Albany Watch

• Bruno jury leaves for weekend, no verdict

     Jurors in the federal corruption trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno broke for the day without reaching a verdict and will be back in court Monday. Friday was their sixth day of deliberating on eight counts of wire and mail fraud against the Rensselaer County Republican.    Prosecutors [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 5:04pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Senate Investigation Into Monserrate To Continue

  Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran said the Senate’s internal review of whether to discipline Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, will continue after Monserrate was sentenced to three years probation and one year of counseling today. “A court of law has now ruled and we respect the decision rendered by the justice system,” [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 2:26pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Campaign Cash For Same-Sex Marriage

  NYPIRG’s Bill Mahoney was able to pull together how much money gay-rights groups and supporters contributed to state legislative campaigns last year in an effort to legalize same-sex marriages. The Senate voted 24-38 on Wednesday to reject the bill. At least $620,000 came from groups like the Empire State Pride Agenda, Human [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 1:59pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Probation, Not Jail For Monserrate

  NEW YORK (AP) — New York state Sen. Hiram Monserrate has been sentenced to three years probation for dragging his bleeding girlfriend through his apartment building lobby in a violent scene caught on security cameras. The sentencing Friday also included 250 hours of community service and 52 weeks of domestic abuse [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 1:58pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Prosecutors Seek Two Months Jail For Monserrate

  From the Associated Press: NEW YORK (AP) — The prosecution is seeking two months in prison for a New York state senator who dragged his bleeding girlfriend through his apartment building lobby in a violent scene caught on security cameras. The judge in Queens planned to rule Friday on the sentence for [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 11:59am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Still no verdict in Bruno corruption trial

     The jury in former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s federal trial wrapped up its fifth day of deliberations without a verdict today, only emerging from the jury room for a three-hour read-back of testimony from a lawyer who worked for Bruno.      Jurors are due back at the James T. [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 6:39pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Lawmakers: State should go on a pork-less diet

     State Assembly members Sandra Galef, D-Ossining; Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, and George Latimer, D-Rye, said they are proposing legislation that would prohibit member items, aka pork, in the 2010-11 state budget. The ban would save the state $140 million to $200 million, the Westchester County lawmakers estimate.    This week’s deficit-reduction plan [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 5:40pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Facing Potential Lawsuits, Paterson Says More Budget Cutting Needed

  Despite a budget deal in the Legislature, the state’s fiscal problems are far from over and the state still faces running out of money this month, Gov. David Paterson said today. Paterson continued his vow to independently delay payments to schools, health care and local governments because lawmakers didn’t make deep [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 5:36pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Paterson To Wait On Reintroducing Same-Sex Marriage Bill

  Gov. David Paterson said today that he will not re-introduce a same-sex marriage bill in the state Senate until it’s clear there is “substantial change in the position of the legislators.” After Thursday’s 24-38 vote defeat in the Senate of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, gay-rights advocates [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 12:36pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Alesi: “I’ve Agonized Over This For Months”

  The video of Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County, yesterday holding his head as he decided to vote no against same-sex marriage illustrated how agonized he said he was over the vote. “I’ve agonized over this for months,” Alesi said last night. “And part of why I agonized was because I [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 10:54am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Gay marriage opponents celebrate, proponents vow to continue fight

     After the same-sex marriage bill was shot down today, the governor, the bill sponsor and gay-rights advocates vowed to continue their fight for passage. Proponents of the bill chanted “Shame” and “Equal rights now” and “Gay, straight, black, white, marriage is a civil right” at GOP senators and gay-marriage opponent Sen. Ruben Diaz, [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 5:20pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Roll Call On Same-Sex Marriage Vote

  Eight Democrats joined all 30 Republicans in defeating the same-sex marriage bill. Twenty-four Democrats voted for it. The only senators north and west of Albany to vote for the bill were Democrats Neil Breslin of Albany County, David Valesky of Syracuse and Antoine Thompson of Buffalo. In the Hudson Valley, the Democrats [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 4:41pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Senate Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Legislation

