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Archive for December, 2011
Morelle Slams Senate GOP Over Redistricting
Dec 31st - 10:20 am
For months now, the Senate Democrats have been slamming their Republican counterparts for reneging on their pledge to ex-NYC Mayor Ed Koch in support of independent and nonpartisan redistricting.
Now Monroe County Democratic Chairman/Assemblyman Joe Morelle is joining the fray, telling YNN’s Casey Bortnick in an interview earlier this week that he’s “very disappointed” in the Senate majority and believes the GOP’s redistricting about-face has “really slowed this process down and made this very, very difficult.”
“The governor has said that he will not sign a bill that’s done in the traditional way with legislators from both houses deciding what their own lines should look like, but we’re getting to the point of a bit of a crisis,” Morelle said.
“And it’s possible at some point the courts might step in and appoint someone to design the districts for us. I think that would be a mistake. But frankly, given the Senate’s real problems and the disingenuousness that they’ve demonstrated the last several months, we could very well end up that way.”
Morelle, like many of his fellow electeds, expressed concern over the time crunch that will be caused by moving up the 2012 primaries, as mandated by the DOJ.
A June primary, which has been championed by the Assembly Democrats (the Senate Republicans prefer August) would require the redrawn districts to be approved in February – at the latest.
There’s increasing talk about the Capitol that the Boards of Elections won’t be able to handle the compressed time frame, however, and the DOJ has basically left the whole mess up to Judge Gary Sharpe, who’s expected to rule any day now.
WFP 2012 Plan: Run Challengers ‘With An Agenda For The 99%’
Dec 31st - 9:52 am
If the Working Families Party has its way, 2012 will be the year of primaries.
WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor laid out the labor-backed party’s political plan for the coming year in a video distributed to supporters late yesterday afternoon, and made it clear that while the left may be “dismayed and disgusted” by the GOP, it “cannot just be cheerleaders for a Democratic Party that has often disappointed us.”
“Even with the large majorities that followed the 2006 and 2008 elections, Democrats did not enact policies that match the scale of the crisis that we find ourselves in,” Cantor said.
“There’s nothing new here. We believe that what we need are not just elected officials who vote with us from time to time – even most of the time. What we need are leaders who hold public office who truly share out values and are willing to fight for them all the time, candidates with an agenda for the 99 percent.”
Cantor predicted a slew of contested races at the local, state and federal levels in the coming year (recall that all the House and state legislative seats will be up for grabs with new district lines, which further boosts the possibility of competitive contests).
The WFP leader pointedly did not call out any Democratic leaders by name, but both President Obama and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been intermittently criticized by the liberal wing of their own party for being too pragmatic, or even downright conservative in some cases.
The WFP was largely absent during the legislative session debate over extension of the so-called millionaire’s tax.
Cuomo had agreed to run on the party’s line in 2010 after it was cleared of any wrongdoing in a US attorney probe.
But in exchange for getting the popular Democratic gubernatorial candidate on its line – thus ensuring it would well surpass the required 50,000-vote mark to live another four years (the party ended up moving to Row D) – the WFP had to agree to Cuomo’s “New NY Agenda,” which included a slew of agenda items – the property tax cap, no new taxes to close the budget deficit etc. – that the left had opposed.
Now that the 2011 session is over, however, the WFP is re-emerging and has been boosted considerable by the Occupy movement, which Cantor credited for putting “wind behind our sails.”
Cantor said the WFP is now active in five states, with people interested in starting organizations in half a dozen more, which is “quite an exciting development for us.” In the email that accompanied his video, Cantor said:
“At its core, our plan is about using today’s momentum to plan for the long-term. The aim is to identify dozens and then hundreds and then thousands of local candidates who share our values. Together, we’ll sow the seeds of a government that truly works for all of us.”
New Yorkers In Iowa For Newt
Dec 31st - 8:53 am
In recent weeks, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has slowly built support among New York Republicans, rolling out endorsements from the party’s top state-level official (Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos) along with a wide array of current and former electeds, operatives and county GOP leaders.
If you clicked on that link, you noticed a number of people connected to former Gov. George Pataki – although not the governor himself – have announced their support for Romney, including Pataki’s longtime political operative, Rob Cole, who is Romney’s NYS director and also worked on the former Massachusetts governor’s 2008 White House bid.
