Spitzer focuses on running agencies Governor vows action on NYC needs, but infighting with Bruno continues BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press
BOLTON LANDING — As Gov. Eliot Spitzer shifted his focus Tuesday toward the management of state agencies and helping New York City grow as the world’s financial capital, he didn’t escape the continued infighting with the state Senate’s Republican leader. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said Spitzer, who campaigned on the theme that everything changes on Day One, has accomplished little of note in his first six months. Bruno said the freshman governor has failed to revive the upstate economy as promised and held critical legislation “hostage” because of his “obsession” with reforming campaign finance laws that could erode the GOP’s narrow majority in the Senate. Bruno confirmed that he called Spitzer “a big overgrown rich kid” in an interview with the NY1 TV news station and that he said the Democrat sometimes acts out as a dictator might. “I think I said, ‘This is not a Third World country where we have dictators,’ ” Bruno said. “It wasn’t directed at him.” A transcript of the NY1 interview included Bruno saying: “He ought to understand that we’re not in a Third World country where he is a dictator.” As for Spitzer, he couldn’t help but mix it up after a speech to the New York State Broadcasters Association in which he reviewed his administration’s accomplishments. He noted that in six months his administration created or retained nearly 12,000 jobs upstate, gained legislative approval for $1.3 billion in property tax breaks, adopted a record increase in school aid, and reduced health care spending. But he blamed the Senate’s Republican majority for blocking more change in the last days of the legislative session, which ended Thursday. “The Senate did have time to vote itself a pay raise then leave on June 21 without doing the people’s business,” Spitzer said. He said he will go to Republican senators’ districts and play “Where’s Waldo?” by asking voters, “Where’s your senator?’” and imploring them to tell their legislators to “get back to work, earn your keep, earn your pay.” But Spitzer said he’s turning now to governing and part of that will be focusing more on major initiatives to improve air travel and the subways in New York City, which he promised will remain the world’s financial capital despite challenges from London and elsewhere. “We are excited beyond words to get back to work,” Spitzer said shortly after a meeting with top staff. “The role of being governor? One small piece of it is dealing with the Legislature. The much larger, more important piece is to run the agencies. And that’s what we’re doing.” He also said he will continue to press for the issues left undone last week. They include approval of a New York City traffic toll system to reduce pollution, campaign finance reform opposed by Senate Republicans, and a capital budget worth as much as $1 billion for construction projects statewide. Spitzer said he wants the Legislature to return to act on these issues, but he doesn’t want to appear punitive by ordering the Legislature into session — “results are what matter.” Still, he wouldn’t preclude calling the Legislature back weekly if necessary. “If I have to do it on a weekly basis, I won’t hesitate to do that,” Spitzer said. “I’m not there yet. I certainly going to work very hard to work with the legislative leaders.” While Spitzer concentrated during his first six months on trying to revive the “economic malaise” of the upstate economy, he said the next six months and the 2008 legislative session will include attention to several New York City priorities. Spitzer said there has been “a failure to invest in infrastructure” in New York City even as its standing as the center of the financial world is challenged. He said the state needs to help create growth in the subway system to accommodate a rising population: “That’s what will choke us.” For example, he said he recently attended a groundbreaking for the long delayed Second Avenue subway, a huge congestion-relief project dating back more than 80 years, which was derailed repeatedly by one dire financial crisis after another. “It was a little embarrassing having our 10th groundbreaking, but we’ll get it done,” Spitzer said. He also focused on the planned expansion of Stewart International Airport in Newburgh to be a full partner in serving New York City while providing an economic boost upstate. “As I said earlier, the infrastructure of our subway system — that is one of the critical issues we are going to be talking about,” Spitzer said. “The infrastructure for transportation, energy, for [affordable] housing in the downstate sectors have been starved for capital recently so we have to confront that.” There was no immediate comment from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Gee, Mr. Spitzer, where's our Democratic Senator? You know, the one that wanted to be re-elected again (the same way it's been going since 197 so that he could "finish the things he started?" Oh, that's right, he got another state job, pulling him out of the office. Thanks for all the great work you're doing for us, Steamroller Spitzer. >
But Spitzer said he’s turning now to governing and part of that will be focusing more on major initiatives to improve air travel and the subways in New York City, which he promised will remain the world’s financial capital despite challenges from London and elsewhere.
Dont think this isn't part of the "war on terror".....
Quoted Text
Spitzer said there has been “a failure to invest in infrastructure” in New York City even as its standing as the center of the financial world is challenged.
