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This belongs to you. Take it back...
Albany 
Sat Mar 12, 2011 at 17:37:24 PM EST
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Another day, another Albany bribery scandal - but the real crime is what's perfectly legal. What are the prospects now for public financing of state legislative campaigns?
Please join New Kings Democrats and Citizen Action of New York for a panel discussion with special guests from the Brennan Center and Common Cause.
Wednesday, March 16th - 6:30 PM
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
53 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215
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Thu Dec 30, 2010 at 19:25:02 PM EST
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Hey TAPers- it's that time of year again. Last year, you chose Pedro Espada as the biggest Albany embarrassment. Thankfully, he lost his re-election bid and is now likely to serve several years in jail. So who you pick for this certaily can have consequences!
As usual, only pols in the state government are included, so that is why the likes of Lee Zeldin or Charlie Rangel aren't included. This year the nominees are:
Carl Paladino for being a racist, tea-party freakjob who brought political discourse in our state to new lows. The fact that he even captured the Republican nomination shows how far the NY GOP has devolved into the fringe. Luckily voters realized how dangerous he is and his 15 minutes of fame is now over.
David Paterson for intimidating a domestic violence victim from testifying against her alleged abuser, his aide DavidJohnson. Paterson also lied about accepting Yankees World Series tickets as an illegal campaign contribution and was fined over $60,000 for doing so. His actions in governing weren't much better. He also vetoed a Hydrofracking moratorium and pardoned a man, John White, who had been convicted of commiting a hate crime murder. All in all, I can't remember a politician so far in over his head in such a powerful position since W. Bush.
Rick Lazio for basing his entire campaign for governor on the hatred of Muslims. His pathetic demagoguery has no place in the 21 century, or the 20th for that matter. Bigots are losers and luckily, Lazio reaffirmed that.
John Sampson, Malcolm Smith, and the Senate Democratic Leadership for abusing the trust the voters put in the Senate Democrats in 2008. We thought we were getting change when we flipped the chamber in 08 but the Senate Leadership quickly revealed their true colors, being almost as corrupt and clueless as the Republicans that we got them to replace, and thus gave voters absolutely no incentive to keep them in power.
Dean Skelos and the Republican Leadership for stymying much of the good policy Senate Democrats tried to implement, chiefly marriage equality. Despite voting no on that, Skelos said he would bring it up for a vote if the GOP retook the chamber. He got his wish, but somehow I don't see the GOP-led Senate passing marriage equality next year.
Richard Brodsky for being the only AG candidate to oppose the Cordoba House. If his rhetoric was against any other religious or ethnic group in this country, he would have become a pariah.
Sheldon Silver, just for being Sheldon Silver.
Greg Ball for being the craziest person ever to hold elective office in this state and unfortunately getting elected to the Senate this year.
Ruben Diaz Sr for continuing to be a bigoted, homophobic stain on our party.
Carl Kruger for being a terrible, corrupt asshole who knocked his primary opponent off the ballot, thus ensuring that no accountability reaches him as usual.
Poll after the flip, and as usual, let me know if I'm forgetting anyone!
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Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:52:18 AM EDT
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 The world didn't come to an end for the Democratic Party-no, far from it. While the party lost a significant amount of seats in the House of Representatives, 49 of those seats were in Congressional districts that John McCain won in 2008. So, there was going to be a midterm shift despite the poor economy. And for two years at least, Democrats have the Senate and White House, and I hope they govern wisely down in DC.
Despite the nationwide shift to the Republicans, here in New York we enjoyed a clean sweep of the Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General's races, and it appears that the Democrats will keep the slightest lead in the State Senate with my friend David Carlucci being a freshman Senator and part of that majority. (UPDATE: Now it appears to be a 31-31 split)
However, this is put up or shut up time for the Democrats in the state legislature. Two years ago, they had a bicameral majority, but they blew it when State Senators like Ruben Diaz, Sr., Pedro Espada, and Hiram Monserrate had temper tantrums and with the latter two caucusing the Republicans, which effectively shut down our government. What ensued was perhaps the most pitiful example of governing. It was an embarrassment and every Democratic State Senator re-elected should humble themselves to their constituencies after they gave them, and the party, a second chance.
