Political Courage in Albany

New Senate caucus could become a force for reform
Corruption in the in Brooklyn Democratic party is a central problem for progressive groups in the borough, but the emergence of a new Caucus in the state Senate may provide a unique opportunity for reform. Infighting and self interests have paralyzed Democratic initiatives since the party took the senate majority two years ago. Republicans took back the majority last week. In response Senator Jeffery Klein has lead a defection followed by three other Senators, Diane Savino, David Valesky, and Da...

Senate gets in shape for session
ALBANY -- By next week, it will be a re-made state Senate. Staffers will be Laid Off. Senators will settle into new office suites. Committees under new direction will hold their first hearings. And the quartet of senators making up the new Independent Democratic Conference -- well, we'll see what next week brings. "Those things have not been discussed yet," Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous, R-Binghamton, said of the breakaway klatch. "We're still trying to figure out how this works with a Repub...

Klavinuccilesky still waiting for TPPP
Sen. Jeff Klein’s breakaway klatch of Independent Democratic senators announced proposals for saving money in government — which stemmed from the work of a Task Force Klein was involved in while still a member of the regular Democratic conference — and insisted that governing was their focus, not a larger staff allocation or other perks. “At this point, we announced the formation of the Independent Democratic Conference last week, and we were very clear: it’s about govern...

To The State Senate Renegade Go The (Bigger Office) Spoils, At Least For Now
In what appears to be the most public perk of telling Senate Minority Leader John Sampson to take his leadership and shove it, Dissident Sen. Jeff Klein has some new official digs: The office space formerly occupied by Sen. Tom Libous when he was deputy minority leader. The head of the new four-person Independent Democratic Caucus, who was formerly Sampson's deputy Majority Leader, has moved into 413 Cap, as LoHud noted today. "It's clear that independence for Jeff Klein comes with...

Breslin tapped deputy leader
ALBANY -- Sen. Neil Breslin has been tapped as deputy leader of the 26-member Democratic Conference, a post that requires him to coordinate the legislative flow on the chamber floor and serve as the second-in-command to Minority Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn. "I think it brings honor to the County of Albany that I have been selected as deputy minority leader, but it also means that I will have a great deal of work to do to make sure that we get out of the $10 billion Deficit while at the same ...

Williams wanted to remain chair of Senate Transportation despite fatal crash
Sen. Suzanne Williams Democrat Suzanne Williams expected to remain as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee despite her involvement in a fatal crash that killed a pregnant mother, according to an e-mail obtained by The Denver Post. Williams sent the e-mail to the Democratic Caucus members on Sunday, the day before Majority Leader John Mors announced he was removing her as chair. From Williams: The last two weeks since the accident have been extraordinarily difficult for me. I want to t...

Ill. faces 66 percent tax boost amid budget crisis
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Democratic Illinois lawmakers beat a looming deadline and approved a 66 percent income-tax increase in a desperate bid to end the state’s crippling Budget Crisis. Legislative leaders rushed early Wednesday to pass the politically risky plan before a new General Assembly was sworn in at noon, taking a slice out of the Democratic majority and removing lame-duck lawmakers willing to support the tax before leaving office. The increase now goes to Democratic Gov. ...

Independent Democratic Caucus: What We Want
The Sen. Jeff Klein-led Independent Democratic Caucus is meeting the press in Albany, with the four members of the breakaway group laying out what they want. You can read more below, but to sum up, the quartet -- which has said it can no longer go along with Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson -- wants to "Crack Down on overtime abuses, develop new accountability standards for outside contractors, review the use of state assets, and eliminate duplicative administrative functions." I...

Libous On Horse-Trading (Bad), Millionaires Tax (Maybe)
Sen. Tom Libous this morning lamented the idea that the Assembly Democrats might try to tie a Property Tax cap to rent control, saying that might not be “healthy” and noting that such linkages have caused late Budgets in the past. “That’s, I think, one of the things that has kept this place from moving forward in the past is that everything got tied into othe budget, everything got tied into one negotiation,” Libous said. “Everything got tied into one negota...

Sampson, In Minority, Calls For Ethics Reform
Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, called on the Senate to pass a variety of Reform Bills today, including measures that would ban those with business before the state to donate to political campaigns, have an independent commission draw the lines of legislative districts and have require lawmakers who are also lawyers reveal their clients. Sampson, who is leading a minority conference of 28 Democrats (four Democrats are conferencing in an independent conference), pointed to the ...

Sampson Consolidates Power Through Committees
Senate Minority Leader John Sampson released the full list of his ranking committee and leadership assignments today, revealing he is moving to shore up his support with three key constituencies within the conference: Hispanics, women and upstaters. As has been reported (H/T CapCon), Sen. Neil Breslin is Sampson’s new No. 2, replacing Sen. Jeff Klein, who stepped down from the post and then promptly bolted the conference, taking three fellow Caucasian Conservatives with him. So, that tak...

Farrar: Dems fended off anti-Straus folks
House Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Jessica Farrar of Houston just said her Democratic colleagues deserve credit for fending off Tea Party adherents who wanted to dethrone Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. See her statement on the jump. Rep. Jessica Farrar on Speaker Straus' recent re-election: "Today, Democratic unity defeated the Tea Party and their Extremist agenda. Had any House Democrats peeled away from Straus , he might have lost. But by sticking together, Democrats kept the House toget...

Illinois Faces A 66 Percent Tax Hike Amid Budget Crisis
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 By Deanna Bellandi, Associated Press Springfield, Ill. (AP) - Democratic Illinois lawmakers beat a looming deadline and approved a 66 percent income-tax increase in a desperate bid to end the state's crippling Budget Crisis. Legislative leaders rushed early Wednesday to pass the politically risky plan before a new General Assembly was sworn in at noon, taking a slice out of the Democratic majority and removing lame-duck lawmakers willing to support the tax before...

