NY's only statewide political program
Michael Johnson
This user hasn't shared any biographical information
Homepage: http://capitaltonight.com
Posts by Michael Johnson
Cuomo Cabinet Meeting Live
Feb 22nd - 12:15 pm
Governor Cuomo has just convened his cabinet meeting. You can watch it live here.
Watch live streaming video from newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor at livestream.com
Court Grants Soundview Immediate Stay
Feb 17th - 3:56 pm
A Bonx judge has granted the health care center founded by forme State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. an immediate stay from being removed from the state Medicaid program.
The state had removed Soundview Health Center from the program after Espada and his son were arrested on charges they illegally funnelled state money to the hospitals for personal gain. Under the stay, state agencies are also instructed that they cannot contact, transfer, or convince Soundview’s patients that it will no longer be participating in the New York Medicaid program.
“Our community and our patients are a step closer to achieving the healthcare and choice they are due ,” said Constance Bruno, Board Member, “and Soundview will continue to provide excellent healthcare and services to our thousands of patients, employees and families.”
The Stay remains in effect until the next court date on March 5th.
Buerkle Votes No On Pay Roll Tax Cut Extension (Updated)
Feb 17th - 1:07 pm
The House overwhelmingly passed a bill extending the pay roll tax cut and unemployment benefits today 293 to 132, and the only Republican from New York state to vote against the plan was Ann Marie Buerkle. (NY Democrats Gary Ackerman and Yvette Clarke also voted against the bill)
Buerkle has been a consistent conservative on fiscal issues, often bucking her party leadership on difficult votes that she feels will increase the nation’s deficit. She was also the only Republican from NY to vote against raising the debt ceiling.
Buerkle’s vote is likely to become a campaign issue this year because most voters in her district will benefit from the extension of the payroll tax cut.
Update: Buerkle has posted this explanation of her vote on her website.
“I came to Washington to reform a broken system. In our country’s recent history, Congress has saddled the people with trillions of dollars of debt. We cannot continue to mortgage our nation’s future with patchwork legislation. America needs true reform,” said Rep. Buerkle.
“I voted against this bill because it spends $100 billion the United States Treasury does not have; that money comes from the Social Security Trust Fund. Washington must find solutions that do not come on the backs of our seniors.
“Making matters worse, provisions in this bill are damaging to the integrity of our Medicare system and many of Central and Western New York’s health care providers.
“I will not support a system that operates with such disregard for America’s future. This country’s prosperity lies in the strength of its middle class and removing the crushing weight of our debt will allow the middle class to flourish again.”
Teacher Evaluation Agreement (Updated)
Feb 16th - 1:05 pm
The state Education Department, teacher’s unions, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have come to a final agreement on a new system to evaluate teacher performance – an issue that has caused considerable consternation at the Capitol over the past year.
The deal clears the way for the state to receive the $700 million in federal cash it won in the Race to the Top competition and also enable districts to receive a four percent increase in state education funding.
During an afternoon press conference a broadly smiling Cuomo hailed what he called a landmark deal that was the result of an all-night negotiation session and comes just hours before his self-imposed midnight deadline. The governor was joined by NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, NYSED Commissioner John King, and UFT President Michael Mulgrew, all of whom also lauded the agreement.
“Today’s agreement puts in place a groundbreaking new statewide teacher evaluation system that will put students first and make New York a national leader in holding teachers accountable for student achievement,” Cuomo said.
“This agreement is exactly what is needed to transform our state’s public education system, and I am pleased that by working together and putting the needs of students ahead of politics we were able to reach this agreement.”
Here is the breakdown of the scoring system:
Reba McEntire Cuts PSA For OPWDD
Feb 16th - 10:23 am
The state office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) has enlisted country singer Reba McEntire – whose niece has a developmental disability – to help with their outreach program to families of the developmentally disabled. It’s part of a larger push to inform New Yorkers of the services that are available.
“Reba McEntire has brought an enormous amount of national attention to the developmental disabilities field throughout her career, and we are very thankful that she has once again stepped forward to help individuals and families access the services they need,” OPWDD Commissioner Courtney Burke said. “Reba is highly respected both personally and professionally. Her voice will help us reach families in need, and her efforts will make a positive difference in their lives.”
