The columnist Reynolds.
Figuring out the details may take time as the two men in the room aren’t talking, oaths of transparency notwithstanding. The county legislature and Common Council are expected to act in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, speculation over county cash flow is making the rounds. Even before the surprise announcement of the proposed agreement there was concern that the county might charge back millions in community college fees to the towns and city in order to recover the cash it will be giving up through the sales tax deal. Under the keep-’em-down-on-the-farm law, the county is assessed penalties for those residents who attend out-of-county community colleges. Historically, the county has picked up those charges, but has the authority to pass them on to the towns and city.
Wait a minute
No doubt an unintended corollary of the hubbub over state-senate campaign financing, 60 Minutes broadcast a report on congressional campaign fundraising on Sunday that raised eyebrows in different ways. The gist of the story was that members of Congress are expected to spend upwards of 30 hours a week while in Washington cold-calling donors for contributions for their campaigns. The rest of the time they’re supposed to be doing the nation’s business. Major parties have conveniently located respective phone banks in highly restricted buildings across the street from the Capitol.
Congressman Chris Gibson made passing comment on this political telemarketing operation a few weeks ago. He said he only calls pre-contacted contacts, though he didn’t say how much time he devotes to fundraising. His campaign collected more than $5 million in 2014, but was outspent by 20 percent by deep-pocketed Sean Eldridge. For sure, Gibson will spend a lot more time on collecting donations should he run for governor in 2018.
Typical of these kinds of major-media reports, nobody came up with a solution. The Supreme Court opened the floodgates for unlimited fundraising six years ago. Unfortunately, the Supremes in their considered judgment did not require full disclosure.
Here and there
For various reasons, including an aversion to reporting personal financial information, the best and brightest shy from political office. Of late, things are improving. Jennifer Schwartz Berky, an urban planner, was elected to the legislature from Kingston last year, and Kingston’s Common Council includes three new members described as “academics.” Also, newbie Alderman Tony Davis, who teaches history at Miller Middle School and has a master’s in education, could teach at the college level.
As expected, 88-year-old, 12-term state Sen. Bill Larkin announced for yet another go. “There’s much more work to be done,” the senate’s oldest member (maybe oldest ever) told media. I expect in about a dozen years the senate’s first centurion will be saying much the same thing. The work, you see, is never done, though amazingly, life goes on after career politicians leave.
That brings to mind a snippet of wire played at the corruption trial of Dean Skelos, Larkin’s former leader, and Skelos’ son. Speaking to his precarious majority in the senate, then-majority leader Skelos was heard to say, “Every night I lie awake praying Billy Larkin doesn’t have a heart attack.”
“Aloha. I’m back in the States,” announced a cheery Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley over the phone on Monday. The state was Hawaii, as Quigley and family worked their way home from a two-month Pacific cruise. And no, they did not sail on the USS Yorktown, and neither did they encounter any Japanese at Midway Island. He’ll be back in harness next week.
I’m not a big fan of the legislature announcing birthdays of members before regular meetings, but reading the names at adjournment of residents deceased over the last month shows respect. Copies of the announcement are sent to bereaved families.
Last meeting, the bell tolled for one of the legislature’s own, Bill Loughran, brother to longtime Kingston Legislator Peter Loughran. Bill, just 63, was a jack of many trades. Best known as one of the town’s more popular bartenders, Bill was quick with a joke and a light for your smoke. A good guy was Billy Loughran and fondly remembered.
