Gillibrand Loses Clinton Aide
Jul 26th - 2:12 pm
In case you missed it from my DN column this morning (it’s the second item): A former aide to Hillary Clinton who stuck around to help the woman who inherited her boss’ Senate seat is moving on.
Karen Persichilli Keogh left Gillibrand’s payroll this month to become JPMorgan’s managing director for state and local government relations, a source familiar with her move confirmed.
Keogh, a veteran Clinton operative, stayed on with Gillibrand as a campaign adviser after Gov. Paterson tapped the former congresswoman in January 2009 to fill the seat Clinton vacated to become secretary of state.
Best known in the political world as “KPK”, Keogh has worked behind the scenes for a number of Democratic elected officials, including: Former NYC Councilman Sal Albanese, former Council speaker and mayoral/gubernatorial contender Peter F. Vallone and Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings. She started out with DC37, NYC’s largest municipal union.
In one of those small-political-world moments: JP morgan’s intergovernmental operation was once run by former Rep. Rick Lazio, who is now the GOP/Conservative gubernatorial nominee running against Gillibrand’s old boss at HUD, AG Andrew Cuomo.
Shake-Up In Malpass Campaign
Jul 26th - 1:46 pm
Republican US Senate hopeful David Malpass has parted ways with Mike DuHaime, former 2008 Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign manager, in an ongoing campaign shake-up that has seen the departure of several staffers.
Malpass spokeswoman Jessica Proud confirmed DuHaime left about two weeks ago, and sent over the following explanation/statement:
“Mike was brought on in the early the stages of the campaign to put the pieces together, assemble the team and get us through the convention. He did so brilliantly and we are enormously grateful for his contributions to the campaign.”
DuHaime, who also worked on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s successfull campaign last fall and is now with Mercury Public Affairs, joined the Malpass campaign back in March as the would-be candidate was gearing up to make a push to get onto the ballot at the state convention.
Pro-Schneiderman NYC Council Members Hit Rice On Voting
Jul 26th - 12:46 pm
Two NYC Council members who support Sen. Eric Schneiderman for AG, Brad Lander (Brooklyn) and Melissa Mark-Viverito (East Harlem/Bronx), released a letter slamming Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice for her 18-year lapse in voting.
The Democratic duo, who serve as co-chairs of the Council’s Progressive Caucus, note Rice was living in a swing state (Pennsylvania) during the crucial 2000 presidential election and failed to vote for then-VP Al Gore.
“To explain this decision, you have used the excuse that ‘like a lot of young adults early in their professional lives, I failed to see the political significance of casting a ballot,’” the lawmakers wrote. “However, let us be clear: you were not a young person at this time, but a 35-year-old practicing attorney.”
“In all candor, if you could not see the “political significance” in voting for Al Gore over George Bush, one of the most destructive presidents of all time, then we have serious reason to question your judgment and commitment to core progressive values.”
“What was it that made such a decision so difficult? Did you fail to see the political significance of Bush’s promise to appoint anti-choice judges, his obsession with Iraq, or his commitment to eroding civil liberties?”
Gov: Legislative Inaction ‘Slap In The Face’ Of NYers
Jul 26th - 12:14 pm
Here’s Gov. David Paterson earlier today lambasting the Legislature for its continued failure to finish the budget and act on his policy proposals.
The governor rejected the suggestion that it would be a personal slight to him if the Assembly and Senate heed his call to return to Albany (not that they have much choice in the matter) only to ignore the agenda he has set out, which includes many unpopular ideas like wine in grocery stores, the soda tax and the a property tax cap.
“It’s already a slap in the face, but it’s not personal,” the governor said. “It’s not my face they’re slapping, tt’s the faces of the people of the state of New York.
“It’s the people who unfortunately are becoming angrier and angrier because we keep cutting services and we keep delaying payments, and that’s because we have made people feel that we were more able to provide resources than we actually could…and there’s a great deal of disappointment, and I think what will vanquish that, what will rehabilitate us, is a little honesty.”
Rangel’s Reach
Jul 26th - 12:02 pm
There has been a lot of talk about the potential fallout from, and impact of, Rep. Charlie Rangel’s ethics charges vis-a-vis his fellow Democrats and the upcoming midterms.
The Republicans have already started to pressure various Democratic candidates – particularly those viewed as vulnerable, like Reps. Mike Arcuri (NY-24), Mike McMahon (NY-13), and John Hall (NY-19) – on the cash they’ve received from the scandal-scarred congressman. (All of those three have returned some, if not all, of his contributions).
There is ample fodder here for the GOP, as you can see from the spreadsheet that appears after the jump. Rangel has distributed more than $2.5 million since 2003.
He was working hard to help the Democrats gain control of the House so he could land that coveted Ways and Means chairmanship, which he didn’t get to keep very long, as the Times’ Jim Dwyer rather poignantly wrote last Friday.
NARAL Embraces DiNapoli, Questions Wilson
Jul 26th - 11:18 am
In formally announcing its endorsement of Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli this morning, NARAL Pro-Choice/NY took a swipe at his GOP/Conservative opponent, Harry Wilson, questioning his position on abortion rights.
NARAL’s President Kelli Conlin called DiNapoli “a friend, an ally and strong supporter of reproductive rights,” adding: “A 100 percent pro-choice candidate, he has received our endorsement every year he has run for public office.”
Conlin said Wilson has “refused to return a questionnaire or answer questions about his position on reproductive rights.”
“Considering his embrace of the conservative party line – and his lack of a legislative or public record that would provide insights into where he stands on these issues – we have no choice but to assume that he supports the Conservative Party’s anti-choice stance until he indicates otherwise,” Conlin said.
“New Yorkers have always valued and supported reproductive rights. In fact, 75% of New Yorkers think our state should codify Roe v. Wade, a position the Conservative Party and, we must assume Harry Wilson, does not support. In fact, they would like to see a woman’s right to choose abolished altogether!”
“That is not what we stand for, it is not what the women of this state stand for, and it is certainly not what our elected representatives should stand for.”
Paterson ’100 Percent’ Behind Rangel
Jul 26th - 10:50 am
As House Democratic leaders reportedly are pushing Rep. Charlie Rangel to make a deal with the ethics committee before charges against him are unveiled Thursday, Gov. David Paterson said this morning he is fully behind the embattled Harlem congressman and his bid to retain the seat he had held since 1971.
“I support Congressman Rangel; I support his re-election bid,” Paterson said this morning a press conference in Albany’s Lincoln Park after he threw out the first pitch at the American Little League of Albany vs. Garden City Bombers Baseball Club Tee Ball Game.
“I think there are charges he has to face,” the governor continued. “…It’s been my honor to watch him serve for the past 40yrs, I think I was 16 when he was first elected…I wish him well.”
This isn’t surprising, since Paterson, who has been floated from time to time as a potential replacement for Rangel, knows a little something about scandals that cause nervous Democrats to call on sitting elected officials to step aside.
(Of course, the governor has nothing to lose by standing by Rangel, since he’s not on the ballot this fall).
Here And Now
Jul 26th - 7:58 am
Gov. David Paterson is reportedly ready to make state lawmakers’ lives “miserable” for the next few weeks, calling them repeatedly back to Albany in hopes of avoiding the latest state budget in history.
“I know it’s summer and everyone is tired of this, but everyone is tired of this because they have acted unprofessionally,” Paterson told the AP. “At this point, I’m not in the negotiating mood…until the job is done, I think the Legislature is delinquent.”
The governor’s ambitious agenda for Wednesday’s extraordinary session, which again includes the soda tax, wine in grocery stores and a property tax cap, isn’t being well received by legislative leaders.
Rick Karlin thinks the governor is easing up on lawmakers, noting he can no longer force them to choose between his proposals and a government shutdown.
Chris Smith takes a look at black politics in the near-post-Rangel era Harlem. “They’re saying, ‘You gotta wait your turn,’ ” says Senate hopeful Basil Smikle. “No, I don’t want to wait my turn. Did you tell that to Barack? Did he wait his turn?”
Sen. Chuck Schumer’s reluctance to rush to Rangel’s defense is in stark contrast to the reaction of other NY congressional delegation members – even by GOP Rep. Peter King.
“I don’t think Charlie Rangel embodies what the district is today – he embodies what it used to be,” said one of the congressman’s primary challengers, Vince Morgan.
Some nervous Democrats are predicting a whole-sale abandonment of Rangel, but former NYC Mayor David Dinkins is standing by him.
In a snub to Rick Lazio, the state GOP and the state Conservative Party, Republicans are rushing to run on Carl Paladino’s “Taxpayer” line.
Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo says he’s got six binders worth of oppo on AG Andrew Cuomo, but Jim Odato deems much of that intel “dated.”
Paterson’s Extraordinary Session Agenda (WIGS And The Fat Tax Return)
Jul 25th - 5:29 pm
Gov. David Paterson today announced his agenda for the Wednesday extraordinary session for which plans to issue a proclamation tomorrow calling state lawmakers back to Albany at the height of their summer vacation – and campaign season.
The governor’s agenda includes 10 bills that will be delivered to the Legislature later this week.
Atop the list is the revised revenue legislation that he tried to send to the Assembly and Senate – and saw summarily rejected – after the Senate departed the Capitol for the July 4th holiday weekend without passing the final piece of the two-way legislative budget deal.
Also on the list, which, as you’ll recall, the governor cannot force the Legislature to take up after he forces them back to work this week, are the following:
- A property tax cap. (Also delivered along with the revenue bill on July 13 and rejected by the Legislature). The measure would establish a school district and local government property tax levy cap that would limit tax levy growth to the lesser of four percent or 120 percent of the annual increase in the consumer price index.
The tax cap would apply to all school districts other than the “Big Five,” and to all counties, cities (other than New York City), towns, villages, special districts and fire districts.
- An amendment version of Paterson’s SUNY empowerment plan (also rejected on July 13) that would would allow differential tuition for certain doctoral campuses at a maximum of seven percent, annual general tuition increases at a maximum of four percent, and increase the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) ceiling starting in State Fiscal Year 2011-12 to $5,000 plus 60 percent of the difference between $5,000 and the maximum resident undergraduate SUNY/CUNY tuition.
- An FMAP contingency plan that would reduce state agency undisbursed appropriations by up to $1.085 billion in a uniform manner and placing these savings in a contingency fund “lock box”.
Weekend Wrap
Jul 25th - 4:34 pm
Goodbye Tony Hayward.
Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice didn’t vote for the first time until 2002.
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky took a swipe at Rice, saying: “These were the Bush years, so thank goodness. This meant one less Republican vote during those years.”
Rice tried to turn the voting lapse to her advantage, saying she’s not a “career politician” who spent her life preparing to run for office. Maggie Haberman thinks that’s a risky strategy.
Rep. Charlie Rangel says he doesn’t want any “special breaks” in his trial on ethics charges.
Rangel worked for years to land the Ways & Means chairmanship, only to see it slip rapidly from his grasp.
The embattled congressman hit the streets of Harlem to shore up support among his constituents.
Kevin Powell tried to tie his primary opponent, Rep. Ed Towns, to Rangel.
Sen. Chuck Schumer is delaying judgment on Rangel.
This is not good news for Schumer.
Mayor Bloomberg is ready to give his push for nonpartisan elections in NYC another try.
More >
Take Capital Tonight and the State of Politics blog with you everywhere you go with our iPhone app! The mobile application features our blog posts, interviews, and a report news tool to send us your political news tips.