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Grisanti Open To Some Form Of A Minimum Wage Hike
Apr 24th - 12:42 pm
ICYMI: Last night on the show Liz spoke with Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo, who said he would be open to a modest minimum wage increase, but not as high as the proposed $8.50.
Grisanti, a yes vote for the legalization of same-sex marriage, has emerged as one of the leading swing votes in the closely divided Republican-led Senate. He said a $1.25 raise would be too hard on small businesses and potentially have a negative impact on low-income wage earners.
But Grisanti conceded that there “does have to be, in my opinion, some change.”
“… We’re only three states in the area or only three states in the nation are at that particular level. I’ve talked to business councils and a lot of small businesses that have family dollars, that have 7-Elevens, Wilson Farms in our area, that can actually hurt your part-time wage employees. Eight-fifty an hour is too high. When I look at some of the numbers over the inflationary rate period, there does have to be, in my opinion, some change, but not at that level. It could be $7.50, somewhere along those lines, but these are numbers that we’re looking at and I’m sure that we’re going to look at over the next few weeks that are remaining.”
Grisanti, a priority seat for the Republican conference to protect this year, lost the backing of the local Conservative Party over his approval of same-sex marriage. The Conservative Party is giving the line to Democrat Chuck Swanick.
In some ways, Grisanti’s situation mirrors that of then-Sen. Nick Spano, who Republicans worried would lose his Democratic-heavy district and, in response, pushed through a minimum wage hike.
The proposal to increase the minimum wage is becoming a central issue in the latter-half of the legislative session this year. As first proposed by Speaker Sheldon Silver in January, the minimum wage would be tied to the rate of inflation.
While some sectors of the business community are deeply opposed, the Retail Council indicated it would be open to a modest bump as long as the inflation tie-in would be discarded.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos continues to insist that the wage increase is a “job killer” but would not say if he would block the legislation from coming to the floor of the chamber.
The measure has broad support in recent polls.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t taken a position, but has supported past increases.
Senate IDC Wants To Ban ‘Charly Sheen’ And Other Drugs
Apr 24th - 11:53 am
The Senate Independent Democratic Conference is perhaps a little tired of #winning, at least as far as the street drug called “Charly Sheen” is concerned.
The IDC released a report this morning calling for a crack down on so-called “designer drugs” that imitate of Ecstasy, LSD, Ketamine, but have gone unregulated.
“No one is fooled by the cynical attempt of these sellers to mask the fact that they are online drug dealers who target young people,” Sen. Jeff Klein said in a statement. “These drugs are deadly, unrestricted, and one click away from becoming the next public health crisis in New York. My legislation will ban these dangerous substances today in order to prevent more tragedies tomorrow.”
In addition to spelling the erstwhile “Two and Half Men” star’s name slightly off, the drugs have monikers like “E-Scape” and “Dust Til Dawn” and arrive over the Internet in brightly colored packaging.
Klein is joining forces with Dr. Mehmet Oz — yes, that Dr. Oz — after his show in November focused on three people in Minnesota were hospitalized after using the drug.
“We must protect adolescents from dangers such as these new synthetic chemicals which present parents and police with unique challenges – mainly that they are available through the immediate, safe and anonymous pathway of the Internet and that without any laws governing their sale enjoy immunity from law enforcement,” Oz said.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Klein has gone after what he considers to be dangerous drugs. He previously became the scourge of the alco-pops industry, working ban drinks like Four Loko that contained a mixture of high caffeine and alcohol, which he said was meant to target kids.
Long To Primary Opponents: Let’s Debate (Update)
Apr 24th - 11:16 am
Republican Senate hopeful Wendy Long today called for a three debates with her fellow GOP opponents Rep. Bob Turner and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos that would start as early as next week.
In letter blasted out by her campaign this morning, Long, a Manhattan attorney running for her first political office, said the debates would allow primary voters to make “an education decision” as to who they would prefer taking on U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in Novemeber.
“I suggest, that starting the first week of May, we hold a series of 3 debates leading up to the June 26 primary,” Long wrote. “Local Republican organizations and/or local or regional media outlets could sponsor these debates. It is my belief this would be a great opportunity to showcase where each of us stand on the issues as well as the Conservative -Republican principles we hold in common.”