  The state Senate this afternoon rejected a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, a setback to gay-rights advocates who spent months lobbying senators to support the measure. The Senate brought the bill to the floor without a clear sense of whether it would pass. It failed 24-38, a larger [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 3:49pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Hassell-Thompson Talks About Gay Brother

  In perhaps the most emotional moment of the same-sex marriage debate so far today, Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Mount Vernon, Westchester County, talked about her gay brother who was born in 1930 and fled to France as a gay adult. She said it was the first time she’s talked publicly about her [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 2:18pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Same-Sex Marriage Debate Underway

  The state Senate started its debate on same-sex marriage a little before 12:30 this afternoon, and the sides were imploring their colleagues to vote one way or another. You can watch it live here. Sen. Thomas Duane, D-Manhattan, who is gay and the bill’s sponsor, asked his colleagues to give him the [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 1:01pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Senate approves public-authority reform

     In a frenetically paced day that has included passing a deficit-reduction plan and debating same-sex marriage, the Senate passed legislation to reform New York’s public-authority system, which had been dubbed a “shadow government” for the state’s lack of oversight and control over activities and finances of the agencies.    Under the [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 12:57pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Bruno jury continues to deliberate

     The jury in the federal corruption trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno broke for lunch today after listening to a read-back of testimony regarding businessman Jared E. Abbruzzese’s relationship with Bruno. This is the fourth day of deliberations after a three-week trial on eight charges of mail [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 12:42pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Alesi Won’t Say How He’ll Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Bill

  Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County, wouldn’t say this morning how he will vote on the same-sex marriage bill scheduled to be heard today. Alesi has been targeted by same-sex marriage advocates as a possible “yes” vote, but he questioned the timing of bringing the bill to a vote today when [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 12:25pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Same-Sex Marriage Vote Today In Senate

  The state Senate is set to vote today on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, and it remains unclear whether the controversial measure will pass. You can watch the Senate session live here today. Senate officials confirmed this morning that the long-awaited vote will take place after the Senate votes [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 10:54am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Assembly Passes Deficit Reduction, Senate Up Next

  Working into the early morning today, the state Assembly passed legislation to help close the state’s $3.2 billion budget gap. The state Senate is expected to vote today on the budget-reduction package. Despite objections from Gov. David Paterson that the plan doesn’t make enough spending cuts, the state Legislature agreed to [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 10:20am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Senate Delays Vote, Assembly Presses On

  Because of a delay in bill printing on the budget, the state Senate tonight postponed a vote on the deficit-reduction plan, while the Assembly was set to reconvene at 10 p.m. with the hope of passing the bills, reports Gannett’s Cara Matthews. It was unclear whether the Assembly would also seek [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 9:26pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Late Night Planned At State Capitol

  Lawmakers and aides are planning for a late night of legislation in Albany, as the Legislature is expected to vote on a deficit-reduction plan tonight, then move on to a vote on same-sex marriage and other bills. The Senate is scheduled to return to session at 9 p.m., while the Assembly [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 5:33pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Bruno jury sends S.O.S. to judge

     The jury in the corruption trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has notified the judge that it has reached a consensus on two of the eight counts against the Rensselaer County Republican and is deadlocked on the other six, Jon Campbell of Gannett’s Albany Bureau reports from the federal [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 3:06pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Suozzi Concedes County Executive Race

  Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, who ran for governor in 2006 and was seen by Democrats as a viable statewide candidate again next year, conceded today in his re-election as county executive. It is a remarkable setback for Suozzi, who gained statewide attention for his “Fix Albany” campaign in 2004 that [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 1:52pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Amid budget crisis, gov. accepts report on small business

     Gov. David Paterson had a news conference today to accept the final report of the state Small Business Task Force, but only one question from a reporter was on that topic. Instead, the governor was peppered with questions about the status of negotations on how to close the state’s [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 1:23pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• On Budget Deal, Paterson Would Approve It But He Won’t Introduce It

