data. Continue Reading...
July 1, 2017
This week, the White House kicked off its “Made in America” campaign to highlight products manufactured in the United States. Continue Reading...
As Heroin Overdoses and Deaths Rise, Is More Legislative Action on the Horizon in New York?
June 19, 2017
With the 2017 New York State legislative session coming to a close, the executive and legislative branches are reportedly working to finalize another legislative package to address the ongoing opioid epidemic. Continue Reading...
As Heroin Overdoses and Deaths Rise, Is More Legislative Action on the Horizon in New York?
June 3, 2017
With the 2017 New York State legislative session coming to a close, the executive and legislative branches are reportedly working to finalize another legislative package to address the ongoing opioid epidemic. In a new blog post, Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras examines trends in New York State Department of Health data on heroin use to illustrate why additional changes to law as well as evaluation of existing programs are priorities. Continue Reading...
June 2, 2017
President Trump recently announced that the United States will withdraw from the multination Paris Climate Agreement. Continue Reading...
May 26, 2017
The Trump administration’s signaling that they are likely to eliminate the Cost Sharing Reduction subsidies of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is already beginning to drive increased health insurance rates in ACA markets. Continue Reading...
May 1, 2017
The U.S. House of Representatives voted today on a revised version of the American Health Care Act without the benefit of analysis by the independent Congressional Budget Office. Rockefeller Institute President Jim Malatras discusses the necessary role of objective analysis in policymaking. Continue Reading...
State and Local Governments Face Six Significant Issues with the Trump Tax Cut Outline
April 30, 2017
This week, the Trump administration made a big splash finally rolling out their tax cut outline. Their proposed massive tax cut would have significant impacts on state and local governments. Continue Reading...
Are the Stars Aligned to Defeat the Confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court?
April 4, 2017
This week there will be a potential showdown between Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate over the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. Continue Reading...
Collaborative State Models Could Fill the Federal Climate Change Void
April 3, 2017
In the shadow of weak federal climate rules, how do we get sovereign states to cooperate with one another to take on the issue themselves? Continue Reading...
The Excelsior Scholarship: Expanding College Access and Improving Success
March 30, 2017
This year, Governor Cuomo proposed the Excelsior Scholarship — a program offering free tuition to any SUNY or CUNY school to residents of New York (or parents or guardians of dependent children) making under $125,000 a year Continue Reading...
