JUST THE FACTS
April 16, 2012
That’s what State Senate Democrats think.
Last month, as Senate Republicans and Governor Cuomo raced to put the finishing touches on the latest no-new-taxes state budget, a leading member of the Democrats’ caucus pleaded with her fellow Senators to rethink tax cuts that aim to jump start NY’s still-struggling economy.
Senator Liz Krueger said the state should even take a second look at the state’s mortgage tax deduction, and a tax credit that helps keep working men and women off welfare. more >
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April 1, 2012
Late budgets. Higher taxes. More spending.
On Friday, the Legislature finished voting on the new state budget—two days before the deadline, the second on-time / EARLY budget in as many years.
(The last budget when the Senate was led by Democrats was 124 days LATE.)
For the second year in row, the budget spends LESS than the year before.
(Senate Democrats hiked spending by $14 billion in the middle of the worst recession in four generations.)
And for the second year in a row, it includes NO NEW TAXES or gimmicks. more >
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March 27, 2012
Senate Democrats turned their backs on New Yorkers by taxing and spending the state to the brink of bankruptcy. Now they are turning on each other—and the popular governor who could have been their most potent ally—effectively ending their hopes of regaining the Majority next November.
The New York Post reports from inside the Senate Democrat caucus—shell-shocked by their loss of a Carl Kruger’s Senate seat in the most Democrat county in the world. more >
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March 21, 2012
New Yorkers got an ugly reminder this week of just how bad things once were at the State Capitol, when Democrats controlled both houses of the Legislature and every branch of state government.
Since then, bipartisanship and cooperation had replaced animosity and dysfunction—until Wednesday night.
That’s when Senate Democrats, in a clear effort to derail Governor Cuomo’s reform agenda, simply walked away.
After hours spent trying to delay and stall passage of bills to finally reform government pensions and education, and to fix the way New York sets its legislative and congressional districts, Minority Leader John Sampson ordered the Democrats to march out of the Senate.
Instead of voting on the bills, as required, the Democrats were recorded as “absent.” more >
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February 20, 2012
If You’re Happy and You Know It—Shout Hooray!
On time budgets that cut spending, reduce taxes and end gimmicks.
A focus on creating jobs and getting our economy moving again—and away from petty, partisan squabbles that once earned New York’s Legislature the title of the nation’s “most dysfunctional.”
A common sense approach that’s showing New Yorkers that state government CAN work—with the right leaders in place.
That’s the picture of Albany government with Republicans in charge in the State Senate. more >
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February 20, 2012
Eight Senate Dems Prepare to Abandon ship!
Now, realization of their bleak chances has some of their own members eyeing the exits.
At least eight Democrat senators—maybe more—are looking to abandon ship either by retiring or seeking a new office.
That’s nearly a third of their entire caucus! And the list includes some of the most senior Democrats in the Legislature. more >
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February 13, 2012
It’s a good sign that you’re about to be sunk when the officers start jumping ship.
Just ask Francesco Schettino, the chicken-hearted captain of that inverted Italian cruise ship.
Closer to home, ask the architects of the NY Senate Democrats’ brief reign of power.
Already abandoned by four of their more moderate members, who bolted the caucus last year to form an “independent” bloc, Senate Democrats are now being abandoned by their behind-the-scenes strategists, too.
Like the one, two, three top Democrat campaign consultants, who see that the Senate Democrats’ record of infighting, dysfunction, and hyperinflated taxing and spending has effectively erased any path to victory for these hapless wannabes.
“They did not do the job when they controlled the chamber,” said Hank Sheinkopf. “They were not perceived as being in charge.” more >
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February 10, 2012
Senate Republican Economic Job Update
While Washington has been mired in gridlock, New York State has been creating jobs with the help of the new Senate Republican Conference.
According to a recent report from the Comptroller, New York has regained more than half of the private sector jobs lost in the recent recession. We are outpacing the national average when it comes to economic recovery. Consumer confidence has started to improve and manufacturing jobs are on the rise.
The Senate Republicans are proud to be working in a bipartisan way to advance New York’s economic comeback. more >
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January 31, 2012
Can The Senate Dems Regain Their Squandered Majority?
Here’s the scene. Early in January 2009, New York Democrats are riding high after capturing the State Senate for the first time in a half century, following successes on Long Island and Upstate New York.
On their very first day in power, newly elected Sen. Brian Foley bounced into a closed-door private meeting of the new Majority, ready to fulfill his campaign pledge to rein in out-of-control property taxes.
Not so fast.
“He was told he was in the wrong room,” reports The Politicker.
“The Democrats are not the party that cares about property taxes. If you pay property taxes, you are rich, his new colleagues told him, according to people who witnessed the exchange. We are the party of renters. Mr. Foley said no more.” more >