  Gov. David Paterson sought to clarify this morning his position on whether he will support a $2.8 billion deficit-reduction package agreed to by state lawmakers. Essentially, he said he would sign it into law if the Legislature passes it, but he won’t introduce their proposal—saying it falls short of the spending [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 1:22pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Thousands of NY sex offenders purged from MySpace, Facebook

     Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced today that more than 3,500 registered New York sex offenders have been purged from the social-networking sites Facebook and MySpace.    The names were removed as part of the first database sweep since the state’s new “e-STOP” law took effect last year. The Electronic Securing [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 12:22pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Paterson, Lawmakers At Odds Over Potential Budget Deal

  Gov. David Paterson insisted this morning he has the legal authority to unilaterally delay payments to schools, local governments and health agencies if the Legislature will not reduce spending. Paterson first announced the move Monday evening, upending what lawmakers thought was an agreement to eliminate about $2.8 billion of the state’s [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 10:41am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Paterson Said Legislature’s Plan Doesn’t Cut Enough

  Gov. David Paterson said Monday night his office will delay payments to local governments and schools—and ultimately seek to cut the money entirely—because legislative leaders refuse to make enough spending reductions to state programs. The move came after a day of negotiations with legislative leaders, who met Paterson at the governor’s [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 8:00pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Bruno Trial Wraps Up For Day Without Verdict

  The jury in the trial of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno failed to reach a verdict during the second day of deliberations Monday, the first since taking a five-day break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Jurors will return to the James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to resume [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 6:18pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Leaders Present Paterson Budget Deal Without School Cuts

  In a bid to get an agreement to close the remainder of the $3.2 billion mid-year budget deficit, legislative leaders this afternoon presented Gov. David Paterson a plan that would not include cuts to schools during the current fiscal year. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, said this afternoon that the leaders [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 5:04pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Waiting For Action At the State Capitol

  The state Legislature was waiting this afternoon for the conclusion of a meeting at the governor’s mansion between legislative leaders and Gov. David Paterson to determine whether there will be a budget deal to close the state’s $3.2 billion budget gap. Lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans, said they were frustrated with the [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 4:01pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Faso: Freeze Salary Increases To Help Close Budget Deficit

  Former Republican gubernatorial candidate John Faso is calling on Gov. David Paterson to seek legislative approval to freeze all raises scheduled for state employees as a way to lower the state’s deficit. Faso argued in an op-ed piece Sunday and this morning on Fred Dicker’s radio show that Paterson should get [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 12:45pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Gov. asks supporters to call lawmakers and P.S., send $$

     Here’s a letter that came from the Governor Paterson 2010 campaign today. He’s asking supporters to call their lawmakers and urge them to close the state’s $3.2 billion budget deficit.    “Please call your legislator and say the time for action is now—and click here to let me know you [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 11:33am EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Labor, civic groups push for IDA reform

     Good-government and labor advocates are asking lawmakers to pass legislation to reform the Industrial Development Agency system along with a budget to close the state’s $3.2 billion mid-year deficit. The groups want to increase accountability, introduce business standards and guarantee higher wages.    “IDAs are consistently failing to deliver on [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 11:12am EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Paterson to act unilaterally to close $1.6 billion of deficit

     Gov. David Paterson said Sunday that he would act unilaterally to close $1.6 billion of the approximately $3.1 billion budget gap, and he urged the Legislature to reach an agreement on a deficit-reduction plan for the balance as soon as possible.    Negotiations with the Senate and Assembly over the [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 2:59pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Jury breaks for holiday in Bruno trial

  Jon Campbell of the Gannett Albany Bureau had this to report from the Bruno trial today:    The first day of jury deliberations in the case against former Senate Republican Leader Joe Bruno wrapped up without a verdict this evening, with deliberations set to continue Monday morning despite Judge Gary Sharpe’s [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 7:52pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Ethics panel settles with former state police head over Troopergate

