Earlier this year, former governor David Paterson announced he was joining the faculty of NYU. Now it turns out he'll be a visiting professor teaching a seminar called, "The Art of Governing," which might possibly be code for "Being Dysfunctional in Albany" or "Admitting Coke Usage, Affairs Days After Becoming Governor." more ›

Governor Paterson, who has just a few more weeks until he leaves, was on the radio this morning and he discussed his successor, Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, "He's doing all the right things. He's saying all the right things. But I don't think one person can change the way government works right now." He added, "Before everybody starts blaming him the way they blame me, I want everybody to stop before this governor comes into office and assess what is actually the capacity." more ›

For NY State Democrats, it's a good news/bad news situation with gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo's enormous $23 million. On one hand, it gives him an advantage over his challengers, whether it's Rick Lazio or Carl Paladino (or both). But the worry, according to the Post, is that Cuomo might use some of that money to tell voters some shocking news—that Albany is dysfunctional!—which would cost Democrats seats in the Legislature. more ›

It's hard to figure out if Albany's passage of the state budget—originally due on April 1—is a good thing or a bad thing. Here's the AP's lede: "It's four months late and critics say it's so out of balance that it won't hold together, but New York state finally has a budget passed by the Senate," plus, "The fight over the new budget went down to the wire. Senators denounced each other, the governor and even the sloppy wording of the budget bill." Yay, more fighting! more ›

Remember how Governor Paterson had to personally sign over 6,700 line items for veto last week? Well, his staff delivered them to the Legislature. Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said, "We are not negotiating. These vetoes have been delivered...at this point, what needs to happen is that the Senate needs to pass a revenue bill and then the budget is complete." In case you forgot, the state budget was due on April 1. more ›

With criminal charges about to drop on State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., the head of the state Democratic party wants to oust him from the party! Won't anyone stand up for the man accused of siphoning $14 million from a taxpayer-funded non-profit, among other things? Fear not, Pedro; here's Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. to the rescue! In a press release, Diaz called the push to oust Espada an example of "selective prosecution of Hispanics." After all, isn't it interesting that out of all the Albany lawmakers are under investigation, the only one being pushed out is Hispanic? It's just like that time the Senate expelled Hiram Monserrate—which had everything to do with his race and nothing to do with that time he cut up his girlfriend's face and dragged her through an apartment lobby. more ›

Veto-palooza is over—for now. Yesterday, Governor David Paterson completed his marathon of vetoing 6,709 line items that the Assembly and Senate added to his budget. The madness began on Thursday, with Paterson offering his initials to veto over 4,000 porky items; yesterday's session was at the Governor's Mansion, with Paterson knocking out about 2,000 items. According to the Daily Politics, "That's more than $500 million in additional spending he slashed as well as nearly $200 milliion more in member items approved in previous years but still not paid by the state." more ›

Last night, the State Assembly and Senate voted to approve a budget that would restore hundreds of millions to education and health care, but then hours later, Governor Paterson said he'd veto every single one of the over 6,900 items. According to the Times Union, "The governor will have to initial every rejected item personally -- with no mechanical help. At the rate of one line-item veto every five seconds, that means the governor will have to spend almost 10 hours straight on the project -- and that's without bathroom or meal breaks. Paterson has 10 days to complete the project." Paterson's spokesman was able to joke, "We'll set up a webcam," while the governor himself said, "If I start now, I figure I should be finished before I leave office." more ›

Today, Governor Paterson is calling for a special Sunday session for the Assembly and Senate to discuss the NY State budget, which was due on April 1, because the Assembly and Senate have struck a budget agreement that ignores many of Paterson's proposals to close a $9.2 billion budget gap. According to NY1, "The agreement reached by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson restores $600 million to state school aid. Another $683 million in health care cuts that were proposed by Governor David Paterson were also restored, including $46.8 million in Medicaid cuts... The agreement does not address how the state will raise revenue for the restored aid, but Democratic sources said that does not need to be immediately figured out." more ›

What happens when one controversial State Senator accuses another controversial State Senator of swearing at him? Well, it's just confirmation that Albany is where insanity reigns. State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) wants the State Senate to censure Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn), for Parker's colorful language to convince Diaz to vote for a bill. Diaz said, “Senator Parker was saying eff this, eff that. In front of the ladies. It’s uncalled for. If I want to vote no on something nobody is going to tell me to eff me. What are we, babies?" more ›

Even though Albany managed to keep the state government open for one more week, Governor Paterson isn't sure the Legislature can get its act together to pass another budget extender—especially not when he's loading them with cuts for the year. With the state budget overdue by over two months, Paterson says millions in cuts he's including in the latest week's budget extender will be from public safety, economic development and transportation, all to close the $9.2 billion budget gap. He warned, "The state is out of money right now," and even says he might lay off up to 10,000 state workers this year. more ›

