ALBANY—After a poll this morning indicated 39 percent of voters consider New York's legislature to be "among the best" in the nation, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver again has harsh words for a report from N.Y.U.'s Brennan Center, which painted a more negative picture.
"The average voter is not clear on what the Read More
ALBANY—The State Senate is now debating two resolutions reforming the chamber rules and creating a commission to look at doing more along those lines. Here are some details coming from the floor debate and from Austin Shafran, Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's spokesman:
– There will be a nine-member commission to examine rules, reporting its findings Read More
ALBANY—State Senator Liz Krueger will head the interim committee on reforming the Senate rules, a source close to the process said.
The State Senate is scheduled to convene this afternoon with the intention to enact new rules that might fix some of the most egregious problems in how the chamber operates.
"The first step Read More
ALBANY—Sheldon Silver is displeased with a report today which said New York’s legislature is “still broken.”
While most of the Brennan Center’s rhetoric was focused on the possibility of change in the State Senate, Dan Weiller, a spokesman for the assembly speaker, issued this statement in response:
The latest report by the Brennan Center Read More
ALBANY—Will 2009 be the year of reform?
A coalition of good-government advocates are making the case for "yes," and today released an update to a 2004 report by N.Y.U.'s Brennan Center which details New York's legislative dysfunction. The new report lists concrete recommendations like evening out funding given to legislators–regardless of party–and empowering Read More
With a number of Assembly members vying for the comptroller position, it’s hard see how one is substantially more qualified than the others.
It’s safe to say that from the point of view of the reform-minded governor, independence from the legislative leaders ranks high on the list of qualifications. One way that could have been Read More
Even with former city and state comptrollers on a screening panel, some lawmakers still believe the next state comptroller will be one of the Assembly Democrats who are campaigning for the position. So far, the Assembly candidates include Joe Morelle, Richard Brodsky, Tom DiNapoli, Felix Ortiz, and Pete Grannis.
So how does an Assembly member Read More
Even with former city and state comptrollers on a screening panel, some lawmakers still believe the next state comptroller will be one of the Assembly Democrats who are campaigning for the position. So far, the Assembly candidates include Joe Morelle, Richard Brodsky, Tom DiNapoli, Felix Ortiz, and Pete Grannis.
So how does an Assembly member Read More
The Brennan Center wants John Bonacic to introduce an amendment that would relieve Joe Bruno of some of his power.
Doctors like Eliot Spitzer’s plan to extend health insurance to more New Yorkers.
The Daily Gotham doesn’t like the fact that Senate Republicans elected as their leader a guy under federal Read More
John Haggerty may have competition for the job of state GOP executive director.
The Brennan Center’s blog says Albany needs elections that matter, not just term limits.
Eliot Spitzer’s nominee to head the Port Authority wants to take a fresh look at Ground Zero and the Freedom Tower.
Alan Hevesi passed Read More
