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  • Jury breaks for holiday in Bruno trial

    Number of comments: 7
       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 [...]
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    Posted: November 24, 2009, 7:50pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Ethics panel reaches Troopergate settlement with former state cop head

    Number of comments: 3
       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, 5:01pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • More sniping over Yonkers Board of Ed v. Yonkers IG

    Yonkers Councilman John Murtagh, R-5th District, issued a statement today rejecting suggestions by the Yonkers Board of Education’s attorney that he may be committing criminal coercion by refusing to support bonding for the schools unless the Board of Education opens its books to Yonkers Inspector General Philip Zisman. The IG dispute [...]
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    Posted: November 24, 2009, 4:18pm EST
    by egarcia

  • Gov.’s revised proposal would cut health care, education 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, 2:18pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Gov. to use executive authority to close budget 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, 12:48pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • No budget deal as third week of negotiations begins

    Number of comments: 1
       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, 9:28pm 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 [...]
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    Posted: November 23, 2009, 1:26pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Bruno trial expected to end today

    Number of comments: 1
       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, 12:39pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Budget deadlock not helping voter 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, 12:15pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Still no budget deal at the Capitol

    Number of comments: 2
       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, 11:15am EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Ball:No run for Congress

    Number of comments: 30
    Just days after touting a poll that he argued showed him within striking range of Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, state Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson, today said he’s changed his mind and will now run for the state Senate. Ball this afternoon said he intends to run for the 40th [...]
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    Posted: November 21, 2009, 5:14pm EST
    by Mike Risinit

  • Gov. voices continued frustration with lawmakers over budget deficit

    Number of comments: 3
       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, 1:29pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Mount Vernon mayor announce police-citizens’ council

    Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young announced a new Advisory Council on Community and Police Relations yesterday. It will consist of a diverse group of community leaders, police representatives and high school students and will draw upon the experience and perspectives of each group to further develop communications and relations with the [...]
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    Posted: November 20, 2009, 5:30pm EST
    by egarcia

  • Yonkers GOP gets new leaders

    The Yonkers Republican City Committee announced today that its executive director Steve Levy resigned and that two people will replace him. The new executive director for outreach will be Gerry Esposito and the new executive director for Operations will be Bob Moffitt. Esposito is a longtime community leader and Moffitt played a [...]
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    Posted: November 20, 2009, 5:15pm EST
    by egarcia

  • More Yonkers sniping about voters’ Nov. 3 message

    Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone issued a press release earlier this week in which he claimed to clearly hear voters’ message on Nov. 3 and he outlined his priorities for the City Council, while taking a shot at City Council President Chuck Lesnick. Today Lesnick responded, challenging Amicone to “lead by [...]
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    Posted: November 20, 2009, 5:04pm EST
    by egarcia

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

    Number of comments: 2
    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 [...]
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    Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:43pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

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

    Number of comments: 3
        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, 12:12pm 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, 11:59am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • More on Ball’s poll

    Number of comments: 6
    If you recall, state Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson, released a poll this week showing him running pretty close to Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, in his bid to unseat the congressman. Some, though, took issue with the way the poll was conducted, pointing out it didn’t sample the entire Congressional district [...]
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    Posted: November 20, 2009, 11:01am EST
    by Mike Risinit

  • DiNapoli: State’s 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, 10:24am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Former Gov. George Pataki will be at ...

    Number of comments: 1
    Former Gov. George Pataki will be at a parkland ceremony near his home next week in Garrison. The town of Philipstown, which includes the lush hamlet of Garrison, is dedicating a sign, Let’s Take a Hike,  to the past state leader “for his love of the great outdoors,” said Amber Stickle. [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:28pm EST
    by Barbara Nackman

  • WCA rips Ryan on budget statements

    Number of comments: 5
    The Westchester County Association President William Mooney today blasted the county board chairman, saying Bill Ryan is “missing the mark” in his criticisms of WCA having outside auditors review the county’s $1.8 billion budget proposal. “Mr. Ryan is quoted today as saying that accountants aren’t capable of being ‘qualitative’ in their [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:25pm EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

  • Astorino, Ryan summitt — housing and taxes center stage

    County Executive-elect Rob Astorino met with Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman William Ryan, D-White Plains, this afternoon to discuss issues the two leaders will have to address in the New Year. Central to the talks were the federal housing settlement and the county’s $1.8 billion budget proposal, which legislators are [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:07pm EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

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

       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, 4:18pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Gillibrand coming to Mahopac

    Number of comments: 1
    Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is coming to Mahopac on Tuesday. An announcement on The Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce’s Web site says: Senator Gillibrand will have a conversation with local business and community leaders on  economic development and how she can assist and promote local growth. More information can be found on [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 3:41pm EST
    by Mike Risinit

  • 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, 3:28pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Is Giuliani Out For Governor And In For Senate?

