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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
Education Advocates React To Cuomo’s Pay Freeze Plan
Jan 3rd - 9:00 pm
Amid the new governor’s talk of austerity measures like a wage freeze and spending cap, a coalition of public and private sector unions and community advocacy groups launched a new radio ad that focuses on the disparity between booming Wall Street bankers and struggling middle class New Yorkers.
The 60-second spot hit the airwaves today and will continue running in the New York City and Albany metro areas through next week. It is the first salvo in what could be a protracted budget battle between select labor unions and the Cuomo administration. Billy Easton heads an organization that is part of this labor group, which is calling itself A Strong Economy For All Coalition.
Easton is executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education.
Leader Kolb Reacts To Gov. Cuomo’s Opening Remarks
Jan 3rd - 9:00 pm
Welcome back to Capital Tonight. Very few elected leaders and even fewer Republicans were on hand for Saturday’s swearing in ceremony. My next guests was one of the rare exceptions to that rule.
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb sat right up front during the inauguration, alongside fellow legislative leaders Ron Canestrari, John Sampson and Dean Skelos. He joined Liz Benjamin Monday to share his reaction to the Governor’s remarks and what he hopes to hear from him this Wednesday during his State of the State Address.
Goo Goos Start New Year Pushing For Campaign Finance Reform
Jan 3rd - 9:00 pm
Now that Governor Cuomo is getting down to work, good government groups are applying pressure on the new administration to make good on some key campaign promises – namely reforming the state’s campaign finance laws.
Blair Horner is the legislative director of the New York Public Interest Research Group – better known as NYPIRG and Barbara Bartoletti is the legislative director for the New York State League of Women Voters. They joined Liz Benjamin in studio Monday to discuss the issue.
Gov. Cuomo’s First Meeting
Jan 1st - 10:08 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was all smiles as he entered the Capitol Red Room to meet with his cabinet for the first time.
“This is so exciting for me. I hope it is for you too. Its a great new beginning — at a time when the state desperately needs a great new beginning,” said Cuomo.
It’s unclear what was Gov. Cuomo and his cabinet members discussed as the video feed ended during his opening remarks.
Deputy Press Secretary Josh Vlasto briefed the media afterwards but also did not provide many details, suggesting the governor will lay out his agenda in his inauguration speech later this afternoon.
“The governor opened up with his vision to discuss not only what we’re going to be doing in the next couple days but in the weeks ahead, months ahead, and over the course of his term, but he spoke in specifics about policy initiatives coming up as well as planning for the State of the State.” said Vlasto.
Some members in attendance included Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy as well as Steve Cohen, Rich Bamberger, Paul Francis, Joe Percoco, Larry Schwartz, but notably absent was budget director Bob Megna. When asked why he wasn’t there, Vlasto simply said, “I’ll discuss that later.”
McMahon Takes Issue With Paterson’s Pension Assessment
Dec 31st - 9:00 pm
EJ McMahon has often been a vocal critic of Gov. Paterson, arguing that he hasn’t done enough to address the state’s fiscal problems and he thinks Paterson’s op-ed calling for pension reform in Friday’s Daily News misses the mark.
McMahon is the Director of the Empire Center on New York State Policy. He joined Liz Benjamin in the studio Friday.
Mayor Jennings To MC Cuomo Inauguration
Dec 31st - 9:00 pm
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings is going to play a part in Saturday’s inauguration ceremony. He has also been a long time friend to the incoming Governor.
He joined Liz Benjamin in studio Friday.
Cuomo Breaks Tradition For Inauguration, State Of The State
Dec 31st - 9:00 pm
Assemblyman Jack McEneny has seen his fair share of gubernatorial inaugurations. The veteran state legislator is also a historian with a deep knowledge of both the state Capitol and the capital city.
He joined Liz Benjamin in studio Friday to discuss the symbolic choices the governor-elect has made for his first few days in office.
Year In Review: Chair Chat
Dec 31st - 3:25 pm
Leading a political organization isn’t an easy task. Between fundraising, recruiting candidates and trying to avoid bruising primaries, the work of a party chairman is seemingly never-ending.
Keeping your head above water is hard enough. Keeping everyone happy is pretty much impossible. 2010 provided an unusual number of challenges on both sides of the aisle. To look back on a roller coaster election year, Liz Benjamin was joined by the two state party chairmen – Democrat Jay Jacobs and Republican Ed Cox.
Jacobs:
Cox:
Exit Interview: Gov. David Paterson
Dec 31st - 1:50 pm
David Paterson wasn’t elected governor. In fact, he’s admitted he never really wanted the job in the first place. But his fate was sealed when he agreed to run alongside Eliot Spitzer… And we all know how that turned out.
The fall of one governor inevitably leads to the rise of another and amid what most would agree was one of the darkest periods for New York in modern history, Paterson swore an oath to uphold the constitution and delivered a rousing and inspiring speech many hoped would usher in a new, more optimistic era.
Now, nearly three years later, Governor Paterson is reflecting on his time at the helm of state government. His tenure was, in many ways, groundbreaking. He was New York’s first black and legally blind governor. He led the charge for Rockefeller drug reform and spearheaded the use of budget extenders to push his agenda through a recalcitrant legislature.
But, there were dark spots, too. A lot of them. One day into his governorship, Paterson went public about infidelity in his marriage. Then there was the Caroline Kennedy fiasco and, more recently, the David Johnson domestic violence debacle and the still ongoing Yankees tickets trouble – just to name a few.
Our Bill Carey sat down with the outgoing governor for a lengthy interview to discuss all the highs and lows of his term as chief executive.
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