The Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy will bring “together the best experts and rigorous researchers to develop pragmatic, short- and long-term solutions that improve our state’s competitiveness, grow our economy, develop our workforce, enhance our quality of life and make the state more affordable for everyone who wants to study, work, live and retire here,” according to its namesake.

The outgoing Senate president lost his seat in the 3rd Legislative District to commercial truck driver and Republican Ed Durr, who has never held a seat in public office and spent only a few thousand dollars on his campaign.