This time, they better not blow it.
I feel that it's time for new leadership in the State Senate, perhaps real reformers like Diane Savino or Liz Krueger taking the helm. The Democrats need for their State Senators to work together as a disciplined team, and not as a bunch of lords brooding over their individual fiefdoms.
And perhaps its time for Dean Skelos stop playing palace intrigue by trying to cobble together a majority with Senators greedy for member items cash. Such exchanges are not only dysfunctional, they damage the very integrity of our legislature. Hopefully, Republicans will vote into leadership someone who is more sensible and focused on healing this great State than Skelos.
The State Senate needs to immediately get down to the business of reform, and that includes creating transparency laws, independent redistricting, and strict campaign finance reform. They must clean up the processes of governance before they can truly govern and get to the task of fixing New York.
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Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 12:44:25 PM EST
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The day may be fast approaching when some animals will have greater labor protections than tens of thousands of New York State's farm workers.
The city Health Department has proposed rules that would mandate five weeks of vacation per year for carriage horses, plus limits on daily hours of work and upgraded stable facilities.
The people who plant and harvest our food should only be so lucky.
source
When the National Labor Relations Act first passed in 1935, farm workers were excludes from the bill so that FDR could garner support from rural Senators. The campaigns of Caesar Chavez for farm worker rights fought at the state level to give rights to farmworkers through state government. In New York advocates have continued to fight for a Bill of Rights for farmworkers. With new developments and new commitments from state leaders, we may fast be approaching the day where farm workers will possess the rights of other private sector employees to organize, collectively bargain, and receive overtime pay.
Advocates and supports in Albany have dubbed the proposal the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act . The bill models itself after most other labor laws in the state and the country and provides a legal framework to provide labor rights for farmworkers. Notably it provides farmworkers the right to organize and collectively bargain, sets a standard for overtime pay for overtime hours, creates a disability insurance provision for workers, and a guaranteed day off per week. These are standard rights of workers that have largely been in place for private sector employees since the New Deal.
Unfortunately there has been a great deal of push-back from the Farm Bureau and the farm owners community.
Tim Bigham, area field advisor for the New York Farm Bureau, described several aspects of the bill as "anti-business," saying farm owners, especially the smaller ones, simply won't be able to afford them.
Bigham said a main concern is a provision requiring forced payment of overtime rates to workers who are on the job longer than eight hours per day. Bigham argued that farm work should continue to be exempt from such overtime provisions because, by its nature, it is seasonal work, requiring individuals to put in longer hours during warm weather when work can actually be done. Such items, Bigham said, could drive up costs for area farmers, many of whom are struggling financially as it is. source
With an eye to compromise, advocates recently announced a variety of changes to the bill to mollify the concerns of the Bigham, the Farm Bureau and small farm owners throughout the state. The changes provide substantial compromises while guaranteeing protection to workers in great need of better working conditions. The new proposal makes the following changes:
-Collective bargaining protections are limited to workers on farms with sales exceeding $500,000-exempting over 95% of New York farms and covering only agribusinesses.
- The overtime threshold (i.e. the number of hours of straight pay before time-and-a-half kicks in) is increased from 40/week and 8/day to 60/week (55/week beginning in 2013) and 10/day, and on the 7th consecutive work day.
- Only 1.5 times the minimum wage for workers paid by piece-rate will be required for overtime hours, rather than 1.5 times the worker's regular rate .
- Existing unemployment tax liability on guestworker wages is eliminated entirely, resulting in $1 million or more in annual savings for New York farmers.
-Small farms are allowed continued exemption from workers compensation and unemployment insurance tax liabilities.
-"Family" is defined as broadly as possible and exempted from coverage under the Act
These are substantial reductions in the overall effect of the Act. 95% of farms will be exempt. Overtime thresholds are pushed back. Overtime wage scales are lowered. The most important thing, however, is that the bill has met the concerns of small farm owners and will provide rights to those in desperate need of protection. Farmworker advocates took a major step to unilaterally meet the concerns of the Farm Bureau.
