Brunomobile, TV Studio Among State Senate Republican Extras

The NY Times has a hilariously depressing feature about the perks State Senate Democrats have discovered ever since taking control from the Republicans. It's hilarious because there are quotes like “I don’t believe they ever gave us the password that shut down the waterfall to enter the cave leading into the studio" (from Senator Craig Johnson's spokesman Rich Azzopradi, referring to the Long Island TV studio facility for Republicans to film their videos). And it's depressing because they found a vehicle now dubbed the "Brunomobile"—"$50,000 specially outfitted GMC van, with six leather captain’s chairs (some swiveling), a navigation system, rearview camera and meeting table."

The Republicans had the State Senate majority for over 40 years, which is why the State Senate Democrats are surprised to find 75 people working at a Senate printing plant and 45 others "toiling away in a building close to the Capitol who appear to have been engaged in quasi-political research for the Republicans." Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's aide Angelo Aponte said, "Every time we nail something down, we uncover another rock and there’s another 30 people there — it’s all over the state."

Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, who tussled with Smith over being called "minority leader," said the Times article was "dumb," according to the Daily Politics. Skelos also complained about the Democrats wanting to cut the minority party's budget from $7 million (what the Democrats, when they were the minority, had last year) to $3 million. Well, maybe that can go up to $3,012,000 when the Dems sell the Brunomobile.