A careful reader of today’s Post scoop on 1199’s near-miss endorsement of Mike finds an echo with the Dennis Rivera’s last grand endorsement deal.
Before the 2002 election, Rivera backed Governor Pataki’s reelection after the Governor found about $1 billion — on a state budget of, very roughly, $100 billion — for raises for health-care workers.
This year, the cost of benefits for his members would have been about $500 million on a base of roughly 50 billion — the same 1%.
Mike, who has bought his share of endorsements already this campaign, walked away from that deal. But you can’t say Dennis Rivera doesn’t know his own worth.