If there are not alot of people living working and shopping in port/trade areas it is a weakness in a nation....port/trade areas are very important to any nations security and standing in the world.....soooo, here we sit again.....and those who 'control that area' are VERY important people.....just think of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Spitzer has no right to ignore state constitution First published: Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Let me preface this by saying I am not a huge fan of Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. And, as a general rule, I support the governor and his agenda (except his efforts to expand charter schools -- they don't work, are failing our children, send tax money out of state to unknown private investors, and bleed the taxpayers dry -- but that is for another time).
I am taken aback, however, by Gov. Spitzer's statement, reported in the June 27 Times Union, that he will bypass the legislative and democratic process and use his agencies to achieve his agenda.
What, the state constitution doesn't apply to him? Just who does he think he is? Dick Cheney? Junior? Addington? Rove? Libby? (Oh, never mind, they got him.)
Spitzer vetoes binding arbitration expansion The Associated Press
Gov. Eliot Spitzer vetoed a series of bills that would have expanded binding arbitration in New York for police and other municipal workers. Among dozens of vetoes handed down Friday, Spitzer rejected bills that would have given binding arbitration rights to Office of Mental Health security assistants, downstate court workers and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police and firefighters. He also vetoed a bill that would have expanded the power of arbitration boards handling cases involving state troopers and another that would have set new requirements for boards for Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority officers. Spitzer said he was concerned about expanding binding arbitration, which transfers power from municipal officials to an independent authority. Critics claim that union contracts for police and fi refighters reached through arbitration have proved too costly. “It should come as relief to taxpayers that he did this,” said E.J. McMahon of the fiscally conservative Empire Center for New York State Policy. Some of the bills had previously been vetoed by former-Gov. George Pataki. And following Pataki’s lead, Spitzer also rejected a bill that would have given higher workers’ compensation benefits to privately employed medical responders dispatched to the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 attacks. Spitzer said the measure would create an “anomaly” by giving those injured workers more than other private workers. Spitzer also vetoed separate measures that would have granted peace officer status to court offi cers in the Town of New Windsor and the Village of Westhampton Beach, Wayne County animal abuse investigators, Union College security guards and Jefferson County civil enforcement officers. Peace officers have legal powers to make arrests, issue appearance tickets and conduct searches. But a full-time peace officer requires no more than 35 hours training, compared to 635 hours of instruction and training for police officers, according to Spitzer. “These are very far-reaching powers that should not be granted lightly and should only be granted to those who have received sufficient training,” Spitzer said in a veto message. Also Friday: The governor signed a law requiring any state agency with a Web site to post information about New York’s Freedom of Information Law. Agencies will be required to provide basic information about how citizens can request information, such as contact information. Sponsors said state agencies have been inconsistent when it comes to posting information online about the law. A law signed by Spitzer prohibits “juice bars” from hiring nude or topless dancers under age 18. The bars — which are not regulated by the State Liquor Authority because they don’t serve alcohol — had been allowed to hire performers as young as 16, according to the bill memo. The higher age limit goes into effect Nov. 1.
Spitzer said he was concerned about expanding binding arbitration, which transfers power from municipal officials to an independent authority. Critics claim that union contracts for police and fi refighters reached through arbitration have proved too costly.
Who here really thinks that he cares about the fact that the contracts go up too much when they're looked into by an outside group? All this comes out to be in the end is that Steamroller Spitzer doesn't want the government to lose power. He wants people he's paying to make the decisions. Maybe so they can get raises if and only if the decide the way he wants?
Spitzer, Grannis falter on lawn chemicals issue First published: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
As attorney general, Eliot Spitzer supported proposed legislation that would have banned toxic herbicides from being used to destroy lawn weeds. Spitzer also initiated several lawsuits to deal with misleading advertising by lawn care companies, and with overuse of lawn chemicals at public housing projects. He urged schools to stop using pesticides, particularly herbicides, on lawns and athletic fields.
Spitzer recognized these chemicals can cause cancer, Parkinson's disease and respiratory ailments for humans, poison wildlife, and pollute our air and our drinking water.
New York state Assemblyman Alexander Grannis co-sponsored the lawn chemical ban bill. Because the state Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner during the Pataki administration was reluctant to address these issues, Grannis also co-sponsored a bill that would give municipalities some of the commissioner's regulatory authority.
Although these bills died in committee last year, I hoped Spitzer's election as governor, and Spitzer's appointment of Grannis as DEC commissioner, would mean the state would finally take action.
