Leader Sampson on Capital Tonight
By Mike Connery on 11/19/2010 @ 10:50 AM
Momentum Swinging Towards Dems in Three Races
By Mike Connery on 11/16/2010 @ 03:50 PM
Two weeks after New Yorkers went to the polls, three State Senate races remain too close to call, and the outcome of those races will determine which party controls the State Senate. Here are the latest updates from the field on these crucial races:- In Nassau County, Senator Craig Johnson has cut into Jack Martin's lead by well over 50%. As of last night, just 211 votes separate Johnson and Martins. Approximately 4,000 absentee and affidavit ballots remain to be counted, and an audit of the voting machines is set to begin on Wednesday. This remains an incredibly competitive race and the momentum is swinging our way.
- In Westchester, Senator Oppenheimer continues to lead her opponent by 504 votes with over 5,000 absentee and emergency ballots yet to be counted. Republicans are artificially slowing down the process, but we're confident that when all the votes are counted, Senator Oppenheimer will retain her seat by a comfortable margin.
- In Buffalo, major problems were reported today in Erie County during a recanvass of voting machines. Memory sticks proved to be unreadable when examined by technicians. We are far from an accurate accounting of votes in Erie County. Additionally, over 4,000 absentee and affidavit ballots remain to be counted. We expect these ballots will break in Senator Thompson's favor.
We're committed to ensuring a full and fair accounting of very vote. But make no mistake, Republicans are going to use every trick in the book to rush the process and prevent an honest account of the votes.
The New York Times reported yesterday that national committees like the NRCC, and independent conservative groups like the anti-choice Susan B. Anthony List are already pouring money into New York to help Republican candidates in these legal battles.
We've responded by mounting the largest election protection effort in the history of the state of New York, and we won't give up until the voices of all New Yorkers are heard. When all the votes are in, Senate Democrats will retain the majority.
Campaign Roundup: Jack Martins' No Good Very Bad Day
By Mike Connery on 09/23/2010 @ 02:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP....Today's installment of campaign-related news. Jack Martins' won't pay his rent and gets thrown off the Tax Revolt line; The Daily News calls on Paladino to return his rents from state agencies; The SRCC goes negative SD-44; and Mary Wilmot speaks out on pensions.
- Jack Martins Hasn't Paid Rent on Campaign HQ: Newsday reports that Craig Johnson opponent Jack Martins has not paid any rent on his campaign headquarters, nor has he declared it as an in-kind contribution - a potential violation of campaign finance rules. What's more, Martins landlord was the recipient of a taxpayer-funded payout last year.
- Martins Ruled Off Tax Revolt Line: Adding to Jack Martins' no good very bad day, the candidate was ruled ineligible for the 3rd Party Tax Revolt ballot line after a judge ruled that he failed to collect the 3,000 minimum valid signatures.
- Negative in the 44th: In the 44th District, where Democrat Susan Savage is challenging Albany in incumbent Hugh Farley, a negative campaign ad by the SRCC fails to hold up under close scrutiny. A fact check provided by the Savage campaign shoots any number of holes in the SRCC hit piece.
- Wilmot: Defined Pension Benefits Unsustainable: Mary Wilmot came out against the state's system of defined pension benefits today, saying "We are promising benefits we can’t afford and workers are forced to stay on too long to collect on that promise."
- Tea Party-Backed Paladino Can Cut Costs NOW by Trimming $5.2M He's Collecting from Taxpayers: The Daily News hits on an inspired idea - Tea Partier Carl Paladino should put his money where his mouth is on state spending - literally - by cutting back on rents he collects from 17 state agencies. We wonder if Paladino buddy Dean Skelos would agree?
Daily Campaign Roundup: Endorsements Continue To Pile Up
By Mike Connery on 07/23/2010 @ 04:46 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Numerous Democrats endorsed by Human Rights Campaign New York. Tony Avella received major union endorsement. Republican incumbent Stephen Saland spends $19,000 on dinner.
- Human Rights Campaign New York endorses Democratic candidates for State Senate - The Human Rights Campaign New York endorsed numerous Democratic challengers and incumbents who are all supporters of marriage equality and whose election will "put New York on a path to fairness and equality for same-sex couples in the state." They endorsed incumbent Senators Brian Foley, Craig Johnson, Tom Duane, and Dave Valesky -- and Democratic candidates Dave Mejias, Tony Avella, and Regina Calcaterra. Not a single Republican was endorsed by the group.
