Senate Republicans Push Through a Backroom Budget
Posted on 03/15/2011 @ 06:43 PM
Today members of the Senate Democratic Conference spoke out against the Republicans fiscally irresponsible budget proposal. Unfortunately, all New Yorkers are getting is more of the same broken promises and costly mistakes taxpayers can no longer afford.
The Senate Democratic Conference Leader, John L. Sampson, stated the following:
“Last month, Governor Cuomo proposed a budget blueprint to change the way business is done in Albany. Senate Republicans passed a budget that was business as usual – unbalanced and unsustainable spending without any way to pay for it.
“New York needs a responsible budget to create good-paying jobs, ensure our children are well educated, reform our health care system, and make New York more affordable for Middle Class families. Instead of meeting that standard and delivering on the Governor’s priorities, the Senate Republican budget protects the wealthy, cuts services to our most vulnerable New Yorkers, and fails to provide the relief our Middle Class families need.
“To hide their fiscal irresponsibility, Senate Republicans pushed through a backroom budget without the public oversight or bipartisan debate New Yorkers deserve anytime their money is being spent. Republicans promised change, but we are learning they don’t keep their word even when given in writing. Unfortunately, all we are seeing is more of the same broken promises and costly mistakes taxpayers can no longer afford.”
Leader Sampson on Capital Tonight
By Mike Connery on 11/19/2010 @ 10:50 AM
Leader Sampson Congratulates Our Winners, But It's Not Over Yet
By Mike Connery on 11/03/2010 @ 04:50 PM
Polls are closed, but the State Senate is still at stake.
We picked up a few big wins, but at least three races are too close to call.
We'll post updates as they come in. Below find Majority Conference Leader Sampson's statements on the victories of Democrats David Carlucci, Tony Avella and Tim Kennedy.
Your New Senators:
“Senator-Elect Tony Avella has a long record of reform and political independence – the perfect antidote to 38 years of status quo Albany dysfunction. Senator-Elect Avella ran a tireless campaign. He went door-to-door in Queens to make his case and I am particularly proud he made women’s rights and healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign. I look forward to working with Senator-Elect Avella to regain New York’s trust in government, and to make sure the Senate continues to advocate for those most in need.”
"I want to congratulate Senator-Elect Carlucci for running a shoe-leather, door-to-door campaign, and welcome him to our Conference. Rockland and Orange County residents deserve a reformer, a non-partisan Senator in the tradition of Tom Morahan. David Carlucci will make those who trusted him with their vote proud. He comes to Albany with great promise, and working together, we will continue to reform Albany and work with our next Governor to renew our economy and lower taxes."
"Tim Kennedy is the reformer Albany needs. For more than a year, he has run against the status quo, and it’s that kind of attitude that will change Albany. We need jobs, and I will do everything I can to make sure Senator-Elect Kennedy is successful in renewing and revitalizing Western New York’s regional economy."
Campaign Roundup: Sampson - GOP Candidates Must Disavow Paladino
By Mike Connery on 10/08/2010 @ 04:45 PM
DAILY CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP … Our Daily Roundup of Campaign News- Sampson to Dem Candidate's: Hit 'Em On Carl - A letter sent today by the Democratic Majority Conference Leader John Sampson urges all Democratic State Senate candidates to call on their opponents to disavow Carl Paladino.
- Lawmakers Asking Farley to Distance Himself from Paladino - Susan Savage is already pressing her opponent to disavow Paladino, but Farley has so far dodged the question.
- Farley, Savage Campaign Trade Allegations - Susan Savage comes out on top in a story about barbs traded between her campaign and that of Senator Hugh Farley. Farley was unable to refute claims that he'd taken vacation on the taxpayer's dime, while Savage pointed out allegations against her were long ago dismissed.
- Pro-Gay Marriage Group Names First Target - Fight Back NY PAC has set their sites on getting rid of Frank Padavan in Queens.