Can we expect the bill to pass now? As Reverend Richard Witt of the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign stated, "We hope that all interested parties will now act in good faith as New York takes this major step toward justice and equality for all workers." Opponents of the bill have a duty to act in good faith and work with worker advocates to pass a bill that provides workers protections they deserve. We are closer to a bill then we've ever been. Now is the time to pass the bill and bring farm working conditions into the 20th (let alone the 21st) century.
The Labor Committee is expected to meet next week and discuss the bill. Expect to hear more as it comes in...
Note: I am proud to work as a new media volunteer for the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign. The views expressed in this piece are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign.
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Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 22:12:41 PM EST
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Controversial Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence is testing the waters in hopes of running for New York Lieutenant Governor. The Town Supervisor, who ran on the Democratic, Republican, WFP, and Independence lines last November is now focusing his sites on the number two slot in Albany. Residents of Rockland County, especially reform-minded voters in Ramapo, are shocked, because of St. Lawrence's reputation of working behind closed doors and dubious problem-solving techniques.
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Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 16:02:01 PM EST
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I'm not really sure what to say about this brain-fart here, but somehow our legislators in Albany allowed a measure creating transparency and representation for passengers and riders to expire at the end of past year.
Rider and union advocates lost their combined six seats on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board Friday when state legislation authorizing the nonvoting posts expired.
"This is a real shame," said Andrew Albert, one of the affected board members. "I guess it just wasn't on the radar."
Albert sat on the board as a member of the NYC Transit Riders Council, on behalf of subway and bus riders. The Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road riders councils also had one member each on the board. "We may not vote, but we're involved in the decision-making and are consulted," another former board member, Ira Greenberg of the LIRR riders council, said.
One of New York's best transit bloggers, Benjamin Kabek, cut right to the point in his analysis :
As with most of Albany's recent transit policies, for the state to allow these key appointments to expire at a time of fiscal crisis for the MTA is simply irresponsible. To make matters worse, four State Senators earlier this year sponsored S4480, a bill to extend the the term until 2012. The bill was committed to the Rules Committee in July and has languished there ever since. It's just your typical Albany support for the MTA.
I would imagine that the general dysfunction of our State Senate is the main reason for that one. What Senator is really going to vote against non-voting seats for passengers and workers? That's about as easy a vote as you can get in Albany. And yet the provision expired without anyone noticing.
Just another daily reminder of how dysfunctional our state government is and how we desparately need to fix it .
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Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 16:03:07 PM EST
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I thought it would be nice to start an annual tradition around here, a vote where TAP readers can decide who most epitomized the state of downright shame our state government found itself in during the past year. I know there are other politicians in NY who deserve to be on this list, but for the purposes of fairness, it is limited to members of the State government only.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the nominees:
David Paterson, for showing that everything he ever said about reform and transparency over his 30-year career were bald-faced lies.
"Uncle Joe" Bruno, for being convicted of selling the power of his office to the highest bidders.
Dean Skelos and his Republican conference for refusing to abide by the will of the voters and accept the fact that they are indeed in the minority and also being too cowardly to give a single reason why every last one of them voted against marriage equality.
The "Gang of Four," who refused to abide by the will of the voters and decided to get the highest price possible for their party allegiance.
Ruben Diaz Sr. and the "Hate Eight", the eight Democrats who voted against Marriage Equality and thus tipping the balance against its passage.
Pedro Espada, for, among other things, attempting to sell his party allegiance for pork to supply his "charity" with state funds, believing that campaign finance laws don't apply to him, and not even living in the district he represents.
Hiram Monserratte for likely slashing his girlfriend but avoiding a felony conviction because she perjured herself. He also was in the gang of four and the hate eight.
Shelly Silver, for continuing to stonewall ethics reform, year after year.
Greg Ball for using the worst tactics of the teabagging right to manufacture outrage against Health Care Reform.
Jim Tedisco for thinking a seat in congress was his birthright and not something that merited having actual policy positions or concerns about the people of his district.
Poll after the fold, voting will end Dec 30th.
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Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 18:39:25 PM EST
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John Faso with John Ciampoli after the hearing in Albany
An important ruling just came down today from the Appellate Division, Third Department, which smacks down GOP hatchetmen attorneys John Ciampoli and Jim Walsh in their annual effort to deny people the right to vote:
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE DECISION
Background and details after the jump...
