Questions For Elected Officials/Candidates

by: robert.harding

Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 10:22:16 AM EDT

Today I will be sitting down with Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. In the near future, I will be conducting first and second interviews with assemblymembers, state senators, Assembly candidates and Senate candidates.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments section or send them to me via e-mail at robert.harding22@gmail.com.  

What Did The Legislature Accomplish?

by: robert.harding

Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:53:44 AM EDT

But Precious also focused on legislation and what the state Legislature addressed and did not address in this session. Here is the list compiled by Precious:

State Legislature scorecard

Measures done Tuesday:
•Weaken powers of Buffalo and Erie County control boards
•Tougher rules for teenage drivers
•Encourage cleanup of polluted brownfield sites
•Expand domestic violence orders of protection to dating couples
•New binding arbitration and union dues guarantees
•Quadrupling mortgage and other local government recording fees

Measures not done Tuesday:
•Tax cap on property taxes
•Collecting taxes on Native American tobacco sales
•Permit low-finance borrowing for stalled not-for-profit developments
•Make it easier for non-union firms to bid on public construction projects
•Campaign finance reform
•State gasoline tax relief
•Permitting cameras in high-volume intersections in Buffalo

Subprime mortgage crisis legislation was also not addressed and its omission from both lists is telling. The property tax cap is obviously the biggest issue not addressed, along with campaign finance reform.

A lot of the issues the Legislature did address are "secondary" issues you might say. They are important, but they aren't tough, hot-button issues like campaign finance reform, subprime mortgage crisis legislation and a property tax cap.

In the last days of the session, it would appear that the Legislature didn't get anything accomplished. We still have a flawed property tax system, a flawed campaign finance system and a subprime mortgage crisis.

And we still have a flawed Legislature. Imagine that...

Leaders Reach Agreements On Three Issues

by: robert.harding

Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 17:44:05 PM EDT

Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco held their second press conference in as many weeks. It wasn't like last week's press conference where dysfunction was the name of the game.

The three agreements that were announced today were:

- Discontinue mandatory overtime for nurses. This legislation will be delayed one year, however, to allow for this adjustment to be made.

- Discontinue licenses for teachers who are charged with felonies and whose names are placed on the sex offender registry. This agreement also would decertify administrators who are guilty of defrauding the system (i.e. pension scandal).

- Agreement on Net Metering Law. For more information on net metering, visit this website.

This press conference was more civil. Only Tedisco spoke for any real length of time and it was to push for a property tax cap. Other than that, the press conference ran smoothly.  

UPDATE: Two Democratic Members Of The Assembly Accept Offer

by: robert.harding

Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 12:48:04 PM EDT

Again, I welcome all elected Democrats here in New York to The Albany Project to discuss key issues impacting our state and share their vision of the future. I hope that members of the Assembly and Senate reach out and join us here at TAP.  

AD-102: Jonathan Smith, Democratic Candidate For Assembly

by: robert.harding

Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 18:09:41 PM EDT

Smith is a lifelong Democrat who will give Miller a tough challenge. In the year where we are looking to take back the New York State Senate, these close Assembly races can be overlooked. Smith gives us a reason not to ignore the race in AD-102.

I talked with Smith today and he is a very impressive, progressive candidate. I interviewed him and asked him questions on pressing issues like property tax reform, campaign finance reform and health care.

QUESTION: Why did you decide to run in the 102nd?

JONATHAN SMITH: Because this is my home and we are in great need of new representation in Albany. I do not feel that we are being well represented by the incumbent and we face very real challenges that need to be addressed.

Q: Who are you as a person and a candidate?

SMITH: I am a grassroots community organizer. I work to create change by bringing people together. I believe that what we cannot do alone, we can do together and that has become the central focus of my life. This campaign is about giving people the voice to facilitate real and meaningful change.

Q: How will your experiences as a grassroots community organizer help you as an assemblyman?