    The state Commission on Public Integrity announced today that it has reached a settlement with former Acting State Police Superintendent Preston Felton over his role in the Troopergate scandal more than two years ago.    Aides to now-former Gov. Eliot Spitzer were found to have asked the State Police to [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 5:03pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Gov.’s revised proposal would cut education, health care less

     Gov. David Paterson’s deficit-reduction plan has been revised to cut less from education and health care and use federal stimulus money for education that had been set aside for next year, according to his Budget Division.    The original proposal would reduce school aid by $686 million this school year ($480 million for the state’s [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 2:17pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Gov. wants executive power to close deficit

     Gov. David Paterson said in a Web announcement this morning that he is submitting legislation to lawmakers that would give him executive authority to make the reductions necessary to close the state’s $3.2 billion mid-year budget gap.    Paterson and lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement with the [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 1:01pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• No budget deal as lawmakers begin third week of negotiations

     After originally saying they would take the weekend to complete negotiations and prepare legislation, lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson ended the day Monday without an agreement on how to close the state’s $3.2 billion budget gap.    “I believe the best way to say it is we’ve had the same [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 9:26pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• IG recommends disciplining supervisors of “man cave” workers

     New York Inspector General Joseph Fisch is recommending that disciplinary action be taken against three supervisors in connection with the “man cave” in one of the state parking garages in Albany. Poor oversight by Office of General Services managers Thomas Casey, William Liston and Dennis Williams contributed to drug abuse and other [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 1:21pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Bruno trial expected to finish up today

     Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s federal corruption trial is expected to wrap up today, and it will be up to the jury to decide his fate. Prosecutors charged he received more than $3 million from businesses in exchange for his political influence at the state Capitol between 1993 and 2006.    [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 12:33pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Budget deadlock not helping public opinion of lawmakers, gov.

     A Marist College poll released today found that 71 percent of voters think state government needs major changes, and 18 percent think daily operations at the Capitol need minor changes. Eleven percent believe state government is broken and beyond repair, according to the poll.    “Albany is not a good place [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 12:14pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Still no budget deal at the Capitol

     After saying they would take the weekend to complete negotiations and print a bill, lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson are beginning the new week without a plan to close the state’s $3.2 billion budget gap.    Both the Senate and Assembly are scheduled to go into session at 2 p.m.    [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:16am EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Gov. voices continued frustration with lawmakers over budget deficit

  Number of comments: 1
     Gov. David Paterson continued to chide lawmakers today about not coming up with a solution to New York’s $3.2 billion deficit. If the state doesn’t cut costs, it won’t be able to pay all its bills next month, including aid to schools, he said during a news conference this [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 1:02pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Senate Republicans: We’re Ready For A Budget Deal

  Senate Republicans today put the blame on Gov. David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, for failing to get a budget deal complete. “1 agree with Governor Paterson’s statement today that the Legislature should be acting on a deficit reduction plan today, instead of waiting until Monday.  The only problem [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 2:13pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• NY wants more takers on $20,000 severance package

     After a total of 1,089 state employees received authorization by mid-November to retire with a $20,000 severance payment, Gov. David Paterson’s Division of the Budget is extending the program until Jan. 20 to see if the state can get more participation.    Paterson ordered a total of $500 million in mid-year budget [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:39pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Poll finds Cuomo is still popular and Paterson isn’t

     Attorney General Andrew Cuomo would get the support of 72 percent of registered voters in the state in a primary against Gov. David Paterson, according to a Marist College poll released today. Twenty-one percent of voters would select Paterson, who plans to run for election next year.    “Right now, Andrew [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 12:14pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Layoffs, Furloughs, Pre-K Cuts Possible, Paterson Says