Reintroduced this year, A.6045/S.3206 would prohibit use of toxic chemicals to control lawn weeds. At least 60 Canadian municipalities or provinces have already enacted such laws.
Two months ago, I urged Spitzer and Grannis to continue supporting this measure. I also requested Grannis to use his authority under current law to ban toxic lawn chemicals, and I requested Spitzer to issue an executive order prohibiting lawn pesticides and synthetic fertilizers from use by state agencies, parks, colleges and highway departments.
To date, no reply from the governor's office. The letter I received from the DEC's director of pesticides management makes no commitment to support A.6045/S.3206, or to do anything new to deal with these issues.
Continued environmental irresponsibility will eventually harm all of us.
Spitzer Plans Major Push to Extend Health Care By DANNY HAKIM Published: July 11, 2007
ALBANY, July 10 — Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s administration is poised to begin an ambitious and potentially expensive push to expand health coverage to nearly three million more residents, aiming to fulfill Mr. Spitzer’s campaign promise to ultimately provide universal insurance.
A Mellower Spitzer Emerges, Playing Down Bruno Feud (July 11, 2007) Many details of the plan will be settled over the coming months, but a major component would expand existing programs for the poorest residents to cover more of the working poor and lower middle class.
Asked how much the expansion might cost, administration officials cited a recent study saying universal coverage could cost the state $3 billion to $6.2 billion annually, but could also reduce costs for employers.
Mr. Spitzer has directed the health commissioner and the insurance superintendent to draw up a plan by next summer for providing universal coverage, the governor and top officials said on Tuesday in interviews, though they cautioned that it would take several years to carry out.
Mr. Spitzer is aiming to reduce the roughly 2.8 million uninsured residents by half in his four-year term, following up on a campaign pledge, and eventually to provide coverage to all residents.
The administration wants to avoid some of the problems that have plagued similar attempts in Massachusetts and a number of other states that are expanding health coverage. Since New York has a larger uninsured population than many other states, it could have more obstacles to overcome. Approximately 15 percent of the state’s population lacks health insurance.
“We’re being practical and pragmatic rather than making a sweeping rhetorical flourish,” Mr. Spitzer said on Tuesday, adding that his efforts to cut Medicaid costs would help the state pay for broader coverage.
“I’ve always believed that when all is said and done, the cost of insuring all individuals will be less than the cost of not insuring them,” he said. “The unmeasured cost of the diseases we do not prevent, and the cost to society of the diseases we should be tending to but aren’t, outweighs the cost of insurance.”
For several months, three state agencies have been conducting joint internal briefings, officials said, and the administration is planning to begin public discussion of the issue by holding five hearings across the state, from August through November, that will explore approaches to providing coverage. The governor said that he would attend at least some of the hearings, and that high-level staffers, including the health commissioner and insurance superintendent, would probably preside.
This week, the administration also issued a formal request for proposals from consulting groups to study various universal coverage plans.
“That is going to phase in over a period of years,” said Dennis P. Whalen, the deputy secretary of health.
“A lot of states go out with a big glitzy press release and say, ‘We have a universal coverage plan,’ ” he added. “As we looked at those, they are all facing significant challenges.”
Instead, Mr. Whalen said, the governor is seeking a plan that will add more people to the health care rolls over a number of years — “foundational steps to march us toward universal health care.”
Each step would need legislative approval, and Mr. Spitzer, a Democrat, is locked in a bitter feud with the Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, a Republican. But Senate Republicans have close ties to 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East, the influential hospital workers’ union, which has called for universal health care.
And the Legislature this year already passed Mr. Spitzer’s proposed expansion of an existing state-financed program, Child Health Plus, which will make it available to the state’s roughly 400,000 uninsured children.
Senate Republicans have fought hard against health care cuts, rather than spending; Mr. Spitzer sought more than $1 billion in Medicaid reductions as part of his broader strategy. He had to relent on some cuts and ran into some of the same criticism that has more recently faced Pennsylvania’s governor, Edward G. Rendell, who also pushed a combination of universal care and cost cutting.
Currently, a family of three, for example, is eligible for the program only if its annual income does not exceed $25,755. Mr. Spitzer recently signed legislation opening the door to employers to buy into the program, a step toward further expansion.
Many of the details remain to be worked out over the next year, but the Spitzer approach is likely to have elements in common with the one being used in Massachusetts.
At the same time, data provided by the administration highlighted some of the challenges the state faces.
New York has more low-income and uninsured residents and a smaller percentage of employer-sponsored insurance programs than Massachusetts has.