The debates would also serve the perhaps of potentially increasing the low name recognition for all three, especially Long and Maragos.
Turner, perhaps the best known of the candidates after his upset win in a special election to take a Brooklyn-Queens House seat, polls about the same as his opponents when matched up against Gillibrand.
The full letter sent today by Long’s campaign is below.
Dear George and Bob:
This is one of the shortest primary schedules in modern New York electoral history. It’s important to hold a series of debates across the Empire State, so that Republican primary voters can make an educated decision as to which one of us they prefer to face the U.S. Senate’s number one liberal, Senator Gillibrand, on the GOP line in the November election.
I suggest, that starting the first week of May, we hold a series of 3 debates leading up to the June 26 primary. Local Republican organizations and/or local or regional media outlets could sponsor these debates. It is my belief this would be a great opportunity to showcase where each of us stand on the issues as well as the Conservative -Republican principles we hold in common.
Obviously, time is of the essence, so I hope that you will respond to this challenge quickly, so that we can start to identify suitable dates. I am sharing copies of this letter with Chairman Cox and all 62 Republican County Chairs so that they may join us in the planning of what will be an exciting and informative series of debates.
Yours sincerely,
Wendy Long
Updated: Turner’s campaign spokeswoman Jessica Proud emails to say the candidate is looking forward “to debating key issues.”
We look forward to debating the key issues facing New Yorkers, including high unemployment, rising gas prices, national debt, deficit spending, and the complete lack of leadership in the U.S. Senate, which has failed to propose or pass a budget for three straight years.
NAACP Takes Issue With Seat 63
Apr 24th - 11:05 am
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund sent a letter to the Department of Justice taking issue with the overall redistricting plan but trained a lot of its contempt for the 63rd Senate seat drawn out of the Capital Region in an area seen as friendly for Republicans.
In particular, the defense fund takes issue with expanding the size of the Senate from 62 to 63 districts because it could have a negative impact on minority voters’ representation in the upper chamber of the Legislature.
From the letter, prepared by at least four lawyers for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund:
With respect to this particular aspect of the Senate Plan, LDF concurs with several contentions raised by others, including: (1) that the State must identify its changing methodologies for computing the size of the State Senate as a separate voting change requiring preclearance; and (2) that increasing the size of the Senate will have a retrogressive effect on minority voters in the eleven majority-minority districts contained in New York’s covered counties, whose influence will necessarily be diminished under the Senate Plan.
Senate Republicans have justified the addition of a Senate district, noting that the state’s Constitution prescribes a rather complex formula allowing for growth in the chamber if the state’s population increases overall. New York is losing two congressional districts, but that’s because the state’s population did not grow as fast as the rest of the country.
The GOP holds a narrow 32-29 majority with one vacancy. Though the 63rd Senate district contains more Democratic enrolled voters, it is considered a likely pickup for the majority conference.
The seat is the subject of a separate lawsuit that is on appeal to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, after Senate Republican lawyers scored a victory in the state Supreme Court earlier this month.
The U.S. Department of Justice still has to sign off on the redistricting plan approved by lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in March. The DOJ is scrutinizing Senate distircts drawn in mostly the downstate region and its impact on the Voting Rights Act, but can review the overall plan for its impact on minority voters.
The DOJ is expected to make a decision on New York’s redistricting proposal by Friday. This is the first time a Democratic administration is reviewing a redistricting plan under the Voting Rights Act.
There’s much more in the letter from the LDF.
DCCC Eyes NY House Candidates
Apr 24th - 10:50 am
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee likes what it sees when it comes to at least two House campaigns in New York, targeting the candidacies of Julian Schreibman in the NY-19 and Leslie Danks Burke in the NY-23.
Schreibman, running in the newly formed district represented by Republican freshman Chris Gibson, annonuced that D-Trip had earned a spot in the competitive “Red to Blue” program.
“I am honored that so many people in the Hudson Valley/Catskills Region have joined our grassroots campaign to create jobs, stand up for middle class families, protect Medicare and Social Security and fight for the American dream,” said Julian Schreibman. “The early strength we have demonstrated by being named to the Red to Blue program means we have the support, confidence, and momentum it takes to win in November.”
Danks Burke, meanwhile, hoping to unseat Rep. Tom Reed, said her race was seen as “an emerging race” by DCCC.
