By Colin Campbell 8/07/12 9:35am

Lobbying

(photo: letsfixalbany.org)

In Testy Exchange, Committee to Save New York’s Spokesman Defends Its Non-Disclosure

The Committee to Save New York, a well-funded lobbying organization that happens to always support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s agenda, has been in the headlines in recent days over whether it should disclose the source of its $17 million in contributions. In particular, Ravi Batra, who sits on the state’s new ethics panel, has made a big deal about whether recently adopted disclosure rules were improperly moved from June to July this year, which, as it’s on the cusp of the six-month filing deadline, has the impact of moving the disclosure period six months ahead.

Mr. Batra, the loan dissenter in the ruling, said the move creates “a net effect of a delayed 6-month stealthy cloaking worthy of a Klingon warship in Star Trek.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/05/12 2:33pm

What You Should Know

(Photo: Getty)

Diaz Sr. Compares Cuomo to Caesar’s Wife

State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., infamous for sending out somewhat odd “What You Should Know” statements, has another one out this afternoon, and it’s a good one.

For example, the statement, which is about The New York Times‘ report that Governor Cuomo solicited casino contributions for an independent group that advocates on his behalf at the same time he was pushing for casino legalization in the state, references Caesar, feces, and “some kind of celestial beings” before the first paragraph is through.

It can be viewed below: Read More