SMITH: Some of the most difficult problems we face are going to require a coalition of support in order to effect movement or shift policy. As an organizer, I know how to mobilize large groups of people to get involved in the issues that matter to them. This state has a wide range of issues and in order to get real policy proposals passed through the gridlock of Albany, it will require someone who can galvanize support.

(You can read the rest of the interview in the extended entry.)

An Open Invitation To All Democratic Assemblymembers

by: robert.harding

Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 12:53:49 PM EDT

I have already been contacted by one assemblymember who will be taking me up on this offer. I hope others do as well.

Contrary to a few people here, we are not anti-Assembly. In the Western New York area, I am a fan of Assemblyman David Gantt, Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, Assemblyman Joe Morelle and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger. There are many others I could name.

I can't say I am necessarily anti-Sheldon Silver either. Silver has sponsored key legislation and has voted the right way on plenty of progressive issues. It is his leadership that I question. He is part of a culture in Albany that we saw yesterday at that dysfunctional press conference.

I would welcome Silver to The Albany Project for a live blog, interview or both.

I have noticed something about many progressives, including bloggers throughout the blogosphere. We are OK with criticizing Republicans and bashing the conservative movement for what they have done to our country and in this case, our state.

But some of us seem to have a problem when others of us decide to call a spade a spade and criticize our own officials when we expect more out of them. As a party, we have core principles to abide by. As a movement, we have similar core principles. Progressives tend to believe in open government and transparency. That is something lacking in Albany, where Democrats reign supreme.

In order to succeed as a movement, we need to criticize those within our movement who fail to uphold our movement's objectives. If we want a better and more open government in Albany, we need to hold the representatives in Albany who are members of the Democratic Party to a high standard and expect them to reform a system many in the progressive movement and many good government groups see as, well, dysfunctional.

We aren't anti-Assembly here. We are pro-reform. We look for leaders that further that cause. We need to reform Albany and we need people in office who are willing to do that.

That is where I stand and I'm sure others do as well. I welcome all of our Democratic assemblymembers from across the state to The Albany Project. This should be a platform they are not afraid to use. They may gain some fans in the process.  

A Dysfunctional Press Conference For A Dysfunctional Government

by: robert.harding

Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 21:09:57 PM EDT

Governor David Paterson was joined by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco.

Governor Paterson spoke first about key issues, such as the need for legislation to address the subprime mortgage crisis, Brownfields reform, a Patients' Bill of Rights and expanding health care benefits for Sept. 11 workers. Paterson proposed legislation today that would benefit 9/11 workers.

After Paterson spoke, Bruno stepped up to the podium. During Bruno's remarks, you could see Silver's disgust. When Silver spoke, Bruno could be heard mumbling comments directed to Silver. Tedisco spoke, obsessing over the gas taxes in New York and how much we pay for state taxes on gas. Smith declined to speak.

When I saw the childish display Bruno and Silver put on, I looked at how Paterson was responding to all of this. It seems he, like I, thought it was comical the way these two men were carrying themselves. These are supposed to be our two top legislators in New York. They could start acting like it.

The theme of the day though was the 11 days left in the session and what legislation they could get done. Based on what was on display at the press conference today, important legislation like addressing the subprime mortgage crisis.

Hopefully the Legislature can get something productive done in the last 11 days. Still, it has been a disappointing session.

As they say, maybe next year.  

Legislators, WFP, Paid Family Leave Coalition Hold Press Conference On Paid Family Leave

by: robert.harding

Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:06:16 PM EDT

From the WFP press release:

Dozens of Senators and Assembly members from around the state joined the New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition and the Working Families Party today for an early celebration of Father's Day focused on the need for paid family leave for dads across the state.

"Paid family leave to take care of a newborn baby or a sick family member should be a basic right," said Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens). "This is an incredibly important bill and with Father's Day on the horizon our conference stands ready to take a vote and pass paid family leave this session."

...

"This Father's Day Albany has the chance to deliver on a real gift for New York's dads," said Dan Cantor, Working Families Party Executive Director. "Paid Family Leave is a simple idea whose time has come.  Nobody should have to choose between the job they depend on to pay the bills and a family member in need."

