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Silver Introduces Bill To Publicly Finance Campaigns
Apr 24th - 10:39 am
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver this morning introduced a measure that would publicly finance political campaigns, a proposal that is sure to be opposed by Senate Republicans but was warmly received by a coalition of wealthy donors called NY-LEAD.
“Fair elections go to the heart of our democracy and are essential to preserving good government,” Silver said in a statement. “In light of the devastating effects the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision has had on federal elections, we in New York should be leading the way in reducing the influence of money in our own elections. Let us be the model for the rest of the nation in establishing and preserving fair elections.”
The bill would allow candidates running for state office to receive matching contributions of $6 for every $1 raised on contributions up to $250. The measure would also push candidates for state office to have a a variety of contributions that include a speicifc number of small-dollar donations.
And candidates receiving public matching dollars running in a campaign with an opponent would be required to have at least one debate prior to a general election. The debates would be open to all the candidates, according to the legislation.
Silver also wants to create a a New York State Campaign Finance Fund that would include a box on income tax forms that would allow taxpayers to contribute $5.
Interestingly, the measure was warmly received by NY-LEAD, which included a statement in support in the news release, among other good-government groups.
“NY Lead was formed because we believe not only that campaign finance reform is the right thing for New York, but that reform is achievable now,” said Sean Eldridge, President of Hudson River Ventures and a founding member of NY Leadership for Accountable Government (NY Lead). “We applaud the Assembly for its longstanding support of fair elections and thank Speaker Silver and Assembly Member Cusick for their leadership on achieving reform this session.”
But Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said last week he was opposed to public financing of political campaigns, noting that taxpayers would be forced to support candidates who they do not necessarily agree with or like.
“I know personally I don’t believe taxpayers should be paying for campaigns or for individuals’ campaigns they do not support,” Skelos said in an interview.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has benefitted from the state’s current system given his large campaign war chest, has said he’s working on his own campaign-finance bill that would overhaul the current laws and possibly lower contribution limits. Cuomo has said on multiple occaisions that he wants to create a public financing system.
Assembly Dems To Make Final Primary Date Change Push (Updated)
Apr 17th - 12:28 pm
As evidenced by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s OpEd in the Middletown Times Herald-Record this morning, the Assembly Democrats still haven’t given up hope of getting the Senate Republians to give up their opposition to moving the state legislative primaries to coincide with the court-ordered June 26 House and US Senate contests.
According to one majority conference source, Silver mentioned he would be making a last-ditch push for the switch when the Legislature returned to Albany this week. The speaker’s announcement came during one of the last closed-door conferences, however, and many members were likely not paying attention or not present.
The Democrats remain hopeful they can convince the Republicans to settle on a July date, (remember, the GOP had been pushing for August – if anything), but, the source cautioned, the timeline is very short here, adding: “If it can’t be done this week, it can’t be done at all.”
Also, it should be noted that congressional signatures were due yesterday, due to the accelerated calendar caused by the Jun 26 primary date. The source insisted this isn’t a problem, but it seems to add a wrinkle to this whole situation. If you extend the signature date for state lawmakers because you move their primary, but don’t extend the congressional signature window, don’t you open the system up to challenges?
The Republicans have been pretty consistent in their refusal to budge on this, and it’s difficult to understand why.
One might argue that the Democrats (in both houses) have more to lose, with several of their members who are running for Congress perhaps enjoying the insurance policy that two primaries brings – the option to run for their current seats if a bid for higher office doesn’t work out. At least one – Assemblyman Rory Lancman – has ruled that out, though.
More importantly, insisting on two separately primaries cuts into the Senate GOP’s traditional message of fiscal conservatism. It has been estimated that every statewide election costs as much as $50 million, with the already cash-strapped local governments forced to pick up the tab. As my source said: “$50 million is $50 million; we can beat them up on that.”
In his OpEd, Silver wrote:
“Realizing their costly and unfair error, Senate Republicans now cynically propose an August primary date, knowing full well that voter participation in midsummer will be minimal if not outright suppressed and that the votes of military personnel may not be fully counted.”
