Frank Padavan | Observer

By Jimmy Vielkind 7/01/09 12:11am

Tuesday in Albany: No Progress, More Controversy

ALBANY—And that's it for Tuesday!

There was no legislative action and no surprise bipartisan deal—just the familiar bickering between the

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/30/09 10:27pm

Dems Thank Frank, Claim ‘Legal’ Session, Prepare for Another Extraordinary Session

ALBANY—Democrats in the still-hobbled State Senate are claiming not only that the legislation they passed earlier today is valid, but that they deserve credit for doing it.

"The rubber met the road today," said Senator John Sampson, whose title is "conference leader."

"We have a coalition. Thirty-one Democrats and Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/30/09 7:46pm

Frank Padavan and the Coffee Defense

ALBANY—Here's a signed and sworn affidavit by State Senator Frank Padavan saying it is "absolutely fraudulent" to claim he can be counted present and voting on measures in the still-hobbled State Senate.

Padavan does admit to walking through the chamber, "to obtain a cup of coffee from the member's lounge," but Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/30/09 6:13pm

Paterson: I Won’t Sign Those Bills

ALBANY—David Paterson said he does not believe State Senator Frank Padavan should have been counted as present when he passed through the State Senate chamber earlier this afternoon, and as such will not sign any of the legislation Democrats are passing there.

"I've spoken to Senator Padavan, he says that Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/30/09 5:24pm

Senate Dems Are Still Going! N.Y.C. Sales Tax On Docket; Still No Mayoral Control

ALBANY—Having gone through the active list of "vanilla" bills this morning, Democrats in the State Senate—claiming they have a 32-vote quorum—are going further.

Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democratic leader, called a meeting of the Rules Committee in the back of the chamber, where senators voted 80 more bills onto the active list. They're Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/30/09 4:34pm

Dems Say Padavan Passed Through Chamber, and Now They Can Pass Bills

ALBANY—Democrats in the State Senate are passing bills!

And it's all because Senator Frank Padavan walked through the back of the chamber, Democrats say. He was spotted by several people (although I didn't see him), and journal clerks counted him as a present as Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins gaveled in and led the pledge. Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/29/09 8:00pm

Senate Dems Won’t Act on Mayoral Control

ALBANY—Democrats in the State Senate say they're walking away from legislation extending Michael Bloomberg's control of the New York City school system.

"We said we are dealing with non-controversial bills," said Senator John Sampson, a Democratic leader and an opponent of mayoral control. "In our conference, mayoral control is a controversial issue andRead More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/16/09 5:27pm

Senate Republicans Will Pass the Assembly’s Mayoral Control Bill, If They Can

ALBANY—Putting politics aside for a moment, the Senate mess may have a tangible impact on the final shape of the bill reauthorizing mayoral control of schools.
Newly named Democratic conference leader John Sampson is, as the Post noted this morning, a “foe” of the system and is one of the co-sponsors of a bill Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/16/09 3:59pm

Senate Republicans Will Pass the Assembly’s Mayoral Control Bill, If They Can

ALBANY—Putting politics aside for a moment, the Senate mess may have a tangible impact on the final shape of the bill reauthorizing mayoral control of schools.

Newly named Democratic conference leader John Sampson is, as the Post noted this morning, a "foe" of the system and is one of Read More

By Jimmy Vielkind 6/01/09 8:05pm

Dems Backpedal Quietly on Drug-Law Change as Republicans Rage

ALBANY—State senators are roaring at each other as they try to postpone a provision of the state budget that gives judges the ability to seal criminal records for some drug offenders if they move to do so.
Minority Leader Dean Skelos held a press conference with his members of the Senate Republican conference to Read More

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Tuesday in Albany: No Progress, More Controversy

Dems Thank Frank, Claim ‘Legal’ Session, Prepare for Another Extraordinary Session

Frank Padavan and the Coffee Defense

Paterson: I Won’t Sign Those Bills

Senate Dems Are Still Going! N.Y.C. Sales Tax On Docket; Still No Mayoral Control

Dems Say Padavan Passed Through Chamber, and Now They Can Pass Bills

Senate Dems Won’t Act on Mayoral Control

Senate Republicans Will Pass the Assembly’s Mayoral Control Bill, If They Can

Senate Republicans Will Pass the Assembly’s Mayoral Control Bill, If They Can

Dems Backpedal Quietly on Drug-Law Change as Republicans Rage

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