NY's only statewide political program
Extras
Feb 22nd - 5:24 pm
State Education Commissioner John King restored federal SIG funding to five school districts – Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Schenectady, Poughkeepsie – that submitted “acceptable” teacher evaluation agreements.
Ronnie Mann, the magistrate judge assigned to oversee New York’s redistricting process, is a registered Democrat who’s known for being very smart but also “humorless.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand hung out with Daily Beast Editor Tina Brown.
32BJ endorsed NYC Councilman Lew Fidler in the special election for ex-Sen. Carl Kruger’s seat.
Gillibrand and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon are tied as National Journal’s No. 1 most liberal member of the US Senate.
…and that’s in spite of the fact that Gillibrand has quietly become a go-to defender of Wall Street.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his failure thus far to push state lawmakers to adopt an independent redistricting commission in time for this election cycle: “I just lost.”
Cuomo to CapCon’s Jimmy Vielkind: “Is your name Shelly Silver? Is it Dean Skelos? Then I’m not negotiating with you.”
Assemblyman Micah Kellner is one of the few state lawmakers willing to say definitively that he won’t vote for the LATFOR plans – regardless of what tweaks are made.
The state launched a new website focused on the project to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge and will soon be selling its old stuff on EBay. (You’ll be able to find out more here in April).
Ex-Delmar resident and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter, who is doing time on sex charges, is the subject of a lengthy NYT Sunday magazine piece this weekend.
There’s a new website that ranks states’ corruption risk.
Union membership in NY has sunk to a new low.
State lawmakers unveiled a bill that would ban the sale, trade and possession of shark fins – a Chinese delicacy.
Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer is no longer running for president as a major party candidate, but will try his luck with Americans Elect.
Next Thursday, Stroock’s Breakfast Forum features a discussion on the future of mass transit in NYC with Port Authority Chairman Pat Foye, MTA President Thomas F. Prendergast, NYC Council Transportation Chairman James Vacca, and Straphangers Campaign spokesman and attorney Gene Russianoff.
The Republicans’ top choice to run in a new Asian-American Senate district since the defection of NYC Councilman Peter Koo to the Democrats is not interested.
Gannett is building paywalls around all its newspaper sites except USA Today.
Reporters are under siege across the globe, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual “Attacks on the Press” report.
Go Pat Kiernan! No reason to be nervous. Plenty of time to brush up on your newspaper-reading skills.
Cuomo Says A 63rd Senate Not As Bad As The Redistricting Process
Feb 22nd - 4:19 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at today’s cabinet meeting he wasn’t offended by the proposed 63rd Senate district per se as much as he against the process that produced it.
“I don’t think a 63rd seat is the most egregious problem,” he said. “I think the lines are the problem. I think what is most egregious is the lack of independence in the process and what’s most egregious for us today is that at this rate is nothing will change.”
But the new seat, being carved out of the Capital Region and looks like a bent pinky finger, is clearly designed for a Republican to win. It’s the main bone of contention for a lawsuit filed against LATFOR, the legislative commission charged with redrawing the lines.
Senate Republicans say the Constitution gives them the authority to add the seat since the state’s population grew overall in the last 10 years. New York is losing two House seats because the state’s population did not grow as fast in proportion to the rest of the country.
The new seat would also put to rest the possibility of a 31-31 tie in the even-numbered Senate.
Despite the growing calls from Senate Democrats and minority groups to veto the lines once their approve, Cuomo remained more or less on his standard talking points this afternoon when taking questions on redistricting, reiterating that he wanted to see fairer lines and a Constitutional amendment for independent redistricting for the next go-round in 2022.
The governor seemed resigned to letting the courts take the mess. If anything, it’s highlighted Cuomo’s distaste for publicly getting himself into spats between different conferences of the Legislature.
“This is their problem. This is a problem that’s now between the Legislature and the judiciary,” Cuomo said. “The courts have made their anxiety clear.”
Lots Of Plans For TZB, But Funding Is Another Question
Feb 22nd - 3:24 pm
Bus transit and a rail line for the new bridge. Turning the old bridge into some sort of walkway.
As the accelerated effort to build a new bridge to replace the aging Tappan Zee, there’s no shortage of plans from state officials.
But it remains unclear, exactly, how the project will be paid for. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today indicated that, in addition to the $2 billion federal loan the Department of Transportation applied for, tolls will possibly make up at least part of the difference.
The question today was asked by Joe Spector of Gannett.