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Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 09:50:54 AM EST
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From HuffPo:
Based on a CDC data study with 1.3 million people, two researchers have compiled a happiness index ranking residents of the fifty states from happiest to least so.
Ranking No. 1 in happiness was Louisiana, home of Dixieland music and Cajun/Creole cooking.
snip.
Rounding out the happy five were Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona.
At the other end of the scale, last in happiness - is New York state.
As if to illustrate the problem, residents attending a meeting Wednesday in rural Queensbury unleashed their anger and cynicism at a state government they described as corrupt, self-dealing and too quick to increase taxes. It was a tirade that had one lifelong resident saying he was ready to flee "this stinkin' state."
I don't think it's a coincidence that New York also comes in dead last among the fifty as the state afflicted with the most dysfunctional government. Or that an entire swath of the state, pretty much everything north of the City, is bleeding population year over year. Unhappy people, robbed of futures for themselves and their families, really can't be blamed for pulling up the stakes and pitching their tents elsewhere, can they?
In especially as the corrupt Albany system may change frontmen occasionally, but remains essentially unchanged and impervious to change. Unless, that is, the people make it change, and turn their anger to where it belongs: Albany's bi-partisan incumbent duopoly.
Do something: join us at ReBootNY.org.
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Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 00:34:47 AM EDT
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The Times' editorial board continues to express their justified outrage
New Yorkers have been complaining for many years about their abysmal state government, but it has simply grown worse. The state has become a national embarrassment, a swamp of intrigue and corruption, a $131 billion monster controlled by a crowd of smug officials whose main concern is keeping their soft jobs. By now, most New Yorkers have given up hope that these officials are capable of cleaning up their own mess.
The clock is ticking. In one year, unless the Albany crowd pulls off some miracle, which we doubt will happen, it will be up to the voters to get them out, all of them.
Yet another solid pounding of the culture in Albany by the Times, and kudos to them for using their megaphone on the topic. But they have done so in several past election cycles, each of which seemed to have qualified for being the election following the last straw that would finally turn voter anger into throwing incumbents out of their jobs. Yet, that has seldom happened. So I guess my question is, will the voters ever actually revolt? What do you think?
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Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 13:36:38 PM EDT
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After Albany Common Councilman Corey Ellis gave Mayor Jerry Jennings the hardest challenge to his authority of his career last month, it remained to be seen whether or not this small defeat could be turned into a greater victory. Or a repeat of history. The usual thing to do against an incumbent like Jennings after even a narrow Democratic Primary defeat is to step aside and just let the Mayor win.
After some weeks of "mulling" whether or not to continue the campaign on the Working Families Party line, leaving progressives wondering what October would bring, and after some fundraising efforts were made, supporters of change in Albany got their answer as to what October will bring today. The Ellis campaign announced the following today:
As Corey Ellis continues his campaign for Mayor through to the General Election on Tuesday, November 3rd, he is urging people to join with him as he addresses Albany City budget issues. Corey has advocated the need for transparent and accountable government throughout his campaign for Mayor. The budget presented by the Mayor last week makes it clearer than ever that we need a change in leadership in Albany.
The first opportunity to be involved is to attend the Albany Common Council caucus today, Monday, October 5 at 5:30 PM in the 2nd Floor courtroom in Albany City Hall.
More details below the fold...
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Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 20:48:05 PM EDT
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Just in from the White House:
MONDAY: President Obama to Travel to Troy, NY to Deliver Speech on the Economy
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will travel to New York's Capital Region to deliver a speech on the economy at Hudson Valley Community college on Monday, September 21, 2009.
More details, including coverage details, are not yet available but will be released in the coming days.
Be there or be square.
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Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 18:57:50 PM EDT
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I'm sorry for calling you a traitor the other day.
Well, actually, I'm not sorry, but it seemed polite to say that I was since I'm about to ask you to do something. A really big something.
See, I'm thinking you're pretty much responsible for getting us into this mess. And I think the only way we're going to get out of it is if it becomes bigger. A whole lot bigger. And I think you're the right guy to take a big mess and make it huge.
