The Morning Read: Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Sheldon Silver loaned money to a company that helps trial lawyers, but declined talk about it.

Documents released by the Albany County D.A. detail how Eliot Spitzer and aides tried undermining Joe Bruno.

The Albany D.A. didn’t put Spitzer under oath, and his interview ranged over only 20 pages, compared to the 200 pages his testimony took up in the report from the Public Integrity Commission.

The former head of the state police apparently didn’t like how Spitzer used information he gathered.

Tom Precious says the documents show Spitzer’s aides were sloppy, but interesting.

The documents also include emails Spitzer wrote about the New York Post.

Darren Dopp’s wife, Sandy, spoke to the Albany D.A. and tried to get her husband to cooperate with Andrew Cuomo’s investigation.

Spitzer aides thought half a dozen Republican state senators were ready to switch parties.

The New York Post editorial board says the Albany D.A. covered up wrongdoing by Spitzer.

Michael Goodwin wants the feds to take up the investigation of Spitzer.

David Paterson may be open to a deal that would raise pay for state legislators when they give up outside jobs.

Paterson was talking tough about the budget again yesterday.

The state Medicaid inspector general will investigate why the state is paying bills for former residents.

Peter Vallone, Sr. is reportedly trying to organize an effort to overturn term limits.

The New York Sun editorial board says Michael Bloomberg and Chuck Schumer disagree on auctioning off airport landing slots because Bloomberg understands the free market, and Schumer doesn’t.

The Sun’s editorial board also draws the contrast between Democratic Governor Paterson, who is plugging a budget gap without tax increases, and Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, who is.

Betsy Gotbaum and the city are arguing over homeless policies.

The city of Buffalo gets an unwanted award.

Cindy Adams quotes Paterson saying “I'm not ready to see Denny Farrell naked."

After days of making fun of Barack Obama by handing out tire gauges, John McCain told an audience that actually, they should definitely use them.

Obama has failed to make progress in the national pollls. 

Extensive donations to McCain from a middle class Queens couple--one of whom works for Hess--raise eyebrows.