ALBANY—Yesterday afternoon the State Assembly passed Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's government consolidation bill by a solid 117-26 margin, but not without registering a few objections.
"This legislation is well-intentioned," said Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, a Rockland County Democrat. "However, I disagree with the premise and I have great concern with the legislation as proposed."
Most of Read More
ALBANY—Lawmakers are scheduled to meet in Albany for 13 more days before the close of this year's legislative session, and David Paterson is hoping to do it all.
"I would say that the one that we're here to discuss today would be a priority," Paterson said Tuesday, announcing a restructuring of ethics oversight, when Read More
ALBANY—The Assembly's Ways & Means committee just voted to advance Andrew Cuomo's government consolidation bill by a vote of 31 to 1. Assemblyman Jack McEneny provided the lone dissenting vote, and later told me why.
"I think there's a danger of the tyranny of the majority," he said. While most associate him with the Read More
ALBANY—Kyle Hughes at nysnys.com, which tracks this sort of thing, passed along a list of legislators cashing in on the feast of St. Patrick. Here it is:
Jim CONTE - Assemblyman Conte, reception, Albany Room, ESP noon
$250
Greg BALL - Assemblyman Ball, "New Yorkers on the Ball" reception, DeJohns, Lark Street, Albany 6:30 Read More
ALBANY—That's Paul Tonko with retiring Representative Mike McNulty, just before taking the oath of office to serve in Congress.
Democrats packed the Assembly chamber for an omnibus swearing-in ceremony. In addition to Tonko, Assemblymen Jack McEneny, Tim Gordon and Bob Reilly were sworn in, as was Albany County District Attorney David Soares.
Many local officials Read More
ALBANY—Now, David Paterson seems very much like a man looking to reach an accommodation with his liberal critics over the budget.
In a conference call with reporters, Paterson said, "If you listen to the opponents of this deficit, and you ask them, what's your proposal, they may talk about personal income taxes."
Of course, if Read More
ALBANY—This picture could have been worth a million words, and raised an interesting question.
There was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental activist, standing in front of the bridge that was being re-dedicated in his father's name. Behind him sat Michael Bloomberg, David Paterson, Bill Clinton and a regiment of Kennedy kin. From the Read More
Liz and I both showed up for Albany County District Attorney David Soares’ small fund-raiser in Manhattan last night. Two things stood out: First, Soares talked about his family’s experience, which put him on the path to opposing mandatory drug sentencing laws, also know as the Rockefeller Drug Laws, an issue he campaigned Read More
