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Michael Johnson
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Posts by Michael Johnson
Extras
Apr 5th - 5:40 pm
Rep. Richard Hanna thinks the state pension crisis will be the tipping point that gets national debt under control.
Rep. Ed Towns re-election campaign has a very low profile.
Sen. Roy McDonald has the support of Columbia County Conservative Party – might a Conservative primary between the senator and Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione be in the offing.
Clyde Williams, one of the Democrats challenging Rep. Charlie Rangel, unveiled his campaign team, which includes Mayor Bloomberg’s former spokeswoman Silvia Alvarez.
NYC Councilwoman Inez Dickens took Rangel to the hospital after he hurt it moving furniture for his wife, Alma. She says he’s now back home, even though she suggested he stay in.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association has rolled out a radio advertisement that says it’s easier for NYPD officers to deal with criminals than with police hierarchy.
More on the awkwardness between Sen. Adriano Espaillat and his once, and possibly future, political rival, Assemblyman Guillermo Linares.
Assemblyman Jim Brennan introduced a bill that would let voters approve – or reject – $4.5 billion in new money for statewide infrastructure, to be divided between downstate and upstate interests.
The Citizens Budget Commission gave the 2012-13 budget nine thumbs up and five thumbs down.
Happy Passover…and Easter!…from Cuomo.
And Chag Sameach from President Obama.
Bloomberg thinks being mayor is better than being president.
Keith Olbermann once threw – and broke – a glass mug on the Current TV set, prompting an email to the higher ups from a concerned staffer.
As expected, Olbermann has reportedly sued the network for wrongful termination.
So far, Eliot Spitzer is saving Current TV from being dropped by (our parent company) Time Warner. (Note: Yes, commenter, Time Warner Cable is indeed our direct parent. TY. – LB)
Cuomo announced the appointment of Justice Karen K. Peters to serve as the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the Third Judicial Department. She replaces Judge Anthony Cardona, who died in early December.
Democrats are planning to run a candidate for retiring Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward’s seat.
Former NYC Councilman Allen Jennings is circulating petitions to run against Democratic Rep. Greg Meeks on the GOP line.
Assemblyman George Amedore doesn’t have a back-up plan if his Senate run doesn’t work out. He says he won’t seek re-election for his current seat.
Sen. Tom Libous has a challenger who is not Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan.
From the Girl Scout blog, (which, I am sorry to say, I did not know existed): Hillary Clinton congratulating the organization on its 100th anniversary. I also didn’t know the former first lady-turned-senator-turned secretary of state used to be a Brownie, and also a Girl Scout. Ditto, Chelsea Clinton.
Mike Durant Discusses Min Wage
Apr 2nd - 9:03 pm
NFIB NY Director Mike Durant makes the case against raising the minimum wage, saying it will lead to job loss across the state.
Wager Concedes, Barrett Wins 103 AD
Mar 30th - 3:07 pm
The voters are still being counted in the 103 Assembly District special election, but Republican Rich Wager has decided to concede the race to Democrat Didi Barrett – admitting that he has little hope to overcome the vote deficit.
“It is becoming apparent in the recount for the 103rd State Assembly race, that I will likely fall a few votes short of victory. This was a hard-fought race, and one that unfortunately turned sharply negative in the closing week. I will not second guess my decision to stay positive throughout the campaign, which was firmly focused on economic development for the Hudson Valley,” Wager said in a statement.
Wager goes on to congratulate Barrett and says he does not know yet if he will challenge her in November’s general election.
This leaves just one special election undecided – the Senate race in Brooklyn where David Storobin holds a one vote lead over Lew Fidler at this point.
Rob Astorino Discusses Property Tax Cap, Pensions, Tappan Zee
Mar 29th - 9:01 pm
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino says the 2% property tax cap passed last year is a farce because there is no mandate relief accompanying it. He sits down with Liz to discuss and also updates us on the progress of rebuilding the Tappan Zee bridge.
School Runs Released
Mar 29th - 4:14 pm
The long-awaited school runs are out, which is a sign that lawmakers are preparing to vote on the education part of the budget.
We will be looking through them and will update the post with what we find.
We also want to know what school officials, and particularly school superintendents think, so please email us at feedback@capitaltonight.com.
Schumer Tapped To Lead Inauguration Committee
Mar 28th - 1:54 pm
Senator Charles Schumer has been elected to chair the Joint Congressional Committee on the 2013 Inaugural Ceremonies which is responsible for planning and swearing-in of the President next January. (Inaugural balls are usually paid for by campaigns or other outside sources)
“The inauguration is a time for our country to come together around our president and celebrate the strength of our democracy,” said Schumer. “I am honored to have been selected as the Chairman of the festivities and look forward to organizing a ceremony that will showcase the best that America has to offer.”