- Democratic Candidate Tony Avella endorsed by major retail union - Tony Avella, running against 38-year Republican incumbent Frank Padavan, was endorsed Thursday by a massive retail union yesterday. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 100,000 workers across the United States and Canada, gave Avella the nod Thursday, calling him “an independent voice for working New Yorkers and taxpayers.” “He’s exactly the kind of reformer we desperately need in Albany right now,” said Stuart Applebaum, the union’s president.
- Republican senator Stephen Saland spends $19,000 on dinner - Showing just how out of touch he really is, Saland attended a $19,000 black-tie dinner for his re-election campaign that was thrown by a politically connected couple in April at their Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, estate. The $19,000 dinner was listed as an in-kind donation to Saland's campaign. That means it was for services rendered for a political function, but not a direct monetary contribution. "There's a lot of trust with the reporting by the campaigns," said Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, a good-government group. "There's very little if any verification."
Daily Campaign Roundup: Savage Stands With Nurses As SRCC Stands With Paladino
By Mike Connery on 07/08/2010 @ 03:46 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Democratic Candidate Susan Savage pickets with nurses demanding a fair contract. SRCC Chair shows desperation, set to appear with Carl Paladino. Sen. Craig Johnson gets support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
- Democratic Candidate Susan Savage stands with nurses in demanding fair contract – Savage, running against 34-year Republican incumbent Hugh Farley, walked a picket line with nurses in her district who are seeking a new contract. The nurses are asking for, and have so far been denied, a combination of fair wages, health care benefits, and nursing ratios.
- SRCC chair Tom Libous teaming up with Carl Paladino – Libous, chair of the SRCC, will appear at a Tea Party event tomorrow with multi-millionaire turncoat Carl Paladino. Libous and Senate Republicans must be desperate to court Paladino, who is still petitioning to get the GOP gubernatorial nomination (despite having been rejected by the party at their nominating convention) and is using his cash to create his own political party in an apparent attempt to siphon support away from the GOP.
- Sen. Craig Johnson gets support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg – Mayor Bloomberg is lending his name to a fundraiser next Monday to support Sen. Johnson. Mayor Bloomberg had pledged to help legislators who lead on issues of great importance to him. Charter schools are such an issue for the Mayor, and Sen. Johnson has been a fierce proponent of charter schools at the state level.
Daily Campaign Roundup: Calcaterra On The Offensive On Education
By Mike Connery on 06/30/2010 @ 04:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Regina Calcaterra slams Ken Lavalle on school funding. Sen. Craig Johnson toughens New York's drug laws.
- Democratic Candidate Regina Calcaterra slams Lavalle’s apathy towards education funding – Calcaterra called her opponent, 34-year Republican incumbent Ken LaValle out of touch for saying that Suffolk County school districts may not feel much pain without hundreds of millions of dollars of restored state school aid funding. "LaValle says most school districts may not feel much pain if this important funding is not restored. Try telling that to the overtaxed, overburdened, out-of-work residents in our neighborhoods and communities from Port Jefferson to Mastic to Montauk,” Calcaterra said. "During the past 20 years alone of Ken LaValle's 34 years in Albany, Suffolk County property taxes have risen by more than 550 percent. That's too much pain already.”
- Sen. Craig Johnson’s legislation toughens drug laws – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Johnson which toughens existing laws to make it so a person who sells a controlled substance that causes a death would be charged with manslaughter passed the Senate yesterday. “A gravely serious heroin epidemic is gripping Long Island's youth and those who sell death to our children must be held accountable. This legislation will give prosecutors one more tool to protect our communities and safeguard our future,” Sen. Johnson said.
Democrats Help New Yorkers While GOP Helps Themselves
By Mike Connery on 06/28/2010 @ 11:45 AM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Regina Calcaterra fights for higher quality and lower tuition at SUNY schools. Tony Avella stands with Queens residents in protesting MTA service cuts. Democrat Edward O'Shea to run against Republican incumbent Michael Nozzolio. Steve Levy and Senate GOP still desperately plotting. Sens. Aubertine and Johnson passing comprehensive legislation that will help New Yorkers across the state.
- Democratic Candidate Regina Calcaterra assails opponent’s support of SUNY tuition hikes while fighting reform – Calcaterra criticized her opponent, 34-year Republican incumbent Ken LaValle, for fighting much-needed reforms throughout SUNY while being on record as supporting regular tuition hikes for students and their parents. "Before students and their parents have to pay one more additional dollar in tuition at SUNY, we need to institute major accounting and oversight reform throughout the entire state university system," she said. "Ken LaValle has it exactly backwards. He's fighting reforms even though he's previously said publicly he'd be OK if SUNY increased tuition on a regular basis."