“We’re working on a number of financing options, Joe, and we’re working on those as we speak,” Cuomo said. “But primarily one of the main funding streams is going to be tolls, obviously.”
Asked if that means an increase, Cuomo said he didn’t know.
“We have to see, we don’t have the cost of the bridge and we need the cost of the bridge,” the governor said.
But it is also possible that a toll increase would not come for residents of Westchester and Rockland counties, where the bridge crosses at the Hudson River. State Director of Operations Howard Glaser said a local discount might be offered. It would be a similar discount to what’s offered for residents of Staten Island.
A bridge replacement is believed to cost as much as $5 billion.
But at today’s cabinet meeting, Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas Madison said that number could change depending on the final design of the bridge.
The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Cuomo was considering using private and public pension funds to pay for it.
Cuomo Not Confident On Tier VI
Feb 22nd - 2:46 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo cast the proposal to create a new, less-generous pension tier for future state workers as a heated battle between “special interests” and the needs of taxpayers, saying that he was unsure if the measure would go through as he intended.
“Pension reform goes right at the heart of the beast, in my opinion,” Cuomo said at a cabinet meeting in the Red Room. “This is the central power struggle of Albany. The current pesnion system is great for the people who are in it and it is an abject failure for the taxpayers of this state.”
He added that the “people of the state support this. They’re not in this building, but they support it.”
“Pension reform is going to be a hotly contested battle because it really is joining the central power struggle in this Capital: Special interests versus the people. So am I confident? No. This is very, very difficult,” Cuomo said, pounding his fists together for emphasis.
But while he was expressing concern as to whether he has the full support of the Albany political establishment behind him, Cuomo insisted that the plan “must be in the budget.”
Tier VI, which includes a defined contribution plan as an option for future public workers, saves $83 billion over 30 years, according to the administration’s estimates. Cuomo inserted the plan into his $132.5 billion budget proposal, due April 1. The plan doesn’t include any major savings in the coming budget year, exposing it to criticism from lawmakers who complained that the proposal was in a difficult-to-alter plan.
But the governor wouldn’t venture into whether a government shutdown is necessary in order to achieve the new pension tier.
“It’s in the budget,” Cuomo said, but added he would put the proposal into an emergency budget extender if he had to. He also refused to say if he would push for keeping the defined contribution plan in the final proposal.
Lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate have said they want the budget finalized by March 22.
That would force the Legislature to either adopt the plan or risk a shutdown in an election year for them, but not Cuomo.
Prodded further as to whether a shutdown was possible, Cuomo again demurred.
“I don’t think in those terms. Those are too dramatic for me,” he said.
Hell Freezes Over
Feb 22nd - 2:04 pm
Conservative commentator E.J. McMahon (Empire Center, Newsday columnist) and liberal commentator Richard Brodsky (former assemblyman, Demos) actually agree on something.
The moment came at the end of a CapTon debate last night over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Tier 6 plan, which includes a 401(k)-style option for new state employees similiar to something already offered to SUNY and CUNY employees. McMahon is a proponent of the plan, although he has called for raising the total contribution level to 12 percent of salary, with employees contributing the same 4 to 6 percent. Brodsky opposes it.
They agree, however, that Tier 6 isn’t worth shutting down the government over. Lawmakers may oppose Cuomo’s pension reform plan, but since he put it into the budget, they could find themselves in a situation where he forces the issue through budget extenders – unless all sides can negotiate a compromise between now and sometime in the middle of next month when legislative leaders are aiming for a final budget deal, in light of the compressed political calendar.
Cuomo doesn’t seem in the mood to negotiate, though. Asked at his post cabinet meeting Q-and-A with reporters this afternoon whether Tier 6 will remain in the budget, Cuomo replied simply: “It’s in the budget.” He declined to speculate about a shutdown, saying: “I don’t think in those terms…It’s too dramatic for me.”
Over the weekend, PEF President Ken Brynien said a shutdown “maybe” is preferable to “unreasonable” pension reform in the budget deal. Here’s what McMahon had to say about that last night:
Last time I read the constitution, the Public Employees Federation doesn’t have the power to shut down government. I mean, the only people who have the power to shut down government, theoretically, is the Legislature by not enacting a budget, and the governor by not sending them budget bills.”
…and even Brodsky, who is no shrinking violet, didn’t seem to relish going that far, saying:
“Let’s not point guns at each other. Let’s try to figure out what the right thing to do is. The right thing to do is to deal with the abuses, make the pension system more affordable for taxpayers, that’s legitimate, but not impoverish huge segments of the middle class in the name of reduced taxes on the rich.”
