Governor's Epiphany

Governor Paterson is having an epiphany about the budget and New York State spending, rightfully so, as lawmakers are about to settle in and vote on this year’s budget. These events seem to occur more frequently as responsibility for actions increase and people become more of the decision makers, such as the case with New York State Comptroller DiNapoli with his remark about being a “reformed sinner”.

Recent remarks made by Governor Paterson, consistently broadcast themes for the next budget that include a need to “tighten our belts”, cutting spending and not rely on new taxes on the millionaires or middle class, the need to change their inability to manage effectively and being more fiscally sound.

Governor Paterson said, “What this state is going to need to reverse its spending binge is strong leadership from the executive levels.”

The Governor wants a reincarnation as a good honest, fiscally prudent steward of the taxpayer’s money, then he can begin with one of New York State’s illustrious leaders, Sheldon Silver.

Sheldon Silver, alone in 2006-07, bankrolled projects in his one single Assembly district to the tune of $7,384,500. It is safe to say that is more than the 118th and 122nd Assembly districts and 48th Senate district combined.

If every Assembly person received an equal share of the pork, it would be approximately a $566,666 per member, or 0.66% of the total, Silver’s take equaled 8.6% of the total pot of money, 13x what he should have received. Silver has control of the $85 million in Assembly pork and he abuses it to his advantage.

Can people in New York (outside his district) possibly believe this is fair? Governor Paterson should correct this immediately and show people he is serious about his tenets.

Details of the budget forthcoming as soon as available, they are still secretive.

Perfect Illustrations Of Albany Dysfunction

Whether or not you favor congestion pricing, whether or not you even care about congestion pricing it does not matter, the point is the lack of debate and vote on the issue.

The issue was discussed in the back room, behind closed doors and there was no vote on the floor of the Assembly.

Speaker Silver is quoted yesterday as saying; “many of them (Democratic members of the Assembly) just don’t believe in the concept”, ok, let the members of the Assembly speak for themselves through a vote.

Speaker Silver and his staff are reported to have given the brush off to Bloomberg’s staff, which is standard operating procedure for the Assembly leadership. My way or the highway mentality, no discussion.

Snippets of Mayor Bloomberg's press release;

"It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas and to be willing to try something. Unfortunately, both are lacking in the Assembly today."

“If that wasn’t shameful enough, it takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience– on an issue that has been debated, and amended significantly to resolve many outstanding issues, for more than a year.”

Silver says no vote, no hearing, no nothing including no democracy in this state.

An issue as important as congestion pricing is; it never made it to the floor for vote. A single man in Albany should never have this much power and control, that is essence of the problem in Albany.

Further, Democrats on the Senate side were shut out, no access to bills that were to be voted on.

Is this anyway to run New York State government, it is an embarrassment.