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Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 16:25:14 PM EDT
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Today, there was a March on Albany, organized by local and state Tea Party types to bring thousands of people from all over New York to the steps of the Capitol.
Back on April 15, there were dozens of Tea Parties across the state, and the Albany event was quite successful, attracting a crowd of a couple three thousand.
Today, not so much, more like a couple three hundred.
Details and more photos, below.
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Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 08:24:58 AM EDT
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It has been all well and good to sit back and laugh at the circus that is Albany. But I'm finding it harder and harder to join in.
We are faced with an extraordinary set of problems and the theatrics coming from the State Senate do nothing to help fix them.
Time to stop behaving like children, work together, and figure out how to make the State work in the short term and fix it in the long term.
Specific suggestions below the fold.
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Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 09:22:23 AM EDT
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The mess in Albany still exists as of tonight. The takeover of the New York State Senate fueled by a desire for patronage and power is still a story almost a week after it occurred.
Even with the mess on the minds of many, the two men at the center of the controversy decided that they would make a public venture to the Subway Series game featuring both New York City teams - the Mets and Yankees.
And they did so in style.
Senators Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate sat in the Legends Suite section of Yankee Stadium, which are the high-priced seats right on the field. If you try purchasing those tickets online, they run between $525 to $2,625 (it probably depends on the day of the week or the opponent the Yankees are playing) each. Espada claimed in the New York Daily News piece that he paid $150 each for them, a nice bargain.
So what does a Legends Suite come equipped with? This from the Daily News:
The dissident Dems enjoyed the ballgame in the Legends Suite section, complete with cushioned seats, in-seat wait service and a concierge. It also allows exclusive access to a swanky restaurant with an all-inclusive buffet, top-shelf liquor and private rest rooms.
Not bad for two state senators. And not bad for two state senators who many people at the game thought had more important things to do than take in a baseball game.
From the Daily News:
Fans were hardly glad to see the duo taking a night off while the state is embroiled in a crisis they created.
"They should be staying in Albany," said Barry Abramson, 71, of the upper West Side. "They should give some input into fixing the problem.
"I just wonder who paid for their tickets and how did they get here," he added. "Did they get here at the expense of New York state taxpayers?"
Espada said he paid $150 each for the "special occasion" seats.
"I paid for myself and treated my colleague," Espada said, but did not divulge how he got a 75 percent discount on the high-priced seats.
"Isn't that typical of New York politicians, doing everything they shouldn't," said John McCue, 70, of Chatham.
"At least he was in the Bronx," joked Stephen McCabe, 40, of Brooklyn, about Espada's tendency to sleep in Westchester.
"They should be trying to resolve things because there's nothing but gridlock in Albany," he said.
His brother, Anthony McCabe, couldn't fathom why the pair would pull such a stunt.
"What are they going to accomplish here except for promoting themselves?" he asked.
Espada said they went to the game to get away from the intense pressures of the past week.
"We're going to relax," he said on the way to the game.
Normally, there is nothing wrong with two men going to a baseball game. But there is a lot wrong when two state senators are sitting in the Legends Suite section of the ballpark and are taking in this game while Albany is in chaos.
This is just another example that this was about power and selfishness. What better way to reward one's self than by treating yourself to a game in what many consider the best seats in the new Yankees' house? The state has property tax issues, economic problems and many other critical issues to address and these guys are living it up in the Bronx.
If only we were all so lucky.
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Wed May 27, 2009 at 11:56:03 AM EDT
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The New York State Senate announced yesterday that the Senate Ethics Committee will be holding three public hearings throughout the state.
Here is the information on those hearings:
Thursday, May 28, 2009
10:00 AM
250 Broadway 19th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Friday, May 29
11:00 AM
Erie County Legislature
92 Franklin Street 4th Floor
Buffalo, New York 14202
Tuesday, June 2
11:30 AM
Room 124 State Capitol
Albany, NY 12247
If you wish to testify at these hearings, here is some more information that will assist you:
Persons who wish to attend or testify at any of the hearings should call Ben Brodsky at 212-298-5540, and fill out and return the attached reply form via fax at least two days prior to the hearing date. The Ethics Committee will accommodate as many witnesses as possible, and encourages the submission of written testimony, which will considered and made part of the hearing record. Written testimony should be e-mailed no later than two days prior to the hearing as an attachment in any common format to: bbrodsky@senate.state.ny.us.