Last year, the New York State Assembly passed a bill (A9245) providing 12 weeks of paid leave to take care of a newborn or sick relative.  A bill to create a paid family leave program has been introduced in the Senate (S8428) by Thomas Morahan (R-Rockland).  

Today's speakers were joined by the Paid Family Leave Stork, who appeared in Albany to deliver a message reminding lawmakers about the importance of parenting time in early childhood development.  Studies show that parental caregiving during the first few weeks of a child's life are especially important for healthy development and that family care shortens hospital stays and helps children recover more quickly from illness.

New Jersey became the third state to offer a paid family leave program this May.  California and Washington State also have statewide paid family leave programs.  The United States is the only advanced country without a national paid family leave program.

Here is a photo of Sen. Craig Johnson speaking today at the press conference.

New York State Assembly Member Items At A Glance

by: robert.harding

Mon May 05, 2008 at 15:59:41 PM EDT

The New York State Assembly member items for 2008-09 show us that the huge Democratic majority is alive and well and that a certain Speaker of said Assembly is reaping the rewards of his post.

This spreadsheet shows you the breakdown of Assembly member items for this fiscal year. But this spreadsheet shows you the party breakdown of where these member items are going.

In all, Assembly Democrats used $57,356,822.00 to fund their member items, averaging out to over $541,000 per Democratic assemblymember. Assembly Republicans have allocated $4,875,000.00 for member items this fiscal year, averaging out to over $121,000 per Republican assemblymember.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is the Assembly's King of Pork. He has over $3 million allocated for member items.

The top five assemblymembers who are bringing home the bacon are:

Legislator		Total Amount Of Member Items
Sheldon Silver		$3,020,000.00
Robin Schimminger		$2,227,500.00
Susan John		$2,141,800.00
Bill Scarborough		$1,602,891.00
Bill Magnarelli		$1,035,000.00

One thing pointed out to me by Bill Mahoney of NYPIRG is that not all member items are indicated in those totals because not all member items are given by individual legislators. Some member items are given jointly by multiple legislators, so while it is not a true representation of how much in member items were given by individual legislators, it provides you with the necessary information to know who received the most and who is bringing home the bacon.  

Does Your Assemblymember Support Clean Elections?

by: robert.harding

Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 16:30:35 PM EDT

The New York Clean Elections Act was introduced to the Assembly last year and is described as the following: "Enacts the "New York clean election act"; defines terms; establishes the New York clean election fund; authorizes a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of governor, attorney general, comptroller, state
senate or assembly, may voluntarily choose to participate and be certified as a participating candidate after a qualifying process; makes related provisions."

I contacted my assemblyman, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, and he told me that he does NOT support publicly funded elections and thus, does not support the New York Clean Elections Act.

This is an important initiative. You should be asking your representative in the Assembly if they support such legislation.  

Leaders In Albany Reach Revenue Consensus

by: robert.harding

Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 12:28:04 PM EST

From the e-mailed press release:

"When the final budget is enacted, it must limit spending to affordable levels that reflect the uncertain economic circumstances facing the state," said Governor Spitzer. "I'm pleased that we've reached this milestone in a timely manner. Given the current economic climate, we must continue to work together with the caution and prudence necessary to ensure the long-term fiscal integrity of our state."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: "Our agreement on revenues acknowledges the significant challenges we face in both the state and national economies, and is consistent with the Assembly Majority's forecast for the coming year. I will continue to work with Ways and Means Committee Chair Denny Farrell and the entire Assembly Majority conference to ensure an on-time 2008-09 budget that reflects economic realities and addresses the needs of working families across New York State."

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said: "This agreement allows us to take another step toward reaching our shared goal of producing an on-time budget that meets the needs of New York's taxpayers, businessmen and women, and its working families. While there are challenges that we must face, I am confident that the Senate Majority can partner with the Governor and other legislative leaders to deliver a budget that provides meaningful tax relief, creates jobs, invests in health care and education, and strengthens the economy as New Yorkers want and deserve."