The Inauguration ceremony will take place on Monday January 21st, one day later than constitutionally mandated inauguration which falls on a Sunday. That Monday is also Martin Luther King Jr. day – a federal holiday. It’s the second time that has happened – the first was when Bill Clinton was sworn in for a second time.
Congress has been responsible for swearing-in the President since 1901 when William McKinley was sworn in for his second term.
Senate Dems Ask Maziarz To Withdraw ‘Stand Your Ground’ Bill
Mar 26th - 6:43 pm
Senate Democrats have written a letter to WNY Senator George Maziarz asking him to withdraw his “stand your ground” bill that is similar to the law that Florida, and 30 other states have.
Here’s the listed purpose of the bill:
Authorizes a person to use physical force, including deadly physical force in defense of a person, in defense of premises or in defense of a dwelling, residence or vehicle. Repeal the “duty to retreat” clause, while providing protection from criminal prosecution for those who defend themselves from criminal attack.
This bill has received a lot of scrutiny since the shooting of Trayvon Martin one month ago. The black 17-year-old was unarmed when he was shot by a 28-year old white man – George Zimmerman – who was the head of a community watch group. Zimmerman told police that he shot Martin in self defense and was not arrested.
Today, several members of the legislature wore hoodies in a protest to call for justice for Martin.
Here’s the letter they sent to Sen. Maziarz.
Reilich: Apparently Collins Thinks He Can Win NY-27 Without Monroe County
Mar 26th - 4:19 pm
Former Erie County Executive Chris Collins bid for the GOP nomination in the new NY-27 is off to a bad start according to Monroe County GOP chairman Bill Reilich. YNN’s Casey Bortnick sat down with Reilich over the weekend, and the Assemblyman told him that Collins hasn’t made any effort to contact Reilich about the race.
“Apparently Chris Collins thinks he can win the race without Monroe County or without any votes from Monroe county,” Reilich said.
Monroe County only makes up a small portion of the new district. But, back in 2011, the county had a much larger portion of the voters and Reilich was vocally disappointed that GOP officials in Erie County didn’t involve him more in the picking of Assemblwoman Jane Corwin’s or the running of her unsuccessful campaign.
Reilich says he was surprised that Collins didn’t reach out to him. “He’s the only candidate in the last five years who’s never contacted me,” Reilich said.
He says he has had conversations about the seat with Assemblyman Steve Hawley and former Iraq War Veteran David Bellavia, who sought the parties nomination in 2011 but was passed over for Corwin. He says Bellavia has been making an impression with party leaders this time around.
“I think people will be more receptive to him this time. He’s an Iraq war veteran and I admire that but I think he bringa a lot more to the table than that and I’m looking forward to working with David,” Reilich said.
Collins tells us that he was disappointed by Reilich’s comments, but still hopes to earn his support, as well as the support of the other GOP County chairman.
The new NY-27 includes parts of Erie, Niagara, Monroe and Ontario Counties, and all of Wyoming, Livingston, Orleans and Genessee.
Queens GOP Backs Halloran For New NY-6
Mar 24th - 8:17 pm
Queens Republicans are getting behind NYC Councilman Dan Halloran in a bid for Congress in the new NY-6 district.
He is not expected to face a primary challenger, and will likely take on the winner of a 3-way Democratic primary between the party’s endorsed candidate Assemblywoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman Rory Lancman, and NYC Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley – which was set up when Rep. Gary Ackerman announced he wasn’t going to seek re-election.
Halloran was the preferred candidate for the GOP after the district was carved up and incumbent Republican Bob Turner decided not to run. There have been reports in recent days that Halloran was considering a run.
“While we were disappointed that the courts eliminated Congressman Bob Turner’s District, we take heart that Bob now is running for United States Senate. Meanwhile, we see Gary Ackerman’s retirement and the new congressional lines as presenting a great opportunity to elect another GOP Congress Member here in Queens,” said Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa.
“The new NY-6 is nestled entirely within our county and covers large areas were middle class voters and homeowners live with a history of voting Republican. These are voters who have been most hurt by Obama’s tax and spend policies and disapprove of his fickleness with US and Israeli security. That is why we have all rallied behind City Councilman Dan Halloran – a proven vote getter and a strong voice for taxpayers, small businesses and seniors,” Ragusa continued.
The new seat is a minority majority seat – with more than a third of the population Hispanic, and more than third Asian. Roughly half of the registered Democrats are Asian, making Assemblywoman Meng a favorite (on paper) in the primary, though we all know primaries are more about getting people to the polls than the general election when voter turnout will be extremely high because it is a Presidential election year.
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