    Number of comments: 5
    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, 2:38pm 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, 12:27pm 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, 10:44am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • County clerks urge gov. to stop production of new plates

    Number of comments: 1
       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, 7:30pm 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, 5:34pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Feiner’s ‘Rethinking’ Group Reconvenes

    Number of comments: 2
    A group that wants to reconsider, and possibly eliminate, Westchester County government is meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Rethinking Westchester County government will hold a meeting at Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Ave. Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, also an organizer, said members will discuss how Rob Astorino’s election as county [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:29pm EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

  • County board to hold budget hearing Thursday

    The Westchester County Board of Legislators is holding its first public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday on County Executive Andrew Spano’s $1.8 billion budget proposal. The meeting will be held at Mount Vernon City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square. Spano on Monday released his proposal, which would increase taxes by 4.9 [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:07pm EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

  • LWV sponsors budget forum

    The League of Women Voters of Westchester is sponsoring a meeting Thursday to help taxpayers understand the 2010 proposed Westchester County budget. The meeting will take place 1 p.m. Thursday at the Scarsdale Congregational Church, 1 Heathcote Road, Scarsdale. County Executive Andrew Spano released his $1.8 billion budget proposal Monday and [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 4:35pm EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

  • 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, 3:54pm 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, 1:38pm 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, 1:15pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Hall pollster calls Ball’s poll misleading

    Number of comments: 4
    An update of sorts – Remember the poll publicized by Republican state Assemblyman Greg Ball’s Congressional campaign, the one that had him within five points of U.S. Rep. John Hall? According to an update in Roll Call, the poll didn’t sample the entire Congressional district and oversampled Putnam County, Ball’s [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:06pm EST
    by Mike Risinit

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

       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, 12:48pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

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

    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, 11:52am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Ball’s campaign touts poll

    For an update on this post, which includes Hall’s campaign criticizing the polling technique, go here. Also note, the Roll Call story posted below includes a correction. New York: Ball Poll Shows Race With Hall Competitive Nov. 17, 2009 By Emily Cadei Roll Call Staff Correction Appended According to an internal poll done for Republican Greg Ball’s [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 11:24am EST
    by Mike Risinit

  • 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

    Number of comments: 1
    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, 7:34pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Yonkers mayor says voters sent “resounding message”

    Number of comments: 3
    Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone issued a press statement today saying that he heard voters’ message “loud and clear,” even though he wasn’t running for anything. He said voters expect him and his counterparts on the City Council to make sacrifices,  find new efficiencies and reduce the tax burden, among other cost-saving [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 5:43pm EST
    by egarcia

  • Astorino in DC

    Number of comments: 3
    Westchester’s Republican county executive-in-waiting visited the nation’s capital today. Rob Astorino met withDemocratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as Reps. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison; Eliot Engel, D-Bronx; and John Hall, D-Dover. “We agreed to work together for the good of the county,’‘  said Schumer, who was the first elected official [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 5:34pm EST
    by Brian Tumulty

  • Legal costs for Yonkers Board of Education vs. Yonkers IG: $16,021.74

    When news of the Yonkers Board of Education’s Sept. 29 lawsuit against Yonkers Inspector General Philip Zisman became public, various City Council members denounced the suit as a waste of money The Journal News submitted a Freedom of Information law request to the Yonkers Public Schools seeking a copy of the [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 4:26pm EST
    by egarcia

  • Study: Ethical misconduct increasing as reason for leaving office

    Number of comments: 2
       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, 4:06pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Budget Talks Continuing

    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, 2:37pm 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, 1:25pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

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

    Number of comments: 3
    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, 12:40pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Ball: Keep Terrorists Out of America

