In Albany, Gov. Paterson's slash-happy budget proposal has squeaked by the State Senate. Democrats banded together to pass the $136.2 billion resolution despite earlier objections to its $1.4 billion in cuts to education. All 29 Republicans present (one was out sick) voted it; according to Minority Leader Dean Skelos, Paterson's spending wasn't justified and his budget didn't do enough to restructure state spending. "This is just a sham and a gimmick," he said before his vote. more ›

The NY Times reports, "Senate Democrats said on Saturday that they had clinched an agreement on a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s health care system, and that they were on track to approve the legislation by Christmas over fierce Republican opposition." more ›

Now that the Senate will debate health care reform next week, the question is whether Senate Democrats can gain enough support to pass legislation. Senator Charles Schumer told Face the Nation, "Look, there are still many bumps in the road, discussions, arguments, disagreements. But I think now the wind is at our back. There's real momentum. And the good news here is we still have a very diverse caucus but every Democrat, from the most liberal to the most conservative, very much wants to get a bill." more ›

Well, would you look at that: Now the State Senate Democrats are going to head to Albany next week for the special session that Governor David Paterson called. The Dems had called it a "photo-op" for the Governor and the Daily Politics reports, "Insiders say not showing would have left them vulnerable to attacks that they are not taking the state's fiscal crisis seriously. Senate leadership fell in line this morning." However, a spokesman for Senate Dems said, "It was about how to make the most productive use of our time while continuing productive negotiations with the governor." So maybe Albany isn't like Bosnia or Tehran after all! more ›

Hey, if the State Inspector General said that you're "ill-suited," "immature," and "irresponsible" while working for the governor, you'd think your chances for another state job are screwed. Lucky for Khari Edwards—who was fired and blasted for his improper conduct with the State Liquor Authority in this mess—Albany is like bizarro world! The State Senate Democrats have hired him to a $75,204/year job as special assistant to Democratic conference leader John Sampson, in spite of the Inspector General's assessment from the SLA probe, "The Inspector General finds that Edwards is ill-suited to serve as a representative of the Governor's office, and recommends that his employment be terminated," pointing out that he lied under oath and "devoid of any appreciation of the seriousness of the Inspector General's proceedings." This new $75K gig also pays $5,000 more than his old one in the governor's office—it's so win-win! Sampson's spokeswoman told the Times Union, "Khari Edwards was hired on the merits. He has learned from experience, and will make the most of the opportunity to again serve the people of New York." more ›

Rensselaer County Clerk Frank J. Merola is unhappy with Gov. Spitzer's plan to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. As an employee of the State, he has no legal discretion over whether he can ignore the plan once it's enacted, so he's filed a lawsuit to block the initiative in state Supreme Court in Albany. In a statement explaining his lawsuit. County Clerk Frank Merola alluded to a recent public opinion poll that showed widespread opposition to Spitzer's plan licensing plan.

“New York residents have stated loudly and clearly that we are not in favor of giving license to illegal aliens and all we get from the Governor are lectures on how we are wrong, and that if we were as smart as he was, we would understand and support this policy. Well, 72% of New York residents, including myself and a vast majority of County Clerks are not as smart as the Governor and I am filing suit to prevent this travesty of a policy from being implemented.”

After both Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed on an immigration bill that will make millions of illegal immigrants legal, there's been a mixed response. Mayor Bloomberg called the guest worker program, which would allow new immigrants to live and work in the U.S. for 2 years, a "feel good kind of law" because "nobody in their right mind is going to leave." more ›