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Archive for June, 2010
Koch Goes Negative
Jun 30th - 10:53 am
Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch’s New York Uprising PAC has been focused to date on naming so-called “heroes” of reform, awarding that imprimatur to elected officials and candidates who sign his trio of pledges calling for an overhaul of ethics, legislative redistricting and the budget process.
Now, Koch’s effort is going to take a darker turn, with the PAC poised to highlight so-called “enemies” of reform who had rebuffed his pledge forms.
Koch has set a deadline of July 21 for candidates and sitting lawmakers to sign or be branded an “enemy.”
He plans to go on a statewide tour to stand with his heroes after the deadline passes and set up a system through which New Yorkers can send messages on Facebook, Twitter and e-mail to either thank them for signing or pressure them to do so.
More >
NYLCV Raises On BP Spill
Jun 30th - 10:39 am
The New York League of Conservation Voters is kicking off the election season with a new ad campaign that seeks to harness the anger generated by the BP oil spill to raise money that will supporting “green” candidates here in the Empire State.
The money generated through this campaign will fund the NYLCV’s Climate Action PAC, which is the only political action committee dedicated solely to electing environmental leaders at the state level.
The organization says it hopes to rebuild the environmental leadership in Albany in the wake of a massive cut (also known as a sweep) by the Legislature to the Environmental Protection Fund in May.
“The disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mississippi has angered people around the world. But can New Yorkers do about it? Elect state leaders who will finally make a serious commitment to clean energy and protecting the environment,” the NYLCV states in a press release announcing its Capitol Campaign.
“(A)lthough the Legislature made progress on some sustainability efforts during the 2010 session, there is no political will to address the major challenges that have been facing New York for many years. Thus, the need to elect true environmental leaders could not be greater.”
The NYLCV is currently interviewing candidates for endorsements and will announce its decisions late next month. It plans to focus in particular on the closely-divided state Senate, where it spent $175,000 in 2008 to help the Democrats win control of the majority.
UPDATE: NYLCV spokesman Dan Hendrick says: “Our goal was to defeat anti-environment (former GOP) Sen. Caesar Trunzo and elect (Democrat) Brian Foley – not flip the Senate. We took great pains to make sure that race was based on environmental outcomes, not party labels.”
Marriage Equality NY PAC Boosts Schneiderman, Rice
Jun 30th - 8:40 am
Marriage Equality New York’s political action committee, MENY PAC, released a statement this morning praising all five of the Democratic AG contenders for making statements in support of same-sex marriage, but singled out two – Sen. Eric Schneiderman and Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice – for being “above the rest.”
MENY PAC lauded Rice, saying she has “come out swinging in her support for LGBT rights” by becoming the first AG hopeful to promise to sue the federal government over the Defense of Marriage Act. (Schneiderman has since done so as well).
She also has “actively recruited and retained” LGBT prosecutors and staff and appointed the first-ever hate crimes prosecutor in the DA’s office.
Schneiderman won kudos from the group for voting to pass the Hate Crimes bill and SONDA, sponsoring the Dignity for All Students Act, which recently passed the Senate, and delivering a “passionate and emotional speech” on the floor before voting “yes” on same-sex marriage last December.
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Like Father, Like Son?
Jun 30th - 8:18 am
In his second attack Web video in as many days, GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio is again trying to brand his Democratic opponent, AG Andrew Cuomo, as the ultimate Albany insider – this time using the words of his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, against him.
The latest video, entitled “Every Mistake,” features what I think is Darth Vader’s theme music (they’re a little on the nerdy side over at Team Lazio; consider those coded messages embedded in campaign manager Kevin Fullington’s weekly strategy sessions).
The spot also employs multiple renditions of Mario Cuomo saying this (I believe during an interview with Josh Robin, of NY1):
“I made a lot of mistakes in my 12 years as governor, my 20 years of politics – he was there for every mistake.”
…juxtaposed with Andrew Cuomo saying things like this:
“And sometimes to see the future, you have to remember the past…I was excited to go to work, I’m still excited to go to work…I just hope the people of the state are pleased and proud of our service.”
And, yet again, Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Vito Lopez’ convention interview with NY1, during which he called the AG a “product of Albany” who “knows he has to sit down” with the Legislature makes an appearance.
Here And Now
Jun 30th - 8:06 am
When he’s done initialing all 6,900 vetoes of additional legislative spending, Gov. David Paterson will consider giving the same treatment to the two-way revenue bill. (He would have to either accept the entire package or veto it in full; he cannot use his line-item power here).
At a rate of four vetoes a minute, an administration source estimates it will take Paterson 28.75 hours to finish. He’ll likely set a record.