    Number of comments: 10
    BALL, 9/11 FAMILIES, SAY KEEP TERRORISTS OUT OF AMERICA State lawmaker condemns decision to bring terror suspects to the Big Apple Assemblyman Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson) today said that the decision by the Federal Government to bring the suspected terrorist masterminds and financiers behind the attacks of September 11th, 2001 [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 11:06am EST
    by Mike Risinit

  • Budget Deal Not Ready Yet

    Number of comments: 3
    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

    Number of comments: 1
    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

    Number of comments: 4
    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 new plates

    Number of comments: 1
       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, 2:05pm 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, 9:37am 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, 8:55pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Hillary Not Running For Governor; Rudy Still Undecided

    Number of comments: 2
    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, 11:51am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Governor: Time is of the essence on budget cuts

    Number of comments: 1
       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, 2:09pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • H1N1 shot 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 [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 1:27pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Chairman Ryan Wins

    Number of comments: 11
    Bill Ryan, chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, won a close race against Republican challenger Bob Hyland, Politics on the Hudson has learned. Ryan won by 136 votes after the results were re-counted, according to Reginald LaFayette, Democratic Commissioner of the Board of Elections and chairman of the county’s [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 10:31am EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

  • State workers reach plea agreement over “man cave”

    Number of comments: 2
    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 [...]
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    Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:41pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Cuomo, Paterson Seeking Campaign Bucks

    Number of comments: 1
    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, 4:40pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • NY launches campaign to get people 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.       [...]
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    Posted: November 12, 2009, 3:54pm 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 [...]
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    Posted: November 12, 2009, 2:18pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Paterson To Lawmakers: Just Do It

    Number of comments: 4
    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, 12:08pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

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

    Number of comments: 1
    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, 10:19am EST
    by Joseph Spector

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

    Number of comments: 2
       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, 6:04pm 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. The [...]
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    Posted: November 11, 2009, 3:19pm 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, 2:50pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Bruno: “I Did Nothing Wrong”

    Number of comments: 4
    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, Are Not Happy With Budget Talks

    Number of comments: 4
    Here’s the statement from Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos 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 pay for [...]
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    Posted: November 10, 2009, 7:16pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Paterson Will Call Back Legislature Next Week

    Number of comments: 1
    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

  • Astorino names executive committee

    Number of comments: 1
    Rob Astorino, the newly elected Republican county executive, today named the leaders on his executive transition committee — they include a cadre of lawyers, bankers, former Westchester lawmakers, an accountant and a 38-year-old hedge fund manager, who was a senior adviser to President Obama on the auto industry. This team, which includes six [...]
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    Posted: November 10, 2009, 6:17pm EST
    by Gerald McKinstry

  • 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

    Number of comments: 1
       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, 1:02pm 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, 10:59am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Monserrate panel holds first meeting

    Number of comments: 2
       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 conviction [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:10pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Cuomo Absent From Governor’s Speech

    Number of comments: 2
    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, 7:28pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Scozzafava Resigns From Leadership Post

    Number of comments: 8
    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, 7:22pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Paterson Implores Lawmakers To Act On Budget 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

  • Special-interest groups lobby against cuts

       As the Legislature prepares to meet in special session on budget cuts tomorrow, the halls of the Capitol and Legislative Office Building are busy with lobbyists and special-interest groups protesting proposed cuts in education, mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and other areas.    New York State United Teachers, the Campaign [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 1:36pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Cash For Clunkers Helped Car Dealers, Not So Much For State

    Number of comments: 2
    Cash For Clunkers helped increase sales-tax collections at auto dealerships across upstate New York and Long Island in the third quarter by $17.1 million, an increase of 10 percent, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report today. But the national program didn’t offset the state’s decline in sales-tax revenue, which [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 1:30pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Cancer Society protests cuts with “Red Bra” campaign

       The American Cancer Society launched a “Red Bra” campaign campaign today to urge lawmakers not to cut mammograms for the uninsured.    A red bra is pictured above the words “Don’t leave New York women exposed” on a flyer from the organization.    Albany lawmakers and the governor have already cut [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 1:02pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Insurance Bill in New York Gets National Attention

    Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan, is getting national attention for his legislation that would prohibit insurers from dropping entire lines of insurance when it gets too expensive. Schneiderman appeared on CNN and MSNBC’s Countdown on Friday. Schneiderman said this morning that he’s reached out to Sen. Charles Schumer to see if the legislation [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 12:15pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Debate Builds Over Same-Sex Marriage

