NY's only statewide political program
Mike Whittemore
Mike is a Senior Video Journalist and Producer for Capital Tonight, New York's only nightly statewide political television program.
Homepage: http://www.capitaltonight.com/stateofpolitics
AIM: rockharmonica
Posts by Mike Whittemore
Senate Dems, GOP Spar Over Constitutionality Of 63rd Seat
Jan 9th - 2:40 pm
If one thing is clear, it’s that Senate Democrats and Republicans understand the complexity of the state constitution when it comes to redrawing district lines. Where they diverge is a matter of mathematics.
Last week, The Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment confirmed the district lines to be drawn for the next round of redistricting would include a 63rd seat. Democrats say the move is politically motivated so Republicans can strategically form lines to retain the majority.
“The Senate Republicans have chosen to disregard the plain language of the constitution and judicial interpretations of that language and try to add a 63rd seat to the Senate when it is completely not warranted by any legal standard whatsoever,” said Sen. Mike Gianaris-(D) Queens.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, however, says the addition reflects an accurate interpretation of the state constitution.
“In 2002 the formula was litigated,” said Skelos-(R) Nassau.
“The courts upheld the way we interpreted is correct and we believe it carries through to this redistricting which will involve 63 Senate seats.”
Either way, expect a slew of lawsuits from Democrats and advocate groups pushing for independent redistricting panels. It’s also unclear where this new district would be drawn but it is possible for the district to be carved out of a Republican-heavy area, like the fast-growing Saratoga County region.
Cuomo Defends Convention Center, Buffalo Investment
Jan 9th - 11:37 am
Gov. Cuomo this morning defended many of the bold and controversial proposals he floated in last week’s state of the state address.
Cuomo said on TALK 1300 that the role of this state government is to bring dramatic change when speaking about building the nation’s potentially largest convention center at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.
“I don’t want to be an incremental governor,” said Gov. Cuomo.
“Change brings controversy. Change excites people, it threatens people.”
Cuomo says the 3.8 billion-square-foot center would create “tens of thousands of construction and permanent jobs” and could open the area up to an economic boom down the road–comparing it to the successful redevelopment of the Battery Park City.
“The Javits [Convention Center] reuse, which has been advocated by many planning associations for many years, could open up a new generation of development for the west side of Manhattan.”
The governor also defended the decision to award the Buffalo area with additional $1 dollars in economic development money, saying the region has suffered from “long, festering problems people knew needed attention.”
“We are one tax base, we are one balance sheet,” said Cuomo.
“If buffalo is not contributing to the balance sheet, they’re costing the balance sheet.”
The Western New York region was also recently awarded more than $100 million in Regional Economic Development grants.
State Of The State Slideshow
Jan 4th - 4:44 pm
Check out some of the moments from Gov. Cuomo’s second State of the State address.
New Year, New Face In Assembly
Jan 3rd - 4:10 pm
Raymon Walter is the newest member of the Assembly Republican conference. His swearing in ceremony Tuesday afternoon comes two months after a close special election, which he won by just less than one thousand votes.
Walter represents the 148th district in Western New York, which includes the Towns of Amherst and Pendleton and the Martinsville section of the City of North Tonawanda.
Before running for office, he was a practicing attorney at Magavern Magavern Grimm LLP focusing on elder law and estate planning.
Will Cuomo Make Any Pardons?
Dec 23rd - 9:00 pm
One of the powers that the Governor of New York has is the ability to grant clemency or outright pardons to prisoners. Over the years, many people have seen their sentences reduced, most of them victims of the stiff Rockefeller Drug Laws.
One of them was Anthony Papa, who in his book 15 to life wrties that he was offered a chance to make a quick $500 dollars for delivering an envelope, but ended up getting busted as part of a sting operation. It was his first offense. And he ended up getting sentenced to 15 years in Sing Sing prison. After 12 years in prison, Papa was granted clemency by Governor George Pataki. And now Papa is writing to Governor Cuomo to ask him to show leniency in his first year in office.
Tony Papa joined Liz from New York City. he’s the Manager of media relations for the Drug Policy Alliance.
Your Property Tax Bill, Itemized
Dec 23rd - 9:00 pm
Earlier this week, I spoke with Steve Acquario from the New York Association of Counties about what to expect when you get your property tax bill, if you haven’t already. Specifically, why it’s so high.
Well, one county leader has taken steps to inform his residents about how much of their tax bill is thanks to unfunded state mandates. It reads almost like an itemized receipt.
Fulton County Administrative Officer John Stead joined Liz on Friday to explain.
Mario Cilento On His New Gig As Head Of AFL-CIO
Dec 22nd - 9:00 pm
New York has a long history of a powerful labor movement. Unions have been very successful in getting legislation passed, and also swaying the outcomes of elections. The state’s largest labor federation is the AFL-CIO, an umbrella organization that includes several of the state’s largest unions including CSEA, NYSUT, and UFT among others. And this month, they elected a new president. Mario Cilento joined Liz from New York City Thursday.
Binghamton Mayor Defends Hydrofracking Moratorium
Dec 22nd - 9:00 pm
Hydrofracking is an especially hot topic in the Southern Tier which sits atop a particularly gas rich portion of the Marcellus shale.
The city of Binghamton has taken an active role in the fight. Last night the city council approved a two-year moratorium on the controversial natural gas drilling technique.
Earlier this month, the city’s mayor even offered to use government resources to help its fracking impacted neighbors to the south.
In Dimmock Pennsylvania, the epicenter of the national hydrofracking debate, nearly 1400 residents have contaminated water. Many blame a drilling company called Cabot oil and gas.
Ealier this year, the Pennsylvania DEC said Cabot no longer had to deliver bottled water to the affected residents so they had to fend for themselves. Actor and anti-fracking activist Mark Ruffalo helped deliver hundreds of gallons to the town back in November.
Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan wanted to help, too. He offered to enter into a “mutual aid” agreement with Dimmock, to allow Binghamton to deliver water, free of charge. But at a town metting earlier this month, Ryan was flat out rejected by town officials.
Mayor Ryan joined Liz Thursday to discuss this ongoing battle and the latest news regarding the moratorium.
Farm Bureau Looks Ahead To 2012
Dec 22nd - 9:00 pm
The flooding this past summer devastated many towns and villages. But it also laid waste to tens of thousands of acres of farm land.
The legislature has already taken some action to help many farmers, but heading into 20-12 the state Farm Bureau is hoping the relief will continue.
That’s high up on its list of 20-12 priorities.
Farm Bureau President Dean Norton joined Liz from Rochester Thursday.
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.