Others include: Former Pataki spokesman Mike McKeon and his colleague at Mercury Public Affairs, Tom Doherty (onetime deputy chief of staff and appointments secretary to Pataki); and John Cahill, Pataki’s former chief of staff and current consulting firm partner.
But Romney doesn’t have New York completely sewn up yet. In fact, there are a number of Empire State Republicans – several of whom have Pataki ties – in Iowa right now working for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the days leading up to the Jan. 3 caucuses.
The Troy Record reported yesterday that City of Troy spokesman Jeff Pirro has taken off some time to do some advance work for Gingrich in Iowa.
Pirro was recruited for this short stint by David Levers, with whom he worked in the Pataki administration. Politico’s Maggie Haberman noted Levers’ presence at a Gingrich Iowa event earlier this month.
Haberman recalled that Levers had worked with Craig Schoenfeld, one of two veteran political operatives who walked off Gingrich’s campaign and was later re-hired, to set up Pataki’s Iowa exploratory operation in 2006 when he was mulling a never-realized ’08 White House run.
Levers said Schoenfeld first approached him about working for Gingrich over the summer, but the New York operative (who last ran fellow consultant Jay Townsend’s unsuccessful 2010 challenge to Sen. Chuck Schumer) declined.
But when Gingrich surged in Iowa, his campaign scrambled to beef up its skeleton crew. This time, Levers agreed to sign on to handle the northwest part of the state and manage the state-wide caucus operation.
When Gingrich’s pre-caucus bus tour was coming together, Levers suggested a number of other former Pataki hands to fill in gaps on the political and advance team.
Also on the ground now in Iowa for Newt:
- Lynn Krogh, who is widely credited with running the highly successful floor operation at last year’s state GOP convention for another Pataki ally, ex-Rep. Rick Lazio (then running for governor, and also a Romney supporter dating back to the ’08 days).
She worked in the Pataki administration – right up to the bitter end – and also joined Carl Paladino’s campaign after he defeated Lazio in the GOP gubernatorial primary last fall, going on to lose big to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the general election.
- Vince Casale, a GOP consultant and son of ex-Assemblyman Tony Casale, who is chief of staff at the NYS Republican Party.
Krogh told me via email that the Pataki team in Iowa for Gingrich likes Romney and are “good friends” with many of his New York operatives. But they also really like Gingrich, and were interested in having the caucus experience. So when asked to sign on, they jumped at the chance.
“It has been pretty fantastic thus far,” said Krogh, who thrives on the sort of grassroots, door-to-door campaigning the caucuses traditionally require.
It appears New Yorkers for Newt are fighting an uphill battle, however, since the candidate’s surge has disintegrated – thanks to a barrage of ads that attacked his conservative credentials. Recent polls show Romney and Ron Paul battling for the top slot, while Rick Santorum is surging and Gingrich is slipping.
It remains to be seen whether Gingrich’s tears yesterday (an occurrence some have said is reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire performance before her upset Granite State win in 2008) have any impact on his slide.
Extras
Dec 30th - 4:44 pm
Mitt Romney is hoping that NJ Governor Chris Christie will help him secure a victory in Iowa as the two campaigned in the Hawkeye state today.
Rick Santorum, who is surging in the polls, dismissed Christie’s campaign stops by suggesting the NJ Gov is a “liberal” like Romney.
Newt Gingrich was brought to tears while discussing his mother’s illness with other Iowa mothers.
A joke by Romney’s son about Obama’s birth certificate has quickly become a campaign fundraising tool for the president’s campaign.
Earlier in the day, he attacked NYC Mayor Bloomberg for buying his way into office.
Here’s one more example of the loyalty and power Ron Paul’s supporters wield.
If you were wondering why everyone cares so much about the Iowa Caucus, here’s a quick history.
NYT’s Danny Hakim has details about a new Inspector General report detailing abuse at a the state-run Valley Ridge Center for Intensive Treatment in Norwich.
NYS Financial Services Superintendent Ben Lawsky is claiming success in the merging of the former Banking and Insurance Departments.
Apparently US Debt was one of the best investments this year.
Speaking of debt, you might hear more about the debt ceiling when Congress returns in January.
Assemblyman Sean Ryan is calling for a review of operations at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.