    The debate over legalizing same-sex marriage in New York will heat up over the next day as Gov. David Paterson has put the measure on tomorrow’s special session agenda. It remains unclear whether the bill will make it to the Senate floor, and if does whether it would get approved. The [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:51am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Paterson Addresses Reluctant Legislature Today

    Number of comments: 1
    Gov. David Paterson will address a joint session of the state Legislature at 3 p.m. today to urge them to pass a budget-cutting plan that he says is vital to the state’s fiscal health. You can watch the speech live here. But the governor appears to face an uphill battle in convincing [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:41am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • State proposes 1,000 housing units for NYC adult-home residents

    Number of comments: 1
       State officials on Friday evening filed a U.S. District Court-ordered remedial plan for how to ensure that residents of adult homes in New York City have the opportunity to live in settings that are more integrated into the community. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled in September that about [...]
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    Posted: November 07, 2009, 2:04am EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • As current deficit looms large, state begins 2010-11 budget process

       This year’s state $3.2 billion budget deficit is far from settled, but it’s time for the governor’s Division of Budget, the Legislature and the state Comptroller’s Office to start working on the 2010-11 spending plan.    At 9:30 a.m. Monday, the day before the special budget-cutting session called by Gov. David [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2009, 5:28pm EST
    by Cara Matthews

  • Yonkers mayor issues no confidence letter on Yonkers IG

    Number of comments: 1
    Mayor Phil Amicone released a letter today he sent to Yonkers Inspector General Philip Zisman regarding his lack of confidence in Zisman’s performance and pointing out what he considers ethical lapses on Zisman’s part. The letter is the latest in a series of letters and press releases issued by city officials [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2009, 5:21pm EST
    by egarcia

  • Senate Democrats’ Talk Of No-Show “Shameful,” Paterson Says

    Gov. David Paterson today called talk of Senate Democrats potentially boycotting his address Monday to a joint session of the Legislature “shameful” and said “I’m even insulted by the delay” in debating whether to come. This morning, a spokesman for the Senate majority said the conference plans to attend, and aides [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: November 06, 2009, 4:09pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Paterson Trying To “Get My Story Out”

    Number of comments: 2
    Gov. David Paterson this morning said he doesn’t feel empowered that President Obama was unsuccessful in helping Democrats win governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia, which could dampen the White House’s attempts to have Paterson back away from a run next year. “I don’t feel empowered by any Democratic losses. [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2009, 11:30am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Senate Democrats To Attend Paterson’s Speech Monday

    The Senate Democratic majority will now attend Gov. David Paterson’s address Monday to a joint session of the Legislature, a spokesman said this morning. “They still don’t want to, but out of respect for the governor’s office they are going to attend,” said spokesman Austin Shafran. Shafran said the conference expects all [...]
     | Rate | Archive
    Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:59am EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Legislation Would Make Public Lawmakers’ Defense Funds

    Number of comments: 2
    Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Albany County, held a press conference today at the Capitol to announce a bill that would require disclosure of any financial contributions to a legal defense fund for politicians in the wake of a fund set up by Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, Gannett’s Jon Campbell reports. The bill [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:49pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Pushing A Tax Amnesty Program

    Number of comments: 1
    As lawmakers seek to close this year’s $3.2 billion budget gap, Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, is proposing legislation that would toughen laws on tax scofflaws. Klein estimates that the state could bring in about $400 million if it establishes a tax amnesty program, which would waive penalties if tax evaders pay [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:33pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • Paterson Starts Ads For 2010 Campaign

    Number of comments: 16
    In an attempt to build support for his candidacy next year, Gov. David Paterson released two television ads for his 2010 campaign that will begin airing statewide Friday. The first ad, titled “Some Say,” tries to make the case for how he’s made tough decisions in the state’s fiscal crisis and [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:08pm EST
    by Joseph Spector

  • With Senate Democrats Or Not, Paterson Calls Special Session

    Even as Senate Democrats say they won’t return to Albany until they have a budget deal, Gov. David Paterson is ordering them back on Tuesday for a special session. And, as he’s promised, he’s put out a long list of key priorities of his administration for lawmakers to consider adopting. He wants [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 3:55pm EST
    by Joseph Spector
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