Each Saturday on the Politics Now blog, you'll find a list of stories that caught the eyes of The News' political reporters. Here's a sampling of what they were reading the last couple weeks:
"Sources: Cuomo tried to keep New York public labor heads off DNC delegate list," by Maggie Haberman, Politico. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not been shy in his battles with public employee unions. But for someone who will need labor’s support should he be serious about a 2016 national run, this story depicts a Democrat who does not play well in the sandbox with others.
The Legislative Correspondents Association show was held a couple weeks back –- an annual politician-mocking gig put on by some current and former reporters who cover the state Capitol. Politicians get their turn, too, and here is the video put together by Sen. Michael Gianaris, the Queens Democrat in charge of trying to take back the Senate from Republicans this fall. Most Senate Democrats may not be willing to publicly state their anger with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signing a redistricting bill intended to help Republicans, but this video makes the point -– in rather not-so-subtle ways. Note: if you don’t want to hear a profanity, turn your sound down when former U.S. Sen. Al D’Amato appears.
“White House visitor logs provide window into lobbying industry,” by T.W. Farnam, Washington Post. President Obama, more than any other president before him, vowed to “change the political culture that has fueled the influence of lobbyists,” Farnam writes. But access to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and senior administration officials is still clearly available.
"Republicans in NY: lame in lower house," by Ken Hall, Times Herald-Record. Buffalo developer Carl Paladino, as he is also doing in Western New York, is getting involved in a race for the State Legislature in Albany. Paladino is backing Colin Schmitt, one of two candidates "of the new GOP generation" seeking the 99th Assembly District seat.
As part of a regular weekly feature on the Politics Now blog, Tom Precious of The News' Albany Bureau posts an audio interview with a newsmaker from the Capitol.
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ALBANY — The Legislature's top Republican is attacking a plan by the Cuomo administration's Thruway Authority to hike tolls on trucks by 45 percent, calling it a back-door tax hike maneuver."
If you want to talk about an indirect tax and fee on people, that 45 percent is exactly that," said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.
In an interview this afternoon, Skelos said the toll hike — preliminarily approved Wednesday by the Thruway's board — will end up hitting consumers in the form of higher prices on a range of products.
"The trucking industry is a vital part of our economics in the state," Skelos said of the higher shipping costs the toll hike will spawn.
The majority leader touched on a number of topics, including:
* Minimum wage hike opposition by Senate Republicans: "When the economy is good and booming then I think there's an opportunity to do a minimum wage increase then," he said during the interview, which occurred shortly before six Occupy Albany protesters — pressing for a minimum wage hike — were arrested for refusing to leave the majority leader's Capitol office.
He defined that as a period with better employment numbers and improved sales and corporate income tax collections.
* Did he ever work a minimum wage job?: In law school, he said he worked at "below minimum wages" in the college cafeteria.
* On Carl Paladino supporting a GOP primary opponent to Sen. George Maziarz: The Buffalo businessman, Skelos said, is just "attention starved" and upset that he is among the wealthy New Yorkers who did not see their taxes drop last December, as scheduled.
* Likely deals before the end of the session: A new prescription drug "real-time" reporting system and a decision on whether to make teacher evaluations public, he said. Among deals not likely: an effort to reduce wrongful convictions by, among other things, requiring videotaping of police interrogations.
* On the cozy factor between Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Senate Republicans: "All I can say is I think he's very happy the way things are working in Albany. I think it's for his benefit. I think it's for our benefit. It's for the Assembly's benefit."
Less than a week after being appointed to the Common Council, the city's newest lawmaker was tapped with a committee chairmanship.
Council President Richard A. Fontana has appointed South Council Member Christopher P. Scanlon as chairman of the body's Finance Committee.
"I just have to say that I see this as a pandering, political stunt," Fillmore Council Member David A. Franczyk said on the Council floor this week.
Scanlon replaces Delaware Council Member Michael J. LoCurto, who held the post since early January. (Before him, former South Council Member Michael P. Kearns held it.)
Franczyk asserted Scanlon's appointment to chair the committee was an attempt by Fontana to add a sixth member to the Council majority.
"If you want to have someone to be an ally of yours, or a sixth vote, ask him for it. Don't pander to them; don't patronize them. Ask him for it and let them make up their own [mind]," Franczyk said. "But this kind of pathetic pandering for a freshman councilman, to me, does a disservice to the spirit of the [city] charter and to this council."