Senate Minority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: "While revenue projections are less optimistic than we all had hoped, I have said in the past we need to spend less. I am encouraged that we will be spending less under the consensus agreement. However, a great deal of work remains before we can reach a fair, on-time budget, a budget that demonstrates that this is 'One New York.' A budget that will have a positive impact on the lives of the 19 million residents of this great state by helping to create high-paying jobs, improving education, reducing the property tax burden and making health care accessible and affordable. Hopefully, this quickly reached consensus agreement on revenue projections will provide the framework for productive and meaningful budget negotiations in the weeks ahead."

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco said: "The Governor should be commended for working with us to reach this revised figure, as it is a more realistic assessment of the current fiscal downturn New York is experiencing, as our Assembly Republican Conference had projected earlier last week in its own forecast. That we have been able to work together and reach a bi-partisan consensus on state revenue marks a significant step forward, turning a page on the type of bitter, partisan acrimony that, quite frankly, New Yorkers are sick and tired of."

The Economic and Revenue Consensus Report for 2008-09 can be viewed here.  

Tedisco endorses McCain

by: robert.harding

Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:14:38 PM EST

Tedisco endorses McCain.

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco also sent out a press release endorsing McCain.

Tedisco on McCain: "John McCain is the best choice for our Party and the one Republican candidate with the type of bi-partisan, independent appeal necessary to defeat Senator Hillary Clinton this fall."

James "I love to fearmonger" Tedisco endorsing McCain. Got to love the irony with this one. After all, McCain was a huge proponent for what some opponents call the "Amnesty bill" in the Senate regarding immigration. So Tedisco is siding with someone who is willing to give immigrants a home in the United States.

I guess it's okay for a Republican, but not okay for our Democratic governor.  

Buffalo News editorial on possible Legislature pay raises

by: robert.harding

Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 23:13:45 PM EST

The Buffalo News Editorial Board authored a very interesting editorial regarding the possible pay hikes for our state legislators.

Here's an excerpt of the piece - Don't hike pay in Albany:

In what looks suspiciously like an attempt to pacify a rambunctious Legislature, Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer is reportedly ready to agree to pay raises for its members, even though they are already among the country's most highly paid state lawmakers and they have done virtually nothing to merit an increase.

It's a bad move for Spitzer. He may win a little love from the Legislature, but he risks further distancing himself from the source of his power: New York voters, who are already suspicious of the governor's priorities and who overwhelmingly oppose giving lawmakers a raise.

Lawmakers can make two claims for increased pay, neither of them persuasive. First is that they haven't had a raise since 1999, but that's the argument that takes no account of performance. They already earn a base pay of $79,500 a year, third highest in the country, trailing only Michigan and California. What is more, many lawmakers earn about $100,000 or more when stipends for leadership positions or committee posts are added. This is for a part-time job.

The key words: part-time job. Plus, they are the third highest paid state legislators in the country. $79,500 is quite a sum of money to pay for part-time legislators and the raise they could receive might be huge - possibly putting their salary near $100,000.

Here's more from the editorial:

As to the internal changes, both legislative leaders still control what gets voted on and, therefore, what will pass. Both limit the power of committees and rank-andfile members to introduce new ideas into the Legislature. Both remain committed to gerrymandering political districts to diminish the prospects of serious electoral opposition.

Spitzer has only just begun to recoup the public standing he squandered last year. Support of a raise for lawmakers could quickly undermine that recovery. The Siena New York Poll for December showed that voters oppose a pay raise for legislators by a margin of 67 percent to 28 percent. That's because voters, the victims of the Legislature's dysfunctions, know where the bodies are buried. The governor should try not to be one of them.

With odds like that, the governor should not be on board with this. Keep in mind that this is not a formality, but it won't be easy for Spitzer to say yes or no to pay raises. If he says yes, he has the voters (and taxpayers) of New York to answer to, and the polls suggest that most of them would oppose such a pay raise. If he says no, all he has to do is put up with a bunch of overpaid, part-time state legislators.

Decisions, decisions...