The State Senate and Assembly may think they are close to a budget, but Governor Paterson said on the radio this morning, "I think we'll have to do it again next week." "It" being the whole "threatening a government shutdown" thing, because the Legislature is still 76 days late on delivering a budget. The Daily News reports, "The permanent state budget is now 76 days overdue. Lawmakers are battling Paterson over closing a $9.2 billion spending gap." Paterson's wish: "I just want to see a balanced budget pass and I don't want to see it encumber the next administration, as I'm leaving at the end of the year, or the next generation that will inherit the debt that they will unless we act and act now." more ›

Yesterday, the State Senate voted 34 to 27 to pass Governor Paterson's latest budget extender bill. Three Republicans voted with all of the Democrats—except one, Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx)—to keep the state government running for another week; the Times Union reports, "In doing so, they also approved more than $325 million in mental health and human services cuts set out by Paterson, who last week started inserting components of his full 2010-11 budget into the weekly extenders. While the Assembly easily passed the plan, the closely divided Senate, where Democrats have a slim 32-seat majority, struggled until the end." more ›

Albany may very well have continue to "work" for another week without a government shutdown (and without a budget) because Republican State Senator Hugh Farley (Schenectady County) said he'd vote with mostly Democrats and support the budget extender bill. Farley explained, "I can't vote to shut down government. It's a terrible bill, a terrible process, but it would be catastrophic for my constituents," many of whom work for the state government. He added, "This is a devastating, terrible process that is happening." more ›

Aw, look at this: Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx), who just last week said he wouldn't mind shutting down the government, now says he believes the State Senate will pass the budget extender bill that would keep Albany open. According to WABC 7, he said, "As we vote on the extenders in a bi-partisan way, we will get 32 votes to pass it. There will be no shutdown. But New Yorkers really know that what we really need is a complete fiscal plan for New York state." more ›

Governor Paterson may very well shut down the government—which would lead to ""unimaginable chaos— if the Legislature doesn't agree on a budget. But here's something else about Paterson: He loves talk radio. He calls into programs all the time. He loves it so much the NY Times has a front page article (see) about "David from Harlem" or "David from Manhattan." more ›

With Albany still trying to work out a budget two months after it was due, there's a little more than the usual dysfunction, because now there are threats of a government shutdown and some classic personal slams. Speaking of the latter, here's what Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. said of Governor Paterson, "We cannot let an unelected lame-duck governor that no one in the state wants to actually decide this [budget] by himself in a piecemeal fashion." more ›

A year ago today, State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. and then-Senate Hiram Monserrate ditched the Democrats and joined the Republican minority to give the Republicans the majority in a crazy coup that paralyzed the Legislature, thanks to drama, locked chambers and infighting—and a lack of a lieutenant governor! And you know what, Espada, who ended the coup when he was made Senate Majority Leader, says he doesn't mind shutting down the government again. more ›

The State Legislature is slowly edging towards agreement on a budget as state lawmakers agreed to Governor Paterson's emergency bill which has $775 million in cuts and other actions in the state's health care budget, a move that keeps the government open for another week. Of course, the Times Union notes how one Assembly member called it "gubernatorial blackmail," because of how hard it'll hit hospitals. more ›

Yesterday afternoon, after releasing a campaign video stating as much, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally announced that he is running for Governor of NY State this November. To strains of Bon Jovi's "Work For The Working Man," Cuomo said to the crowd gathered at the Tweed Courthouse in downtown Manhattan, "New York was not always like this. This is not New York at its best. I'm old enough to remember when it was better than this," reminding people of the dysfunction in Albany and issues on Wall Street. more ›

Aggravating—the State Legislature failed to pass the bill that would make it a felony for drunk drivers to have passengers under 16. The Observer reports, "[State Senator Charles] Fuschillo and State Senator Martin Malave Dilan are standing by a bill that would make it a felony to drive with a B.A.C. of over .08 with a child in the car. A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said yesterday that chamber would consider (and most certainly pass) a bill where felony penalties kicked in at a BAC of .18, and kept a misdemeanor charge for anyone blowing .08 to .18." Though there was allegedly a deal, the Senate then walked away from the deal and apparently couldn't pass the original bill (felony at .08) because Paterson had to send the bill down... so now it's stalled. more ›

Today, the NY Times launched announced its new editorial series on the incompetence of the NY State government, called "Failed State." A year away from state elections, a fired-up Times rails against the "inbred system [which] allows so many lawmakers to abuse the public trust," summarizing some of the more egregious abuses of the past couple years and some of the major grievances which they plan to address in the series. Warning—if you don't already want to head up to Albany with a pitchfork, you will now: more ›

At least four Albany legislators are collecting sweet pensions on top of their annual salaries, including one Assemblyman who sponsored legislation last year to crack down on state workers for the same practice, known as "double dipping." Seventy-five-year-old Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Island) technically "retired" last year but continues to "work" at the state capital, where you're paying him $101,500 in salary plus a pension of about $72,000. Forget it Jake, it's Albany, where it's perfectly legal for veteran lawmakers to "retire" at 65 and start collecting pensions, but without actually leaving their jobs, giving up their salaries or even telling their constituents. more ›