  With the state facing a cash crunch, Gov. David Paterson warned today he may have to resort to steps that other states have taken—such as layoffs, furloughs or shutting down pre-kindergarten program—if lawmakers don’t make budget cuts this month. A report from Moody’s Investors Service this week, meanwhile, said the state [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 12:07pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• DiNapoli: State Cash Crunch Getting Worse

  Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is coming out with a report today will show that the state’s cash crunch is getting even worse. DiNapoli said his office will release a report that shows New York faces a cash-flow deficit of up to $1.4 billion in late December, higher than projections from Gov. David [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 11:02am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Poll: Giuliani could defeat Gillibrand for U.S. Senate

  Number of comments: 1
     A new Marist College poll that coincides with news today that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has decided not to run for governor found that he would easily win over Democratic Gov. David Paterson but would have his work cut out for him if Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ran instead of Paterson.     [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 4:16pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Lawmakers not due back until Monday

     As negotiations to close a $3.2 billion state budget shortfall continue, the Senate and Assembly have left town until Monday. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, has scheduled session Monday afternoon, although members are on alert that they could be called back earlier with 12 hours notice.    Senate Majority Leader John [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 3:30pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Is Giuliani Out For Governor And In For Senate?

  Talk was rampant this afternoon that Rudy Giuliani will not run for governor next year and is considering instead a run for U.S. Senate. The New York Times reported Giuliani will not run for governor, and the Daily News is reporting he’s going to run for Senate. There is no official word [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 2:39pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Budget Battle Continues

  The war of words continued today over the failure of Gov. David Paterson and the Legislature to reach a deal to close the state’s $3.2 billion mid-year budget gap. Paterson said he continues to get pushback from state senators, Democrats and Republicans, over his plan to cut aid to schools and [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 12:28pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Court Upholds Rights Of Gay Couples To Equal Benefits

  The state’s top court today upheld the rights of Westchester County and the state to legally extend benefits to same-sex couples married in other states. The state Court of Appeals rejected a Christian legal group’s claim that the extension of benefits to gay couples was illegal based on current state law. But [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 10:48am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• County clerks urge gov. to stop production of plates

     County clerks who protested the state’s plans to issue new license plates and charge drivers $25 each to get them said tonight they are not happy that the state is moving forward with production of the new plates.    Faced with pressure from county clerks and residents, Gov. David Paterson [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:33pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Staying In Albany

  Gov. David Paterson wouldn’t predict when he and lawmakers will reach a deal on the budget—maybe tomorrow he said. And thus he wouldn’t say how long he plans to keep them in town. “I feel that we are continuing to negotiate and we are just going to have to lock this [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 6:41pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Bloomberg Backs Public Authorities Reform

  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had opposed the initial legislation to reform the state’s scandal-scarred public authorities, said this afternoon that he supports the modified bill. He said the bill removes some of his initial concerns, such as requiring authorities to sell land at fair market value no matter [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 6:40pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Paterson Signs One Bill, Announces A Deal On Another

  Lawmakers are still without agreement on a budget deal, but they are making their way through Gov. David Paterson’s legislative agenda that he put on the special session calendar since last week. They’ve passed legislation that would let local governments make it easier to form cooperative health-benefit plans and other consolidations [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:43pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Lawmakers, gov. reach agreement on public-authority reform

     Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, said the Asssembly, Senate and Gov. David Paterson have reached an agreement to pass legislation that will reform the state’s public-authority system. Brodsky said that bill, plus one passed earlier this year that the governor has said he will sign, will change the culture of what [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 3:55pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Senate unanimously passes “Leandra’s Law”

     The Senate just passed legislation that would strengthen drunken-driving laws in New York by making it a felony for someone to be driving while impaired and have a child passenger. The vote was 58-0.    Another provision of the bill would require anyone convicted of drunken driving to install an ignition-interlock [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:36pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Poll: Voters worried about deficit, lawmakers’ handling of it

     Nearly 70 percent of registered voters in New York fear the state will run out of money in December, according to a Marist Poll released this afternoon. Twenty-one percent of voters said they are not very worried about that and 10 percent are not worried at all, the poll found.    When [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:09pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• After stimulus $$, states still have $357 billion total shortfall

