State Finances Getting Worse

For those of you who say there is not enough pro Renzi campaign material on this blog and too much anti Aubertine.

Well, here is food to chew on!

New York State's budget woes continue to decline as LoHud reports the budget has sprung another $1.2 billion leak, leaving revenues short of expenses for the current budget year leading to another round of cuts.

This is simply poor management by lawmakers and if they were running a private company they would be fired. 

Years of spending too much, every last penny politicians could get their hands on and then some, leaving nothing to cover precarious situations like this year. New York lawmakers find themselves reacting.

Dave Renzi solutions:
1. Tax and spend policies are the problem and budget growth should not be allowed to exceed the rate of inflation. 

Renzi cites his preference while Aubertine avoids that conversation because he has consistently supported excessive, out of control, double the rate of inflation spending growth which is how we got to where we are today.   

2. State needs to reduce unfunded mandates on local governments and schools.

Both Renzi and Aubertine agree on this issue.

3. Maintain our fair share in proportion to other districts.

Renzi cites: school aid increased from the Governor's original proposed budget by $400 million while at the same time the aid increase in the 48th Senate district went in the opposite direction from the governor's original proposed $47 million increase to $46 million, a loss of $1 million in aid while others increased. This is a point lost on Aubertine.

Oswego SD 48 Debate

It was political theater at it best last night in Oswego for the third debate of the Senate candidates David Renzi and Darrel Aubertine. It was a standing room only crowd, which was stacked with Aubertine supporters who were well prepped to moan and groan at every response Renzi gave, it was as if they were suffering from constipation. Nonetheless, Renzi maintained his focus on the issues, responded with crisp answer and challenged Aubertine's position on issues, while Aubertine was rather flat.

Highlights on some of the issues discussed.

Medicaid:
Asked how they would rein in the cost of the massive program. Renzi pointed out he would target fraud and waste as a means to reduce the cost of the program while Aubertine mentioned the 3% growth cap for counties instituted by the state and further he stated he favored zero growth to the counties.

That is positive news for the counties but, Aubertine's idea does not reduce the overall cost of the program, it just shifts the cost to the state.

Nuclear Energy:
This is an issue Aubertine seriously misstated his position. He was asked why he had a change of position on nuclear energy and was it for political purposes. His response was seriously flawed. He stated he did have a change of heart and it occurred about 10 years ago.
,
WRONG, it is for political purposes. He was still a county legislator 10 years ago in 1998, and probably not even thinking about nuclear energy and in 2000 he stated this to reporter Drew Mangione, who now does all his talking.

Jefferson County Legislator Darrel J. Aubertine on other issues:

Nuclear power plants: I would support a bill that would phase these plants out. One of the things you have to look at is energy conservation, try and cut down the need to use so much electricity and make business more aware of how to be energy conscious.

Gun Control:
The candidates were asked what they would do about protecting gun owner rights. Aubertine response was to do what he has done in the past. The oppressive actions in Assembly were only stopped by the GOP controlled Senate. Renzi used the opportunity to remind people of the importance in keeping the Senate in Republican control because they support gun owner rights. Then he mentioned that rights would be infringed upon if control of the Senate flips and the issue got the crowd moaning when he said, "say goodbye to your guns if Democrats get control." He was being candidly correct, it will be more difficult to own them, more costly to own them and much more difficult to use guns.

Ethics:
This was the biggie of the night! Aubertine stated was preparing to repay the money earned by his sister when he illegally hired her. You may say this is good and it is, BUT it took months to occur and only after a political opponent called it out during a debate, and aired it on a TV commercial. This was an admission of guilt but he continues to display ethical lapses and poor judgment by being forced to have to pay the money back.

There were more issues that will be highlighted in other posts.

Nepotism, Ethics - It Is Not Negative, It Is An Issue!

A new campaign ad in the 48th Senate District race. This ad deals with the issue of ethics and specifically the violation of Darrel Aubertine hiring his sister. This is a legitimate campaign issue, much like the Democratic candidate Rich Dollinger's ad in Monroe County.

Candidates Defined Project

The in-depth interviews that were conducted on an informal basis with the candidates are available for viewing. The interviews focused on allowing the voters to get to know the candidates a little better; beyond the TV commercials, the radio, or direct mail, beyond characterizations of what type of people these candidates are, here they speak for themselves.

Thank You to Dave Renzi and Addie Jenne Russell for participating. Bobby Cantwell or Darrel Aubertine did not participate. Danger Democrat and Political IV sponsored the interviews.

Here are the interview, they are long, so set aside time. Also, they will be left posted on the side.


Addie Jenne Russell 

David Renzi

Dates To Note

Meet and Greet for David Renzi
Carthage Elks Lodge
Tonight 5:30

48th Senate District Candidates Debate
David Renzi and Darrel Aubertine
GS Steamers Restaurant
70 East First St., Oswego
Oct 2nd

Candidates for the 118th Assembly District will debate
Bobby Cantwell - Addie Jenne Russell
Clarkson University
October 22nd

Interesting Correlation

In reviewing a news release yesterday from Darrel Aubertine's campaign, it was quite noticeable their use of strong language in what can be perceived as a personal attack. Drew Mangione refers to a Renzi challenge on an issue by using the word 'lie' in the news release 4 times.

First thoughts is that it is a very strong word which generally means you are directly referring to someone as a liar which is distinctly different from debating and disagreeing with someone on issues and it reaches the point of personally attacking your opponent.

Then watching the Presidential debate last night while at the same time following ABC's Jake Tapper live blogging of the debate pops up this comment by Jake

10:34 - I really don't care for the sudden acceptability of the word "lie" by campaigns.

Jake, you nailed it!

Drew and any other campaign spokespeople do not let politics overcome your decency, refrain from using language that personally attacks someone's character and stick to disagreeing on the issues. The whole concept behind poltical competition is the advancing of competing ideas and subsequent discourse.

Contrasting and compaing ideas or policy positions is not negative, just be respectful.