The "New Reformers"

by: NYBri

Sun Jan 07, 2007 at 13:04:30 PM EST

Sometimes, politicians release statements that overwhelm any sense of credibility and takes the art of deception into new levels of hypocrisy. We have, over the few years, been treated to some real gems. The most recent that comes to mind on the national level is the statements made by some Republican Congressmen warning Nancy Pelosi that excluding their caucus from the lawmaking process would be counter to good government practices and our constitution. OMG. And they did this with a straight face.

Well, here we go again. This time, it's coming from Albany.

You might be thinking that I'm referring to Joe "The Glitch" Bruno's recent call to include the Member Items Appropriations as line items in the state budget and taking credit for introducing such a ground breaking concept. He failed to mention that his suggestion came only after he and Shelly Silver were sued by the Times Union to release the information…and they fought it all the way to the courts where they lost!

That's a good guess, but that's not it.

More after the flip.

Look For The Union Label...UPDATED

by: phillip anderson

Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 11:33:11 AM EST

From Capitol Confidential:

AFL-CIO In Bruno's Corner

AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes just released a statement of support for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, saying the senator has "proven himself time and again to be a man of honor and unquestionable integrity."

"The labor movement has no better friend than Senator Bruno," Hughes continues. "He has consistently fought to protect and enhance the lives and well-being of working people, often at great political risk.

"Senator Bruno's lengthy and distinguished career speaks volumes to his character. As such, there should be no rush to judgment regarding his ability to lead.

"The New York State AFL-CIO fully supports Senator Bruno's leadership and looks forward to continuing to work with Senator Bruno, Speaker Silver, all members of the state legislature and Governor-Elect Spitzer in our efforts to further the cause of working men and women across this state."

Liz goes on to say that she wouldn't be surprised to see a similar statement from Dennis Rivera and SEIU in the next few days. I agree. Rivera's willingness to sell out SEIU's founding principles to protect Bruno and his job has a long and sordid history.

We Have A Winner!

by: phillip anderson

Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 18:23:47 PM EST

According to the Times Herald-Record, Bonacic feels it's time for Bruno to go.

With a federal investigation swirling around state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Catskills-area Sen. John Bonacic has become the first Senate Republican to publicly urge his boss to give up the leadership post.

In an interview with the Times Herald-Record this afternoon, Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said that the recently disclosed probe into Bruno's business dealings has undermined the Senate boss' authority. He said it also threatens to weaken the state Republican Party, of which Bruno is the de facto leader.

"He's been damaged and this ongoing investigation will impair his ability to lead," Bonacic said. "He should step down as majority leader, even if it's temporarily, until the cloud is removed."

Bruno's office did not immediately return a call for comment.
Sen. William Larkin, R-Cornwall-on-Hudson, a member of the Senate leadership, accused Bonacic at taking a "potshot" at Bruno.

"John Bonacic can say what he wants, but I'm telling you that, not only me, but a lot of others support Joe Bruno. I'm standing behind him because I think he's doing a good job and I haven't heard anything to change my mind about him."

Et Tu Bonacic?

WHOA. Bruno Being Investigated By The FBI (UPDATED)

by: phillip anderson

Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 17:57:18 PM EST

State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Brunswick) just held a hastily called press conference to announce that he is being investigated by the FBI. I just caught a phone report from Fred Dicker on the local newscast and the following is from the Albany Times Union Capital Confidential blog.

More from Capitol Confidential:

Bruno Being Investigated By FBI

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, called a press conference to confirm he is being investigated by the FBI, which has launched an inquiry into his business dealings through his consulting company, Capital Business Consultants.

Bruno said his has been told he is not a target of the investigation, which first came to his attention in the late spring. He said he decided to announce this tonight because the story had been leaked to the media - he went out of his way to insist that more than one outlet was working on this story.

Late Spring?

The senator refused to discuss what, exactly, the FBI is looking into. He declined to say whether it has anything to do with Evident Technologies Inc. - the company to which he steered two state grants.

Bruno has personal ties to Evident's principals, Jared Abbruzzese and Wayne Barr - both of whom share the senator's keen interest in horse racing.

