Mike Whittemore
Mike is a Senior Video Journalist and Producer for Capital Tonight, New York's only nightly statewide political television program.
Homepage: http://capitaltonightny.ynn.com/stateofpolitics
AIM: rockharmonica
Posts by Mike Whittemore
New Lawmakers Take Stand On Destroying Doccuments
Jan 19th - 9:00 pm
The 2010 elections saw a lot of turnover in the state legislature. There are more than 30 new faces in the Senate and Assembly. For all of them, the transition into their new jobs can be difficult. But, imagine showing up at your new office and realizing that your predecessor has destroyed hundreds of office documents.
That’s what Republican Mark Grisanti says happened to him – which is why he is one of several lawmakers sponsoring a bill that would make destroying office documents a misdemeanor crime.
Senator Grisanti and Republican Assemblyman Phil Boyle joined Liz Benjamin Wednesday.
Farm Bureau Lays Out 2011 Agenda
Jan 19th - 9:00 pm
Governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear from his inaugural address that his top priority is creating, jobs, jobs, jobs. Well, one industry that has been has been shedding jobs over the past few years has been agriculture – mostly because of the dairy price crisis that has forced dozens of farms to shut down. Wednesday, the New York Farm Bureau rolled out a new agenda they hope will help state farmers.
Dean Norton, President of the NY Farm Bureau joined Liz Benjamin from Rochester to talk more about this.
House Republicans Vote To Repeal Health Care Law
Jan 19th - 9:00 pm
The Republican-controlled House has voted to repeal the health care law President Barack Obama signed last year. The 245-189 vote marks the fulfillment of a promise many Republicans made in last fall’s political campaigns.
The measure has little or no chance of passing the Senate, where Democratic supporters of the law have a majority. And Obama has vowed to veto it if it reaches his desk.
Republicans said repeal was necessary because the law provides for a government takeover of the health care system, raises taxes and would destroy jobs.
All New York representatives voted along party lines, including Rep. Steve Israel, who joined Liz Benjamin before the vote Wednesday from Washington, DC.
Sampson Defends Democratic Conference
Jan 18th - 9:00 pm
2011 is off to a bit of a bumpy start for Senate Minority Leader John Sampson. His party lost control of the state senate in the November elections, forcing him to give up his lofty post as leader of the majority party.
Then, just as he was settling into his new role and attempting to rally his troops following a stinging defeat at the polls–he was faced with mutiny of sorts. Four rouge Senators split to form their own Independent Democratic Conference, eroding away at his influence even further.
Not only has he lost the allegiance of four members, he’s also responsible for retiring his party’s campaign committee’s debt of about $3 million and he’s being blamed for allowing the Democrats to go 10 million over budget while during the two years they were in power.
Sampson joined Liz Benjamin in studio Tuesday.
Advocates From NY Push Gun Control Legislation
Jan 18th - 9:00 pm
The tragic shooting in Tucson just more than a week ago has reignited the debate over gun control in this country and even though the rampage occurred 25-hundred miles from here, there are a number of New Yorkers on the forefront of the fight to keep guns out of dangerous hands.
Richard Aborn is the former president of the Brady campaign – a non-profit named for Jim Brady who was injured during the attempted assassination of President Reagan. Richard is now teaming up with other advocates – including New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy – to outlaw the high capacity ammo magazines that were used in the Tucson shooting. He joined Liz Benjamin from Washington.
New Yorkers Very Confident In Cuomo
Jan 18th - 9:00 pm
Andrew Cuomo is embarking on his third week as governor and he’s doing it with a serious confidence boost. Two rounds of poll results from the Siena Research Institute suggest – as far as New Yorkers are concerned – the honeymoon period is still in full swing.
Siena Pollster Steve Greenberg stopped by Tuesday to discuss the latest survey on the governor’s performance.
Senate Dems Want To Expand Post-Coup Rules
Jan 18th - 5:33 pm
The new Senate Minority conference is appealing to the GOP majority in hopes of leveling the playing field when it comes to resources and bringing legislation to the floor.
Senators Liz Krueger and Daniel Squadron are proposing a resolution that would give minority members the power to introduce bills even if the majority leader disapproves. It would also require each side have equal staff allocations, resources, and member items.
Krueger touted the rules reform adopted after the 2009 coup, which allowed the then-GOP minority access to more resources.
Of course, now that the Dems are back in the minority, they want those rules to go even further, saying the changes adopted in January and June of 2009 were merely a first step forward.
“What we are hoping to do with this year’s changing rules is to move the ball down the field,” Krueger said using one of many references to football following the New York Jets win over the Patriots Sunday.
“We’re very proud as Democrats to have significantly improve the rules of the Senate over the last two years, but we didn’t go far enough. We know that.”
Republicans are expected to introduce a resolution today that would expand the current rules through Feb. 1. Krueger says she wants the Senate to adopt these new rules now before the budget process begins that same day.
Sen. Krueger and her colleagues were also asked about eliminating member items as a way to ease the state’s estimated $10 billion deficit, which they agreed is a good idea. However, if member items find their way into the budget they say those items should be equal across the board.
Zimpher Gives State Of SUNY Preview
Jan 18th - 3:07 pm
SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher will give the first ever “State of the University” address tomorrow.
Zimpher would not divulge details of her speech, but said she’ll indulge in some “bragging” about SUNY’s accomplishments over the last year and then lay out her agenda moving forward.
During a brief interview at the Capitol earlier today, Zimpher also addressed rumors that SUNY campuses may be facing funding cuts and tuition hikes to help reduce the state’s estimated $10 billion deficit:
“This is a tough time. Everybody knows that,” said Zimpher.
“But I think the public deserves to know that the State University of New York is working for it. I think it’s a partnership so we will rally support but we will do our part in exchange.”
The address will be at the Egg in Albany at 10 a.m.
Advocates Continue Push For Judicial Pay Raises
Jan 14th - 9:00 pm
Everyone agrees that the state is in dire fiscal trouble. So, any talk of raises for state workers has become hard to swallow for New Yorkers. But, despite the difficult climate, many criminal justice advocates are continuing their calls for pay raises for state judges.
They argue that if they don’t increase salaries, the most talented legal minds will not be inclined to serve on the bench. And if they let the situation continue much longer, some New Yorker’s may not get fair trials. Late last year, the Senate and Assembly agreed to form a committee to explore the idea of increasing judges’ pay. But many of the state’s sitting judges say they don’t have much confidence. In fact, in a recent survey nearly 80 percent of them said they don’t think the commission was the best outcome that realistically could have been achieved.
Dennis Duggan was one of the developers of this survey. He is Albany family court judge. He joined Kaitlyn Ross in studio Friday.
Cuomo Takes SoS Message To Watertown
Jan 14th - 9:00 pm
Gov. Cuomo is making his way around the state talking about his plans moving forward. Today he gave a speech to a crowd of about 300 in Watertown.
Cuomo says he’s fed up with the spending in New York State that’s led to a 10 billion dollar budget gap.
He hopes to see the state shore up things like education and medicaid, consolidate governments, ease mandates and cap property taxes.
“You have the power. The people watching your broadcast have the power. The people who vote have the power. The people who can log on and send an email, they have the power because the legislature, the politicians will listen. They really will.”
People we talked with after the speech all said this is the first time in a long time they feel things really can change.
That includes that city’s Mayor. Jeff Graham was in the room for Cuomo’s speech and joined us afterward with his thoughts.
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