There appears to be a political game of chess occurring in the 118th Assembly district,with both sides claiming check while checkmate is down the road a few months.
Rumor has it this appears to be a strategic battle between the GOP and Democrats for a geographical candidate.
This appears to be an infinite decision making process on both sides, but, do the Democrats have a candidate, the general thinking is not yet.
Greg Pacquin was the favored candidate from St. Lawrence County but sources say he backed away from the special election, which resulted in the no call for the special election by the Governor. The queen bee, June O'Neill, lost interest in a Pacquin candidacy after being left at the altar of the special election.
Jefferson County Sheriff John Burns appears to be stalled by a recent wedding engagement according to sources and Tim Kelly's name is circulating but Tim is short for Timid!
St Lawrence County Clerk Patty Ritchie is rattling the sabers of a candidacy but has not made a formal announcement, while the Democrats obviously are taking her serious by issuing attacks already and attempting to scare her off, and far reaching words of a candidacy from Bob Cantwell (Jr or II) son of former top paid full time Clayton Supervisor Bob Cantwell has yet to materialize.
It is likely at this point, that if a candidate just steps out there and says I want to represent you, the voters may appreciate that gesture and reward the person in November for having the fortitude to come forward first.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Outta Here By 2013
Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain wants to be out of Iraq by 2013. An article in the New York Times, McCain began to lay the ground work for a vision and plan to remove the troops. This will remove a political target from his back that the Democrats were aiming at and allow McCain to define himself.
Obama campaign offered a lame response typical of an inexperienced politician. “While Senator Obama agrees with many of the sentiments Senator McCain expressed today, he believes you cannot embrace the destructive policies and divisive political tactics of George Bush and still offer yourself as a candidate of healing and change.”
Obama ran a good primary campaign, but he will need more substance than rhetoric in the general election and the scrutiny of his abilities and youthfulness will continue by voters looking for a person capable of being President of the United States.
Obama campaign offered a lame response typical of an inexperienced politician. “While Senator Obama agrees with many of the sentiments Senator McCain expressed today, he believes you cannot embrace the destructive policies and divisive political tactics of George Bush and still offer yourself as a candidate of healing and change.”
Obama ran a good primary campaign, but he will need more substance than rhetoric in the general election and the scrutiny of his abilities and youthfulness will continue by voters looking for a person capable of being President of the United States.
The Gov Means Business, Due Day May 16th
Today is the due date for the state agencies to produce their planned 3.35% cut in spending. All eyes and ears are on the Governor for follow through, and to see how much "pain" agencies purposely attempt to produce.
To: Agency Commissioners
From: Governor David A. Paterson
Re: State Budget
Date: April 21, 2008
When I took office, it was clear New York needed to get its fiscal house in order. That is why, in my first act as governor, I called for an $800 million across-the-board reduction in State spending.
With economic storm clouds gathering on the horizon, I knew that this was the only prudent choice. Accordingly, the Enacted Budget requires all State agencies to manage a 3.35 percent reduction in projected spending. Both the State’s Financial Plan and the public demand that we meet our savings target to help ensure a balanced budget.
The Budget does not dictate what actions each Commissioner must take in order to implement this reduction. Instead, I believed it was a better course of action to draw on your expertise, as well as that of your staff, in determining how to improve our government’s efficiency. As such, by May 16, 2008, each agency must submit a detailed plan of action to the Division of the Budget, identifying how it will realize its required share of these savings.
The reductions you propose must be achievable, recurring, and serious. Your plan must reflect the creativity needed to provide the services the public expects at a lower cost.
Above all, you must rethink your hiring practices. Only job openings absolutely essential to your agency’s operations and protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers are to be filled. Positions that do not fit this criterion must be left vacant.
I have faith that each of you will be able to find ways to cut costs and achieve these goals. If, however, I deem that your proposal will not produce the required savings assumed in our State Financial Plan, there are several corrective actions that I am prepared to take. These include withholding an amount of budgeted funding needed to hit your savings target or implementing a hard hiring freeze at your agency. I sincerely hope and expect such measures will not be necessary.
After your plans are submitted and approved, we need to immediately turn our attention to next year’s budget, which promises to be constructed in an even bleaker economic climate. You must use the development of these savings initiatives as an opportunity to fundamentally reevaluate your agency’s operations from top to bottom. I have an ambitious vision for our State’s finances, and these reductions are only the beginning.
