The New York Observer » 2009 Senate Coup http://www.observer.com Just another WordPress site Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:10:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en An Amigo Raises, With Help From the Leaders ALBANY—This fund-raising invitation State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. just sent over illustrates something about the power structure of the State Senate, showing how the chamber's current Democratic leader(s?) have been in lock-step with the so-called four amigos since the end of a month-long stalemate.

Diaz Sr. lists his son--the newly elected Bronx borough president--at Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/5102/amigo-raises-help-leaders Paterson: Special Session is the Senate’s Fault ALBANY—While announcing that Geico would expand to create 300 new jobs in suburban Buffalo, David Paterson was asked what he would do about a bill to strengthen oversight of public authorities. Paterson has written the bill's sponsors with some concerns, and was asked if he would veto it if it is not amended. Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4966/paterson-special-session-senates-fault Senate Republicans Get Some Spoils Back ALBANY—The Senate Republicans are coming into some money.

Sources in the chamber say that about $6 million of increased allotments to members would be going out, in connection with what a spokesman called the "significant reforms" adopted last month in the throes of a 31-day stalemate.

On Thursday, Minority Leader Dean Skelos's office Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4770/senate-republicans-spoils-back Poll: Paterson Stabilizes as Public Anger Shifts to the Senate ALBANY—David Paterson's poll numbers have climbed slightly, for the second month in a row, as voters surveyed in a poll released today perceive him as having acted appropriately during the month-long State Senate squabble. Thirty-six percent of the 623 registered voters surveyed by the Siena Research Institute have a favorable impression of Paterson, up five Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/poll-paterson-stabilizes-public-anger-shifts-senate Poll: Paterson Stabilizes as Public Anger Shifts to the Senate ALBANY—David Paterson's poll numbers have climbed slightly, for the second month in a row, as voters surveyed in a poll released today perceive him as having acted appropriately during the month-long State Senate squabble.

Thirty-six percent of the 623 registered voters surveyed by the Siena Research Institute have a favorable impression of Paterson, Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4555/poll-paterson-stabilizes-ire-shifts-senate Espada: ‘One Has to Be Very, Very Careful’ ALBANY—For those of you who can't get enough of State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., he sat down with Susan Arbetter on New York NOW this week for a long, wide-ranging interview.

"One has to be very, very careful, because at any given time, an agreement, a deal could be cut that leaves you Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4550/espada-one-has-be-very-very-careful Espada: ‘One Has to Be Very, Very Careful’ ALBANY—For those of you who can't get enough of State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., he sat down with Susan Arbetter on New York NOW this week for a long, wide-ranging interview. "One has to be very, very careful, because at any given time, an agreement, a deal could be cut that leaves you out," Espada, Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/espada-one-has-be-very-very-careful The Pride Agenda’s Pivot ALBANY—The Empire State Pride Agenda has "pivoted" its strategy to legalize same-sex marriage: wait and "re-connect" this summer before addressing the issue in an extraordinary session in September, a shift from their no-holds-barred push earlier this year. "You don't want people voting on this when they're just exhausted. The Senate is tired, and there's a Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/pride-agendas-pivot The Pride Agenda’s Pivot ALBANY—The Empire State Pride Agenda has "pivoted" its strategy to legalize same-sex marriage: wait and "re-connect" this summer before addressing the issue in an extraordinary session in September, a shift from their no-holds-barred push earlier this year.

"You don't want people voting on this when they're just exhausted. The Senate is tired, and Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4466/pride-agendas-pivot Mike Long: ‘Who Needs Any of Them?’ ALBANY—New York State Conservative Party chair Mike Long is disgusted.

"I think I have a real problem with both sides of the aisle with what they did. It cost the taxpayers $5 million for the circus and shenanigans that went on," said Long, the chairman of the State Conservative Party. "It wasn't about Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4462/mike-long-who-needs-any-them Mike Long: ‘Who Needs Any of Them?’ ALBANY—New York State Conservative Party chair Mike Long is disgusted. "I think I have a real problem with both sides of the aisle with what they did. It cost the taxpayers $5 million for the circus and shenanigans that went on," said Long, the chairman of the State Conservative Party. "It wasn't about trying to Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/mike-long-who-needs-any-them What the Democrats’ New Allies Were Saying Last Week ALBANY—Pedro Espada Jr. has re-allied himself with Democrats in the State Senate, but there is considerable bad blood remaining from what he put them through.

It's not hard to see why. Here's an ad that Responsible New York, the PAC underwritten by Florida-based billionaire Tom Golisano and operated by Steve Pigeon, Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4457/what-dems-new-allies-were-saying-last-week What the Democrats’ New Allies Were Saying Last Week ALBANY—Pedro Espada Jr. has re-allied himself with Democrats in the State Senate, but there is considerable bad blood remaining from what he put them through. It's not hard to see why. Here's an ad that Responsible New York, the PAC underwritten by Florida-based billionaire Tom Golisano and operated by Steve Pigeon, was running on radio Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/what-democrats-new-allies-were-saying-last-week Happy Weekend, Albany To everyone's delight, the weekend is here, legitimately.

Morgan Hook, a spokesman for David Paterson, said that a special session called for today at 3 p.m. has been called off. Aides to the Democratic leaders of the Sate Senate, which sat through over a dozen special sessions, will convene in regular session on Wednesday.

On Read More

]]> http://www.observer.com/4449/bon-weekend-albany Happy Weekend, Albany To everyone's delight, the weekend is here, legitimately. Morgan Hook, a spokesman for David Paterson, said that a special session called for today at 3 p.m. has been called off. Aides to the Democratic leaders of the Sate Senate, which sat through over a dozen special sessions, will convene in regular session on Wednesday. On Read More

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