Bloomberg, Local Leaders Form Bipatisan Coalition To Back Cuomo’s Pension Reform
Feb 22nd - 12:38 pm
Mayor Bloomberg’s press office just blasted out an announcement about the creation of New York Leaders for Pension Reform, a bipartisan coalition of mayors and county executives around the state who will advocate in favor of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s pension reform plan.
The organization, whose members collectively represent some 15 million New Yorkers, plans a “vigorous” statewide campaign to pressure state lawmakers to approve Cuomo’s proposed creation of a sixth pension tier that includes a 401(k)-style option – something unions vehemently oppose. They’ll also be traveling to Albany for some in-person lobbying.
“Taken together, annual pension costs to local governments across the State have gone from $1.7 billion in 2002 to $12.5 billion today – an increase of more than 630 percent,” the release reads.
“Despite opposition to reform by Comptroller DiNapoli and others, members of the coalition know first-hand how runaway local pension payments have already significantly reduced localities’ ability to fund education, public safety, social services, economic development and other services – and how skyrocketing costs threaten to force severe budget cuts or tax increases in the years ahead. That is why local government leaders are demanding action from the Legislature now.”
“Governor Cuomo’s plan will create a new tier of pension benefits for yet-to-be-hired employees who are participating in the New York State and New York City retirement systems. Existing employees and retirees will be unaffected. The new plan would reasonably raise the retirement age for newly hired employees, and exclude overtime from the formula used to calculate the final average salary for pension payments.”
“Further, the proposal would provide employees with the option of participating in a defined contribution plan – similar to plans common in the private sector – that some employees may decide is a better choice for their individual career path.”
The first quote in the release goes to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican who has been mentioned as a potential 2014 opponent to Cuomo. (It appears that the quotes are alphabetical, as Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, a Democrat who won last fall with Cuomo’s support, appears next, so perhaps I shouldn’t read too much into this).
Said Bloomberg (quote #3):
Redistricting: What’s Next?
Feb 22nd - 12:01 pm
That’s the main question here at the Capitol as we continue to parse through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s words on the subject.
As amplified earlier by Colin Campbell of The New York Observer, the Democrat and Chronicle posted a 14-minute audio clip of Cuomo’s editorial board visit in which he basically admitting that he isn’t going to get what he wants with redistricting this year, namely an independent panel.
Cuomo insisted he tried to press the case, but blamed the Legislature for not going along.
“I’ve done it, they just said no,” he said. “I just lost, is what happened. It’s not that they didn’t hear me, they just said no.”
Cuomo also told the editorial board that he saw progress being made in the form of a Constitutional amendment
“I think we’re making progress and I think it’s going to have support from the people of this state,” he said.
We’ll probably continue that parsing after today’s 12:15 cabinet meeting in the Red Room where the topic of redistricting is sure to be brought up by reporters.
The stakes are highest for the Senate, where Republicans are trying their best to keep and even expand their thin majority, currently at 32-29 with one vacancy.
Senate Democrats continue to press that Cuomo will follow through with his veto and are trying to apply back-channel pressure through minority advocacy groups like the NAACP, the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and others.
Lawmakers want to vote on the maps, at least the already-proposed and revised districts for Senate and Assembly maps by March 1. That means any bill would need to be introduced by Monday in order to comply with the three-day aging requirement (it is highly unlikely Cuomo would issue a message of necessity).
There are a multitude of scenarios and permutations that could be played out in the coming days.
The Democratic-led Assembly and Republican-controlled Senate could possibly fail to reconcile their differences on House lines, producing two different maps that eliminate or merge different districts.
The federal lawsuit on redistricting could be fast-tracked starting Monday, when all sides are due to meet with a magistrate. Democrats hope the judge could start the process right then and there with a special master beginning to draw their own maps that week. That’s very possible, given the June 26 primary date for House elections.
But a lot is riding on whether the governor would follow through with his veto as he and members of his administration continue to insist.
“I think the main question is does the governor want to force a real confrontation,” said Bob Ward of the Rockefeller Institute. “And for that matter, do the courts? Starting with the courts, will the Legislature try to work around, try to do something that the federal court would accept? Or would they try to work around that with an appeal?”
It’s A Charlie Rangel Dance Party
Feb 22nd - 11:03 am
Rep. Charlie Rangel’s twitter account made the political world aware of this gem of a video posted to YouTube of the congressman showing off his dance moves.