In the current environment, complacency is unacceptable. We must change the way the State does business, and start leading the nation as an example of what is right in government. Together, we must rebuild New York into what it once was and can be again – the Empire State. And that starts with a better, more fiscally responsible State budget.
I look forward to your cooperation as we seek to achieve this common goal.
To: Agency Commissioners
From: Governor David A. Paterson
Re: State Budget
Date: April 21, 2008
When I took office, it was clear New York needed to get its fiscal house in order. That is why, in my first act as governor, I called for an $800 million across-the-board reduction in State spending.
With economic storm clouds gathering on the horizon, I knew that this was the only prudent choice. Accordingly, the Enacted Budget requires all State agencies to manage a 3.35 percent reduction in projected spending. Both the State’s Financial Plan and the public demand that we meet our savings target to help ensure a balanced budget.
The Budget does not dictate what actions each Commissioner must take in order to implement this reduction. Instead, I believed it was a better course of action to draw on your expertise, as well as that of your staff, in determining how to improve our government’s efficiency. As such, by May 16, 2008, each agency must submit a detailed plan of action to the Division of the Budget, identifying how it will realize its required share of these savings.
The reductions you propose must be achievable, recurring, and serious. Your plan must reflect the creativity needed to provide the services the public expects at a lower cost.
Above all, you must rethink your hiring practices. Only job openings absolutely essential to your agency’s operations and protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers are to be filled. Positions that do not fit this criterion must be left vacant.
I have faith that each of you will be able to find ways to cut costs and achieve these goals. If, however, I deem that your proposal will not produce the required savings assumed in our State Financial Plan, there are several corrective actions that I am prepared to take. These include withholding an amount of budgeted funding needed to hit your savings target or implementing a hard hiring freeze at your agency. I sincerely hope and expect such measures will not be necessary.
After your plans are submitted and approved, we need to immediately turn our attention to next year’s budget, which promises to be constructed in an even bleaker economic climate. You must use the development of these savings initiatives as an opportunity to fundamentally reevaluate your agency’s operations from top to bottom. I have an ambitious vision for our State’s finances, and these reductions are only the beginning.
In the current environment, complacency is unacceptable. We must change the way the State does business, and start leading the nation as an example of what is right in government. Together, we must rebuild New York into what it once was and can be again – the Empire State. And that starts with a better, more fiscally responsible State budget.
I look forward to your cooperation as we seek to achieve this common goal.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
No. No & No
Governor Paterson seems to have a one word vocabulary and that is NO!
Paterson has said he will continue to say NO to the unions to sweeten their pension pot. "This is not the time to sweeten the pot because we're about to lose the whole pot," Paterson said.
Paterson does not want to pick a fight with the unions on this issue, but it looks like it is headed that way. The unions want to protect their own from any health care reductions due to budget cuts and fiscally difficult times the state is facing. According to the New York Post CSEA President "Danny Donohue, says his aim is to make sure 'localities live up to their responsibility to retirees.' And, he says, labor wants New York to do 'what's morally right.'"
Paterson is reportedly prepared to say NO to the gas tax holiday as well. In this case, he believes doing nothing is doing something and he will not take action for reduction of taxes on the purchases of gasoline.
His final NO was to himself, the Governor annually gets a $30 million share of the $200 million member item or pork barrel spending pot, and $500 million of the capital projects spending, which Paterson has said he may not spend his portion. A portion of the $500 million, $150 million to be exact, is previously committed, but the balance $350 million remains uncommitted.
His positions seem firm for the moment, but time will tell, as the election of Democratic colleagues in the Senate gets closer and the battles heat up, he might come under pressure to begin dumping taxpayer money for electoral purposes.
Carthage Residents May Not Agree
This NYSUT pro-school budget vote commercial probably will not get much traction in the Carthage area this year. Residents of the Wilna/Champion area need to send Superintendent Carl Militello, resident of Sackets Harbor, and the school board that they care about their school, but they also care about their taxes.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Mass Transit
P IV has a reader in New York City who is an advocate of mass transit, of course, by the nature of a person living in the Big Apple, makes one fairly dependent on forms of transportation other than personal vehicles.