“The League of Women Voters, Common Cause, NYPIRG and a host of other concerned organizations have repeatedly called upon the Senate Republicans to join us in our call for a unified, early primary election date. But because of political gamesmanship, our local governments will need to hold yet another expensive election.”
“So, the next time you hear about the need for mandate relief, ask your Republican senator why his majority played politics with New York’s primary election and our soldiers’ right to vote.”
The missing link here is Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has expressed his opposition to having two different primaries, but hasn’t yet expressed a preference for a particular date or expended any political capital to make a change occur. Given the Senate Republicans’ desire to maintain their close relationship with the governor, it’s possible they would be open to reconsidering their stance on this – if he would only ask.
UPDATE: Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is responding to Silver’s OpEd, which he called “misleading and disingenuous,” with an OpEd of his own that he has submitted to several newspapers today. SoP was provided with a copy, which appears in full after the jump. An excerpt:
“(T)he Senate Republicans attempted to foster a bipartisan compromise that would have moved all of the state’s primaries to a single day in August this year, avoiding the busy last few months of the state legislative session and saving taxpayers even more of their hard-earned money. The Speaker, and his Democrat colleagues, refused to discuss the issue.”
“The Speaker’s take-it-or-leave-it negotiating position is even more surprising given that the New York City Board of Elections said they would be forced to shell out untold taxpayer dollars to cover the overtime costs necessary to comply with holding just the congressional primaries in June. ”
“Further, due to the ongoing Department of Justice review of the state legislative lines, a requirement in a reapportionment year, a June legislative primary is impractical.”
Silver Sets Minimum Wage Public Hearings
Apr 12th - 2:46 pm
Speaker Sheldon Silver today set three public hearings starting April 23 that will “seek input” from the public on his proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage by $1.25.
“These hearings are an important next step in the process to raise the minimum wage,” said Silver in a statement. “It is important for our communities to speak up. Raising the minimum wage fairly rewards low-wage workers, helping those who are striving to help themselves and in the process, giving a boost to local economies.”
Silver first proposed raising the minimum wage in January to $8.50, making it one of the highest in the country. The proposal would also tie future increases to the rate of inflation.
Nearly all of the states that border New York have higher minimum wages.
Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos has called the increase a “job killer” though some GOP lawmakers, like Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo, are yet to take a position.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not taken a position on this proposal either. The Committee to Save New York, a coalition of business interests aligned with Cuomo’s fiscal agenda, hasn’t taken a side either in the fight.
Silver’s hearings come as lawmakers would be in the second week of post-budget session work. The powerful speaker raised eyebrows when he didn’t tie the wage increase to certain items in the budget, suggesting he was playing some sort of long-game strategy on the issue.
The proposal certainly heartens key groups within the Democratic-led Assembly’s base, including the labor-backed Working Families Party.
Here’s the hearing schedule:
Monday, April 23, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building
163 W. 125th Street
Manhattan
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.
Common Council Chambers
233 East Washington Street
Syracuse
Friday, May 11, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers, 13th Floor
65 Niagara Square
Buffalo
Was It Something They Ate?
Apr 12th - 8:32 am
Capitol watchers have speculated for years about impending retirements in the Senate Republicans conference, which has several members whose ages are north of 80.
Collectively, these guys have spent far more time in Albany than I’ve been on the planet – maybe even twice or three times as long.
I can recall writing stories while still at the TU (more than five years ago now) about how the GOP would use mid-year retirements to spark off-cycle special elections (read: low turnout, easier to win) as a tool to ease their older members onto greener pastures while still protecting their majority,
Oddly, however, it’s the Assembly Democrats who are experiencing all the churn this year, with no fewer than three members – Bob Reilly, Ron Canestrari and Jack McEneny – announcing their retirements at the end of the year.
In fact, over the past several years, the Assembly – both sides of the aisle – has a lot of new faces as members either run for other offices, get tapped by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to serve in his administration or return to the private sector.
Last night on CapTon, I asked Sen. Joe Griffo, a Utica-area Republican and one of the younger members of the majority conference, why he thinks the lower house is seeing all the turnover this year.
I also asked if he expects any changes on his side of the aisle, as there has been rampant speculation about the health of certain key veteran members.
