The New Three Men In A Room
-
- July
- 20
Well, they met at the governor’s mansion in a room, and then with the media on the mansion’s front balcony. But the infamous “three men in a room” were reconvened this afternoon with its newest member, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Center, Suffolk County.
Skelos replaces former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, but in his first meeting with Gov. David Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, they reached no compromise during their hourlong, behind-closed-doors meeting at the mansion in Albany.
They said they will continue to work toward a property-tax cap, but Silver remains concerned about the impact it would have on school aid. Skelos said his chamber expects to come back within a month and pass Paterson’s tax-cap plan.
And Paterson said he hopes to find a compromise between the sides and also work with them on possibly trimming the current 2008-09 if the state’s fiscal condition continues to deteriorate. They are also planning to work on how to find relief for homeowners this winter in the face of an expected huge increase in home heating oil prices this winter.
Lastly, they want to decide out which of the three firms in the mix will get the rights to install video lottery terminals at Aqueduct Race Track.
Skelos offered no insight into what the induction ceremony entailed to be member of the “three men in a room.”
Paterson said there was no fancy handshake, but joked that it will cost Skelos $5,000 to join.
Asked what’s different with Skelos in the room rather than Bruno, who was leader for 14 years, Paterson quipped, “Now I have more seniority.”
This entry was posted
on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 6:32 pm by Joseph Spector.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
| 
Email This
Skelos said he’d have the Senate back during July to vote on property taxes. Now, it’s “within a month,” adding three weeks. And the Assembly, unless Silver dies and someone not owned by the school lobby takes over (mirabile dictu,) nothing of any substance will happen anyway. And the governor stands there staring off into space with his usual little joke thrown in. All smog and not even a bus! Skelos should be putting the pressure on, rallying the public. But, no. Same old, same old. We are sheep, fellow travelers. Say after me – baa!
If the Assembly does not vote on this issue. There will be afew Democrat Assembly Representatives who will not win reelection. At that time Sheldon Silver and the democrat controlled assembly will finally get the message.
People will have to choose between paying their property taxes and heating their homes
this winter. If our legislature don’t give homeowners a break they will be ex-incumbents. We will elect people who will do just that.
Senator Skelos has been traveling the state since session adjourned in June to drum up public support for the tax cap. The Senate will go back into session to vote on this issue and it will be Shelly Silver that once again blocks tax relief for hardworking New Yorkers.
Sheldon Silver & the Democrat Assemble must go. It is time to vote new leadership from Westchester County. Change the direction that New York is heading.
It is truly mind-boggling that the citizens of this state have let this outrage go on for so long. Skelos should immediately forget about futilly trying to play games with Silver and go directly and LOUDLY to the people. And NOW! If he doesn’t, it is all word-golf and business as usual.
Interesting that the gov puts a dollar value on “joining the club.” He’s been, for many years, well-versed in the rules of the game.