Here’s the PSA script which highlights OPWDD’s move toward more community living and work programs for the developmentally disabled.
“Hey, I’m Reba, and my niece Haley has a developmental disability. And I have seen firsthand the difference that caring professionals can make in the life of a loved one, as well as the many positive changes in how we as a society support individuals with developmental disabilities.
“For example, there was a time when we thought institutions were the best way to provide care, but now we are focused on community living, meaningful work, and many other opportunities.
“Today, a cause very near and dear to my heart is making sure that people with developmental disabilities and their loved ones know how to get the services and supports they need to live and enjoy their lives to the fullest.
“Please contact the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities at 1-866-946-9733. Or visit them online at www.opwdd.ny.gov to learn more. Thanks so much for your time, and let’s help each other out.”
Wallenda To Walk, Lawmakers Praise Decision
Feb 15th - 12:17 pm
Today the Niagara Parks Commission granted tentative approval for high-wire daredevil Nik Wallenda to walk across Niagara Falls. The NPC board voted today to put together within 45 days an series of requirements to let Wallenda walk over the falls. It will also include a provision to let a tightrope walker with professional ability to walk every year for the next 20 years.
During an interview with Capital Tonight earlier this month, Wallenda said he wanted to make the falls a permanent summer home.
Western New York lawmakers were quick to praise the decision. The sponsors of the New York bill giving Wallenda approval to walk sent out a joint statement in which they say they expect the decision will bring in hundreds of thousands of tourists.
“Today is a great day for the Niagara region on both sides of the border,” said Senator George Maziarz. “A premiere event by a true professional like Nik Wallenda will attract tourists on an international level. I congratulate the Niagara Parks Commission for their careful study and recognizing the tremendous benefit to the region this will be.”
“Nik Wallenda is a professional and the Parks Commission recognized that,” said Assemblyman John Ceretto. “I am thrilled that Nik will be traversing the gorge, in marketing this walk, Nik will be a tremendous ambassador for the city and will present the region to the world.”
“I am pleased to hear that the Niagara Parks Commission gave Nik Wallenda and his team the green light,” Assem. Dennis Gabryszak said. “We are one step closer to watching Nik fulfill his dream of traversing the gorge. This is an exciting moment for everyone who has worked hard make this happen.”
There is no date planned for Wallenda’s first walk – but he has said he would like to do it this summer.
Diaz Calls For Senate Probe Of Grisanti Incident
Feb 15th - 11:22 am
In today’s edition of “What You Should Know” by Senator Ruben Diaz – an almost daily email he sends out – the Bronx pol called for an investigation into the fight Senator Mark Grisanti had a Niagara casino, comparing the incident to what happened to former state senator Hiram Monserrate.
As you will recall, Diaz has often called out his senate colleagues for being hypocrites for setting up the Senate committee (that was chaired by now Attorney General Eric Schneiderman) that led to the expulsion of Sen. Monserrate for domestic abuse against his girlfriend, while not expelling other Senators who were guilty of misdemeanor crimes.
In his email, Diaz says there is an accusation that Grisanti punched a woman and should therefore being investigted. He goes on to say:
I completely disagree with Senator Dean Skelos when he said “I believed Mark Grisanti when he said he was attacked. His wife was attacked. She was knocked down on the floor. They beat her head against the floor. She has a concussion. She has bruises, and I think that was an indication that she was attacked.”
I wish that Senator Skelos and the members of the Senate would have taken Hiram Monserrate and his girl friend Carla at their word and believed them, the same way they are believing Mark Grisanti.
When Monserrate was expelled in early 2010, the bi-partisan probe was initiated by Democrats who were in control of the state Senate.
Complete letter is after the jump. More >
Lippman Outlines Youth Court Plan
Feb 14th - 3:05 pm
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman says he will submit a bill to the legislature and the governor before the end of the month calling for the creation of a new youth court. He announced the plan during his hour plus long State of the Judiciary address today.
Lippman says the high number of 16 and 17 year olds who are being tried in criminal courts for non-violent crimes, around 50 thousand he says, is burdening criminal courts. His new bill would move all non-violent cases to this new court. Currently, New York is one of two state’s in the country that still charges 16 and 17 year olds as adults.
