The nontroversy surrounding potential GOP senate candidate Marc Cenedella continues! Yesterday the Times reported on the TheLadders.com founder's recently disappeared misogynistic blog posts—much to the joy of incumbent Kristen Gillibrand—and today, after calling Gillibrand's part in the PIPA mess "unfortunate," Cendella copped to Capital Tonight to having "full responsibility" for the offending blog posts. more ›

Oh the Internet, always catching politicians with their mouths open. In the latest example of the dangers of the interwebs, the Times today digs into a website purportedly written by potential Republican senate candidate Marc Cenedella. Maybe potential representatives of the Empire State don't want to be on the record as being in support of making March 14 a Steak and Blow Jobs holiday? more ›

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of the octagon: it seemed like the page was about to turn for Mixed Martial Arts aficionados—after a long struggle to get their beloved, bloody sport legalized in New York, the MMA bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Assembly Tourism Committee this week. But the bill was then unceremoniously bodyslammed by none other than the heavyweight champion of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver. "There does not appear to be widespread support in the Assembly for this legislation," he told the News. more ›

Last week, the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which included prominent former heads of state and a former U.N. secretary-general, issued a report calling the war on drugs a failure, encouraging governments to decriminalize marijuana. It seems Connecticut may have been listening: the Connecticut Senate narrowly approved legislation to decriminalize small amounts of pot yesterday. more ›

Earlier this month, America's youth—specifically those currently enrolled at Rutgers University—paid Snooki of Jersey Shore an absurd amount of money to come fist pump at the school. More than the university paid Toni Morrison, in fact. (Kids today! Etc.) Now Senator Joe Kyrillos is prepping a proposal in the state Senate that would essentially, hopefully, lead to better choices. more ›

Last week, Senator John "Maybe Maverick" McCain (R-Arizona) was kind of dismissive to a 9/11 first responder who would really love some Republican support for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Last night, McCain was kind of dismissive about Democrats' efforts to try to give $7.4 billion in benefits to first responders and survivors; when arguing against time limits for discussing the START Treaty, "To have a time agreement after all of the fooling around that we’ve been doing on ‘DREAM’ Act, on New York City … we will not have a time agreement from this side.” Naturally, that set off Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY). more ›

Last night, the Daily Show took up the Senate's failure to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would have given $7.4 billion to Ground Zero first responders and their survivors. Jon Stewart asked, "Since when do Republicans make 9/11 first responders stand over in the corner with the gays and Mexicans?" more ›

The Senate is where good things go to die, but the move by Democrats yesterday to table a vote on the DREAM Act and DADT may have eluded the legislative grim reaper. Faced with a GOP filibuster, majority leader Harry Reid called for a delay on the vote, according to the Times. This buys the Democrats time to win more Republican support to pass the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to immigrants who complete two years of college or join the military. They also hope to garner more votes on the side of repealing DADT, which will come before the Senate again at a later date, presumably before the January red invasion. more ›

Earlier today, the GOP successfully filibustered the Department of Defense authorization bill, with the Senate voting 56-43 mostly party lines, with Democrats voting for the bill which included the repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and offering young immigrants a path to citizenship with the Dream Act. The NY Times explains, "Senate Republicans voted unanimously to block debate on the bill — the huge, annual authorization of military programs — after the majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said he would attach a number of the Democrats’ election-year priorities to it while also moving to limit the amendments offered by Republicans." more ›

With heavy sighs and clenched handkerchiefs, politicians across NY state mourned the loss of former State Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., after Tuesday's humiliating defeat at the hands of upstart Gustavo Rivera. "He was an albatross around all of our necks," said a depressed Sen. Liz Krueger, clearly too overwhelmed by the moment. "What Espada's ethical problems did was put a scarlet letter around anyone in the conference," a Senate official told the Daily News, tears probably streaming down a reddened, blotchy face. more ›

Yes, Joseph DioGuardi, dad of Kara, won the Republican Senate primary and will challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her seat. After petitioning to be on the ballot, DioGuardi, a former Congressman, beat out Bruce Blakeman, a Long Island lawyer who is also known as Paul McCartney's girlfriend's ex-husband, and David Malpass, who was backed by Mayor Bloomberg's girlfriend. DioGuardi said, “We brought together Conservative and Republican lines. Do you realize what that means? Senator Gillibrand’s worst nightmare is coming true tonight. The NY Times reports, "Ms. Gillibrand was favored over whichever Republican she faced, because she is well financed and well known and has made efforts to build bipartisan support." more ›

A former opponent of Pedro Espada Jr. is accusing the Bronxchester Senator of playing dirty on the campaign trail, even after the campaign was over. Waaaaait, someone is accusing Pedro of dirty tricks?? Next you'll be telling us the prospect of an Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan is the cause of mass controversy! more ›

Former World Wrestling Entertainment chief executive—and wife of Vince—Linda McMahon won the Connecticut Republican Senate primary yesterday. According to the Courant, she "came on stage to Survivor's 'Eye of the Tiger.'" She said of the Republican Party, "Families don't always get along and don't always agree, but, in the end, they do stand together." This means she'll be vying for Senator Christopher Dodd's seat this fall against Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic candidate and fake Vietnam vet). As Democrats slam her WWE connections, McMahon said she is willing to spend up to $50 million on the race. more ›

Diana Taylor is best known to New Yorkers as Mayor Bloomberg's girlfriend, but she's raising her public profile as a political contender. She recently confirmed that, yes, she was considering running against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this fall, but decided not to, because "My significant other is the mayor of New York City, so that would be really complicated." And now, she tells NBC New York, "I think I could have" won over Gillibrand. more ›

