NARAL-NY Endorses Didi Barrett
By Mike Connery on 05/14/2010 @ 10:10 AM
NARAL-NY announced yesterday that they will endorse Didi Barrett, our candidate in the 41st Senate District.
Didi is facing a tough battle against a 20 year incumbent, and it's going to take a significant investment of grassroots energy and financial support to win in November. If you'd like to join NARAL in their support of Didi's campaign, sign up to volunteer, or make a contribution today. As EMILY's List is known to say - early money is like yeast, it makes the dough rise. Every bit you give now will pay a higher return on investment in November.
NARAL Pro-Choice New York Endorses DIDI BARRETT for NY State Senate Millbrook, NY – May 13, 2010 – NARAL Pro-Choice New York announced today that it is endorsing Didi Barrett for New York State Senate. Barrett is running in the 41st senate district, which encompasses most of Dutchess and all of Columbia counties.
NARAL Pro-Choice New York is a political and advocacy reproductive rights organization that works at the state and local level to protect and advance access to the full range of reproductive health care to help men, women and teens stay healthy and safe.
“Didi is a 100% pro-choice candidate running to unseat anti-choice incumbent Senator Stephen Saland (R). Didi has served on the boards of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice New York. She has a fresh perspective and believes in the progressive values that the majority of New Yorkers share. Her election to the State Senate will bring a needed change to a district that, for far too long, has been represented by someone who does not share his constituents’ values when it comes to protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare,” said Kelli Conlin, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York.
“I am honored to receive NARAL Pro-Choice New York’s endorsement. As I have for decades, I will continue to fight to protect every New Yorker’s right to reproductive health care that suits their individual needs,” said Barrett.
Barrett has been a leader in the not-for-profit community for more than two decades, focusing her energy on issues relating to women and girls. She was a board member of the Women’s Campaign Forum and the New York Women’s Foundation. Barrett was the founder of Girls Inc of New York and currently is the driving force behind the new Dutchess Girls Collaborative, which is bringing together service providers in the county.
“NARAL Pro-Choice New York is committed to supporting Didi Barrett. We will leverage our resources and our strong network of pro-choice New Yorkers to help ensure her success,” added Conlin.
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Quick Hits from the Campaign Trail: Another Repub Bites the Dust, Ritchie's Resume
By Mike Connery on 04/30/2010 @ 01:16 PM
The latest news from our conference, candidates, and campaigns.
- The Democratic Rural Conference kicks-off today.
- Dale Volker is retiring. Another Republican bites the dust.
- The Buffalo News likes some of the Democrat's Sunshine reforms.
- José Peralta is demanding that all GOP Gubernatorial candidates declare that they will never impose Arizona-style immigration laws on New York.
- Joe Addabbo is promoting green savings to local businesses and community leaders.
- Is this Patty Ritchie's resume? If so, would you vote for her?
- Eric Adams is promoting veteran friendly campuses.
- Didi Barrett continues to blog at The Albany Project.
- Finally, Greg Ball has . . . well, you know.
Democrats Pass Earth Day Environment 2010 Agenda
By Mike Connery on 04/22/2010 @ 01:01 PM
Yesterday, the Senate Democrats passed a package of reforms that will protect our environment and the health of our children. The reforms, sponsored by Senate Dems Daniel Squadron, Antoine Thompson, Liz Kreuger, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Brian Foley, included:
- S3593 / Krueger: Institutes a rechargeable battery producer and retailer sponsored take back program at no costs to consumers.
Two Republicans voted No on the bill: Betty Little and John Flanagan. - S6141B / Squadron: Requires Auto Dealerships to post a Gallons Per Mile Fuel Savings Guide within the dealership that presents information developed by the DEC.
26 Republicans voted No on the bill: Alesi, Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Flanagan, Fuschillo, Golden, Griffo, Hannon, Owen Johnson, Larkin, Leibell, Libous, Little, Marcellino, Maziarz, McDonald, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Robach, Saland, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Winner, and Young. - S6047A / Thompson: Establishes a comprehensive State-wide electronic equipment reuse and recycling program.
- S4983C / Foley: Limits pesticide exposures for school and daycare aged children by prohibiting certain outdoor, non-essential applications on playgrounds, turf, and athletic or playing fields.
22 Republicans voted No on the bill: Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Golden, Griffo, Hannon, Owen Johnson, Lanza, Larkin, Leibell, Libous, Little, Marcellino, Maziarz, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Saland, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Winner, and Young. - S3296-G / Thompson: Prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of child care products such as pacifiers, bottles and sippy cups that contain Bisphenol.
