No More Puerto Rico Trip For Malcolm Smith

Last week, State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith was all ready to head to Puerto Rico for a junket with other lawmakers—even though a reporter questioned his travels with critical issues still left unresolved. Smith replied, "What critical issues?" and the Daily News' Liz Benjamin said, "Well, the MTA, for example, mayoral control of schools, gay marriage is still hanging out there." But now Smith is all about staying home, and he's blaming the swine flu! Per PolitickerNY, Smith said, "I myself, unfortunately, have a daughter who was at [St. Francis Prep] who is under the weather. My wife is still under the weather, and I would tell you that my first responsibility is as a husband and a father. And I believe at this point it's probably better for me to stay closer to home than to be on a trip. I still think it's a good trip...but I think I should be closer to my daughter and my wife. God forbid if something were to happen to them and their condition gets worse while I'm away, I would never forgive myself."