Senate Independent Dems: No Bonus For Bolting
Our Glenn Blain, who is standing on the floor of the state Senate as we speak, notes that Senate Majority Leader Skelos is handing up committee assignments today. GOP sources confirmed to him that no Democrats would get committee chairs, and according to the list Skelos just sent out, Blain's on the money. That means ex-Deputy Leader Jeff Klein and his breakaway Independent Democratic Caucus didn't get rewarded with any lulus for rejecting Sen. John Sampson's leadership. Well, at le...

Convicted NY State Senator Loses 1 Leader Post
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York state Sen. Kevin Parker, who was convicted of a Misdemeanor in a confrontation with a press photographer, has lost one of his leadership posts but keeps another one worth $9,000. The Brooklyn Democrat was acquitted of Felony Assault in the 2009 scuffle in which prosecutors said a New York Post photographer’s finger was broken after Parker grabbed his camera. Parker at the time was facing Foreclosure of his home. The photographer’s car was also damag...

Skelos Holds Off On Bipartisan Committee Chairs
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has released the list of committee chair assignments and there is nary a Democrat in sight, despite the Long Island lawmaker’s pledge to run a more Bipartisan and equitable chamber. Three senators - freshman Patrick Gallivan, of Buffalo; the Hudson Valley’s John Bonacic and Andy Lanza of Staten Island - are doing double duty with two committees apiece (Children & Families and Social Services for Gallivan, Judiciary and Racing and W...

Senate's two-thirds rule hangs in the balance
With so much attention on the House since the election, it’s been easy to forget about the upper chamber. But the spotlight could shift to the Senate as soon as today because the body may begin a debate on its rules. Obviously the big issue here is the rule that says two-thirds of the members must vote to bring up a bill for debate. The Senate will meet in a Caucus today to discuss their rules, and that discussion may carry over to the floor. Sen. Dan Patrick, the Houston Republican who is...

New York Archdiocese to Close 27 Schools
The Archdiocese of New York announced Tuesday that it is closing 27 Catholic schools to save $10 million. These schools -- in Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County and upstate New York -- had been on a list of 32 schools that Catholic leaders deemed "at risk" last November. Church leaders decided to spare four from that original Hit List, saying these had created "viable long-term plans so they no longer require archdiocesan Subsidies." These four who will ...

NY Archdiocese Plans To Close 27 Schools
NEW YORK (AP) - The Archdiocese of New York says 27 Catholic schools that had received heavy subsidies due to declining enrollment will close at the end of the current Academic Year. The archdiocese on its website Tuesday said the closures of 26 Elementary Schools and one High School will affect roughly 3,700 Students. The schools include three in Manhattan, six in The Bronx and four on Staten Island. Nine schools are in Westchester and Putnam counties and the rest are in Orange and Ulster...

Excerpts from recent Indiana editorials
Pat Bauer clearly wasn't listening in November when voters kicked him out of the speaker's chair and relegated his Democratic Caucus to a distinct minority in the Indiana House. Bauer, a Statehouse fixture for 40 years, has long been the king of partisan antics in the General Assembly. In recent years, he's shut down House operations by leading Democratic lawmakers in a walkout shortly before a legislative deadline, a move that scuttled dozens of bills. He's frequently baited Republican leaders ...

Pelosi & Dems Must Fear the Disgruntled Blue Dogs Ready to Break Ranks & Cut Deals with Republicans
It would appear that House Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has a difficult next two years in store for her. Disgruntled “Blue Dog” Democrats are ready to deal with the GOP and break ranks with Pelosi. So many “blue dogs” were voted out of office in the 2010 Midterm Elections as upset voters showed them the door for voting with Pelosi rather than the will of their constituents. Blue Dog Democrats remain deeply frustrated with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s leade...

Document Drop: Senate Dems Committee Assignments
In the interest of equal time, we bring you Senate Minority Leader John Sampson's list of committee assignments after having reported earlier today on the picks of Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who as of yet, hasn't given any of those IDC renegades a lulu. Grab a ringside seat for the blazing battles stirring up City Hall, Albany and Washington. Throw your hat in the ring – get involved and send me your tips! Subscribe to the The Daily Politics's feed. For more NYDailyNews.com fee...

Republican takeover of Nashville is complete
Republicans do not control the Tennessee House of Representatives today-they dominate that body. Beth Harwell of Nashville was nominated for Speaker by Rep. Steve McDaniel of Parker's Crossroads, and was seconded by the man she defeated in Caucus for the position of Speaker, Republican Glen Casada of Franklin. The Democrats' refusal to nominate a Candidate for Speaker shows the weakness of their party-they now feel compelled to beg Republicans for favors by saying "see, we voted for you too."
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Brown to talk budget with legislators this afternoon
Gov. Jerry Brown is meeting with State Legislators this afternoon to urge quick action on the Budget proposal he released yesterday, his office announced. Brown wants lawmakers to approve Spending Cuts and a proposal to ask voters to approve a five-year extension of temporary taxes by March, in time to call a June Special Election on the tax piece. The second part is a tough sell for Republicans, who said yesterday they wouldn't vote for the Special Election as the plan stands now. The serie...

Democrats playing chicken with the debt ceiling
The other day I noted that the Debt ceiling scenario that worries me the most is a Democratic defection: ... suppose Obama and Boehner cut a deal that swaps a raise in the Debt ceiling for cuts in non-defense Discretionary Spending. What if Pelosi decides that she's not going to support the deal? With the 2010 election having washed almost all moderate Democrats out of office, it's not hard to imagine the hard left core of the Democratic Caucus deciding to let the House GOP take all th...