By Hunter Walker 2/13/12 4:41pm

My Funny Valentine

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Photo: Getty)

Governor Cuomo On His Relationship With The Legislature: ‘It’s Not About Chocolate and Candies and Love’

Governor Andrew Cuomo discussed his relationship with the leaders of the Legislature; Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, during an appearance on Susan Arbetter’s radio show, Capitol Pressroom, this afternoon.

“People don’t understand the relationship between a governor and the legislature, or people just have a different lens for the relationship. The relationship is not based on love,” Governor Cuomo said. “Tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day, it’s not about chocolates, and candies and love. It is a functional, collegial relationship and there are different jobs between the governor and the Legislature.” Read More

By David Freedlander 1/30/12 8:49am

suggested reading

Morning Read: Turner To Stick Around?; Cuomo Wants Schneiderman’s Job, Too; Gingrich Braces for Florida

Shelly Silver and Assembly Democrats want to keep Bob Turner and his district around–mostly because they think it can be won by a Democrat in November.

By expanding the reach of former top aide Ben Lawsky’s portfolio at the Department of Financial Services, is Andrew Cuomo trying to take the AG’s job with him.

Because they are not a part of any particular political party, members of the IDC may have trouble spending all of the money they raise.

Andrew Cuomo, Shelly Silver and Eric Schneiderman attended the same-sex nuptials of Danny O’Donnell.

The Daily News says that Read More

By David Freedlander 1/27/12 4:11pm

redistricting

Gianaris

Mike Gianaris And The Awkwardness of Senate Democrats

Queens Democratic Senator Mike Gianaris appeared on the Fred Dicker’s radio this morning and was just getting into his pitch against the GOP’s partisan redistricting plan–”They have reminded us once again why Albany has been known as the most dysfunctional capital in the nation.  We have been working very hard with Gov. Cuomo to get the reputation of the state government on the right track and it’s things like this, in one fell swoop that bring us right back to the worst of the worst”–when the host interrupted.

Why, Mr. Dicker wanted to know, if the Democrats are so taken by the issue of nonpartisan redistricting, did they not make it the law when they were in the majority in 2009-2010. Don’t deny it, the longtime Post columnist said: if you were in charge, you would be drawing them out of existence too. Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/16/12 3:39pm

lancman's law

Rory Lancman (Photo: Facebook)

Lancman Gets British Props for Libel Law

Queens Assemblyman Rory Lancman got some international recognition this weekend when the British newspaper The Guardian published an excerpt from You Can’t Read This Book that references one of his signature efforts. The book, which focuses on how the English legal system intimidates journalists, praises a 2008 bill Assemblyman Lancman sponsored to protect journalists reporting on terrorism from overseas libel lawsuits.

“Rory Lancman, a stout member of the New York state assembly, stood on the steps of the New York Public Library and began a campaign to make English verdicts unenforceable in America with a magnificent speech: ‘When American journalists and authors can be hauled into kangaroo courts on phoney-baloney libel charges in overseas jurisdictions who don’t share our belief in freedom of speech or a free press,” he said, “all of us are threatened.’”

The U.S. Congress subsequently passed the Speech Act based on New York’s law, creating a federal protection for journalists reporting on terrorism. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/13/12 6:00pm

Foreign Affairs

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Getty)

Iran Divestment Act Becomes Law

Governor Cuomo signed the Iran Divestment Act today. The new law, which was passed by the State Legislature Tuesday, will bar businesses from signing or renewing state or local government contracts if they provide goods, services or credit worth $20 million or more to Iran’s energy sector. It was backed by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

“This new law ensures that companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector do not do business with the State of New York,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement announcing the law’s passage. “I thank Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver for their leadership and hard work on this important law.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/11/12 11:42am

2016?

Cuomo.

King Cuomo: Governor Exalted Before State of the State

Governor Andrew Cuomo never tires of describing his first year in office as a transformative period for New York State government that saw Albany change from a hotbed of graft and gridlock into a model of bipartisan cooperation and good government. At his annual State of the State address last week, each element was perfectly calibrated to symbolically support that narrative.

Rather than giving the speech in the Assembly Chamber, Governor Cuomo moved the proceedings to the New York State Convention Center in the underground concourse below the Capitol. In an appearance on former Governor David Paterson’s radio show Monday, he confirmed the venue change was intended to send a message.

“I wanted to make a statement. The State of the State, as you know, is normally done in the Assembly Chamber,” Governor Cuomo said. “So, the Senate would come in and they would pack into that Assembly Chamber. And it was in the Capitol, it was basically to the Legislature with very few guests … because there were no seats—uncomfortable and you’re talking to a room full of politicians. I wanted to metaphorically, last year, bring the government outside of the Capitol and open the forum to the people.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/10/12 9:47am

Foreign Affairs

Senator Dean Skelos announces the passage of the Iran Divestment Act. (Photo: NYSenate.gov)

State Legislature Passes Iran Divestment Act

The New York State Legislature returned to work yesterday and passed its first agreement of the 2012 session–the Iran Divestment Act. Modeled after similar legislation in California, the Iran Divestment Act will prohibit companies from signing or renewing state or local government contracts if they provide good, services or credit worth $20 million or more to Iran’s energy sector. The bill was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

“When I introduced this bill last fall, I said the Senate would take it up very early in the 2012 session and we are keeping that commitment,” Senator Skelos said in a statement after the bill was passed. Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/04/12 3:16pm

high compliments

Andrew Cuomo (Photo: Getty)

Silver: Governor Cuomo 'Most Effective Chief Executive in Our Nation Today'

New  York’s powerful Assembly Speaker was more than effusive in his praise for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s leadership during today’s State of the State Conference. Speaking before Majority Leader Dean Skelos and the Governor himself, Speaker Silver said, ”You have emerged as the most effective chief executive in our nation today.”  That would place New York’s governor over the ones in 49 other states, as well as above President Back Obama.

Governor Cuomo returned at least some of the compliment, praising Speaker Silver’s “great job” and stating that ”we owe him a debt of gratitude.”  Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/04/12 2:08pm

62 to 63

Mike Gianaris (Photo: Facebook)

Gianaris Blasts Possible GOP Plan to Increase State Senate Size

State Senator Mike Gianaris, who heads the Senate Democrats electoral efforts, was sharply critical of a plan Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos floated yesterday, saying there’s a “good chance” the total number of New York State Senators will increase from 62 to 63 for the decennial process of redrawing district lines.

Senator Gianaris said that the “desperate” Republican conference was “brazenly violating the constitution.”

“The number of senators is not a matter of discretion,”  he argued. “It’s set with a mathematical formula in the constitution, no matter how you interpret that formula, the number this year comes out 62.” Read More