DFS Report Touts Cost Savings
Dec 30th - 4:14 pm
The newly formed Department of Financial Services released its year-end report to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature today, touting a steep reduction in costs, a crack down on workers compensation fraud and the disclosure of insurance rate increases.
The new agency, which combined the Banking and Insurance departments under one roof, reduced costs by 10 percent, according to the report.
Superintendent Ben Lawsky writes in his message to Cuomo and lawmakers that the agency in 2012 will work toward attracting new companies to the state, further reduce “red tape” regulations and expand oversight of financial services that have fallen into “regulatory gaps.”
“I am proud of what DFS has been able to accomplish so far, while both continuing our vital regulatory
functions and dealing with the challenges of the merger,” Lawsky wrote. “I can assure you that our initial success has increased our determination to achieve even more in the months ahead to contribute to the Governor’s efforts to strengthen New York’s economy and create more jobs.”
What Brian Kolb Wants To Hear
Dec 30th - 3:37 pm
Job creation, mandate relief and a fair shake for low and medium-wealth school districts is what Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb hopes will be a major component of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s second State of the State address.
“I look forward to working with the Governor to achieve these critical priorities during the coming Legislative Session,” Kolb wrote in his legislative column. “We still have a lot of work to do, but I believe we hit the “reset” button last year and will continue to reform and rebuild the great state of New York. Even through the hardship of a tough economy, our Conference will work with the Governor and the Legislature to deliver results worthy of a finish line celebration.”
Kolb, R-Canandaigua, also wants a further consolidation of state government bureaucracy and operations, writing that it is “imperative” to examine every aspect of state government.
Cuomo delivers the speech Wednesday in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
He’s already expected to discuss one aspect of job creation: expanding casino gambling, which may include casinos and table-top gaming in New York City.
The governor may also make a broad pitch for investing in the state’s infrastructure and creating a construction fund. At the centerpiece of that effort may be a plan to build a new bridge to replace the aging Tappan Zee.
NYPIRG Blasts BOE
Dec 30th - 11:57 am
The New York Public Interest Research Group is excoriating the Board of Elections today for not meeting the Jan. 1 deadline for disclosure of cash spent by independent organizations seeking to influence elections.
Part of the latest ethics law approved in June requires greater disclosure of who is donating to those groups and how they’re spending their money.
But NYPIRG says that despite six months of lead time for the Board of Elections to act on the new regulations, the Jan. 1 deadline will be blown.
The spending by deep-pocketed independent, so-called “grassroots” groups is on the rise in Albany, alarming good-government groups who charge these organizations fail to act in any form of reasonable sunlight.
NYPIRG says this episode shows the Board of Elections needs to be restructured so it is a more effective entity.
Angry quote:
This most recent failure of the Board highlights the need for any campaign finance proposals introduced in 2012 to either take campaign finance enforcement powers away from the bipartisan board or drastically restructure an independent enforcement unit. Changes such as public financing of elections or lower contribution limits are needed to reduce the oversized role played by wealthy interests in state elections, but will not be effective if candidates can casually ignore their requirements without fear of reprisal. Moreover, the state needs to demonstrate its commitment to campaign finance transparency and enforcement of election law by ensuring that there is adequate funding and staffing to implement state law.
Group Sharpens Push For Asian Representation (Updated)
Dec 30th - 11:32 am
As the proposed maps for new state and federal offices remain a closely guarded secret in Albany, the Asian American Legal Defense Fund filed a complaint in U.S. District Court to push for an independent process.
The group argues that with the growing Asian population in New York — 32 percent in the last 10 years alone — the redistricting process must take those figures into consideration.
The argument is similar to one made during the last redistricting process in 2001-02 when Hispanic and Latino groups pushed for greater representation.
“The Asian American community must be represented in the NY redistricting process because its political power is particularly weakened by the current district lines,” said Jerry Vattamala, Staff Attorney at AALDEF’s Democracy Program. “Asian Americans voters constitute a majority only in one NY state assembly district and not a single state senate or Congressional district. No Asian American has ever been elected to the NY state senate or the U.S. Congress.”
The organization earlier this year unveiled its own proposals for new lines in what they called the “Unity Map.”
Redistricting, which must be done every 10 years based on the most recent Census data, is often a highly litigious process. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly promised to veto lines not drawn by an independent commission.
Update: I’m reminded that Common Cause’s proposed maps also created Asian-influence districts for the ninth congressional and 16th Senate district.
