NYS Senate Incumbents turn to Lobbyists for Cash

You're not seriously (4.00 / 3)

putting Squadron, Savino, Krueger and Duane in a line-up with the rest of the rogues gallery, are you?

I love broad brushes as much as the next guy, but there are some babies in that bathwater.

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by: Michael Bouldin @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 15:18:28 PM UTC

Let the voters pick and choose (4.00 / 1)

Best way to change the Senate is to change the Senators. If there are those who are seriously dedicated to reform, then let them speak loud and clear...but I haven't heard much about reform, except a lame ethics bill with no teeth. No redistricting reform...no campaign finance reform...crickets, mainly.

With that in mind, I agree that some are better than others, and the former majority should assume the brunt of the blame for putting this mess in place and supporting the likes of Joe Bruno...along with ruining the upstate economy while doing it...but let me remind you...

At some point this summer, each and every Senator voted to have Pedro Espada elevated to either President of the Senate or Senate Majority Leader. Every. Single. One. No exceptions. All of them.

Now, the Dems will argue that they voted to allow Malcolm Smith to appoint whoever he wanted to be Senate Majority Leader as a way to avoid making the actual vote, but everyone knew what the results of the vote would be...Majority Leader Pedro Espada. It was part of the "Deal."

Why did they all do it? Because keeping or gaining the majority was more important than anything else. And that's the problem.

Babies and bathwater? I guess...but where do you draw the line? Again, let's let the voters ask the tough questions about real reform and let them decide who is serious and who is playing games.

We've got some work ahead of us.

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by: NYBri @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 16:00:03 PM UTC

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Oh, I agree. (4.00 / 1)

Maybe I'm trying to find the pearls amid the swine, to mix metaphors.

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by: Michael Bouldin @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 16:58:28 PM UTC

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Well, I'd still vote for my Assemblywoman (0.00 / 0)

Lifton isn't perfect but she was crucial in getting verified voting laws passed (among other things).

The Senate?  Maybe some of the Democrats are OK -- Squadron at least has a bit of a good rep -- but around here we've been gerrymandered out.  Seward is basically senile, Nozzolio is well-meaning but very very stupid, and Winner is one of the most evil monsters in the State Senate.

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by: neroden @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 00:43:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

OK (0.00 / 0)

But, some of us voters want to hold on to the idea that there might be an experienced Senator or three that should be returned to office, to provide at least somebody who knows where the light switches are and how to get an idea to bill drafting...

Anyway, thinking every one of them is an insincere crook is, ya know, demoralizing and depressing.

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by: robinia @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 17:25:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I would imagine that there will be a few like that... (4.00 / 1)

...we will endorse good challengers where they can be found...but the most important piece is that whoever is elected...incumbent or challenger...should walk the reform walk and not just do the talking.

And, again, let me remind you of their votes this past summer...not a single exception. Not. A. One.

We've got some work ahead of us.

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by: NYBri @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 17:45:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yup. (4.00 / 1)

And, it retrospect, Paterson vetoing the weak ethics bill he was sent because it "wasn't strong enough" sure looks like a bad case of grandstand hypocrisy.... hard to know when to believe who when it is just speechifying.

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by: robinia @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 18:44:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Taking Lobbyist money wrong on the part of NYS elected officials (0.00 / 0)

The state cannot tax its way to prosperity. People prefer a government that looks towards their benefit. Officials elected or looking to be elected in New York must present ways to promote economic health of the state. In the same way a family works together in the time of economic hardship, the state must do more with less. Innovation, not taxation should be public policy number one.

The Service Employees Internal Union (SEIU) 1199 has channeled millions of dollars into a campaign for a new sugared beverage tax on New Yorkers. That is what created this Alliance for a Healthier New York, but SEIU should take care of involving itself in politics. Back in 2003, the SEIU chastised AFL-CIO for being overly involved in the elections. Now in 2010, it is hypocritical that they should be involved in a campaign to burden New Yorkers with a new tax.

The SEIU should be asked to stop their interference in the budget of New York. Elected officials shouldn't listen to the siren's call of this lobbyist's cash.  The taxation of the general public is not and should not be the purview of a labor union. The SEIU 1199 doesn't pay these taxes, New Yorkers do.

Pennies add up to the difference between scraping by and down-right poverty. Economic health is physical health. Stress, especially long-term stress like financial hardship, induces obesity, heart disease and a host of other body aliments. SEIU and their supporters would do well to remember that in their speeches about wanting to improve the health of New Yorkers.

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by: JAVSnyc @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 15:38:42 PM UTC

As far as the sugar tax is concerned... (4.00 / 1)

...there's one way to avoid that tax...don't buy the soda drinks.

Seems pretty simple to me. You want the sugar fix badly enough for yourself and your kids so you both add empty calories and raise the chance of diabetes, then pay the price. As it stand now, you get sick, we all end up paying for it with with higher medicare and mediaid taxes or higher insurance premiums.

Personally, I can do without 10 Cokes a day.


We've got some work ahead of us.

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by: NYBri @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 16:08:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I can't (0.00 / 0)

But that's why I drink diet soda (which needs a loophole). Anyhoo, we fought this fight last week. Seems silly to do it again.

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by: Amherst Guy @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 19:54:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

...and I fully admit that the previous comment... (0.00 / 0)

...doesn't address your larger point, which is taken.

We've got some work ahead of us.

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by: NYBri @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 16:10:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So, do you work for Coke or Pepsi? (0.00 / 0)

Or you are just THE biggest fan of sugary drinks? You posted this same response under the above post "Gathering Storm".


Tax the Church.

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by: furiousdee @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 17:36:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]