     The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in February provided $106 billion in aid to states, about 25 percent of the $437 billion total state and local budget shortfalls, a report from the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute says.    Since state and local governments cannot run a deficit, as [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:52pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Report: Middle Class Pays Higher Share of Income To Taxes

  Number of comments: 1
  The union-backed Fiscal Policy Institute is promoting a national study today that claims the middle class in New York pays a slightly higher share of their income in state and local taxes than the rich. But the report by The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, titled “Who Pays? A Distributional [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 11:51am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Paterson Tells Lawmakers They Are Staying In Albany

  After his second leaders’ meeting tonight with legislative leaders, Gov. David Paterson said he’s not as optimistic as lawmakers are about getting a budget deal done. “I don’t know why people are walking around here saying we’re very close to a deal. I don’t know why people think they’re leaving here, [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:58pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Still No Budget Deal

  Legislative leaders and Gov. David Paterson were unable to reach a deal today on how to close the state’s $3.2 billion deficit as some lawmakers continued to oppose spending cuts to education and health care. Paterson has vowed to keep lawmakers in Albany until a deal is reached, but three days [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:36pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Study: ethical misconduct increasing as reason for leaving office

     Ethical misconduct increasingly is the reason state lawmakers leave office, Citizens Union said in a report released today. Fourteen legislators have left office in the past 10 years because of ethical misconduct, criminal charges or similar issues. Five of them left in the 2007-08 session.    “We are facing not [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 4:08pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Paterson: New License Plate Fee Was “Revenue Grab”

  Number of comments: 1
  So much for that reflectivity argument. Gov. David Paterson today said that the controversial new $25 fee on license plates was nothing more than a “revenue grab” and said people do not need new plates early. The state hoped to bring in $129 million in new revenue by forcing drivers to get [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 3:46pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Budget Talks Continue

  Legislative leaders were meeting behind closed doors this afternoon with Gov. David Paterson to continue budget negotiations to close a $3.2 billion mid-year budget gap. Senate President Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, said the two sides are millions of dollars apart on a budget agreement, not billions. While Smith said the sides [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 2:38pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Legislature Agrees To Toughen Laws On Drunk Driving

  The state Legislature is expected to pass legislation that would toughen drunken-driving laws, making it a felony for driving while impaired with a child as a passenger. The measure would also require people convicted of a DWI in New York, and every person convicted of a DWI-related crime, to have an [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:26pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Duffy: Lt. Gov. Talk Is News To Him

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  Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy responded this afternoon to being mentioned in a New York Times article that he’s being considered by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as a potential running mate if Cuomo runs for governor next year. Duffy said he hasn’t been approached by anyone about the position and dismissed it [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 6:41pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Budget Deal Not Ready Yet

  Gov. David Paterson called legislators back to the Capitol on Monday, but like last week the sides remained at odds over how to close the state’s $3.2 billion mid-year budget gap. Paterson has indicated he plans to keep the state Legislature in Albany until a deal is complete, which lawmakers expect [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 5:43pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Kruger To Paterson: Collect Sales Taxes On Indian Reservations

  Sen. Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote a letter to Gov. David Paterson asking him to start taxing cigarettes sold on Native American reservations. Kruger claims the tax could generate up to $1.6 billion in revenue for the state, reports Gannett’s Jon Campbell, who attended Kruger’s [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 2:50pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Lazio Defends Paterson

  Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio wrote a letter this morning to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo defending Gov. David Paterson and saying Cuomo should speak publicly if he thinks he could do a better job. The letter comes after a New York Times article today said that Cuomo is already talking about [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 2:44pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Clerks deliver 100,000 signatures against plates

     County clerks delivered four boxes of petitions opposing the state’s requirement that all drivers get new license plates starting next spring and pay $25 for them. They had collected signatures from more than 100,000 New Yorkers who want the state to quash the requirement, which would raise $130 million [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 2:19pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Despite Efforts, Paterson Still Struggling With Voters: Poll