About two months ago, as Albany was mired in new chaos with two Democrats aligning with the Republicans during coup/power grab, the NY Post sent a clown to Albany to add to the circus of madness. Today, the NY Times looks (fondly?) at the tabloid's move, interviewing Connie Adams, professionally known as Sunny the Clown. She "typically performs at children’s birthday parties and corporate picnics" and was initially "reluctant to cancel her standing Wednesday night gig at a local Burger King and make the two-and-a-half-hour drive to the capital." But now Adams is happy she said yes, what with a mention on NPR, the Post's coverage, the envy of her peers, and a small amount of local fame when she happens to be in public as her alter-ego: "I don’t generally like to go out when I’m in clown. You have to stay in character, and it’s really hard. But some guy turns to me and says: 'Sunny the Clown! I just saw you in the paper!'" more ›

Even though Mayor Bloomberg struck a deal with the State Senate over mayoral control of schools legislation, the high-fives might have to wait: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said the amendments—which the Senate tacked onto the mayoral control bill the Assembly already passed— weren't a done deal. He told the Post, "The only guarantee that was given was that we will take them up with our conference and let them decide what they want to do with them, probably sometime in September. It's possible all will pass, possible none will pass, or some of them [will] pass with various amendments." According to the Daily News, "The Senate is expected to be back sometime next month to pass the Assembly bill. At that same time, the chamber was expected to separately pass the amendments agreed to with the city," but now that seems in jeopardy. State Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) said, "If the Assembly doesn't vote on our amendments, we're not bringing up the main bill... Why should we?" And it's a reminder again that Albany is a huge clusterf*ck. more ›

Guess being secretly sworn in at Peter Luger Steakhouse doesn't guarantee anything: A judge issued an injunction blocking Richard Ravitch from serving as lieutenant governor. Newsday reports, "State Supreme Court Justice William LaMarca said the injunction was needed to give the court time to hear more arguments about the constitutionality of Ravitch's appointment." LaMarca added, "Were the governor to die, resign, or be removed from office, Mr. Ravitch, if allowed to remain in office, is next in the line of succession...For an illegally appointed lieutenant governor to act as governor of the state would clearly constitute irreparable harm." more ›

A new poll from the Siena Research Institute reveals the unsurprising news: 77% of registered voters don't think the State Senate passed any new legislation and think "the senators wasted more than a month of valuable time accomplishing nothing." (Here's the PDF.) Siena's Steven Greenberg said, “Voters from every party and every region overwhelmingly reject the notion that it was good that Senators took the time to resolve their differences. Rather, there is real anger at senators - regardless of the voters‟ party affiliation or region. Although voters have long demonstrated particularly short memories, most feel that their fellow voters will remember the Senate fight next November and a plurality are already prepared to vote out incumbent senators.” Greenberg added, "Most voters in the state have an opinion about Senator Pedro Espada - and by a better than four-to-one margin it's an unfavorable opinion. Additionally, 21 percent of voters, a plurality, think Sen. Espada is most to blame for the Senate fight, followed by Senate Republicans (18%), Senate Democrats (15%) and Governor Paterson (12%)." more ›

Yesterday, the Daily News reported that State Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) was given back his committee chairmanship and the $12,500/year stipend—it had been stripped because of those felony assault charges for allegedly beating his girlfriend. The News' sources suggested Monserrate wanted them back in return to rejoining the Democratic fold, but he told the News, "Me getting the committee chairmanship back is news to me. I never asked to be reinstated as [head] of the ... committee. If that's what you're saying is occurring, oh well. If that's what leadership wants to do, that's their decision." But now the News reports that Monserrate requested to be given back the chairmanship and stipend—according to Sen. John Sampson (D-Brooklyn), head of the Democratic conference, and Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens). In an interesting choice of words, Sen. Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) said Monserrate's reinstatement was "a slap in the face to every woman and every citizen of this state." more ›

Now that the five-week long State Senate coup-turned-stalemate is over, thanks in no small part to Pedro Espada's defection from the Democrats to align with Republicans...only to boomerang back to the Democrats after being made majority leader, Governor Paterson is speaking out against the perks that apparently make switching party allegiances very tempting. He told the Associated Press, "It is so blatantly quid pro quo that it borders on the boundaries of illegality. And because no one is saying anything about it, it's becoming acceptable ... it's becoming very dangerous." more ›

Forget it, New York. It's just Albany. That's what we're thinking as the five week State Senate stalemate circus has ended with the State Senator who represents the Bronx but may actually live in Westchester and who is under investigation for a number of questionable dealings is now our new Senate majority leader. That's right, Espada, who left the Democrats to gain power by aligning with the Republicans, decided to rejoin the Democratic fold, after being assured of a powerful position—PolitickerNY calls him a triple-crosser while the Post sums things up as "SLEAZY DOES IT IN COUP PART 2." The Daily News' Juan Gonzalez's column headline: "Albany back-stabber Pedro Espada comes out ahead in senate stalemate that shut down state." more ›