National Grid is out with a couple of radio ads urging upstate state senators--Republican George Maziarz and Democrat William Stachowski in one ad, and Democrat David Valesky in another--to oppose a "prevailing wage" bill they say will increase the cost of delivering electricity.The ad stresses that the bill would benefit "downstate" at the Read More
Andrew Cuomo, a fixture in New York Democratic politics—due in part to his father, legendary former governor Mario Cuomo—is, now that he has officially (finally) announced his candidacy for governor, branding himself as a "new Democrat" and an "outsider."
His choice of a lieutenant governor candidate, which he announced today, is intended to reinforce that idea.
Robert Read More
ALBANY—State Senator David Valesky just said he would vote in support of a bill allowing same-sex marriage.
Valesky, a Syracuse Democrat, had been on the fence. He faces a tough re-election campaign next year.
"That question for me, after a long period of contemplation, that period gets to me to what many Read More
ALBANY—Two people declared today that they will run against State Senator David Valesky, a Syracuse-area Democrat who is a favorite (and prime) target of Republicans.
Jessica Crawford, the leader of a young professionals group and a native of Watertown, announced that she will run against Valesky "to help create an Upstate New York Read More
ALBANY—In one stroke, Andrew Cuomo announced a program that should help health care consumers, bring investment and jobs to upstate New York and bring evil insurance companies to heel.
Cuomo was at Syracuse University's Maxwell School this morning to announce the creation of FAIR Health, a not-for-profit company that will become the clearinghouse Read More
ALBANY—Who will speak for Hiram Monserrate? His amigos.
There are now five Democratic state senators either publicly calling Monserrate to resign or for the chamber to take what action it can to rebuke him: Liz Krueger (who was the first to call for Monserrate to resign) David Valesky, Darrel Aubertine, Brian Foley and Neil Read More
ALBANY—Once again, the Democrats are squatting in the State Senate chamber.
Here's a photo of Senator Martin Malave Dilan sitting in the majority leader's chair and Senator David Valesky occupying the dais. Democrats have been there in shifts since 5 a.m.
Yesterday, Justice Joseph Teresi ordered senators to come to session at 10 Read More
ALBANY—State Senate Democrats are launching a counteroffensive in the leadership struggle over their chamber. The target: State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. In four separate press releases sent over the course of 20 minutes, four different Democrats are criticizing Republicans who are standing by Espada's claim that he is the president pro tempore of the chamber. Read More
ALBANY—State Senate Democrats are launching a counteroffensive in the leadership struggle over their chamber. The target: State Senator Pedro Espada Jr.
In four separate press releases sent over the course of 20 minutes, four different Democrats are criticizing Republicans who are standing by Espada's claim that he is the president pro tempore Read More
ALBANY—All voters are created equal, but some voters are more equal than others. So says State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who after a restraining order was dropped against him yesterday has been claiming he has the power to cast an extra, tie-breaking vote in the 31-31 State Senate because the president pro tempore is the Read More
ALBANY—All voters are created equal, but some voters are more equal than others.
So says State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who after a restraining order was dropped against him yesterday has been claiming he has the power to cast an extra, tie-breaking vote in the 31-31 State Senate because the president pro Read More
ALBANY—It's been just a little over 24 hours since Representative John McHugh accepted Barack Obama's call to become secretary of the Army. Already, Representative Steve Israel has been in touch with Democratic leaders plotting about how best to win the seat. "This is all very much pre-game," Israel, the national recruitment chair for the Democratic Read More
ALBANY—It's been just a little over 24 hours since Representative John McHugh accepted Barack Obama's call to become secretary of the Army. Already, Representative Steve Israel has been in touch with Democratic leaders plotting about how best to win the seat.
"This is all very much pre-game," Israel, the national recruitment chair for the Read More
ALBANY—Change your calendars: the Senate Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform won't be releasing its report until April 24. State Senators John Bonacic and David Valesky, the bipartisan co-chairs of the committee, wrote a letter to the leaders of their respective conferences asking for an 11-day delay, citing the fact that the legislature will Read More
ALBANY—Change your calendars: the Senate Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform won't be releasing its report until April 24.
State Senators John Bonacic and David Valesky, the bipartisan co-chairs of the committee, wrote a letter to the leaders of their respective conferences asking for an 11-day delay, citing the fact that the legislature Read More