  Despite a media blitz and a message of fiscal austerity, Gov. David Paterson’s standing with New York voters inched up just slightly in recent weeks, a Siena College poll today found. The Democratic governor’s favorability rating was 33 percent, up from 27 percent in a Siena poll a month ago. That was [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:38am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• State To Seek Repeal Of License Plate Fee

  The state Legislature and Gov. David Paterson indicated Sunday they would look to repeal a new fee that would require motorists to pay $25 for new plates when their vehicle registrations expire starting in April 2010. The sides said they will seek alternative revenue sources to make up for about $129 [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 8:54pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Hillary Not Running For Governor, Rudy Still Undecided

  Rudy Giuliani continues to not say whether he will run for governor next year, saying on ABC “This Week” this morning that he’ll decide pretty soon. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was clear, however: She’s not running for governor. Asked about a possible run by George Stephanopoulos and how polls show him [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 11:52am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Governor: Time is of the essence in budget cuts

     Gov. David Paterson made the rounds of some radio shows today to give an update on where negotiations stand on closing the state’s $3.2 billion budget deficit. Lawmakers were in town for a special session Tuesday, but they left without reaching an agreement. The governor is calling them back Monday [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 2:08pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• H1N1 vaccine becoming more available in NY

  The H1N1 flu vaccine is becoming more widely available across the state, Gov. David Paterson announced today. County health departments are planning clinics that had been put off because the national supply has been lower than anticipated. “Due to delays in manufacturing the H1N1 vaccine, our statewide vaccination campaign has [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 1:34pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• State workers reach plea agreement over “man cave”

  Two New York employees who were allegedly selling and using drugs, watching television and sleeping in a concealed ”man cave” on state property instead of working pleaded guilty today to defrauding the government, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced. Gary A. Pivoda, 48, of Glennon Road in Latham, an Albany suburb, and Louis Marciano, 50, of Willow [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:52pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Cuomo, Paterson Raising Campaign Bucks

  With the next campaign finance filing about two months away, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is bringing in John Bon Jovi to give a special performance at his birthday fundraiser next month. Tickets start at $1,000. Meanwhile, an event for Gov. David Paterson is being held next Thursday with Ellen Malcolm, president and [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:19pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• State begins push to get everyone counted in census

     The New York 2010 Census Complete Count Committee kicked off a campaign to make sure state residents are counted in next year’s U.S. Census. Gov. David Paterson signed an executive order to form the committee, which will be composed of the heads of all state agencies and authorities.    The [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 3:31pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• More than 1,000 protest proposed health-care cuts

  More than 1,000 health-care workers who traveled to the Capitol Thursday to protest the governor’s proposed $278 million in health-care reductions.    “We simply cannot sustain any more cuts in our hospitals, in our nursing homes or in our home-care division. Today we’ve got to make it clear: No more health-care [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 2:51pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Paterson To Lawmakers: Just Do It

  After talking tough about the need to cut state spending, Gov. David Paterson this morning suggested that he’s open to coming on board with any deal that legislative leaders could strike to close a $3.2 billion mid-year budget deficit. Paterson held a half-hour conference call with legislative leaders that reporters were [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 12:09pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• If Party’s Pick, Paterson Thinks Obama Would Campaign For Him

  Speaking on Bloomberg radio this morning, Gov. David Paterson was asked whether he thinks President Obama would campaign for him as he seeks election next year. This, of course, after the White House in September asked Paterson to reconsider his election plans. “I wouldn’t have the slightest idea,” Paterson responded. “If [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 10:20am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• NY scores better than 12 states on “fiscal peril” scale

     New York received a score of 20 on the Pew Center on the States’ new report evaluating whether states are in fiscal peril. All states were compared with California, which received the highest score—30. Revenue is down more in New York than California—17.1 percent to 16.2 percent. The national [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 6:09pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Thousands expected to protest proposed cuts