“I think that right now we are well-positioned, relative to not only to those who are holding office – I mean, you never know, if you’re talking about health issues, you never know what’s going to happen, regardless of any age right now,” Griffo replied.
“But if you’re talking about retirements and people who may be in any way vulnerable, I think we have outstanding office holders and we’re going to have a great slate of candidates that will well-position us to continue to retain the majority.”
“And I think a lot of it speaks to what we’ve been able to accomplish, as witnessed recently in polls that you’re seeing, as a result of working in tandem, bipartisan manners with the governor and the Legislature. You’ve seen progress, and we are heading in a better direction.”
“You asked why the Senate stays and the Assembly doesn’t, maybe it’s something that they give us in our lounge as opposed to their lounge. I’m not sure, Liz.”
I told the senator I had heard the grub in the Senate lounge is actually of a higher caliber than over in the Assembly. (Cold cuts instead of peanut butter and jelly, fruit and cheese cubes, although more substantial fare is brought in by both sides on late nights).
Griffo said: “I’m not sure anything is as nutritious as it could be, even though they try.”
Camara, Caucus Push DOJ Rejection Of Senate Districts
Apr 11th - 4:50 pm
Assemblyman Karim Camara and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, is calling for the Department of Justice to reject the Republican-drawn boundaries in the state Senate, writing in a letter that the lines fail to pass muster with federal guidelines.
From the letter, sent this afternoon:
The Attorney General should object to S.6696 because the New York State Senate has failed to meet its burden of showing that S. 6696 “neither has the purpose or will have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or membership in a language minority group. 42 U.S.C. Section 1973c(a). In addition, S. 6696 contains 63 New York Senate seats, a change from the existing plan that has 62 seats. Upon information and belief, the New York State Legislature also used a different methodology to calculate the number of districts in S. 6696 than was used in the existing plan. Both of these changes constitute a change in “standard, procedure with respect to voting that must be precleared.
There is no mention of any objection to lines drawn in the Democratic-led Assembly, which were also taken up by majority lawmakers.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved the legislative-powered redistricting plan as part of a larger flurry of bills last month.
Cuomo was able to get lawmakers to agree to take the first steps toward changing the redistricting process by approving a constitutional amendment that would put an independent panel in place for the enxt round in 2022.
Black and Latino legislators were not happy with how redistricting played out, with Camara announcing (albeit a bit confusingly at first) that he would vote against the plan.
Canestrari: Silver’s Not Going Anywhere
Apr 11th - 2:55 pm
Retiring Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari said he believes Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver when he says he has no intention of following any of the chamber’s senior members into retirement.
“He and I have talked about it because we talked on a couple of occasions about my decision and his thoughts on that,” Canestrari told me in a CapTon interview that will air tonight at 8 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m.
“He didn’t want to see me go. On the other hand, he said: How much golf can he play? And as much as he likes that activity and likes going to hockey games, his life couldn’t be that. He likes what he’s doing, and that sense of accomplishing and getting things done.”
“So, he won’t be retiring, I can’t imagine, for a very, very long time – if ever.”
That’s more or less what Silver himself told me during a sit-down in his office last month after news broke of the retirement plans of another longtime Albany Democrat, Assemblyman Jack McEneny.
“I like this job,” the speaker said. “I like the ability to be able to accomplish, and at the point when I no longer have that ability, that’s when I’ll think about retiring.”
Canestrari didn’t want to speculate on who might replace him as majority leader, but he did suggest it’s entirely possible Silver will break with tradition and go with someone from Long Island instead of an upstater.
Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, a Suffolk County Democrat, has been mentioned as a wildcard contender for the No. 2 spot. The odds-on favorite – at the moment – is Assemblyman Joe Morelle, who told Politics on the Hudson this afternoon that he trusts Silver to make the right decision, adding: “I don’t think this is a position you apply for.”
The Canestrari Reaction (Updated)
Apr 10th - 2:36 pm
Assemblyman Joe Morelle, whose cell phone is most certainly ringing non-stop today, was one of the first out of the gate with his statement praising retiring Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestari.