Witnesses are requested to keep their oral testimony to no more than five minutes in length and to bring 10 copies of their prepared statement to the hearing.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Senate has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. Accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities upon reasonable request to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate facilities and activities.
Questions about this hearing may be directed to Ben Brodsky at 212- 298-5540.
This is a great opportunity for citizens to take part in the legislative process as the Senate takes up legislation regarding ethics reform.
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Tue May 19, 2009 at 15:09:23 PM EDT
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Today, the Brennan Center applauded the process by which the Senate Cities Committee, Chaired by Senator Daniel Squadron, marked up a tenant's rights bill sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger:
The meeting, which was broadcast live online, featured amendments (and amendments to amendments) to the bill, debate about specific language and the best ways to address related issues, and clarification questions that helped to define areas where future research is necessary.
In other words, a small but significant part of our legislature is, ya know, actually acting like a legislature.
This is a perfect example of what can be achieved when we remove dead weight in primaries and fill the legislature with more and better Democrats.
Senator Squadron deserves major kudos for sticking to his campaign promises for reform and for competently carrying them out after being in the Senate for less than half a year. At this rate, he has a very bright future in Albany.
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Sun Mar 15, 2009 at 16:11:30 PM EDT
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The New York State Senate held its first stimulus package town hall meeting in Queens on Thursday. Yesterday, another town hall meeting was held on Long Island to educate the public and answer questions regarding the stimulus package and its impact on their locales.
There are more stimulus package town halls to come. The New York State Senate will hold at least five more stimulus package town hall meetings, including three coming up this week.
- Federal Stimulus Package Town Hall Meeting: Albany
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
6 to 8 p.m.
College at Saint Rose
Touhey Forum
Thelma P. Lally School of Education
1009 Madison Ave.
Albany, New York
- Federal Stimulus Package Town Hall Meeting: Syracuse
Thursday, March 19, 2009
6 to 8 p.m.
Syracuse City Council Chambers
233 East Washington Street
Syracuse, New York
- Federal Stimulus Package Town Hall Meeting: Buffalo
Saturday, March 21, 2009
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cheektowaga Senior Citizen's Center
3349 Broadway Street
Cheektowaga, New York
- Federal Stimulus Package Town Hall Meeting: Rochester
Thursday, March 26, 2009
6 to 8 p.m.
University of Rochester Alumni Center
300 East River Road
Rochester, New York
It should be noted that Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith helped host the first two town halls in Queens and Long Island. He will do the same in Rochester on March 26, according to his office.
If you are interested in attending, you can RSVP through Senate Majority Leader Smith's office by calling (212) 298-5585 or by using the form on the Federal Stimulus Package town hall forum website.
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Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 09:48:10 AM EDT
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It's long past time to put the Temporary Committee on Investigation out its misery.
Time to pick the plums
Unless the Legislature saves it again, the state Temporary Commission on Investigation is set to expire at the end of March.
The Senate and Assembly, which will unveil budget plans this week, may choose to spend $3.9 million to keep the agency alive. Critics suspect the governor and legislative leaders will preserve the 52-year-old organization to hold onto some nice patronage appointments.
"No one will miss them; they've done so little," said Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group. "It became a political creature as opposed to an investigation creature, a plum appointment given the salaries." He said it would be better to consolidate all ethics oversight agencies under a single independent authority. The commission recommended in its last report swallowing the Inspector General's Office only.
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It has 22 employees who produced 30 reports on probes since 2000. The commission has six part-time commissioners, five paid $101,500 and the chairman given $109,800, to attend meetings and discuss confidential investigations.
The long-term posts have been doled out to loyalists of the appointing leader. For instance, Gov. George Pataki appointed his top deputy, John Cahill, just before leaving office.
It's the "Temporary" Committee on Investigation. Let's hold them to that and let it go.
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