- S5119 / Stewart-Cousins: Reduces the State’s waste by prohibiting the purchase and use of non-recyclable paper/mailing products.
21 Republicans voted No on the bill: Alesi, Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Flanagan, Golden, Griffo, Owen Johnson, Larkin, Libous, Little, Maziarz, McDonald, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Saland, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Winner and Young.
Watch a video of the Democrats' press conference on the passage of this legislation package:
Quick Hits from the Trail: Tea Bagger Showdown in SD-40
By Mike Connery on 04/21/2010 @ 02:26 PM
A few quick hits from the campaign trail.
- Tea bag candidate Greg Ball picked up a primary challenger in his bid to replace Vincent Leibell in the 40th Senate District. Somers Town Supervisory Mary Beth Murphy announced that she will challenge Ball for the seat. This should be fun to watch.
- Across the aisle, Democrat Mike Kaplowitz announced his intention to run for the seat. You can read his announcement address on his site. Read press coverage of the announcement on LoHud and Mid Hudson News.
- Finally, don't forget that Didi Barrett will be guest-blogging live on The Albany Project tonight at 7pm.
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?
Quick Hits from the Campaign Trail
By Mike Connery on 04/19/2010 @ 10:31 AM
- The Columbia Spectator reports that Sen. Bill Perkins launched his reelection campaign over the weekend in SD-30.
- Didi Barrett recapped the first week and a half of her campaign to unseat Steve Saland, and announced that she will be guest-blogging on The Albany Project on Wednesday evening.
- And on the other side of the aisle, Senator Vincent Leibell announced his candidacy for Putnam County Executive, leaving an open race in SD-40 with County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz expected to take on Tea Party candidate Greg Ball.
Steve Saland Has a Challenge in Didi Barrett
By Mike Connery on 04/07/2010 @ 02:26 PM
Earlier today, Didi Barrett announced that she will challenge 19 year incumbent Steve Saland in the 41st Senate District. If you're not following her campaign already, you can find her website here, friend her on Facebook, and donate to the campaign via Act Blue.
This is great news Columbia and Dutchess County residents. Saland's tenure has been a nightmare of bloated budgets and crushing tax increases. In his 19 years in office, Saland:
- Indulged in out of control spending for over a decade. Between 1996 and 2008, the state budget doubled from $62 billion to $121 billion.
- Drove New York’s finances to the brink when he supported $25 billion in risky fiscal gimmicks like sweeps and “one-shots.”
- Voted for 378 tax and fee increases or extensions since gaining office, taking almost $18 billion out of the pocket books of hard working New Yorkers.
- Helped to create the heaviest state and local tax burden in the nation.
Columbia and Dutchess County voters need a change. Here's what Didi Barrett had to say during her announcement:
Too many people have lost faith in our State Government. This is not the New York -- the Empire State -- we all thought we knew.
Until we fundamentally change the way business is done in Albany we will not be able to turn our economy around. We cannot truly help Main Street until we fix State Street.
We need a hands-on jobs program -- and the training and incentives to insure that these jobs go to locla residents. It's time to employ the old carrot and stick approach: Incentives to attract and expand local business, as well as accountability that good jobs will be created right here when taxpayer funds are involved. Companies that outsource jobs overseas should lose their tax breaks. It's just that simple.
There are real opportunities for sustainable growth in renewable energy, the agriculture economy, and cultural tourism that protect our environment and tap into the best of our region's assets.
I spoke with young farmers, who literally want to put down roots, cultivate our prime soils and feed our region and its growing appetite for locally grown products. But unless they inherit a farm, they cannot afford to buy land here. We need to support and encourage these young entrepreneurs.
We need to address runaway property taxes not by short-term band-aids, but by creating a tax structure that is fair to seniors and working families and welcoming to the small businesses that are the engine of our economy.
We need a sustainable way of funding education. This is not just about us; this is about our children. We are letting them down. Our system is simply outdated and we need leadership that will start making the tough choices to fix it.
These are not easy tasks. I know that. But I believe we are at a moment in time -- our moment in time. We have a great opportunity to rebuild a broken Albany and live up to our name as the Empire State. We are ready for a New York state government that works for us, the people, not the politicians.
I am running for the New York State Senate to bring your voices to Albany. We are going to run a grassroots campaign. We are going to show a way to move this state forward. We are going to bring change to Albany and bring jobs to New York. I hope you'll come along with us.
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