- Democratic Candidate Tony Avella stands with Queens residents in protesting MTA service cuts – Avella is standing with the residents in Queens who are irate over the recent MTA service adjustments that severely effect the country’s service. One of the most controversial changes was with the Q15A, a new alternate route of the Q15 bus meant to pick up riders stranded by the elimination of the Q14. The route has now routed down a residential stretch of 10th Ave. that residents say is too narrow. Avella stood with dozens of Queens residents yesterday in front of one of the Q15A buses in a show of solidarity and support.
- Edward O’Shea to challenge 18-year Republican incumbent Michael Nozzolio in SD-54- O’Shea, the vice chairman of the Wayne County Democratic Committee, announced he is running against Nozzolio - only the third person to do so in the past 18 years. O'Shea is an English professor at the State University of New York at Oswego. "When our main government agency, our legislative body, is not working for us, that's a major problem," he said. "Senator Nozzolio has been in office for 18 years, and if he were a reform-minded person, he would've done something about this already."
- Steve Levy continues desperate political maneuvers, teams up with Senate GOP – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who left the Democratic party in a failed effort to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination, is now looking to remain politically relevant by working with incumbent GOP lawmakers, Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight reports. As she writes: “The point here really isn’t what the party-switching county executive is calling for, but rather that he’s continuing to stand with the Republicans even after their county leaders rejected his effort to run on their line for governor.” Levy’s presence continues to be a potentially divisive issue for Republicans as he has not yet endorsed GOP candidate Rick Lazio, nor has he ruled out running on a third party line.
- Sen. Craig Johnson passes legislation that will improve quality of life for seniors, upgrade New York’s infrastructure- Sen. Johnson was successful in pushing two integral legislative packages through the Senate last week. Sen. Johnson passed a comprehensive legislative package that will expand and increase access to services for seniors on Long Island and across New York. “After a lifetime of hard work and providing for their families, our seniors deserve fundamental protections and services in order to continue to lead healthy and active lives,” he said. “My legislation would expand the opportunity for seniors to get the tax relief for which they are entitled. While more needs to be done, this package will help more seniors stay in their homes and in their communities.”
Sen. Johnson was also responsible for the passage of a comprehensive strategy to build safer roads and highways which will cut costs for municipalities and improve the quality of life for residents throughout the state. “This is a blueprint that will help Long Island and the rest of New York State plan better and plan smarter,” he said said. “I am proud of this legislative package, which will help make Long Island more pedestrian friendly, less congested and more environmentally sustainable.” - Sen, Darrell Aubertine fights to restore crucial agriculture funding and pushes local trade benefits for district – Sen. Aubertine continued to fight for the additional funding and support of local businesses in his district last week. Aubertine first made sure that the most recent budget moved around limited revenue for agriculture programs to better target essential programs, while also restoring key funding the governor’s budget would have omitted. “This budget agreement restores more than $2.5 million in local funding for agriculture and reprioritizes funding to help our state’s number one industry,” Sen. Aubertine said.
Also, a bill sponsored by Sen. Aubertine that would extend Foreign Trade Zone benefits from Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority's industrial park and port to businesses throughout St. Lawrence County passed the Senate last week. This was a step officials said would be required to argue for the change to the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board, who makes the final decision. "We need to give our communities the ability to create and sustain jobs, and this legislation is part of a larger effort to grow the economy of St. Lawrence County," he said. - Sen. Brian Foley hosts forum to educate school administrators about addressing bullying – Sen. Foley hosted a forum for school administrators his school district to inform them on how to best address the issue of bullying within their schools. "Bullying is something that cannot be tolerated among our students, whether it occurs within the four walls of the school or within the limitless walls of the internet after school hours," said Foley. "The goal of today's event is to give school administrators the most up-to-date information about the known dangers and effects of bullying, the legal aspects of it and how administrators can best work with parents to address concerns.”
