The Morning Read: Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Which, according to some experts, makes the whole thing worse for Giuliani.
Eliot Spitzer will focus on fiscal issues in his state of the state address today. In one excerpt released already, Spitzer will say, "Property tax cuts and increased support for education must be considered in tandem."
The Post writes a harsh editorial about Andrew Cuomo for not deputizing an assistant for Medicaid fraud yet.
The Albany County District Attorney who successfully prosecuted Alan Hevesi said he is investigating the state's education, motor vehicle, health and insurance departments.
A Spitzer campaign worker can immediately start lobbying the new administration since he was never technically on the state payroll.
New Jersey reconsiders the death penalty.
Thanks to his biographies, Barack Obama is the first (potential) presidential candidate to admit to cocaine use.
And President Bush has an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal [subscription] about the budget he'll propose for the new congress.
-- Azi Paybarah
Was he ever non-technically on the state payroll?
There is no conflict of interest for Jenkins, however, if Eliot Spitzer is sincere about cleaning up Albany, regarding lobbyists, he would remove Roberto Ramirez and Emily Giske as vice chairs of the state Democratic Party. This is a conflict, because these lobbyists meet with electeds as party officials. As titular head of the state party Spitzer can achieve this reform in three minutes
James is right, there is no conflict for Patrick Jenkins. He's a talented, personable guy who will do well in Kasirer's office.