Tom Libous Defends his Pal(adino)
By Mike Connery on 07/12/2010 @ 04:28 PM
Jon Campbell writes today for Gannett about SRCC chair Tom Libous’ appearance over the weekend with Tea Party-backed gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino in Broome County.
In the article, Libous takes offense with our depiction of him as a cash-starved deal-maker willing to break with his own party for dirty campaign funds. He tells Campbell that his appearance at the event was simply motivated by his shared beliefs with Paladino:
"They're criticizing me for being joined by a gentleman that wants to cut taxes, reduce spending and create jobs in New York state," Libous said. "Is there a problem with that?"
Leaving aside the fact that Carl Paladino is no gentleman, we sure do have a problem with this statement. A brief look at Libous' record of fiscal mismanagement reveals a career completely at odds with the values he claims to hold.
According to the legislative tracking system StateWatch, Libous has voted “yes” for over 500 separate tax and fee increases since 1990. What did that cost to New York state taxpayers? $29.2 billion.
And under the less than watchful eye of Tom Libous, the former Republican Majority amassed massive state debt to fund their special interest projects. How much debt? Between 1997 and 2008 the state’s debt grew a whopping 57 percent.
Fiscal conservative, Libous is not. So why would Paladino want to associate with a tax-and-borrow Republican like Libous? And why is Tom Libous up in Broome County meeting with disgraced candidate Carl Paladino?
Political opportunism - plain and simple.
After failing to secure the Republican line, and having his bigotry publicly exposed, Paladino is grasping at straws to remain credible. Meanwhile, Libous knows his SRCC is in trouble. Without the special interest funds that once flowed freely to the SRCC, Libous is willing to cozy up to anyone with deep pockets - no matter how odious their personal politics (remember he also met with turncoat Steve Levy to discuss using $4 million of Levy's funds).
In a bid for Paladino's cash, Libous is willing to give lip service to the Tea Party line on taxes and spending. His record tells us something different though.
Daily Campaign Roundup: Calcattera, Democrats Fighting For Long Island
By Mike Connery on 07/09/2010 @ 03:46 PM
TODAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news. Long Island to be battleground in November elections. Democratic Candidate Regina Calcaterra praised by local media. Press questions SRCC chair Tom Libous' ties to Steve Levy and Carl Paladino.
- Long Island a fertile battleground for Democrats this November – Newsday profiled this year’s Senate races yesterday and identified various races across Long Island as being competitive for Democrats this year. Mentioned as the most vulnerable Republicans were 34-year incumbent Ken LaValle, who is being challenged by Regina Calcaterra, and 21-year incumbent Kemp Hannon, who is being challenged by Dave Mejias.
- Democratic Candidate Regina Calcaterra praised by local press – T.J. Clemente, the most recent reporter to profile Calcaterra in her race against 34-year incumbent Ken LaValle, lauded her as a “young gifted fighter with energy and ideals.” He also added: “There are forces at work when she speaks. Every word about this election seems to bring up a passion seen only in individuals with a singularity of purpose.”
- The New York Observer also questions SRCC chair Tom Libous’ ties to political turncoats– We weren’t the only ones to bash SRCC chair Libous’ ties to Steve Levy and Carl Paladino. The New York Observer also found it puzzling, calling it “somewhat odd that Libous would appear alongside Paladino, since Rick Lazio is now the GOP's gubernatorial designee, and Paladino is threatening to run on a third party line.”
How Low Will Tom Libous Go?
By Mike Connery on 07/09/2010 @ 11:28 AM
Tom Libous, chair of the cash-starved, shoe-string SRCC, continues to make strange political bedfellows. Just a few weeks ago, he was making deals with Democrat-turned-Republican gubernatorial hopeful Steve Levy. Today, Libous will appear at a Tea Party event with none other than multi-millionaire turncoat Carl Paladino.
All of this leads us to wonder - how low is Tom Libous willing to go in his desperate bid for more campaign cash?
Carl Paladino's campaign crashed and burned when his proclivity for racist, sexist email forwards was revealed. Now he is attempting to keep his candidacy alive by throwing his millions into petitioning efforts across the state. He's even exploring the possibility of using his cash to create a new ballot line -- creatively dubbed the "Taxed Enough Already" (T.E.A.) Party.
Already politically toxic for bigoted, anti-immigrant statements made during his tenure as Suffolk County Executive, Steve Levy also refuses to give up his failed bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, and may pursue a third party run. What's more, he is now embroiled in a fresh scandal involving improper contracts granted to his wife's business.
As these two - bigots and turncoats both - tear apart the Republican Party for their own ambition, what, exactly do Libous and the Senate Republicans stand to gain by lending their support? How much of Levy's war chest will make its way into SRCC coffers? And how deep will Paladino go into his personal piggy bank to help out the sputtering SRCC?
Tom Libous is sinking to new lows by lending his support to Levy and Paladino. When the campaign finance filings are revealed on Wednesday, we'll see if the SRCC's support of these turncoats is worth the price tag.
GOP Politics Makes For Strange Bedfellows
By Mike Connery on 06/28/2010 @ 04:25 PM
The pathetically desperate Albany-style relationship between Steve Levy and the Senate GOP has continued to fester.
A few weeks ago, Capitol Confidential reporter Jimmy Vielkind revealed that Tom Libous and Levy were conducting a backroom deal to salvage their sinking political fortunes.
Now, Liz Benjamin of The Capitol Report details how Levy is working closely with additional Senate Republicans – chief among them 34-year incumbent Ken LaValle– to promote what Levy describes as “economic development.”
Levy, a turncoat Democrat and practitioner of the politics of bigotry, is desperate to revive his political career after a disastrous attempt to capture the GOP gubernatorial nomination. His only asset is $4 million leftover from his failed bid.
Libous, chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, finds himself the head of a cash-starved organization that is a shadow of its former self. The Capitol reported earlier this year that the SRCC had just under $1 million on hand at the end of January. That was less than a fifth of what it had on hand at the same point in the 2008 cycle when the GOP lost 3 seats.
LaValle, who has been in the Senate since 1976, finds himself in a battle for his political life out on Long Island. He is facing a serious challenge from formidable Democrat challenger Regina Calcaterra, a proponent of government reform and fiscal responsibility who has successfully represented the pension funds of police, firefighters, and teachers, and strengthened the enforcement of labor laws, as a corporate fraud lawyer.
With no party to call home, it is clear that Levy wants to buy his way into the good graces of a GOP that already rejected him on the merits. The desperate GOP, meanwhile, is willing to look the other way at Levy’s hate-mongering, ideological flip-flops, and even their own conference’s rejection of Levy in order to inject some life into a Senate GOP that looks DOA.
Benjamin summed it up best: “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 has refused to endorse GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio. Levy has also refused to rule out a third party bid for governor. Despite this, Senate Republicans –from the top of the SRCC leadership in Albany down to the endangered 34-year incumbent on Long Island – look the other way in a desperate bid to grab whatever cash they can get a hold of.
Maybe one day the Senate GOP will define “economic development” in jobs and growth for New Yorkers, and stop measuring it in the amount of dirty campaign cash they can convince Steve Levy to shower them with.
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.”