WASHINGTON -- Some 51 of the nation's 100 senators, including the two Democrats from New York, last week voted to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling this summer, thereby sending the measure down to defeat.
That is not a typo. That is the filibuster in action.
Council Member Darius G. Pridgen today will introduce a measure calling for the city to study and implement a system of neighborhood parking permits around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
The city lawmaker, whose district includes the Fruit Belt neighborhood adjacent to the medical campus, said he has heard from residents who have had trouble finding parking spots near their homes due to those working at and visiting the campus.
Pridgen's resolution also states the Council will pursue state legislation allowing the neighborhood parking permit system.
Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.
State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan speaks during the Western New York Chamber Alliance's state legislative forum in February. (Photo by Charles Lewis / Buffalo News)
Patrick M. Gallivan
The basics Age: 51 Job title: State senator, 59th district Family: Married to the love of my life, Mary Pat Gallivan; reside with our children, Jenna, 27, and Conor, 19. Education: Bachelor's degree from Canisius College, 1982; master's degree from SUNY Albany, 1992. Party affiliation: Republican Previous work experience: New York state trooper; Erie County Sheriff; member of New York State Board of Parole; president of GDY Professional Investigations. State salary: $79,500
Rep. Bob Turner brought his Senate campaign to Buffalo today, appealing to the city's significant Catholic voting bloc by evoking New York Cardinal Timothy J. Dolan and Buffalo Bishop Edward U. Kmiec in criticizing the Obama administration's health care mandates.
Turner, a Queens congressman seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand this fall, appeared at GOP Headquarters in downtown Buffalo to express his dissatisfaction with the administration requirements that religious institutions provide birth control and some abortion services for employees.
"New Yorkers should rally behind the more than 40 religious organizations across the country who have been forced to sue the Obama administration over infringement of their First Amendment rights," Turner said. "President Obama has made a reckless and unconstitutional expansion of the federal government the primary focus of his administration and this latest threat to religious liberty is yet another example.
"Trampling over the First Amendment is a bridge too far and Mr. Obama will have to account for his actions with the millions of voters who support a fundamental American right of freedom of religion."
Turner said he supports Dolan and Kmiec in a suit against the federal government's mandate.
The congressman is facing Manhattan attorney Wendy Long and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos in the June 26 Republican primary. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand in the general election.
Erie County Conservatives met Thursday night without answering one of the big questions of the 2012 political season: Whom will they back for county comptroller?
Chairman Ralph C. Lorigo said a number of questions still face his party's Executive Committee after interviewing four candidates and delaying a recommendation until next Thursday.
Democrats included interim Comptroller David J. Shenk, appointed by the County Legislature earlier this year; and George F. Hasiotis, a businessman and former Water Authority commissioner. Republicans included Stefan Mychajliw, a Channel 2 political commentator and campaign spokesman for former County Executive Chris Collins; and Todd Aldinger, a Princeton economics graduate who serves on the staff of State Sen. Patrick Gallivan.
Lorigo said all bring various strengths and weaknesses to the process, prompting the committee to request further deliberation.
In other action, the Conservatives reversed course from the March 24 special election for the Assembly and backed incumbent Democrat Michael P. Kearns. The party had nominated Christopher J. Fahey for the special election, won by Kearns.
"I reached out to him," Lorigo said. "He said he would be very proud to carry our endorsement and I am very glad."
Lorigo said the committee also backed Joseph Mascia, a Democrat, for the Assembly seat now held by Democrat Sean M. Ryan.
In another important development, Conservatives will back Christopher P. Scanlon for the South District Council seat to which he was appointed last week.
The party nominated nobody for the seat now held by Democrat Timothy M. Kennedy, but officially named Democrat Charles M. Swanick as its candidate for the seat now held by Republican Mark J. Grisanti. It also backed Republicans Gallivan and Michael H. Ranzenhofer for re-election to the Senate.
Other Assembly endorsements include Democrats Dennis H. Gabryszak and Robin L. Schimminger, as well as Republicans Jane L. Corwin and Raymond W. Walter.
Could there soon be a new leader of the Erie County Democratic Party? News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy talks with Brian Meyer about Len Lenihan's possible exit.