“As a result, New York confronts a larger uninsured population, more of whom would require subsidies, and starts from a lower base of public and employer coverage than did Massachusetts,” Mr. Whalen said.
The public hearings will coincide with smaller private meetings the administration will hold with groups with a major stake in the issues, including businesses, insurers and consumers.
The administration appears to be seeking the more cooperative effort that characterized some of Mr. Spitzer’s early successes; Mr. Whalen said it was calling the effort Partnership for Coverage.
“We’re actually going to make it happen,” the governor said on Tuesday, seeming to relish a policy discussion amid continuing political battles.
He added that he wanted a solution that “sweeps large groups into the insured world with different mechanisms and structures and doesn’t try to wave one wand over the entire population and magically insure every person.”
Asked how much the expansion might cost, administration officials cited a recent study saying universal coverage could cost the state $3 billion to $6.2 billion annually, but could also reduce costs for employers.
Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul......if we dont pay it in the cost of goods....we will still pay it in taxes.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Spitzer under fire for veto of welfare bill BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press
Advocates for the poor on Thursday criticized Gov. Eliot Spitzer for vetoing a welfare-to-work bill that would require governments to train recipients for higher-paying, “sustainable wage” jobs. The bill would have required local and state government to train recipients for jobs that pay $17 an hour or more and to seek training and openings for nontraditional employment, such as women trained for construction jobs. The Legislature passed the bill unanimously earlier this year. Federal rules require most welfare recipients to find jobs, which critics call a “work first” approach that emphasizes taking the fi rst job available. The bill sought to place the workers in jobs paying 185 percent of the federal poverty level, when housing, insurance and other costs are factored in. “The argument that Mayor Bloomberg and others made — that people have to take any job because they have to start somewhere and can move on from there — rings hollow,” said Rachel Morgenstern of Welfare Reform Initiative in New York City. “I have worked at Staples and other low-wage jobs. They seldom promote workers from inside,, and if they do, they still make less. Managers usually come from outside the company and with a degree or training.” The bill wouldn’t have allowed recipients to hold out for a better job but would have required government to develop a plan that focuses on better-paying jobs, said Mark Dunlea of the statewide Hunger Action Network. He said the failed effort may yet force improvements in the welfare-to-work education, training and placement programs in New York. “The poor people of the state need to see a governor who is willing to stand up for their legal rights so they can find employment and escape poverty,” Dunlea said. Spitzer said he agrees that “sustainable wage” jobs are preferred because they can lift families, often headed by women, out of poverty and break a cycle of returning to social services. But, he said, existing state programs already seek to provide better employment while reducing the cost of health care and housing. “Legislation is not necessary to meet these goals,” he said. “Unfortunately, this bill seeks to advance the goal of increased wages in a way that is neither targeted effectively nor administratively realistic.” The state Association of Counties opposed the bill. Among the hundreds of actions Spitzer took, he also: Vetoed a measure that would have provided workers’ compensation benefits to public and private workers and volunteers who repaired and cleaned vehicles damaged in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The bill would have provided special benefits to these auto mechanics, the way other laws provide additional benefits to rescue workers at ground zero. Spitzer said there’s not enough evidence to show “members of this broadly drawn class were exposed to the same health risks.” Approved New York City’s first “child care tax credit.” The measure will help low-income families with the cost of child care for children up to 4 years old. About 49,000 New York City families are expected to qualify for a $1,000 tax credit or, if the family has no income, a $1,000 check. Enacted the nation’s first airline passenger “bill of rights” by a state. It requires airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresher air to passengers stuck on tarmacs for more than three hours. Airlines could face fines of $1,000 per passenger for failing to provide the amenities. The measure co-sponsored by Sen. Charles Fuschillo, a Long Island Republican, followed an eighthour delay on Valentine’s Day at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Vetoed a measure to dramatically increase fines for misdemeanors related to illegal shooting of big game animals. The bill would have increased the maximum fine to $3,000 from the current $500. Spitzer said the bill was flawed, but he instructed the Department of Environmental Conservation to propose increases to fines that could be presented to the Legislature. Vetoed a bill that would have prohibited municipalities from hiring private companies to replace fire departments and volunteer companies. Spitzer said this bill would limit municipalities’ ability to cut costs and even to serve the community during a shortage of volunteer firefighters.
Logged
so that he could "finish the things he started?" Oh, that's right, he got another state job, pulling him out of the office. Thanks for all the great work you're doing for us, Steamroller Spitzer. >