What the Western New York delegation says about a pay raise

by: robert.harding

Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 18:22:33 PM EST

Pay Raise? Local Lawmakers Just Say No:

Here's a breakdown of the local delegation: Among State Senators, Democrat William Stachowski said he would vote no. Antoine Thompson said he didn't want to comment until he saw legislation. Republicans Dale Volker, Mary Lou Rath and George Maziarz all said they would vote against a pay hike.

Among members of the State Assembly: Democrats Francine DelMonte, Robin Schimminger, Dennis Gabryszak, and Mark Schroeder said they would not support a pay raise. Republicans Mike Cole, Jack Quinn and Jim Hayes also say they're opposed to a pay hike. We did not hear back from Democrats Crystal Peoples or Sam Hoyt.

The worst explanation for his or her no vote came from Republican Assemblyman Mike Cole:

"It's something the downstate delegation has been clamoring for," said Republican Assemblyman Mike Cole. "I don't even know how you can even consider it when the state is facing the budget mess we're in." Cole said if someone got into this kind of work for the money, they picked the wrong profession. "You knew what the salary was when you ran for the position. You do it because you love the community, to make a difference, not to get rich."

Yes, it was a downstate Democratic state senator who made a fool of himself by demanding "show me the money!" But I don't know how this is directly attributed to the "downstate delegation."

But I do agree with Cole's other words. They should be doing this for the community. The people of New York aren't shareholders in our politicians. We don't increase our investment in you just because you think you're doing a good job. We are voters, taxpayers and concerned citizens. And I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that a tax increase would be ludicrous, especially after all the talk of improving our economy over the last couple of weeks.  

A number of bills announced to counter Spitzer's driver's license plan

by: robert.harding

Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 15:24:30 PM EDT

This all leads to legislators in Albany thinking they have the solution. As the Albany Times-Union reports, four bills regarding the driver's license plan have been mentioned in Albany:

Four bills dealing with illegal immigrants seeking driver's licenses will be ready for action next week when the Legislature returns for a brief session.
The measures are expected to be no more than symbolic, underscoring how some lawmakers feel about Gov. Eliot Spitzer's license plan. Three are from Republican legislators; one is from a Democratic assemblywoman.

"No more than symboloc..." Great, "symbolic" bills by our legislators in Albany.

(More on the flip...)

Making New York more like Brooklyn

by: Michael Bouldin

Sun Oct 14, 2007 at 13:32:37 PM EDT

The goals for the 2008 cycle are clear: knock off a few more republican Members of Congress, carry the state's electoral votes for a Democratic Presidential nominee - more of a challenge if the matchup turns out to be Hillary versus Rudy, but still winnable even in that scenario - and, lastly, wiping out the last bastion of republican power in the state, the two-seat Senate majority that enables Joe Bruno, obstructionist in chief in the Albany drama of dysfunction.

Once the Senate falls, New York will be a deep blue state without a real, functioning republican party in practical terms.

So then what?

Conventional wisdom says that, once the Democrats attain the majority in the Senate, they will reform the way that body does business, enacting real rules reform along the lines of the Brennan Center Report. This assumption is key to the quasi-alliance between Democratic partisans and reformers, and is based on a simple observation: that New York's sclerotic legislature, branded with cause the worst in the nation, can only be changed when a majority changes. It is hoped that this turnover, coupled with reform, will then shame the lower house, the Assembly, currently a medieval fiefdom run like a manor house with so many vassals by Sheldon Silver, into becoming an acceptable semblance of an actual legislature; this despite the observable fact that shame is a concept foreign to the Assembly as a body.

The leverage to bring this change about is two-fold: for one thing, the people of New York demand it, as evidenced by the deep disdain in which the legislature is held, for another, Democrats need the help of reformers to achieve their partisan goals.

With a view to what party monocracy looks like in practice - Brooklyn, The Bronx and Queens come immediately to mind - reformers would do well to insist on iron-clad guarantees before they commit to assisting the Democrats in this effort.

(Original @ TDG)