Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (Photo: Facebook)

Steve McLaughlin, one of the eight Assemblymen who voted against Governor Cuomo's tax plan, outlined his opposition in a posting on Facebook. "This bill was a shell game that changed nothing, cut no spending, and increased taxes," Assemblyman McLaughlin wrote. 

On Facebook, Assemblyman McLaughlin, who represents the 108th District in the Capitol Region, said the plan accomplished nothing and blasted the closed door, rapid-fire nature of the negotiations between Governor Cuomo, Senator Skelos and Speaker Silver.

"Any time Albany rushes something through on a message of necessity, it isn't good," Assemblyman McLaughlin wrote. "Why would changing the tax code for 19 million people need to be done in a rush with no consideration or debate? Because the three men in a room knew this was a bill that achieved next to nothing."

Governor Cuomo's tax plan passed December 8 with unanimous support in the State Senate and 132 assenting votes in the Assembly. The governor introduced his bill and shored up support from Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in a matter of days before many legislators had an opportunity to see the plan. The governor's tax plan included cuts for all but the richest New Yorkers, who make over $2 million per year, and he managed to obtain support from politicians on both sides of the aisle. Even insiders who expressed unhappiness with the plan hailed it as a masterpiece of political maneuvering.

Assemblyman McLaughlin's critique came in a comment posted on a discussion of the tax plan on the Facebook page Assemblyman Steve Katz's wife, Nicole Katz. Ms. Katz's Facebook page has been quite a hotbed of political activity of late. As of this writing, Assemblyman McLaughlin has not responded to The Politicker's request for comment on this story.

Nicole Katz (Getty)

Nicole Katz, wife of Assemblyman Steve Katz, has made a video protesting being banned from State Senator Greg Ball's Facebook page. Ms. Katz told The Politicker she was banned from Senator Ball's page December 8 after posting a comment chastising him for criticizing Congressional Republicans. The video, entitled "Delete this, Greg Ball," stars Ms. Katz in a scary, suburban salad drama that ends with her mouth being duct taped shut.

Ms. Katz released her video on, where else, her Facebook page Sunday morning.

"Day #11 of banishment from Senator Greg Ball's facebook page. Today, a video for you! Turn your speakers all the way up, the volume is low," Ms. Katz wrote.

In the past, the Katz's supported Senator Ball, including donating $3,000 to his Senate campaign last year. On the day after she was banned, Ms. Katz explained why the Facebook flap bothered her so much.

"I would say that it’s rather important as an elected official that he ecncourage free speech,” said Ms. Katz. “Facebook is a forum for free ideas.”

Ms. Katz's video features her friend, Robin, serving her salad. All of the people sitting around the table compliment her cooking except Ms. Katz.

"This is great Robin, just one thing, I don't like black olives, I really prefer green olives," Ms. Katz says.

Robin responds by shutting Ms. Katz's mouth with a piece of duct tape.

"How do you like my salad now Nicole?" Robin asks as Ms. Katz stares incredulously at the camera.

The clip ends with text that reads, "To silence criticism is to silence freedom."

Watch the harrowing video below.

Senator Greg Ball (Photo: NYS Senate)

Nicole Katz, wife of Assemblyman Steve Katz, said she was unfriended and blocked on Facebook by State Senator Greg Ball yesterday after writing a critical comment on one of his wall posts. The Katz's have supported Senator Ball in the past and donated $3,000 to his senate campaign last year. "I am a constituent, he is my senator and I have a right to express my opinion on his page," Ms. Katz told Politicker today. 

Ms. Katz said the Facebook fracas began after she commented on a post where Senator Ball announced he would be making a statement about Governor Cuomo's tax plan.

"Thank G-d there's grid lock in DC. If not for the new Republicans in the House, Obama would get evrything [sic] he wants through," Ms. Katz wrote.

Ms. Katz said she says her response was provoked by earlier updates from the senator criticizing Congressional Republicans.

"Recently he's been making many references to the Republicans in Congress for not being able to reach across the aisle," said Ms. Katz.

Senator Ball, who represents the 40th District in Westchester County, posted a response to Ms. Katz. "Just saying 'no' because someone tells you to do so, is never a good policy (left or right)," he wrote.

"The next thing I know, I'm unfriended and blocked," Ms. Katz said.

Senator Ball is a Republican, but Ms. Katz said he's made a few recent Facebook updates that conflict with conservative principles.

"The only thing other thing he could have banned me for is that I disagreed with his aggressive anti-fracking campaign, but I've never been rude," Ms. Katz said.

Ms. Katz told us she hasn't discussed the situation with the senator.

"I've been blocked from his page so I can't send him a message," said Ms. Katz.

She did, however, tell her husband, Assemblyman Katz, about the incident.

"He was surprised that the senator would ban me from his page, especially over something so minor," Ms. Katz said.

Ms. Katz expects she will run into Senator Ball sometime soon and plans to confront him about the unfriending.

"I would ask him for an explanation and I would say that it's rather important as an elected official that he ecncourage free speech," said Ms. Katz. "Facebook is a forum for free ideas."

As of this writing, neither Senator Ball or Assemblyman Katz have responded to a request for comment on this story.