A Record of Accomplishment
By Mike Connery on 07/01/2010 @ 04:30 PM
As an undeniably tough session comes to a close, Majority Conference Leader John Sampson reminds all New Yorkers about the many accomplishments achieved by Senate Democrats during our first term in the majority in over 40 years. Many good bills were passed by Democrats that would not have seen the light of day during a Republican Majority, and New Yorkers are the better because of it.
Watch this video with Senator Sampson for a fuller picture of Democratic accomplishments in 2009 and 2010.
Video: New York Senate Dems at the State Democratic Convention
By Mike Connery on 06/09/2010 @ 05:26 PM
For those who couldn't be with us in Rye, NY, here's John Sampson's address to the State Party Convention, and the introduction of our 2010 slate of candidates.
The State Senate will be the most competitive electoral battleground in New York this cycle, and these women and men are the candidates we are relying on to bring real reform to Albany.
John Sampson: Senate Dems Accomplishments
By Mike Connery on 06/09/2010 @ 08:13 AM
In this video released by Senator John Sampson yesterday, the Majority Conference Leader looks back at the Democrats first 17 months in power. It's been a rocky road at times, but Democrats have accomplished much in our first term in the majority.
We passed rules reform and opened government up to the people. Reformed public authorities and passed the most sweeping ethics bill in a generation. We brought property tax relief to New Yorkers and saved jobs.
Nevertheless, as Senator Sampson reminds us, much work remains to be done. While Senate Dems were busy working for New Yorkers, Senate Republicans have been standing on the sidelines shouting "no" and obstructing progress at every turn. It's going to take hard work - and a larger majority in November - to truly give New Yorkers the government they deserve.
TRANSCRIPT A year ago today we were a house divided.Trust was broken and the fabric of government was torn.
But for every setback, there is a comeback.
I believe in the politics of hope and the strength of action.
And here is what we have done:
We transformed the rules of the Senate to make the legislative process more open, accountable, and inclusive.
We gave all members an opportunity to advance legislation with a straight up or down vote on their bills.
Equalized resources for all Senators regardless of party.
And used new technology to make every legislative action available to the public through live web broadcasts and the documentation of every legislative meeting in an easily searchable online database.
Then, putting partisanship aside and the people first, we worked across the aisle to pass bipartisan legislation.
We reformed New York City school governance, dragged shady Public Authorities into the light, consolidated local governments, and created a new tier in the state pension system to save taxpayers billions.
We took the historic step of appointing Republican Minority members as Committee Chairs for the first time in Senate history to continue to build a more efficient and functional chamber.
And then we took on ethics reform, passing the toughest ethics and campaign finance law in a generation.
We hoped it would be the first break in the Albany logjam, but the Senate Minority continued their history of building walls to exclude regular New Yorkers and block reform.
That’s ok. Because the work begins again, hope continues to rise, and our quest for ethics reform will not die. We will make it happen.
Changing the way business is done in Albany was no easy task after forty years of dysfunction.
And some achievements many thought were out of reach finally got done.
We passed the Bigger Better Bottle bill cleaning up our environment.
We passed Property Tax and Mandate Relief.
We passed the Family Health Care Decision Act and the HIV Rent Cap after nearly two decades of Republican obstruction.
We passed Rockefeller Drug Reform.
And, Democrats brought Marriage Equality to the floor for the first time in our State’s history.
Recognizing that New York works best when New Yorkers are working, Senate Democrats helped create and save over 400,000 jobs in our first term in the Majority.
From Power for Jobs, to the first in the nation Green Jobs program we are working our way out of financial disaster by putting New Yorkers back to work.
And we did not forget, nor will we ever forget, our greatest responsibility – our constitutional obligation to a quality education for every child in New York.
We gave New York the points we need to win $700 million in the Race to the Top.
The job before us is far from easy, and there will always be bumps along the way.