“Treating 16 and 17 year olds as adults flies in the face of what science tells us about adolescent development. The adolescent brain is not fully developed. Even older adolescents have a more limited ability to make more reasoned judgments and engage in the kind of thinking that weighs risks and consequences in a mature fashion,” Lippman said.
The state has already set up pilot courts around the state, in Buffalo and Syracuse upstate, and in all five boroughs of New York City.
In the speech, Lippman also praised the Governor’s calls to expand the DNA database, tying it into a larger push to prevent wrongful conviction. He also spoke at length about the need to provide good legal counsel to those who cannot afford it – especially those seeking help with foreclosures.
Draft Golisano Begins
Feb 14th - 10:08 am
A push is underway to draft Rochester area billionaire Tom Golisano into a 3rd party run for President.
Staten Island resident Frank Morano, who is a long time supporter of Golisano, sent out a letter today urging people to go onto the Americans Elect website and sign the petition supporting the former candidate for NY Governor.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter.
What makes Tom Golisano so special? In a word…..everything. At a time when our country is drowning in debt and government is clearly broken, we need a man who has a successful track record as a businessman and has a history of making and keeping a budget. Tom is a self made Billionaire and has demonstrated the kind of ambition, creativity and competence that our country needs.
Americans Elect is pushing to be on the ballot in all 50 states. Last month, their Chief Operating Officer was on Capital Tonight and explained the process. They are going state by state trying to certify spots on the ballot – and investing millions of dollars. This summer they will do an online convention where they will pick a candidate for president, and a vice presidential candidate from a differing party.
Currently, some of the most tracked candidates on the Americans Elect website are New Yorkers, including NYC Michael Bloomberg, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Hillary Clinton.
Complete letter is after the jump.
More >
Port Authority Audit Finds Lack Of Leadership
Feb 7th - 6:07 pm
The Port Authority of NY/NJ quietly released today phase 1 of an audit into the their expenses that was prompted by the increase in tolls and fares back in August of 2011. According to the report, Governor’s Cuomo and Christie charged the board of Commissioners at the PA to audit the whole agency including the 10 year capital plan to rebuild the World Trade Center.
The report says the PA is an “organization at a crossroads” and goes on to suggest a major overhaul of its leadership structure. Here’s an excerpt from the report.
…preliminary review revealed a challenged and dysfunctional organization suffering from a lack of consistent leadership, a siloed underlying bureaucracy, poorly coordinated capital planning processes, insufficient cost controls, and a lack of transparent and effective oversight of the World Trade Center (the “WTC”) program that has obscured full awareness of billions of dollars in exposure to the Port Authority.
It goes on to suggest that promotion is based on seniority and not performance leading to “a concentration of long tenured senior and middle management employees.” It also blasts the plush health care plans of employees pointing out that “93% of employees make no contribution to their health care; by contrast, 100% of New York State and New Jersey State employees contribute to health care.”
Governor Cuomo responded to the report in a joint statement with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie blasting the PA’s history and suggesting that wide-ranging reform is long overdue.
“This record of historic failure must be reversed. Steps have already been taken in the last two years, but much more must be done to restore the Port Authority to a responsible, highly transparent, well-managed organization focused on its core mission of maintaining and expanding our states’ shared transportation infrastructure for the health and growth of our overlapping economies. We will demand nothing short of the agency’s implementation of comprehensive recommendations and reform to achieve this critical mission,” Cuomo and Christie said in a statement.
You might remember that back in October Fred Dicker reported that this audit had found that outgoing Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward blew “hundreds of millions of dollars in ‘unnecessary spending’.” The report does not appear to mention Ward’s name at first glance – outside of a mention that the PA has had 7 different leaders in ten years which has created a lack of continuity and added to the problems.
It does however have this excerpt, which appears to be referring to Ward.
Under the previous Executive Director, trust and confidence between the Board of Commissioners and its executive management reportedly deteriorated; as a result, the Board of Commissioners adopted roles and responsibilities in daily operations and management atypical for a governing board. The loss in confidence was largely ascribable to sentiments by the Board of Commissioners that they were not being timely presented with meaningful and reliable information to make informed decisions.
Take Capital Tonight and the State of Politics blog with you everywhere you go with our iPhone app! The mobile application features our blog posts, interviews, and a report news tool to send us your political news tips.