  Thousands of New York health-care workers are planning a rally in Albany tomorrow to protest Gov. David Paterson’s proposed $470 million cuts to hospitals, nursing homes and home-care providers. The governor has called for the reductions as part of his plan to close the state’s $3.2 billion mid-year budget deficit. [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 3:26pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Paterson Not Ready To Pass Blame On Budget Delay

  Gov. David Paterson said today that he won’t point fingers as to why a budget-cutting deal hasn’t been completed with the state Legislature, saying he remains optimistic that next week’s session will lead to an agreement. After Tuesday’s failed session, he has called lawmakers back to Albany on Monday and Tuesday [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 2:25pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Bruno: “I Did Nothing Wrong”

  With his federal corruption trial in its second week, former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, Rensselaer County, continues to proclaim his innocence as the prosecution seeks to builds its case in federal court against him. “I did nothing wrong. I was charged with no specific crime. I did business within [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:55am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Republicans, Out of Power, Not Happy With Budget Talks

  Here’s the statement from Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, on the failure to get a budget deal done today. “The taxpayers of New York delivered a strong message last Tuesday that they are sick and tired of out of control government spending and the high taxes and fees that [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 7:17pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Paterson To Call Legislature Back Next Week

  Unable to get a budget deal today with the state Legislature, Gov. David Paterson told reporters this evening that he will call lawmakers back to Albany next Monday and Tuesday to address the deficit. He said today’s session wasn’t a bust because it got lawmakers to negotiate seriously about the budget [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 6:30pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Budget Deal Remains Elusive

  On Monday, Gov. David Paterson implored lawmakers to deal with the state’s budget deficit. But today, a deal did not appear imminent. Despite a special session of the Legislature called by Paterson to close a $3.2 billion mid-year deficit, he and legislators remained at odds over how to remedy the state’s [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 3:55pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• CVS agrees to $875,000 settlement with state

     State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced today that he reached an $875,000 settlement with CVS Pharmacy Inc. over the sale of expired products in New York, including milk, eggs, medicines and baby formula.     CVS, which has about 432 stores in the state, has agreed to implement specific policies and procedures aimed [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 1:05pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Budget Talks Continue, Same-Sex Marriage Vote Not Expected

  The state Legislature will convene a special session today to seek to address the state’s budget deficit and a host of legislation, including a same-sex marriage bill. But agreements still appear uncertain, and senators and aides said privately that they are not expected to take up the bill today to legalize [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:01am EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Monserrate panel holds first meeting

     Four members of the Senate’s Special Committee of Inquiry investigating the conduct of Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, defended their ability to serve impartially this evening after a letter from Monserrate’s lawyer alleged they were “predisposed against” his client. The committee has been convened to review Monserrate’s domestic-violence case and determine whether his [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:02pm EST
  by Cara Matthews

• Cuomo Absent From Governor’s Speech

  Number of comments: 1
  Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate next year, was not in attendance today at Gov. David Paterson’s speech to a joint session of the Legislature. A spokesman said Cuomo had a “long-term scheduling conflict.” Paterson, who is running for a full four-year term next year, said Cuomo was invited [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 7:32pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Scozzafava Resigns From Leadership Post

  Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate in the 23rd Congressional District race who left the race and backed the Democratic candidate, has agreed to resign from her $16,500-a-year leadership position, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb said this evening. The move had been expected since Scozzafava’s endorsement of Democratic candidate Bill Owens, [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 7:28pm EST
  by Joseph Spector

• Paterson Implores Lawmakers To Act On Cuts

  Saying the state is at the “brink of financial challenge of unprecedented magnitude,” Gov. David Paterson on Monday urged the state Legislature to pass a budget-cutting plan that he says is vital to the state’s fiscal health. In a rare joint session of the Legislature, Paterson called lawmakers together to stress [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 6:38pm EST
  by Joseph Spector