Bruno said he doesn't believe that this inquiry will affect his ability to serve as majority leader - a post to which he was recently re-elected by Senate Republicans. It's unclear whether the senators had any inkling of the FBI probe when they unanimously tapped Bruno to serve another two years as leader.

Yeah, they might have thought more than two seconds about returning him to the Majority Leader spot if they knew he was BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FREAKIN' FBI.

I'm sure there will be more to come on this story in the next few days. Should be interesting.

More Coverage:

Federal Investigation Swirling Around Joe Bruno

Saturday Morning Quick Hits

by: NYBri

Sat Dec 16, 2006 at 11:31:09 AM EST

- With a hat tip to Ben Smith's anonymous pork anthologist, we all now have a handy dandy spreadsheet to look through all the Senate and Assembly Pork. Link is supplied under "resources" in the left column.

Question: Why has it taken the amazing wycats here and Ben's apa to make this information people friendly?

If we, the wheel, squeek enough, perhaps the dysfunctional legislature will give us some grease.

- Check out this article from the Times this morning about Joe "the glitch" Bruno's Evident problem. Article is a banner reason why transparency is needed in Albany.

But, among the sleeze, one thing caught my eye. Check out the following photo:

Nice. Joe. Horses. Land. Farm.

Question: How does a State Senator afford all that?

Q Poll: New Yorkers Want Term Limits, Reform

by: phillip anderson

Thu Dec 14, 2006 at 19:13:10 PM EST

By a 67 - 27 percent margin, New York State voters support term limits of two terms for statewide elected officials, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters support two-term limits for state legislators 69 - 27 percent.

Support for term limits is consistent among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.

It is "very important" that the newly elected State Legislature pass new ethics laws, 56 percent of voters say, with 28 percent who say it is "somewhat important."

Strong laws for campaign finance reform also are 'very important" to 52 percent of voter, with 30 percent who say "somewhat important."

Pay to Play, Bruno Style

by: NYBri

Sat Dec 09, 2006 at 11:00:23 AM EST

A perfectly clear example of impropiety, or at least a screaming example of the appearance of such, can be found with Joe Bruno and his porky grants to a tech firm called Evident Technologies Inc.. It seems evident to us that "the glitch" has used your money to pad a couple of crony's pockets, who then, lined Joey B's pockets with some camapign cash.

Classic Pay to Play, Bruno style.

Flip with me for more....

Joe Bruno is a LIAR

by: phillip anderson

Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 12:50:42 PM EST

For-profit company gets aid
Firm with ties to Senate Majority Leader Bruno received unusual grants

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau

State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno provided a pair of highly unusual state grants to a for-profit company in his district whose directors and investors have links to the Brunswick Republican.

The company, Evident Technologies Inc., has received two $250,000 grants at Bruno's direction since the 2001 fiscal year. The $500,000 in grants from a pork barrel fund Bruno controls are remarkable because for-profit companies almost never receive these member items, as such earmarks are called.

Apparently, the taxpayers of New York, courtesy of Joe "the glitch" Bruno, have been giving, not loaning, money to Evident Technologies for "operating assistance". Nice work if you can get it.

And of course Bruno doesn't have any "personal ties" with the company.

Bruno's spokesman, Mark Hansen, said Bruno does not have personal ties to Evident.

And of course this statement, like so many others from the Majority Leader, is a flat out LIE.

New York’s State Legislature is the Most Dysfunctional in the Nation

by: pontificator

Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 16:45:07 PM EST

In an exhaustive 56 page study, The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's School of Law illustrated in depressing detail how truly F-ed up our State's Senate and Assembly have become.

The entire study can be read here.  (warning: pdf).

The short version - individual rank and file legislators have no power.  Senate and Assembly committees have no power and serve no purpose.  Everything, and I mean everything, is decided unilaterally by the State Senate leader, Joseph Bruno, and the State Assembly leader, Sheldon Silver.  And it's all done secretly.  Simply put, the old Soviet Union's Politburo was more of a Democratic institution than the New York State Legislature.

For a few more details, here are some of the report's findings: