Coffey Praises Donovan For Eschewing Indys
Jul 22nd - 4:53 pm
Sean Coffey, who has repeatedly said he thinks its inappropriate for any AG candidate to accept the endorsement of either the Independence or Working Families parties while they are under investigation, just released a statement praising his potential GOP opponent, Staten Island DA Dan Donovan, for ending his bid for Row C.
“I’d like to step across party lines for a moment and commend Dan Donovan for taking a principled stand on rejecting the Independence Party’s potential nomination,” Coffey said.
“No candidate for attorney general should seek or accept this line while it is under investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office on allegations of misconduct and corruption.”
“I was the first candidate in this race to remove myself from consideration and encourage all of my Democratic opponents who have not yet done so to do the same.”
Rangel Will Be Charged
Jul 22nd - 4:12 pm
The House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct – which has been investigating the allegations levied against Rep. Charlie Rangel – has charged the so-called Dean of the New York Delegation with several ethics violations.
The case will now go to trial before a separate ethics panel that will rule as to whether it can be “proved by clear and convincing evidence” that Rangel violated House ethics rules.
This action is related to an ethics case unrelated to the one that led him to step aside as chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee last March.
Sources tell the Associated Press that negotiations between the committee and Rangel’s attorney failed to yield a settlement to end the case. A settlement would have required that Rangel admit he violated ethics rules.
It has been more than two years since the Ethics Committee began looking into a litany of potential offenses, including Rangel’s fundraising, his living arrangements in rent-controlled apartments, his failure to report rental income from properties the Dominican Republic and his use of a House parking spot for vehicle storage. ‘
Scozzafava For Cuomo (Updated)
Jul 22nd - 4:09 pm
Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, whose name has become synonymous with moderate Republicanism since the NY-23 special election that became a battle for the heart of the national GOP, has again crossed party lines to endorse a Democrat, announcing her support of AG Andrew Cuomo for governor.
“The most important election we have this year is to elect Andrew Cuomo Governor of the State of New York,” Scozzafava said in a statement released by the Cuomo campaign.
“He has the message that can resonate across party lines because it’s about the future of this state, it’s about the people that live here, it’s about making our quality of life better and having this state turn the corner and come back to the prosperity that we know is there.”
UPDATE: Here’s some video of the endorsement today, compliments of The Watertown Times’ Judge Seymour. Scozzafava apparently joined Cuomo at the Lewis County Fair today.
Koch’s Enemies List
Jul 22nd - 3:56 pm
True to his word, former NYC Mayor Ed Koch has released a list of state legislators and candidates who have so fare refused to sign on to the budget, ethics and redistricting reform pledges created by his PAC, New York Uprising, branding these individuals “enemies of reform.”
Two hundred and forty candidates signed – including the entire Senate GOP conference – just hours before the midnight deadline.
The full list of both can be found on the NY Uprising Website. .
Both Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are “enemies”. Silver made it clear early on that he would not be signing any pledges – basically because he simply doesn’t do them, no matter who asks. Not Koch, and not AG Andrew Cuomo, either
“F)ar too many candidates clearly want to keep our state exactly the way it is – they benefit from the corruption, the dysfunction, the inanity that defines Albany and they clearly don’t want to do anything about it,” Koch said in a press release.
“And so when you look at the condition our state is in and when you look at these candidates refusal to do anything about it, it’s clear that they truly are enemies of reform.”
Silver And Sampson Set An August Deadline
Jul 22nd - 2:25 pm
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson agreed on one thing when they met yesterday in Manhattan: The budget has got to get done, once and for all, and soon.
According to a legislative source, the two Democrats settled on the first week of August as a drop-dead deadline for reaching an agreement that would enable the Senate to pass the revenue bill – the last hurdle remaining between New York and a complete 2010-2011 spending plan (not to mention between lawmakers and their paychecks).
That’s more or less as far as they got, however. There is still no clear path about how to address the two outstanding issues – SUNY empowerment and FMAP – in a way that would leave both chambers (particularly the holdouts in the Senate) happy.
Another possible wrench in the works: Gov. David Paterson.
It’s unclear whether the governor will accept the revenue bill even if the Legislature passes it, because, as I’ve noted so many times before, as soon as the budget’s done, whatever relevance and power the governor is currently enjoying diminishes greatly – if not completely.
Paterson is already threatening to drag the Legislature back to Albany for an extraordinary session, although he hasn’t yet picked a date.
Silver told NY1′s Michael Scotto on “Inside City Hall” last night that he sees no need for an extraordinary session, but also didn’t sound all that optimistic about a final two-way deal any time soon.
Dems Use Lazio’s Spending Against Him
Jul 22nd - 2:05 pm
If GOP/Conservative gubernatorial designee Rick Lazio is so fiscally responsible, why is his campaign burn rate so high?
Inquiring minds want to know. State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs (perhaps taking a cue from a SoP reader) wants to know.
On the heels of the Lazio campaign’s latest Web video that slammed Democratic gubernatorial designee Andrew Cuomo for his fundraising and spending, Jacobs turned the tables on the former Long Island congressman, issuing a statement that railed against his “complete lack of fiscal discipline” in his own campaign spending.
“Somehow Rick Lazio managed to blow more money on flashy consultants, luxury hotels, and other over-the-top campaign expenses than he took in from supporters,” Jacobs said.
“Even as he continues to rack up red ink, his fiscal irresponsibility doesn’t stop – even though his poll numbers have barely budged. Lazio has some serious work to do before he can question anyone else’s fiscal discipline, let alone Andrew Cuomo’s.”
“If Rick Lazio ran New York the way he runs his campaign, New York’s financial mess would go from bad to worse. The fiscal crisis New York had in the seventies could look like child’s play by comparison.”
Collins For Paladino
Jul 22nd - 1:46 pm
Erie County Executive Chris Collins is poised to publicly support his fellow Buffalonian, Carl Paladino, for the governor’s office he had once hoped to seek this fall himself.
Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo confirmed to YNN Buffalo that the get-together at 2 p.m. this afternoon between the two Republicans is indeed an endorsement announcement. (what else would it have been, really?)
This doesn’t come as any big surprise. Collins was at one point locked in a pre-primary battle with the GOP/Conservative gubernatorial designee Rick Lazio, and there’s no love lost between the outspoken county executive and the former congressman.
Also, there’s the whole hometown advantage thing. Paladino, a real estate developer, has sunk a lot into Buffalo, and the local GOP leaders are largely supportive of him. (Erie County Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy is the lone member of the party establishment who has formally endorsed Paladino for governor).
It’s very tempting to make a side remark about the parallels that could be drawn between Collins’ trouble with making off-color comments – a habit that forced him to forgo his bid for governor – and Paladino’s e-mail scandal…
But I think I’ll just raise the issue and leave the snideness for you readers, if you’re so inclined.
Koch For Maloney
Jul 22nd - 1:25 pm
Former New York City Mayor and reform crusader Ed Koch is throwing his support behind 14th CD Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s reelection bid.
Koch cites Maloney’s accomplishments strengthening consumer protections and securing health care for 9/11 first responders as reasons for his endorsement.
“She’s the kind of responsive, independent and tenacious representative New Yorkers need,” Mayor Koch said in a personal letter that appears after the jump, “She has my complete support.”
He does not specifically mention the 9-term Democratic congresswoman’s stance on redistricting, but one can assume she supports the creation of an independent redistricting commission. The issue is Koch’s baby and the primary focus of his PAC New York Uprising.
Maloney is facing a primary challenge from Reshma Saujani who has amassed a sizable war chest for a little-known political newcomer.
WIGS Backers Haven’t Given Up Hope
Jul 22nd - 1:03 pm
New Yorkers for Economic Growth, a coalition of small businesses, grape growers, liquor store owners, wineries, consumers, and grocers, unveiled a new 30-second TV ad that urges New Yorkers to pressure lawmakers to support legalizing the sale of wine in grocery stores – a proposal that so far has failed to catch fire in Albany.
The ad was posted on-line in hopes that it will be picked up an aired in various New York markets. It also is being e-mailed to state lawmakers.
WIGS, as we’ve taken to calling it, has been pushed by Gov. David Paterson, but largely rejected by the Legislature. Paterson initially included the proposal in his budget extender and also offered a compromise plan.
But he took the measure out of his last revenue bill – a move that was characterized by the administration as a concession to legislators.
The Assembly and Senate didn’t accept Paterson’s last revenue bill, and the Senate has yet to pass the one agreed to in the two-way deal struck by Speaker Sheldon Silver and Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson.
Donovan Takes A Pass On Indy Line
Jul 22nd - 12:26 pm
The lone Republican candidate for attorney general is saying thanks, but no thanks to the state Independence Party “at this time.”
Staten Island DA Dan Donovan sent a letter to Indy party chairman Frank MacKay saying he is no longer interested in being considered for the nomination.
Donovan cited the allegations of misconduct by MacKay related to his position as chairman (he didn’t note anything specific, but The Post’s Dave Seifman has been relentless in his coverage of party cash being sent to benefit MacKay’s wife’s former computer firm and people associated with it).
“As the Richmond County District Attorney, it is my sworn duty and obligation to fully investigate any claims of wrongdoing,” Donovan wrote.
“In order to preserve the integrity of my office and the integrity of any possible investigation undertaken, given your role in our investigation, I hereby remove myself from your consideration for the Independence Party’s nomination.”
This is an interesting move by Donovan, particularly since MacKay is an ally of Mayor Bloomberg, the DA’s most prominent supporter.
In fact, it was a big contribution by Bloomberg that was used to hire a veteran Queens GOP operative and longtime political volunteer for the mayor, John Haggerty, that got the Indys in trouble with the Manhattan DA.
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