But I can’t help but wonder when and if Rangel’s numerous opponents this year will re-appropriate this into some sort of an attack ad.
Bellavia Prepares For Potential Challenge To Hochul
Feb 22nd - 8:54 am
Iraq War veteran David Bellavia, who was passed over by GOP leaders in last spring’s NY-26 special election won by Rep. Kathy Hochul, is raising campaign cash to gauge support to a potential challenge to the Democratic congresswoman this fall.
Bellavia sent a web video and missive to some 400,000 people, urging them to help him decide whether to take on Hochul and “try to help save this country.”
The video includes footage of a live firefight that took place in Fallujah, Iraq, where Bellevia received a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. He was also nominated to receive a Medal of Honor.
In the lengthy letter that accompanies the video, Bellavia casts Hochul as a “rubber stamp” for President Obama and calls her out for opposing the Keystone Pipeline project, saying: “Hochul is a reason our families pay so much for gas today! What is she thinking?”
It sounds like Bellavia is ready to go full steam ahead with a challenge to Hochul, but he’s holding off due to redistricting.
“(H)ere’s why I can’t jump in this race just yet: liberal New York politicians are creating new Congressional Districts,” Bellavia wrote.
“They’ve been holding back for months, dragging their feet and drawing secret lines to help Democrat incumbents like Rep. Hochul.”
“It’s hard to believe – we simply don’t know what district we live in yet! But the courts have forced the politicians to announce those new districts in the next few weeks, and I need your donation if I am to get in this race as a strong competitor.”
If I have the support of patriotic Americans like you and your family, I know I can run and win.
Bellavia is getting assistance from veteran Western NY political operative Michael Caputo, who is also currently assisting Sen. Mark Grisanti behind the scenes and is perhaps best (or at least most recently) known for his rocky relationship with Carl Paladino after he worked on the Buffalo businessman’s failed 2010 gubernatorial bid.
Bellavia isn’t the only Republican mulling a challenge to Hochul.
Former County Executive Chris Collins and Amherst Supervisor Barry A. Weinstein have both said they’re waiting for the district lines to be finalized before making a decision about whether to enter the race.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has said that WNY is ripe to lose a district – by seeing existing districts combined, potentially forcing incumbents into primary battles or so-called fair fights – due to its loss of population over the past decade.
Grimm: I’ve Turned Over All Fundraising Documents To Justice
Feb 22nd - 8:34 am
ICYMI: During an interview with my NY1 colleague Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” last night, embattled Rep. Michael Grimm continued to defend himself against allegations in the New York Times that he engaged in illegal fundraising and questionable business practices.
The Staten Island Republican (NY-13) has repeatedly insisted he did nothing wrong and has attacked the Gray Lady for what he says was politically motivated and shoddy reporting.
Grimm, a former FBI agent, said he has undertaken a campaign to clear his name, which includes voluntarily compiling and turning over all his fundraising documents to the US Justice Department.
“As soon as this happened – my name means more to me than my political career – the first thing I did was assemble a team to reach out to Justice, the Department of Justice, to the FEC, and to Congressional Ethics,” the congressman told Louis.
“And they said: Well, why do you want to be so proactive? I said: Because this is my name. My name means more to me than the political arena. I want you to initiate constructive contact, engage them now, and put together all of my documents, every single contribution, and give it over.”
“That’s what I want, because otherwise, how do I clear my name? Do you think the New York Times when it comes back that I’m exonerated, you think they’re going to put that on the front page? We all know they’re not. So it’s up to me to initiate these contacts.”
“It’s all being compiled now, it’s given to my team, and my team has already made contact. How much they’ve already given, that’s up to the relevant agencies how they take possession of the documents, and we’re giving over stuff as we’re compiling it.”
Grimm also again rejected reports that he is no longer a surrogate for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, saying he hasn’t yet heard from the former Massachusetts governor and was never an official representative of his White House bid anyway because he doesn’t have enough time to do that.
Grimm campaigned for Romney in New Hampshire and Florida and appeared on national TV shows (and Capital Tonight) during the run-up to the Granite State primary to defend the candidate after his “I like be able to fire people” gaffe.
The congressman also told Louis that he had asked his political mentor, former Staten Island BP Guy Molinari, to remove himself and Rep. Nan Hayworth from the list of Romney’s national GOP convention delegates long before the NYT stories broke, reasoning that they would have floor passes as House members and should make room for people without that privilege.
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.