Overrides are unlikely, as the Senate GOP is refusing to lend support to the 32-member Democratic conference.
It’s a tough choice for the GOP, which will forgo increasing school aid and providing property tax relief – two crucial election-year issues – if it bucks overrides.
“I’m done talking to legislative leaders,” Paterson told the AP. “I am doing the vetoes. As far as I am concerned, this budget process is over.”
Paterson joins fellow governors in Washington, DC today to lobby for more FMAP funding. (No link).
Lawmakers may not have been paid during the budget battle, but they did receive some $1.2 million worth of per diems.
Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson met briefly with the governor yesterday and is trying to restart three-way talks.
Some have discussed continuing to try to negotiation the SUNY tuition plan after the July 4th weekend, and then finish the budget, Jimmy Vielkind and Rick Karlin report.
The governor and legislative leaders have agreed on a plan to tax hedge fund managers from out of state more in taxes.
AG Andrew Cuomo again weighed in from afar on the budget mess and lambasted lawmakers for failing to accomplish their goals.
More >
Montel Williams Lobbies For Medical Marijuana At The Capitol
Jun 29th - 9:00 pm
TV and radio personality, Montel Williams, stopped by the Capitol on Tuesday in hopes of convincing lawmakers to pass a bill that would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes in New York.
He discusses his personal connection and his nationwide initiative to legalize pot and also tells Liz Benjamin that he uses the drug several times a day to alleviate pain as a result of MS.
Adams On Domestic Workers’ Bill Of Rights
Jun 29th - 9:00 pm
Sen. Eric Adams discusses a bill that would allow nannies to have employment protection rights. He also talks about the budget negotiations and if the Senate will be able to override any of the governor’s vetoes.
Extras
Jun 29th - 6:15 pm
The delayed June 1 school aid payments have been made, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced.
The Bill Drafting Commission escalated the budget war by refusing to assist Gov. David Paterson.
Wayne Barrett notes Paterson let St. Vincent’s die while putting a hospital in his own neighborhood (that once employed his wife and father) on a “very expensive respirator.”
The domestic workers rights bill might difficult to enforce.
Leading Democratic fundraiser and friend of Hillary Clinton, Alan Patricof, may have been a target of the alleged Russian spies.
Paterson said the election season won’t stop him from calling lawmakers back to Albany, if necessary.
Sean Coffey will be joining the striking Mott’s workers at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. (No link).
Coffey thinks lawmakers should use member item cash to enable upstate polling sites to stay open longer.
AG Andrew Cuomo is maintaining his wide lead over Rick Lazio.
Former President Clinton has stepped up his speaking-for-hire and has earned $65 million that way since leaving office.
GOP comptroller hopeful Harry Wilson is urging DiNapoli not to release legislative paychecks if there’s not “sufficient” funding in the two-way budget deal to support government operations.
Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker will be bookended by shows with sinking ratings.
The state Democratic Party wants Lazio to take a stand on the banking bill.
Should DAs be endorsing candidates?
Beau Biden is raising money for Chris Heinz.
The fact that the state budget battle has put the governor’s race on the back burner is fine with Bob Duffy.
City Room reprinted a press release from Assemblyman Richard Brodsky in its entirety.
The Democrats are enlisting volunteer citizen trackers.
Diaz Sr., Defender Of Gay Rights?
Jun 29th - 5:03 pm
Here’s Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. explaining to Erin Billups, of NY1, why he so vehemently opposed language in the revenue bill that recognized same-sex marriages performed outside the state in New York tax law.
It’s not what you think.
“It is insulting for the gay community,” the Bronx Democrat insisted. “It is insulting for us to tell them: We don’t recognize your marriage, we don’t want you to get married, we reject your marriage… but pay taxes.”
“It’s insulting. So why would I say: I don’t want you to get married, but as a married couple pay taxes. That’s hypocrisy. Pure hypocrisy…They cannot get married, they should not be paying taxes together.”
The same-sex marriage language appeared in Gov. David Paterson’s original budget proposal and the Assembly’s one-house budget resolution, but not the Senate’s.
It was removed from the two-way budget deal revenue bill that we now expect will come up for a vote very early Thursday morning (like, shortly after midnight), or, if saner heads prevail, sometime during the day.
Not long ago, I ran into Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell in the Senate hallway. He told me he has reintroduced an amended version of his bill, which is where this whole idea originated, to mirror the language in the governor’s budget.
The bill, which has no same-as in the Senate, won’t be live for passage until Friday. If it looks like the Legislature might leave town before then, O’Donnell said he will consider asking Paterson for a message of necessity.
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