Hein, in a 12-page single-space budget message delivered in Rosendale again banged the state legislature for imposing unfunded mandates, while praising Gov. Andrew Cuomo for trying to offer relief. Bon mots were scattered among the legislature, since Hein needs a dozen votes to pass his budget. He’s always friendlier at budget time. I suspect he already has at least 16 (veto-proof) votes in hand.
Wrapping the budget around big-ticket policy decisions, like last year’s nursing-home sale, was another familiar tactic. Legislators, with no choice but to pass a budget, have to swallow.
Not much has been heard from kept-in-the-dark Republican legislators, who at this point can only marvel at these pre-emptive strikes. Those grousing about Hein “taking over policy decisions” are but voices in the wilderness.
Face it, legislators: for better or worse, the executive is ascendant.
Frankly speaking
Every now and then, a party leader gets the chance to make a name for him or herself to rise to a level of statecraft. Recall former Republican chairman Al Spada going to a judicial convention with no candidate, it being Sullivan’s “turn” that year. When Sullivan came up empty, the nominating convention chairman asked for names from the delegates. “John Larkin from Ulster County!” Spada shouted. And so Larkin was duly nominated. Trouble was that Spada hadn’t told Larkin he had his name in mind when he went to convention that day. Larkin went on to a distinguished career as a Supreme Court judge.
A few weeks ago, 16 Ulster County Democratic delegates attended the Third District judicial nominating convention in Albany. As it turned out, both parties voted a straight ticket in endorsing a pair of candidates for Supreme Court. Republicans endorsed Mike Kavanagh of Ulster and Bernard Malone of Albany in what will be a four-way race for two seats. They’ll square off against Democrats Richard Mott, an attorney from Columbia County and Stephan Schick, also from north of here.
Might a block of 16 Ulster delegates (out of about 80) at least have nominated favorite-son Kavanagh for their party nomination?” I asked county Demo chairman and delegation leader Frank Cardinale of Kingston.
“All seven counties voted unanimously” (for the two-man Democratic ticket), Cardinale replied, reiterating what he knew everybody already knew. (Politicians are forever insulting our intelligence that way.)
Odds are that Cardinale’s ticket will prevail, the district being heavily Democratic and the time being short. Pity. Mike Kavanagh, a four-time district attorney, wasn’t just a hometown favorite. He was (is) a helluva jurist.
But no pity for Democratic delegates. With a chance to make a difference, maybe even history, they blew it.
Meanwhile, some prominent Democrats have stepped to the plate for Kavanagh, too late with too little. Too bad they weren’t in Cardinale’s delegation.
To the voters in the new 19th Congressional District: I ask your support, or a minimum, respect, for Congressman Chris Gibson. The race for this new district has turned incredibly dirty, and outright dishonest. As Congressman Gibson’s opponent faces another losing election, his blatant lies must be addressed,
Chris Gibson is an extraordinary man of character and integrity. He fought for Upstate New York when we were crushed by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. He fought his own party and leadership to get funding reinstated into the federal broadband program and he succeeded with support from House Democrats. He voted for tax proposals to increase revenue, and to decrease spending. He stood with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to ensure our returning veterans have the best opportunities for jobs and a transition to normal lives.
As strongly as I believe in Chris, you have the ultimate responsibility to vote your conscience. But I do know that casting aspersions against a 24 yr veteran, (ret. Colonel); a Ph.D. in history from Cornell University, a commander of the 82nd Airborne’s mission in earthquake ravished Haiti, and a loving family man to his wife, children and mother, is desperate and scurrilous. Chris Gibson is a moderate, sensitive man. His proven ability to unite people is a quality needed in Washington. Congressman Chris Gibson will bring the newly redistricted 19th CD. the same respected representation he did to his former constituents. We deserve his skills and I believe you will agree. http://www.chrisgibsonforcongress.com/