| Capitol Confidential is reporting that State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and his caucus are pulling out of deal to raise their pay along with that of state judges.
Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith intends to announce today that Democratic senators are pulling out of the legislative and judical pay raise bill they signed onto last week with all the Republicans.
The bill was introduced mid-week last week even though it was clear by then that Smith's Democratic allies, Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Lt. Gov. David Paterson, were fighting with the GOP senators over campaign finance reform.
Smith's troops' withdrawal is a result of the lack of progress in a campaign finance reform agreement, Smith's aides say.
Though I think that the judges have a legitimate case and they really should be getting a raise, the Legislature has got some work to do first. As we have said since we NYBri and I launched this site, we aren't opposed to the idea of a raise for lawmakers, but they should have to EARN it.
UPDATE: Newsday quotes Smith's statement:
Smith said he no longer will support the Senate Republicans' measure because the slim GOP majority hasn't agreed to campaign finance reform.
"As a result, the members of the minority conference will remove their names as sponsors of Sen. Bruno's pay raise bill," Smith said in a prepared statement. "Moreover, we will oppose this bill absent an agreement by the majority to embrace meaningful campaign finance reform."
Well done, Mr. Smith. |
