The Morning Read: Wednesday, July 18, 2007

About one third of attorneys in Rudy Giuliani’s firm gave contributions to rival presidential candidates.

Hillary Clinton said she’d reverse George Bush’s “global gag order” on her first day in office.

Rupert Murdoch’s bid to buy Dow Jones is in the hands of the Bancroft family.

The Times does an autopsy on congestion pricing.

Legislators afraid of primary challenges from term-limited City Council members helped stymie the plan.

Federal documents suggest that the cost of treatment for ailing Ground Zero workers could hit $20 million a month by the end of this year.

Republicans in the state Senate go on the offense in order to keep control of that house.

Tom Suozzi raised $770,000 at his annual golf outing.

Joel Klein explains how he’ll use the extra education money the city received recently.

People are still giving money to George Pataki.

Counting the local prison population boosts the clout of some small towns.

The Washington Post has an opinion column analyzing what a Giuliani nomination would mean for the GOP.

The New York Post editorial board wags its finger at Sheldon Silver.

And The Daily News editorial board says Malcolm Smith is “not the guy you want in your foxhole.”