Lisa Black

Here is an invitation to the first-ever Senate Summer Social, organized by state Senate Republicans for August 21 by the South Street Seaport.

George Pataki held his birthday fund-raisers at that very location for years. But with Republicans holding no statewide office, the job of roping in contributors has now fallen into the hands of Joe Bruno and company.

The event is being organized by Bruno's spokeswoman, Lisa Black, and other Republican-friendly types like Scott Sala of Urban Elephants, Jason Weingartner of Cathy Blaney Associates and Bill Smith from the Staten Island DA's office.

CORRECTION: Never mind all that. An organizer called to tell me that it's not a fund-raiser.

My invitation to tonight’s cook-out at Joe Bruno’s ranch got lost in the mail. But his NYC spokeswoman Lisa Black was kind enough to send over this on-the-record description of what will happen tonight when the governor, legislators and assorted other politicos get together after hours at Ranch Bruno.

"He hosts an annual ‘tent party’ at his home (aka ranch) annually at the end of session for his members, their spouses, the gov and senior staff. In the past Pataki always stopped in as well as the assembly min leader. Mrs Bruno is always the perfect hostess. Food is buffet style (raw bar, salads, carving station) and thus no seating arrangements - view is scenic, looking over the horse run and watching the sun set over the acres and acres of trees. Event is casual, so much so that some members arrive in khakis and short sleeved linen shirts. Most women wear sundresses-"

Can reporters go? Interns, perhaps?

“Interns go NO WHERE in the Senate- esp where alcohol is served!"

And by the way...“No reporters."

(Invitees, please feel free to email me with your accounts.)

Not that anyone really expected Eliot Spitzer's same-sex marriage proposal to succeed anytime soon, but just days after its introduction, both sides of the legislature are talking about passage in purely academic terms.

As I noted earlier, the plan to legalize same-sex marriage is premised on the notion that it can pass the Assembly, thereby compelling the Senate take action one way or the other.

For now, the Republican-led Senate seems perfectly happy to wait.

"We can’t speculate until they do that," said Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's spokeswoman, Lisa Black, referring to passing gay marriage in the Assembly. "And it’s never been done before. They say they have 60 and they still need 20 more. They’re not going to shame upstate Republicans. It’s not going to help their constituency."

Pro-gay marriage Democrats in the Assembly don't necessarily disagree.

On the prospect of getting enough votes to pass the bill through the 150-member Assembly, Deborah Glick predicted that it would be tricky to get enough Democrats to line up for it if there were any chance that it would actually pass.

"Nobody wants to be the 76 or 77th vote," she said.

Also, unrelatedly, tonight is a mock session for Assembly interns. Maybe they'll think of a way to break the deadlock.

Here's what state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's spokesperson Lisa Black just told me about Eliot Spitzer’s promise to barnstorm the state -- in every Senate district -- advocating campaign finance reform:

“He took his tour on the road during for the budget and look how well that worked for him. He needs to learn the art of compromise.”

Christopher Callaghan, by comparison, has been a bare-bones effort.

But now, the Republicans, probably sensing an opportunity in light of the chauffeur scandal, are rallying to bolster his stretch-run effort.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's spokesperson, Lisa Black, is taking a two-week leave from her job starting today to work full-time on Christopher Callaghan's campaign. Speaking late yesterday, Black said they plan to do some quick fund-raising and hopefully cut a television ad.

A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno reminded me that the governor can call for the removal of a statewide official. If that happens, the matter is referred to the Senate where, basically, a trial is held among the 62 senators. If 2/3 of the Senate agrees, the person is removed from office. Then, both houses of the legislature come together to vote on a replacement.

The good news for Hevesi is that Republicans only have 34 seats in the Senate, well short of the 2/3 vote theoretically required to remove him. And even more importantly, Bruno's spokesperson, Lisa Black, said Hevesi has worked well with the senate, making the possibility of this hypothetical scenario that much more remote. And of course so far, neither the current governor nor the man about to replace him have shown any indication of wanting to get any more involved than they have to.

But there it is.