Jim Walsh

Jim Walsh, the upstate Republican Congressman whose opposition to the Iraq War was threatening to be a campaign problem for him, announced earlier today he’s not seeking re-election.

Both sides of the aisle say they'll win the seat.

State Republican Chairman Joe Mondello sent out this statement:

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As Azi reported yesterday, Mike Bloomberg doesn’t seem to be a fan of the sweeping Energy Bill that President Bush signed yesterday – in particular, its mandate for an massive increase in ethanol production.

Bloomberg called the ethanol provision “an outrage” and said it would drive up food costs and “have worldwide implications on the food supply.” Ethanol, of course, is a sacred product in Iowa, the key caucus that the presidential candidates dare not offend.

So did New York’s Congressional delegation agree with the mayor? Apparently not: 28 of 29 New Yorkers in the House voted for the bill when it came up for its final vote last week (it cleared the chamber on a 314-100 vote). The lone exception was Staten Island’s Vito Fossella, who didn’t show up to vote. The bill cleared the Senate on an 86-8 vote, with Chuck Schumer voting yes and Hillary Clinton, perhaps too busy campaigning in Iowa, not voting.

In fairness, earlier versions of the bill produced slightly less unanimity. The initial version passed by the House (on a 264-143 vote) was supported by all of New York’s Democrats but only three Republicans: Randy Kuhl, John McHugh and Jim Walsh. Tom Reynolds, Peter King, and Fossella votes against it.

The New York State Democratic Party is taking John Sweeney, Tom Reynolds, Sue Kelly, Jim Walsh, and Randy Kuhl to task for voting for what they call a "weaker ethics bill," in the House yesterday.

The bill was passed 217-213, to the dismay of the Washington Post editorial board, who wrote this about it yesterday.

—Nicole Brydson

Ah. A break from Pirro coverage. One of the other offices Jeanine Pirro could have run for (finally) gets some attention, thanks to Andrew Cuomo, who spoke to seniors in Syracuse. A newspaper there editorializes:

"Cuomo also called on his audience to contact Rep. James Walsh and Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton and urge them to oppose the Bush plan [to eliminate Community Development Block Grants].

"In fact, Cuomo had to know that Walsh has publicly stated he is against the Bush proposal, and that Schumer and Clinton were among a majority of senators who signed a letter to Bush opposing the plan. So why urge people to waste their time?  read more »

What does CDBG have to do with the state attorney general's office, anyway?"

President George W.  read more »