At a press conference in the White House Rose Garden yesterday, President Obama urged Congress to extend unemployment benefits for Americans who have been unemployed for over six months—Americans like Denise Gibson from Queens! OK, there were two other unemployed Americans at the speech, but Obama specifically said that Gibson "has been interviewing for jobs, but so far nothing has turned up. Meanwhile, she's fallen further and further behind on her rent and with her unemployment benefits set to expire she's worried about what the future holds." If nothing else, at least she can put President Obama as a personal reference on her resume. more ›

The Senate passed the Wall Street reform bill, 60 to 39, with Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and Scott Brown of Massachusetts joining 57 Democrats for the vote. The 60 Senators were also able to limit debate and move the bill forward; President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law next week, said, "From now on every American will be empowered with the clear and concise information they need to make financial information that are best for you. This bill will crack down on unscrupulous mortgage lenders." more ›

Robert Byrd, the Democratic Senator from West Virginia who first entered the Senate in 1959, died earlier this morning at age 92. His office released a statement, "I am saddened that the family of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., tearfully announces the passing of the longest serving member of Congress in U.S. history." Byrd had been hospitalized a few days ago for heat exhaustion, but "more serious issues were discovered." Byrd had been in poor health in recent years. more ›

Early this morning, House and Senate leaders agreed on reconciling financial reform legislation. President Obama said, before leaving for Toronto to attend the G20 Summit, "Over the last 17 months, we passed an economic Recovery Act, health insurance reform, education reform, and we are now on the brink of passing Wall Street reform. And at the G20 summit this weekend, I’ll work with other nations not only to coordinate our financial reform efforts, but to promote global economic growth while ensuring that each nation can pursue a path that is sustainable for its own public finances." more ›

Yesterday the Senate passed a bill that would finally bring New York State divorce law up to speed with the rest of the country. Forty-nine states in the Union permit residents to pursue no-fault divorces, but New York still doesn't accept "irreconcilable differences" as grounds for ending marriage; one spouse must prove in court that the other is guilty of adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, or withholding sex for a year. more ›

Yesterday, the NY State GOP ended its "disastrous" convention by voting on candidates to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Bruce Blakeman, a Nassau County lawyer (and ex-husband of Paul McCartney's squeeze) got most of the votes, but former Bear Stearns economist David Malpass got enough votes for there to be a Republican primary this fall. more ›

Hey, guess who, besides NJ Governor Chris Christie and Daily News columnist Denis Hamill, also wants to make it clear that the 2014 Super Bowl will be held in NJ? Why, the senior Senator of NJ, Frank Lautenberg. He sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week, first congratulating and thanking the NFL on the decision. Then he got to the point—he doesn't want New York hogging the Super Bowl glory!

I am also writing to ensure that the NFL appropriately describes the site of the game as New Jersey/New York and not simply “New York.” I also urge the league to utilize and promote New Jersey in its marketing and events associated with the Super Bowl. To be sure, the entire New Jersey/New York region has much to offer and will benefit economically from the game. But the reality is that the Super Bowl will be played in New Jersey, and the NFL’s marketing, promotion, and events should reflect that fact. more ›

The State Assembly has reportedly agreed to lift the cap on charter schools from 200 to 460 over four years, which would enable NY to compete for "Race to the Top" funds. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says the Assembly will vote on the contentious issue this morning (well, the Senate had passed raising the cap, while the Assembly opposed it). The Daily News reports, "Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) met with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver at about 2 a.m. to discuss the measure and afterward said only 'we’re working on it.'" Wow, lawmakers actually working! How's that budget coming along? more ›

To no one's surprise, NY Democrats picked Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer to run for their Senate seats this fall. According to the AP, "Schumer reported $21.8 million in his campaign account last month and polls put him far ahead of potential Republican challengers," and WNYT says of the junior Senator, "Gillibrand has been considered more vulnerable than Schumer by Republicans, but no prominent Republican is running against her. Polls show Gillibrand leading potential challengers." more ›

Days after the NY Times questioned his apparent lies and exaggerations about his service during the Vietnam War, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal accepted the Democratic party's nomination to run for Senator Chris Dodd's seat this fall. Blumenthal, who claimed he simply misspoke and also didn't have time to correct reporters (because they've made so many mistakes in reporting about him) said, "I have made mistakes. I regret them. And I have taken responsibility. But this campaign must be about the people of Connecticut." more ›

Last night, the Senate voted 59-39 to approve a "far-reaching" financial reform bill, with four Republicans voting for it while two Democrats voting against it. The next step is for the Senate and House versions of the bill to be reconciled, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said the reform will protect Americans from "Wall Street greed that cost middle-class families their homes, their jobs and their retirement savings... It’s a choice between learning from the mistakes of the past or letting it happen again. For those who wanted to protect Wall Street, it didn’t work... When this bill becomes law, the joy ride on Wall Street will come to a screeching halt." in case you didn't catch that, FU, Wall Street! more ›

Today Senator Patrick Leahy announced that confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justice nominee Elena Kagan will begin Monday, June 28th. According to the AP, "the schedule should allow the hearings to be completed before senators go home for a weeklong break in early July," thus enabling a vote before they adjourn for August recess. Of course, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary committee quickly issued a statement questioning whether the time frame "will be adequate to allow us to meet our important constitutional responsibility to thoroughly review Ms. Kagan's record on behalf of the American people." But assuming Republicans can't postpone this indefinitely, what are Kagan's odds? more ›