“Ron Canestrari has served New Yorkers for more than 40 years with great distinction and rare integrity. Whether as an Army veteran, mayor or Assembly majority leader, his devotion to duty has never wavered, and he has always approached those duties with a kind and generous spirit. I am honored to have called him both colleague and friend, and I wish him all the best in the future.”
Morelle, D-Irondequoit, quickly came to the surface as a possible successor to Canestrari as Speaker Sheldon Silver’s floor leader, a job that comes with a $34,500 stipend.
Morelle, the Monroe County Democratic chairman, is also a longtime ally of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, supporting him during his failed 2002 gubernatorial bid. The lawmaker was initially rumored to be line for a job in the administration, but so far has kept his seat in the Assembly.
There are a few considerations with Morelle’s appointment. While the majority leader is typically from the upstate region, Silver has been cautious to appoint ambitious members following the failed Michael Bragman coup.
Morelle’s youth could lead some to believe Silver is lining up a successor (to be sure, Silver says he’s not retiring any time soon). There’s also concerted pressure for Silver to appoint a black or Latino member to the leadership position in the wake of Assemblyman Peter Rivera’s pending departure as speaker pro tempore.
Canestrari earlier today did not indicate his preference for a successor.
Silver himself in a statement said the Cohoes Democrat has made “innumerable contributions to state government.”
Having served in state and local government for more than three decades, Majority Leader Ron Canestrari has dedicated his career to improving his community by helping those most in need. A true public servant in every sense, his innumerable contributions to state government are unmatched. Ron has been a great friend, trusted confidant and advisor, and I know I speak for the entire New York State Assembly when I say that he will be missed.
Albany County DA David Soares also released a statement:
“For nearly four decades, Ron Canestrari has been a dedicated and tireless public servant to not only the people of Cohoes as their mayor, but across Albany County and the State of New York as a member of the Assembly. As the dean of the Capital Region delegation and as majority leader, Ron has been committed to advocating on behalf our county and region within state government. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement.”
Updated: There’s more reaction!
From U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer:
“For almost 40 years, Ron Canestrari has served the people of the Capital District and our state with class, dedication and intelligence. From his beginnings as Mayor of his hometown of Cohoes, to his election as Majority Leader of the State Assembly, Ron’s focus has always been simply to help people. Whether it be cutting through bureaucratic red tape, or landing global companies for the region, the goal was the same. Those constituents, and those of us who call him a friend, will always be indebted to him for his service.”
From Republican Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin:
As a freshman assemblyman, it can be very challenging getting up and running your office in Albany. Even though we are on opposite sides of the aisle, Ron Canestrari has been nothing but supportive and helpful to me as I began my public service career. I had the honor of representing the City of Troy with Ron for the last two years. His advice and encouragement have been invaluable. I thank him and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.
Canestrari Reflects On ‘Herding A Group Of Cattle’
Apr 10th - 12:31 pm
As expected, Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari announced his retirement this morning at a news conference that reflected on not only his time as a long-serving member of the chamber, but also his five-year stint as a high-ranking Democrat under Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Canestrari, D-Cohoes, said the job was like “hearding a group of cattle” though I think he meant to say it was more like “herding cats” given that he thinks most lawmakers strive for independence in a chamber that is tightly controlled by the powerful Silver.
“It’s critically important to make sure the floor runs efficiently,” Canestrari said. “I’ve tried to bring the house in that direction and I think to a large extent with Repuiblcan cooperation we’ve acheived that goal. It’s herding a group of cattle, which can be difficult during the budget and the end of session because these are all distinctly and individually elected. But there comes a time as majority leader we decide on a position and it’s my job to make sure the votes are there and the debate is conducted in a manner that reflects well on the house.”
Canestrari took over the job as majority leader in 2007 follownig the retirement of Paul Tokasz, a Buffalo lawmaker. Typically the job has fallen to an upstate resident to balance out the speakership being held by a New York City lawmaker.
Canestrari says he’s not picking sides in either who will replace him in the Assembly or as majority leader. Speculation has fallen on Assemblyman Joe Morelle from the Rochester area as a possible successor, though there is already a concerted effort for a black or Hispanic lawmaker to take the post.