As we’ve noted before, Senate Republicans under Dean Skelos are making a concerted effort to reach out to Hispanic voters, whose numbers have swelled in suburban New York City.
Here And Now
Dec 30th - 7:27 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is still on vacation in the North Country. At last report, he was staying in a house in Lake Placid with his daughters and girlfriend Sandra Lee.
Just two days remain in 2011, and there are still no signs Cuomo will grant any pardons or clemencies this year.
Cuomo has a long criminal justice history, but didn’t tap into it during his first year in office. That’s going to change, according to “insiders.”
Work on the 9/11 museum has “basically stopped” due to a dispute with the Port Authority over financing, says Mayor Bloomberg, and there’s now “no chance” it will open on time next year.
Bloomberg’s last-minute selection of five board members for the WTC performing arts center board averted the loss of $100 million in funding. His picks include ex-Pataki administration spokeswoman Zenia Mucha and the namesake of Zuccotti Park, John Zuccotti.
State GOP Chairman Ed Cox publicly pressures Cuomo on pension reform, saying he should use his bully pulpit to force it through the Legislature.
Donald Trump’s potential third party presidential bid is gaining steam.
Rep. Michele Bachmann’s campaign has flamed out in Iowa.
An NBC-Marist poll shows Mitt Romney and Ron Paul neck-and-neck (23-21) as the Jan. 3 caucuses approach, while Rick Santorum is surging and Newt Gingrich is collapsing.
A Rasmussen poll found Romney six points ahead of Obama – his biggest lead to date.
A Bloomberg ally called Gingrich “desperate” for attacking the billionaire mayor.
City of Troy spokesman Jeff Pirro is in Iowa working for Gingrich.
Pataki Switches Sides In NY-1?
Dec 29th - 7:12 pm
Former Gov. George Pataki appears to have turned his back on a former campaign aide – not to mention two key members of his own political team – by backing Long Island businessman Randy Altschuler’s second attempt to unseat Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop in the 2012 1st Congressional District race.
Oddly, I don’t have a formal statement from Pataki announcing his support for Altschuler. What I do have is a tersely worded one-line release from the campaign manager of Altschuler’s GOP primary opponent, George Demos.
“It’s sad and unfortunate that former Governor Pataki is unaware that Randy Altschuler outsourced more American jobs to India than were created in New York state in the last ten years,” said Kevin Tschirhart.
(Veteran Pataki watchers might get a bit of a laugh out of the wording of that statement. “Sad and unfortunate” were vintage Pataki administration responses to anything political and/or negative about the then-governor said by a critic or opponent; I can’t count the number of times I wrote “sad and unfortunate” while covering that administration for the TU).
Pataki spokesman Dave Catalfamo said the former governor had indeed planned to endorse Altschuler, but he declined to comment further until a formal statement from Pataki is released.
Demos worked on Pataki’s 1998 re-election campaign – the one in which Pataki cruised to victory against his Democratic opponent, former NYC Council Speaker Peter Vallone, after coming from pretty much nowhere (the back bench of the state Senate) to oust liberal icon Mario Cuomo from the governor’s office four years earlier.
Working on Demos’ campaign are two members of Pataki’s erstwhile political brain trust: Rob Cole and Arthur Finkelstein.
The fact that Pataki chose to go against Demos is far less surprising than his decision to buck Cole and Finkelstein, two people who played long-standing roles in his political career. (Cole actually started working for Pataki as an intern during the former governor’s Assembly days in the early 1990s).
This is the second time Demos has battled Altschuler for the GOP line. He finished second to Altschuler in a three-way GOP primary last fall. (The third candidate, Christopher Nixon Cox, son of state GOP Chairman Ed Cox, finished third).
Altschuler came close to defeating Bishop, who is still viewed as vulnerable by Republicans. To that end, Republican and Conservative leaders in Suffolk County who were divided over the NY-1 race last fall have now united behind Altschuler in hopes of maximizing their chances of defeating the incumbent Democratic congressman.
To that end, I guess it’s understandable that Pataki picked sides so early in the game and choose to go against his own camp. Then again, he’s not exactly a major everyday player in GOP politics here in New York these days, and could have waited to see what happened in the primary.
That’s what he did in 2010, endorsing Altschuler in October – in other words, after he won in September and became the party’s standard bearer.
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