Daily Campaign Roundup: More Endorsements For Democratic Candidates
By Mike Connery on 08/18/2010 @ 02:43 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Mike Gianaris endorsed by United Federation of Teachers and Teamsters. Mike DiSanto gains the support of Planned Parenthood of New York City. Susan Savage slams her opponent for misusing state funds -- to complain about wasteful state spending. SRCC pours money into defeating one of its own.
- Mike Gianaris scores major endorsements from United Federation of Teachers and Teamsters - Mike Gianaris received big endorsements from The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the international Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16. The UFT has a membership of approximately 200,000 education professionals. Joint Council 16 encompasses 30 Teamster local unions in New York City and has about 120,000 members. “I am honored to have the support of the working men and women represented by these organizations,” said Gianaris in a statement. “I look forward to continuing my advocacy for working people in the State Senate, as we strive to create more jobs, improve our schools and reform state government.”
- Mike Disanto endorsed by Planned Parenthood of NYC - Mike DiSanto, running against Albany politician Martin Golden in SD-22, received the endorsement of the Planned Parenthood of New York City. “I thank Planned Parenthood for entrusting me with the task of defending women's reproductive rights. For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood of New York City has been a beacon of hope for women, and today, I am committed to the next generation of women,” DiSanto said. “The State that started the Women's Rights Movement has failed to provide women with adequate protections and advance women's rights into the 21st century. My opponent is wrong on women's rights, just as he is wrong on so many issues. Reform and progress on public policy is clearly absent from my opponent's agenda.”
- Susan Savage slams her opponent for wasting state funds to complain about wasteful state spending - Susan Savage criticized a mailer that her opponent, 34-year Albany politician Hugh Farley, sent using state funds. The mailer ironically talks about how the state is in money trouble. "This is an outrageous example of what’s wrong with Albany and why voters should fire a 34 year politician who is out of touch, out of ideas and electorally, out of time,” said Savage campaign strategist Doug Forand. “In his letter, Mr. Farley states ‘During difficult economic times, families and businesses tighten their belts and make needed and sensible changes to their spending habits. Government should do the same.’ We couldn’t agree more, and the first place to start would be with his self-promoting, taxpayer-funded mailings.”
Savage says he was using taxpayer dollars on the last possible day he can use his Senate funds before the Sept. 14 Conservative primary between a write-in (Savage) and himself. - SRCC decides to dump money into messy internal battle -The GOP continues to eat its own. The City Hall News reports that the SRCC is pouring money into the SD-40 primary, where Republican Assembly Member Greg Ball is taking on party favorite Mary Beth Murphy. The SRCC spent $55,922 in shared expenditures over the past month on top of $32,608 already spent. Murphy and Ball are involved in a bloody and divisive primary fight. Whoever comes out of the fight will have to face Mike Kaplowitz, who has secured the Democratic nomination and been running a strong campaign in the district for months now.
Daily Campaign Roundup: Democrats Continue to Roll
By Mike Connery on 06/17/2010 @ 02:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Monroe County Democratic Candidate Robin Wilt officially kicks off her campaign; Democratic senators announce legislative progress; Republican's forced to defend Golden's cowardice and Lazio's ties to Bernie Madoff
- Robin Wilt announces candidacy for State Senate – Democrat Robin Wilt is receiving a lot of attention as she announced her campaign against Republican incumbent Joe Robach in Greece County (SD 56). Wilt is running to reform the way Albany works, lower property taxes, and create jobs. "I am tired of a system of legislative horse trading where standing on one's principles is derided as naïve and impractical," she said.
- Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins announces passage of legislation that will end voter coercion and intimidation practices – The Yonkers Insider ran a press release from Sen. Stewart-Cousins detailing the Deceptive Practices and Voter Suppression Prevention Act, a bill she recently helped pushed through the Senate. Read more about it here.
- Sen. Darrel Aubertine praised for education efforts – Education Reform Now, a Brooklyn-based public education advocate, sent mailers lauding Sen. Aubertine for supporting legislation that increases the number of charter schools statewide.