“We in the Southern Tier know that Tea-Party Republican Congressman Tom Reed has let us down. Reed consistently votes against bringing more jobs to our region, against improving health care, and against our families,” Burke said.
Both races, it’s worth noting, are seats held by first-term GOP representatives in areas that House Speaker John Boehner said yesterday in an interview he was especially worried about.
Boehner, in what was most likely an appeal to Republican donors and grass-roots supporters, said the GOP had a “one-in-three” chance in losing control of the chamber this fall. He was especially considered with states like New York, where the state party’s apparatus is not as strong and President Obama’s re-election effort is expected to bring out Democratic voters.
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.
Ulrich Launches Campaign Versus Addabbo
Apr 24th - 10:09 am
Queens City Councilman Eric Ulrich announced this morning his bid to take on Democratic Sen. Joe Addabbo through a YouTube video.
“I will be a state senator that never stops fighting for the middle class,” Ulrich says in the video released just after 10 a.m. this morning. “I’ve watched too many of my friends and relatives pack up and move out of New York because they simply could not afford to live here any longer.”
The video was posted to Ulrich’s new website, which launched this morning as well.
Addabbo, of course, is one of the Democratic senators who switched their no votes to yes on same-sex marriage last year (the others being Sens. Shirley Huntley and Carl Kruger).
Ulrich, considered a rising star in the New York City Republican ranks and a councilman for the last three years, does not mention same-sex marriage or even his potential fall opponent.
Instead, he focuses on middle-class and business tax cuts. He also says he would push for “investment” in higher education so “young people” like him can stay in New York
Ulrich is also the chairman of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign for New York City. Earlier this week Romney said he was in favor of a Democratic-tinged proposal that would help lower student loan debt.
“I believe I can accomplish even more if you send me to Albany,” he says.
The announcement today is curious, considering that only days ago it was reported Ulrich was not interested in running for the seat.
A Senate GOP source was already crowing about what the 32-member majority believes is a chance to expand.
“This is more good news for the Senate Republicans and more bad news for the Senate Democrats, and they didn’t need any more bad news,” the source said. “We’re very high on Eric Ulrich and he’s gonna win this seat.”
Giuliani For Senate
Apr 24th - 8:18 am
…Not the former NYC mayor, although once upon a time, he did flirt with a challenge to US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
No, in this case, we’re talking state Senate. And we’re talking Rudy S. Giuliani, the former mayor’s 28-year-old second cousin.
The younger Giuliani, a Queens native who works for NYC Council Minority Leader Jimmy Oddo, has had several conversations with the Senate Republicans about a potential challenge to Democratic Sen. Tony Avella, according to a GOP source with knowledge of the discussions.
The most recent chat, the source said, took place last Friday with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos himself.
Avella, a former councilman himself, was drawn by the GOP into a potential primary with his fellow Democrat, Sen. Toby Stavisky.
But it looks like Stavisky will probably seek re-election in the newly drawn majority Asian district – assuming she does indeed run.
Giuliani has never run for office before, but he does come from a political family. (Aside from his uncle, his mother, Cathy, is a lobbyist and fundraiser).
He worked on both Uncle Rudy’s unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid and Mayor Bloomberg’s successful 2009 campaign for a third term.
Republicans have done well in certain parts of Queens. (The elder Rudy Giuliani always did well in the district currently represented by Avella, which used to belong to former Republican Sen. Frank Padavan).
Nevertheless, the district is, like the rest of NYC, dominated by Democrats, and would be an uphill battle for any Republican – especially a political neophyte, even if his last name is Giuliani.
Rudy S. has been making calls and seeking advice from various Republicans, my source said.
That includes his uncle, of course, and also Padavan, who was at one point considering a comeback run this year, and hadn’t made a formal decision as of late last month.
Rudy S. will make a decision within the next week or two, according to the source, who said a political career for this young Giuliani is definitely in the cards, but it’s unclear whether this is the right district or the right time. (The presidential race is definitely a factor).
“He’s being encouraged by a lot of folks, and he’s weighing it very carefully,” the source said.
“He’s got a good name – a very good name. And he’s an affable, nice guy who’s been around politics his whole life. His parents are pretty savvy, too.”
