State GOP Senate: Read Our Lips

Republicans in the state Senate said yesterday they will oppose Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal to increase the motor vehicle insurance fee from $5 to $20 on cars registered in New York.

Republicans seem to have found their war cry for this year’s elections: Oppose all new taxes and fees.

Already, the GOP is opposing an Assembly plan to increase income taxes on the rich. They are, however, joined by Spitzer on that one. Spitzer has said he will oppose any new taxes.

But the Republican senators, who hold just a one-seat majority in the Senate, are also taking aim at about $1.7 billion in new fees and “loophole” closers that Spitzer wants to enact to increase state revenue. They say the measure equates to a tax increase, yet they haven’t laid out how they would close the state’s $4.6 billion budget gap without it.

Still, they are…

From Newsmax.com

The Real Barack Obama

Thursday, February 21, 2008 10:06 AM

By: Ronald Kessler

Michelle Obama’s comment that, for the first time in her adult life, she feels proud of America helps crystallize who Barack Obama is.

To be sure, the wife of a candidate is perfectly free to have views that are distinct from her husband’s. But on a matter that is so fundamental to one’s being as love of country, it is difficult to imagine that Michelle Obama would publicly twice make such a statement suggesting disdain for America unless she felt it comported with her husband’s views.

Equally important, her statement aligns perfectly with the hate-America views of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama’s minister, friend, and sounding board for more than two decades. On the Sunday following 9/11, Wright characterized the terrorist attacks as a consequence of violent American policies. Four years later, Wright…

Included on the agenda of the February School Board Meeting ( 2/6/08, 7 PM @ EFA) will be the presentation of the final report of the committee charged with the investigation of the procedures regarding the much maligned and discussed 2007 School Board elections.

Originally scheduled for the January SB meeting, presentation of the report was postponed until the February meeting, possibly because of the questions and general discontent surrounding the appointment by City Manager John Burin of former School District Attorney John Ryan to Elmira Corporate Counsel (announced 2/4/08).

The draft of the report, given to SB President Dan Hurley in December, is presented below and makes for interesting (albeit tedious) reading given the facts that the local SB operates on a million + budget and that included in the report is a recommendation that Attorney John Ryan’s conduct in this matter be reported to the State Bar.

Of course, how the…

THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS RETURNING TROOPS ARE MURDERERS, but…: ”

THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS RETURNING TROOPS ARE MURDERERS, but Marc Danziger checks the math.

Bruce Kesler has more. ‘The few stories the NYT’€™s presents, however colored for effect, are tragedies. But the greater tragedy is that we have to suffer the NYT’s agenda of defamation of another generation of veterans.’

Major Sewer Project Funding Could Get Hung Up in Washington

At a city budget workshop Thursday, Elmira City Manager John Burin announced that city leaders may have to jump through many more hoops than originally anticipated in order to get the grant money.

Governor’s Vision For Upstate Will Benefit Elmira, Mayor Tonello Says

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plans to pump more than $1 billion into the Upstate economy, commit 200 state troopers to help local police fight crime, cut taxes, reduce state mandates for municipalities, and make New York a stronger draw for business and young people will benefit the City of Elmira in 2008 and beyond, Mayor John Tonello said today. “The governor’s vision is clear and his aim is true,” Tonello said. “He recognizes the problems upstate cities face, and his solutions provide relief and assistance where we need it most.” The mayor’s comments came after the governor delivered his State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany. Click for the full release…

Clear vision? Aim is true? Sigh. Politicians sure do speak purty. How come there never is…

More than likely than not, included in tonight’s meeting on the Elmira City budget is the salary for new but yet to be announced City Attorney, John J.Ryan, Jr.

John J.Ryan, a good friend of City Manager John Burin, was Elmira’s City Attorney during at least some of the ill advised Iraci/Hughes era that landed Elmira in its current financial mess. Some of the legal problems Elmira is now paying for were John Ryan decisions on labor as well as costly handshake deals that were never put to paper.

Appointed to be City Attorney on Friday, January 4, former Elmira School District Attorney Ryan had just resigned without fanfare from his position with the school system on Wednesday, Jan 2 following a very stormy relationship which has created a number of problems for the local school district.

The school district is currently being sued over property that they just took title to…

State clarifies stance on use of aircraft
The Commission on Public Integrity just issued an updated opinion on appropriate use of state aircraft, four months after its initial recommendations in response to the Troopergate/Spitzergate scandal. Aides to Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer were found to have compiled and released information, with help from the state police, about Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s use of aircraft in an attempt to damage the Rensselaer County Republican’s reputation.

The documents released by Spitzer’s staffers highlighted a few occasions last spring during which Bruno attended GOP fundraisers on the days he used a state helicopter. The practice was not in violation of ethics laws at the time, but the Commission on Public Integrity’s predecessor agency, the Ethics Commission, said officials should reimburse the state for parts of their trips that are not government business assuming that there is a bona fide state purpose for the travel.

The commission…

Magic-wand school of public finance

http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2008/01/03/magic-wand-school-of-public-finance/

State Senate Republicans today wheeled out a plan that would seem to answer the prayers of property-tax payers around the state. They want to triple the property-tax rebates that were mailed to taxpayers this year, and over five years eliminate all school property taxes for homeowners.

What is the catch, you ask?

Well, there is a minor issue known as cost. The tab would be $11.6 billion after five years.

There’s no indication where the money would come to pay for any of it. A spokesman said it would come “out of the budget.’’ That would be $4 billion to be found somewhere next year, and then an additional $1.9 billion a year for four years after that.

The state is already facing a potential $4.3 billion deficit for the fiscal year that starts April 1.

ACCORDING TO THE CLUB FOR GROWTH, stocks go up when Congress is out of session. Makes sense to me! The obvious policy lesson is that we should have them meet for no more than 60 days a year, and we can all get rich!