- Sen. Eric Schneidmernan wants another vote on microstamping – Sen. Schneiderman, co-sponsor of the microstamping legislation, is fighting to bring it back to the Senate floor for another vote. "I think the public outrage over essentially voting to protect gun criminals - shooters and murderers - because of some mythical harm that might be done to legitimate gun owners is just not flying," said Sen. Schneiderman.
- Martin Golden skipped microstamping vote in favor of more important “business”- Martin Golden told Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight yesterday that he skipped out on the microstamping vote because he “had important business to take care of.” He added, however, that had he stayed on the floor and fulfilled his obligations as a senator, he would have voted against the bill.
- GOP Gubernational hopeful Rick Lazio tied to Bernie Madoff – Rick Lazio has more dysfunction and corruption to answer for today, as it was reported that he accepted thousands of dollars from ponzi-schemer Bernie Madoff, and his family, back in the the 1990s. At the time, Lazio was a congressman on the banking committee- responsible for oversight of the SEC, and ostensibly, of funds such as Madoff’s.
Senate Republicans: The Party of No-Show?
By Mike Connery on 06/17/2010 @ 02:25 PM
By now, New Yorkers are accustomed to the Senate GOP voting as the Party of No, but perhaps Martin Golden’s actions this week signal the beginning of a new Republican strategy: being the Party of No-shows.
Golden sat down with Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight yesterday, in an effort to explain his bolt from the Senate floor during the microstamping vote on Tuesday. When asked by Benjamin about the ‘phone call’ he uses to explain his odd disappearance, Golden replied: “I had some business to take care of and I took care of the business.”
The people have a right to know – and Golden should have the common decency to tell them: What “business” exactly was he taking care of?
The people have a right to know: What “business” is more critical to Golden and the Republicans than fighting for police officers and the public -- and standing up against murderers?
The people have a right to know: what “business” is more important to Golden and the Republicans than the business of New York?
Golden did let New Yorkers know, however, that if he had any courage and “had been on the floor,” he would have sided with the Party of No – and gun lobbyists and criminals – by voting against the bill. Golden’s lesson in political cowardice illustrated once again that when it comes to taking care of the business of the people, Republicans simply can't be counted on.
The Truth About Budget Extenders
By Mike Connery on 04/27/2010 @ 12:18 PM
Yesterday the Democratic Majority Conference passed another round of budget extenders. The extenders are receiving the lion's share of media attention this morning, so it's worth taking some time to know what exactly is included in the extender, and why Republicans who vote against the extenders are not only hypocritical, but also working against the interests of the public, who rely on the jobs and services the extenders provide.
First, a look at what, exactly, the extender's fund:
- $2.57 billion mandated payments to schools for General Aid Payments not associated with the Executive’s delays of school aid payments.
- $2.5 billion for local providers of the Medical Assistance Program including:
- $1.45 billion for payments to Medicaid providers including:
- $900 million for medical services provided by State facilities operated by OMH, OMRDD and OASAS.
- $311 million for nursing home services.
- $261 million for managed care services.
- $234 million for long term care services.
- $172 million for hospital inpatient services.
- $137 million for pharmacy services
- $67 million for non-institutional and other spending.
- $30 million for outpatient and emergency room services
- $29 million for clinical services
- $12 million for transportation services
- $7 million for dental services
- $40 million for contracts approved prior to April 1, 2010 where payments must be made during the period from April 1, 2010 to May 2, 2010.
- $40 million for contracts approved in the period from April 1, 2010 to May 2, 2010 where payments must be made during the same period.
As is readily apparent, these are all vital services that New Yorkers rely upon, and represent thousands of jobs that are putting food on the table and a roof over the heads of New York families. Those who support this extender are supporting our troopers, guardsmen, corrections officers, nurses, and social service workers who care for our veterans, the homeless, and mentally disabled.