“If Rudy (the younger) decides to do this – and it’s a question not if he runs for political office, but when – a lot of Rudy (the elder) supporters will come out. It’s going to be interesting.”
DNC Chair: Too Early For 2016 Talk
Apr 24th - 7:48 am
ICYMI: Last night on CapTon, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz gently chastised those who talking up Hillary Clinton 2016, saying it’s too early to discuss the next presidential contests when this one isn’t even close to over.
Interestingly, the pro-Clinton club includes Wasserman-Schultz’s good friend, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a longtime fan of the former first lady, who told BuzzFeed not long ago that she would be “one of the first” to ask the secretary of state to make another White House run for years from now.
Wasserman-Schultz and Gillibrand are co-captains of their respective chambers’ women’s softball teams. They have been good friends since Gillibrand’s arrival in Washington back in 2006. Former Rep. Gabby Giffords was the third member of their tight-knit circle in male-dominated D.C.
“My feeling is we need to focus on re-electing Barack Obama president of the United States on November 6th,” Wasserman-Schultz told me.
“And I think Hillary – Secretary Clinton – has done an amazing job as secretary of state. And I know that she plans some well-deserved time off. And the focus right now should be singularly on re-electing Barack Obama.”
“It is April of 2012. I think we have so much at stake. There are two completely divergent directions we can go in this country…making sure that Barack Obama goes back to the White House is our number one priority.”
Of course, it is the Florida congresswoman’s job as DNC chair to focus solely on the president and his re-election bid – something that, at least according to this Fox News report, she perhaps hasn’t done always as well as he might like.
The chairwoman urged me to “have me back after November 6th of this year” to talk 2016 – a year New York reporters are focused on due to the widespread belief that Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be in the hunt for the Democratic nod.
Of course, Gillibrand has her own re-election to focus on this fall, although polls have shown she has little to worry about from her three would-be GOP challengers so far.
A prodigious fundraiser, Gillibrand reported having $9.1 million on hand at the end of the first quarter this year.
She has turned her attention to helping the DSCC raise cash in a series of woman-focused events across the country.
Here And Now
Apr 24th - 7:22 am
It’s GOP presidential primary day for five states, including New York. The others: Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island.
All told, 231 convention delegates are at stake today (95 in NY alone), giving it the highest number of delegates assigned on a single day since super Tuesday (March 6). Every primary is closed, which means only registered party members can participate.
Polling places in the NYC area and Erie County will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. In other parts of the state, polls open at noon. There is no Democratic presidential primary.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in New York City with no public schedule.
President Obama is scheduled to urge Congress to hold the interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans at their current 3.4 percent during a speech in Colorado. (He’s trying to reinvigorate the youth vote that helped him win in 2008).
Coincidentally, NY-6 candidate Grace Meng will be joined by parents and students across the street from Forest Hills High School at 3 p.m. to discuss the very same topic.
Members of Cuomo’s Small Business Outreach team will hold a Finger Lakes Region workshop at Rochester’s Hillside Family of Agencies at 8:30 a.m.
Assemblyman Karim Camara, chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus and fellow lawmakers will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. in Brooklyn to “shed light on the gun lobby’s undue influence” in New York and urge Sen. George Maziarz to withdraw his “Stand Your Ground” bill.
JCOPE meets at 10:30 a.m. at 540 Broadway in Albany. The meeting will be webcast here.
Today’s headlines…
The DN’s Bill Hammond takes the over-sensitive Cuomo administration to task, reminding the governor “there’s only one thing worse than a sore loser – and that’s a sore winner.”
The DN gets on the Ray Kelly 2013 bandwagon after commissioning a poll that find the NYPD commissioner “in the hunt” (as Bloomberg pollster Doug Schoen put it), though he trails several of the Democratic candidates by several percentage points.
“He clearly is the last, best hope of the Republican Party at this point,” Schoen said.
The Women’s National Republican Club gave Kelly its Outstanding Leadership Award last night.
A NY1/Marist poll found NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn has jumped to her largest lead of the 2013 race thanks to a big boost from voters in her home base of Manhattan. She’s 20 percentage points ahead of her closest rival, former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson.
The Cuomo administration is strongly considering relinquishing some of the state’s oversight and monitoring responsibilities over vulnerable populations, and giving that power to a nonprofit advocacy group.
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