“Obviously I would not get involved in that either,” he said. “There are a number of people that I’m sure who are interested and can do the job very well. That’s obviously up to the speaker, but the institution will survive.”
Canestrari said Silver’s reaction to the retirement was, well, much like a reaction you would expect from the taciturn speaker.
“I think he said, ‘I hear ya.’ He was, you know, I can’t speak for him but certainly we have a great relationship and he would have liked me to stay for sure,” Canestrari said.
Canestrari’s announcement makes him the third Capital Region lawmaker to retire in the last year, including Jack McEneny and Bob Reilly.
“I think the clock’s ticking,” Canestrari said.
Siena Poll: Cuomo Breaks The Curve
Apr 10th - 6:00 am
New Yorkers aren’t sold on the direction of the country, but they’re feeling pretty good about their own home state.
More than half of the voters polled by Siena College said they felt the state was moving in the right direction; a steady increase in the number has been since Gov. Andrew Cuomo took office in January 2011.
“By a strong 55-34 percent margin, voters say New York is headed on the right track, not in the wrong direction, the highest margin ever in a Siena poll, and up from 50-40 percent last month,” poll spokesman Steve Greenberg said.
“An overwhelming majority of downstaters feel the state is on the right track, as do a small plurality of upstaters.”
Things are a bit different on the national level, where New York voters aren’t feeling as hot about the state of things and the positive-negative numbers are reversed.
“A majority of New Yorkers continues to believe the country is headed in the wrong direction by a 54-38 percent margin,” Greenberg said.
“While a bare majority of Democrats think the country is on the right track, as do a plurality of New York City voters, more than three quarters of Republicans and roughly six in ten independents, downstate suburbanites and upstaters say the country is headed in the wrong direction.”
Cuomo is also receiving high marks for the budget: Nineteen percent said he deserved an “A” while more than 40 percent of voters gave him a “B” for his handling of the $132.6 billion spending plan, which passed a day before its deadline.
That was better than the marks voters gave the Republican-led Senate and Democratic-controlled Assembly.
New York voters also responded well to the on-time passage of the spending, something that’s usual for most other states, but not something we’ve seen all that often. Sixty-three percent of voters said it was “very important” to have an on-time budget.
The state budget is due April 1, the start of the fiscal year. Cuomo has had two straight years of on-time passage, a success rate that has fueled talk of lawmakers receiving their first pay increase in more than a decade.
In the U.S. Senate race, meanwhile, there’s good news for U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The incumbent Democrat who is seeking a full 6-year term in office would flatten any of her potential Republican opponents.
The poll found that she leads Manhattan attorney Wendy Long, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos and Rep. Bob Turner by more than 40 percentage points.
“While Turner is marginally better known than Long or Maragos and has a small lead among Republicans in a potential three-way primary, two-thirds of Republicans are so far undecided as to whom they will support,” Greenberg said.
There’s much, much more in the poll’s crosstabs, including New Yorkers’ views of the Supreme Court’s consideration of the health overhaul of 2010 and how the GOP candidates would fare against President Obama in the fall. More >
Canestrari Latest Assembly Lawmaker To Retire
Apr 9th - 6:32 pm
Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari has been calling around to legislative allies this afternoon to say that he will not seek re-election this fall, sources confirmed late this afternoon.
Canestrari, 69, is expected to make a formal announcement at an 11 a.m. news conference in his Legislative Office Building office on Tuesday.
Canestrari, a Cohoes Democrat, has been the majority leader since 2007, taking over for Assemblyman Paul Tokasz.
One source says Canestrari, first elected to the Assembly in 1989, wants to travel.
“He’s 69,” the source said. “Normal people stop working in their 60s. That’s a long time to work.”
His retirement makes him the third Capital Region Democrat in the Assembly to announce their plans to retire. Assemblyman Bob Reilly, D-Clifton Park, announced he would not seek a new term, followed later by Assemblyman Jack McEneny’s announcement that he would retire.
Canestrari did receive the Albany County Democrats’ endorsement to run for another term at their convention in late March, though the local party’s blessing could easily be switched to another candidate.
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