Maziarz Hits Spitzer On Elimination of Gas Sales Tax Cap; Passes Online Petition

Reynolds and Maziarz. In sync or at odds? (0.00 / 0)

Posted Niagarademocrats.com

Much has been discussed and rumored about the WNY's GOP duo. Plotters have speculated that they are looking to make moves to secured their congressional and state senate seats.

However, sources in media circles speculate that George and Tom are not that close. They are cut from the same cloth and their personal ambitions conflict. Tom wants to retain his congressional seat and George wants to gain one. This is the source of the friction. George refuses to run against Louise Slaughter fearing a butt kicking.

These media sources indicate that Maziarz is planting all the stories in the media about Tom's departure in order to increase pressure on his departure and negatively impact Tom's ability to raise money.

Moreover,  a source in the legal community close to Maziarz indicates that the NYS senator is willing to ride out Tom's suspected downfall.  This prompts further speculation that George is willing to sit on his hands to help along Tom's downfall assuring himself a cleaner shot at congress two years from now when redistricting might help him.

This scenario may be true. Bruno will not allow Maziarz to leave this year because they are in peril of losing the senate.

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by: CDLP @ Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 11:56:22 AM UTC

Did George pull a fast one? (0.00 / 0)

Posted
Niagarademocrats.com

Recently, George "Boss Tweed" Maziarz became the chairman of the State Senate Energy Committee. You know the legislative committee that oversees companies like AES and the patronage mill known as the NYS Power Authority. Some people view this committee chairmanship as a political plum.

It has been conveyed that it is customary for chairman who takes over a committee not to serve on his former committee. Which for "Boss Tweed" is the labor committee. This committee assignment has allowed him to curry favor with organized labor, traditional Democratic allies, and strengthen his stranglehold on Niagara.   In Maziarz's published press release it indicates that he will stay on the labor committee as a member and take over energy. Was this an inducement by the beleaguered majority leader, Joe Bruno, to keep Maziarz in the state senate this year?

It is no secret that Maziarz covets Tom Reynolds's congressional seat. Sources in the local media have indicated the Maziarz has actively attempted to plant stories of Reynolds's departure for his own ends. All this begs the question, was Maziarz playing this game to gain concessions from Joe Bruno? Is possible that "Boss Tweed" was playing not only Reynolds but also Uncle Joe?

If so, this would allow Maziarz to further network with the deep pockets of the energy and telecom industries. Who would, not doubt, help finance a future congressional run for Maziarz if Reynolds lost this time out. All this just reinforces and earlier post that this time out Maziarz will sit on his hands and let Tom Reynolds go down in flames.

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by: CDLP @ Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 11:59:39 AM UTC

51st Disctrict Senator James Seward has a petition also (0.00 / 0)

Republican James Seward 22 year veteran senator serving the 51st district has also came out against Gov Spitzers Gasoline Tax and has a petition online.

Im not going to post the content, but here is the data from his website:
http://www.senatorjimseward.co...

Living in the 51st district, I drive over some serious terrain 60 miles to get to work, and then another 60 miles back home. Ive also spent a significant amount of time living in NYC, on a motorcycle and using public transportation. These are some of my thoughts:

We need to raise the gas taxes high enough to spur actual innovation in alternative energy and transport. Maybe some of those tax dollars will come back to the district by the ways of infrastructure. Maybe this is my pipe dream, but Im hopeful, that Chenango County will progress.

While Im one of the fortunate that can afford this additional tax, there are many people in this uber depressed area that cannot, but I am hopefuly they will adjust.

The majority of people here live at or below the poverty line. More than likely they have bad or no credit, which automatically inflates the cost and limits the availability to auto insurance. People here must rely on subsidies to pay for their heating to the benefit of energy companies, will a subsidy be put out there to the ultimate benefit of the insurance companies? Surely, the insurance companies wouldnt want to handle this transaction increase without getting their piece.

Further what would the impact on our legal system be when people start driving without insurance because they simply cannot afford it? Who is left holding the bag when someone hits your car and doesnt have the required insurance? Are these offenders doing this out of malice?

The people will always be taxed, and while this is important, we and our elected officials need to ensure that these tax increases are not going directly into the coffers of the massive corporations that seem to ultimately benefit.

Credit Based Insurance Scores Report
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oG...

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by: chenangofreethinker @ Sun Mar 09, 2008 at 18:02:12 PM UTC

In SD 51, Don Barber is making energy a key campaign issue (0.00 / 0)

Chenangofreethinker, if you have not yet hooked up with the Don Barber campaign in the Northern part of Chenango, you should.  He has done a lot of work on energy issues as a Town Supervisor, and is making energy a central campaign issue.  Contact them at: www.barberforsenate.com  

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by: robinia @ Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 00:14:49 AM UTC

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