The contrast between upstate and downstate is probably most apparent in the method in which the inhabitants travel. Hence, the reason the Assembly Democrats are more concerned about subway tolls rather than thruway tolls, Senate Republican's concerned about gas taxes, while the Democrats look the other way.
A dual purpose proposal was identified by the reader; an attempt to reduce fuel consumption and an effort to reduce the political divide between upstate and downstate the reader suggested the return of train transportation that once flourished in upstate New York.
So here is a reader suggestion, bring back LOSRR.
And to emphasize the lack of concern a downstate Democrat has for the gas prices and taxes the people of this state pay here is none other than the "Queen of Kill that Bill" Liz Krueger spewing her rhetoric.
No Fork, No Pork
It must be Darrel is either sitting at the wrong table in Albany or they did not give him a fork when he sat down for the pork serving.
There is very little doubt some readers here like their pork and for those of you who do like your pork with lots of fat, here is a list of pork projects, look close nothing for Northern New York.
Nothing for Samaritan Medical Center and their expansion while other hospitals are included, nothing for Jefferson Community College while other colleges are included, nothing for Jefferson County Historical Society while several other facilities such as the Center for Jewish History or Italian American Museum received money, nothing for the local YMCA while South Queens Boys and Girls Club and YMCA of Rochester take home some money.
Looks like Northern New York is not reaping any benefit of our tax dollars. Keep sending it in, they will keep spending it while we get none of it, attaboy Darrel.
There is very little doubt some readers here like their pork and for those of you who do like your pork with lots of fat, here is a list of pork projects, look close nothing for Northern New York.
Nothing for Samaritan Medical Center and their expansion while other hospitals are included, nothing for Jefferson Community College while other colleges are included, nothing for Jefferson County Historical Society while several other facilities such as the Center for Jewish History or Italian American Museum received money, nothing for the local YMCA while South Queens Boys and Girls Club and YMCA of Rochester take home some money.
Looks like Northern New York is not reaping any benefit of our tax dollars. Keep sending it in, they will keep spending it while we get none of it, attaboy Darrel.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Assembly Republican Leader Blogs
The Assembly Leader is a blogger!
TEDISCO'S TAKE
His latest entry speaks to the gas tax relief.
Would you favor saving .30 per gallon and if the federal government eliminates their tax then the saving could be around .50 per gallon?
Sign the petitions for gas tax relief in Tedisco's blog and the Senate petition.
TEDISCO'S TAKE
His latest entry speaks to the gas tax relief.
Would you favor saving .30 per gallon and if the federal government eliminates their tax then the saving could be around .50 per gallon?
Sign the petitions for gas tax relief in Tedisco's blog and the Senate petition.
Hybrid Pork Solution
E.J McMahon wrote an article yesterday in the Syracuse Post Standard that called for an end to pork spending. He rightfully points out the abuse of member item spending and how many people simply call for more equity in the system of distribution in order to fix the problems.
McMahon writes " The fundamental problem with member items is not equity but excess" and "The right answer is to do away with member item spending all together."
A hybrid solution to both McMahon and other good government groups calling for equity is needed. The system needs more transparency rather than huge documents of member item listings distributed, with a here you wanted it, go look for it attitude. The system needs more equity among members, but that should go along with equity in redrawing district lines after the new census. Finally, a small sum of money to be used for discretionary purposes by members in their districts is not a bad thing, but not $200 million as budgeted, after all the legislator is suppose to know their district better than anyone else such as Sheldon Silver or Joe Bruno.
McMahon says don't mend it, end it.
A system mending it is a preferred choice.
McMahon writes " The fundamental problem with member items is not equity but excess" and "The right answer is to do away with member item spending all together."
A hybrid solution to both McMahon and other good government groups calling for equity is needed. The system needs more transparency rather than huge documents of member item listings distributed, with a here you wanted it, go look for it attitude. The system needs more equity among members, but that should go along with equity in redrawing district lines after the new census. Finally, a small sum of money to be used for discretionary purposes by members in their districts is not a bad thing, but not $200 million as budgeted, after all the legislator is suppose to know their district better than anyone else such as Sheldon Silver or Joe Bruno.
McMahon says don't mend it, end it.
A system mending it is a preferred choice.
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