But giving New Yorkers a government they can believe in is not just a slogan, it is their birthright and our job to achieve.
And we will make it happen.
Skelos Demands to Attend Budget Meetings (Except When He Doesn't)
By Mike Connery on 04/14/2010 @ 05:01 PM
Just last week Dean Skelos was complaining that no one invited him or his fellow Republicans to budget meetings:
Minority leader Dean Skelos, R-Long Island, referred to a recent meeting between Sampson, Gov. David Paterson and Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch at Peter Luger's steakhouse in Brooklyn. "I wasn't invited to that even for an appetizer," Skelos said.
Today, in response to an invitation from Leader Sampson to participate in budget meetings, Skelos is crying a different tune:
The stalemate over crafting a state budget is continuing in the Senate this morning with the latest episode centering on a leaders meeting and a rejection/call for conference committees.
Basically, Senate Democratic Majority Conference Leader John Sampson yesterday sent a letter to Republican Minority Dean Skelos inviting GOP leaders to a 1 p.m. meeting today.
The response boiled down to this: that’s a public relations stunt and why haven’t you convened conference committees like you are supposed to in which lawmakers from both parties discuss budget issues in public.
Republicans can complain about not being included in the budget process, or they can actively reject any constructive role in shaping the budget. They don't get to do both. Certainly not when our state is facing a fiscal emergency and the economic well-being of so many New Yorkers is on the line.
Earlier today I linked to an op-ed by Senate Majority Leader John Sampson calling out Republicans for their lack of ideas and good faith in this year's budget process. Sampson called Skelos and fellow Republicans "the Party of No Credibility," a play on the "Party of No." Seems like Republicans are all too happy to live up to those titles.
GOP: The Party of No Credibility
By Mike Connery on 04/14/2010 @ 12:01 PM
Majority Conference Leader John Sampson has an op-ed in today's Syracuse Post-Standard calling out Dean Skelos and do-nothing Republicans for their refusal to deal constructively with the state's budgetary problems.
In defending his conference’s habitual rejection of fiscally sound proposals, as well as his refusal to come forth with any offerings of his own, Sen. Skelos is continuing the negligent behavior that got New York into this mess in the first place.
During the Bruno-Skelos era of 1996 to 2008, the Republican Conference said “no” to an on-time budget 10 times, for total lateness of 819 days.
When they did manage to pass a budget, the document was hardly a model of fiscal integrity. From 1997 to 2008, outstanding state-related debt increased by 36 percent, from $33.1 billion to $51.6 billion. In other words, the annual bill for every man, woman and child in this state to service the debt increased from $166.16 to $276.14. Borrowing went up, property taxes skyrocketed and jobs left.
Despite this, when the Senate passed a resolution which — for only the third time in more than three decades — controlled spending, they again said “no,” along with their rejection of property tax relief for seniors and a restoration of funding for our state parks. And the very conference that included more than 300 new taxes in its last 10 budgets alone then said “no” to the Democrats’ rejection of $1.1 billion in new taxes and fees. When asked to provide an alternative plan, Sen. Skelos said — you guessed it — “no.”
While cloaking himself in the robes of “no,” one thing is clear: This self-anointed emperor not only has no clothes, he has turned the “party of no” into the “party of no credibility.”
Leader Sampson gets it exactly right. Looking back on their record, it's hard to take Republican indignation over the current budget troubles seriously. Senate Democrats are are the only ones in Albany willing to make tough choices on the budget, and one of the few proposing reforms that will fix a dysfunctional budgetary process. By contrast, Republicans are sitting on the side lines and playing the blame game.
Tough Budget Choices: Sampson Spars with Skelos
By Mike Connery on 04/02/2010 @ 02:26 PM
Watch John Sampson spar with Dean Skelos over the 2010 - 2011 budget. Democrats made tough but fair choices on the budget, preventing over $1 billion in tax increases and providing $500 million in property tax relief.