Daily Campaign Roundup: Democrats On Top Of Ethics Reform
By Mike Connery on 06/24/2010 @ 02:45 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Sen. Craig Johnson and Regina Calcaterra commit to comprehensive ethics reform. Sens. Valesky and Stewart-Cousins helping New York's citizens and businesses. GOP-linked BP to be sued by State of New York
- Sen. Craig Johnson and Democratic Candidates Regina Calcaterra and Didi Barrett sign New York Uprising pledge - Sen. Johnson, Calcaterra, and Barrett signed the New York Uprising pledge yesterday, committing to bring reform to Albany. Sen. Johnson said "If sunshine is the best disinfectant, then these common sense proposals are the solar flare that is needed to truly reform Albany." Calcaterra added: "State government is a mess created by decades of bad decisions... These pledges represent an honest step toward improving New York's government, and I proudly sign my name to them." Barrett explained: “Albany is in desperate need for reform. The Brennan Center for Justice describes New York State government as one of the most dysfunctional in the nation. I decided to become a candidate because I have the skills and determination to change the way things are done, or not done, in Albany.”
- Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins pushes Small Business Energy Assistance & Advocacy Services Program through Senate - Legislation to reduce energy costs on small businesses, sponsored by Senator Stewart-Cousins, passed in the Senate yesterday. The bill is part of a legislative package that will significantly reduce the costs of energy for homeowners and businesses, putting money back into the pockets of families and making businesses more competitive.
- Senate Passes Sen. David Valesky's legislation that creates system to locate missing vulnerable adults - Legislation sponsored by Senator Valesky that will create a “Gold Alert” adult alert system for vulnerable and elderly New Yorkers passed the Senate yesterday. “Too many lives have been lost as a result of adults with cognitive impairment wandering from home,” Senator Valesky said. “The Gold Alert puts their safety, and the peace of mind of their families, at the forefront.”
- BP getting sued by New York State over pension funds - State Controller Thomas DiNapoli announced that he is suing BP on behalf of the state pension fund. In a statement, DiNapoli accused BP of misleading investors about its safety procedures and its ability to respond to events like the ongoing oil spill. "We're going to hold it accountable. It's my duty to protect the interests of the fund and the retirees and employees who rely on it," DiNapoli said. This is more bad news for the Senate GOP, whose extensive ties with GP we already exposed
Craig Johnson Announces Taxpayer Abuse Assessment Legislation
By Mike Connery on 04/13/2010 @ 07:07 PM
Craig Johnson announced new legislation today that would end one of the more glaring misappropriations of tax payer dollars. As it currently stands, the state and municipalities are paying millions of dollars in pensions to former employees who used their positions to embezzle money.
The proviso in New York’s public pension system that ensures even convicted embezzlers can continue to collect retirement benefits has long been a sore point with a lot of people, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Long Island community of Roslyn where the former school superintendent Frank Tassone fleeced taxpayers for more than $2 million and was sent to prison in 2006.
Now, a pair of Long Island Democrats, Sen. Craig Johnson and Assemblyman Charles Lavine, are offering a measure that could end this benefit — not by changing constitutionally protected pension laws — but by calling for an assessment or tax on the pensions of criminals who abused public monies. The “taxpayer abuse assessment” would be equal to the annual pension of the person in question.
At a time when the state and local municipalities are pinching pennies to get by, we can't afford to subsidize the retirements of criminals who stole from taxpayers.
Here's Johnson discussing the legislation:
Dirty Tricks From Senate Republicans
By Mike Connery on 04/06/2010 @ 11:01 AM
Republicans were just caught red-handed lying to Nassau residents in Craig Johnson's district.
Constituents in Johnson's Nassau County district reported receiving an email around midnight on the first night of Passover last week from "nysobserver@gmail.com" with the subject line: "Property Taxpayers Alert!"
The email purported to highlight "Albany's property tax double-cross," in which the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Johnson that "allows school districts to increase school district spending and property taxes against the will of local voters."
...
The email not originate from everyone's favorite salmon pink weekly, as it turns out.
The "opt-out" link at the bottom of the missive reveals it came from none other than the NYSSRCC. (For the uninitiated, that's short for "New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee).
Craig Johnson's spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, has it right:
"The Albany Republicans and their stooges know that they have no credibility with the residents of the 7th Senate District, so it's no surprise that they tried to hide their identity," said Johnson spokesman Rich Azzopardi.
"Fortunately, they couldn't mask their hypocrisy and classlessness, no matter how deep they try to hide in the shadows of the Internet."
It's no wonder Republicans would try to hide behind a dirty trick to hit Democrats on taxes. The Republican record on taxes is abysmal and nowhere is that more apparent than in Nassau County.
Between 1985-2009 property taxes rose by 320% in Nassau County. According to the Tax Foundation, Nassau has the 3rd highest property taxes in the nation, with a median property tax bill of $8,306. Voters won't soon forget that record, no matter how hard Republicans try to lie or hide from their history.