Which leads me to my next topic. Seventeen Republicans voted against the extender: DeFrancisco, Flanagan, Golden, Hannon, O. Johnson, Larkin, Libous, Marcellino, Maziarz, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Griffo, Winner and Young. Many of these Republicans have been in office for a decade or more. They had no problem voting for budget extenders when they controlled the chamber.
- 2008: 9 days late/ 2 extenders
- 2004: 133 days late/ 12 extenders
- 2003: 42 days late/ 5 extenders
- 2002: 42 days late/ 8 extenders
- 2001: 125 days late/ 12 extenders
- 2000: 39 days late/ 3 extenders
- 1999: 126 days late/ 19 extenders
- 1998: 14 days late/ 4 extenders
- 1997: 126 days late/ 10 extenders
- 1996: 104 days late/ 14 extenders
- 1995: 68 days late/ 10 extenders
Plainly, Republican opposition to the budget extenders isn't about taking a principled stand. It's about showboating for voters and shirking tough decisions. It's playing politics with people's lives and jobs. New Yorkers deserve more.
Poison Party?
By Mike Connery on 04/21/2010 @ 11:10 AM
Helping children is usually about as uncontroversial an issue as you can find in politics. Children are our future. Everyone is for children. Unless you're in the New York GOP.
Yesterday, as part of a package of Earth Day related legislation, the State Senate passed a bill sponsored by Brian Foley that prohibits the use of certain toxic chemicals for pesticide and weed control at schools.
Bill Before New York State Lawmakers Would Ban Use of Pesticides on School Playing Fields
Chemical companies are pressing lawmakers to vote against the bill. They say pesticides are highly regulated and safe to use.
Children are especially susceptible to pesticides because of their small size and still-developing organs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rather than a purely chemical approach, the agency recommends schools use Integrated Pest Management, which combines several more organic and less toxic techniques to manage pests and weeds, such as overseeding, mowing grass taller, watering less and applying “compost tea,” a liquefied form of compost.
“Put simply, IPM is a safer, and usually less costly option for effective pest management in a school community,” EPA regulators said.
It's not just safer, though. It could also save schools money in the long term:
Schools would see a slight increase in cost during the first two years of IPM, but after the third year, the price would fall about 25 percent below the costs of chemical lawn treatment, according to a study by Grassroots Environmental Education, a nonprofit public health advocacy group in Nassau County. That group has offered free training to school groundskeepers on ways to care for fields without pesticides.
Keeps kids healthy? Check. Fiscally responsible? Check. So why are 22 GOP Senators opposed to this again?
Would Senate Republicans Prefer a Government Shutdown?
By Mike Connery on 04/20/2010 @ 01:26 PM
Yesterday the State Senate voted to pass budget extenders that will fund the essential functions of government and protect vital services on which millions of New Yorkers depend. The budget extenders allow the state to continue paying our troopers, guardsmen, corrections officers, nurses, and social service workers who care for our veterans, the homeless, and mentally disabled. They provide funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and Unemployment.
Without these extenders, the state cannot function, and New Yorkers already struggling to make ends meet with take yet another hard hit. This is a big deal, with an immediate impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of the state's residents. So it's worth noting that 16 Republicans - as they have so often since they lost the majority - said 'No' to a functioning government, 'No' to services for their constituents, and 'No' to paying the first responders we rely upon in emergencies by voting against the budget extenders.
Here is the list of Republicans who voted against yesterday's bill. It's a wall of shame if ever there was one:
- John DeFrancisco
- John Flanagan
- Martin Golden
- Joe Griffo
- Kemp Hannon
- William Larkin
- Ken LaValle
- Tom Libous
- Carl Marcellino
- Michael Nozzolio
- Michael Ranzenhofer
- James Seward
- Dean Skelos
- Dale Volker
- George Winner
- Catharine Young
Here's my question. With so many New Yorkers struggling, and the state facing one of the biggest fiscal crises in recent memory, does this gang of 16 really think shutting down parts of the government and letting vital services lapse is a good idea? I wonder if their constituents would agree with their answer.
