Politics on the Hudson

State Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long had strong criticism of the state Legislature today, saying they better not be coming to him soon for his party’s endorsement and that they should give back the reimbursements they receive for traveling to Albany.

Lawmakers collectively will be paid about $70,000 for allowances for themselves and staff.

“The only thing they’re interested in is taking care of special interests,” Long (seen left with Karl Rove) said in an interview. “They don’t want to offend the people that control the system in Albany, and that’s the unions and that’s all the special-interest groups.”

“They are, meaning the legislators, inflicting more severe damage to the citizens of this state than you can shake a stick at. We won’t be endorsing these guys if they continue to act like this.”

Long, who has been party chairman for more than 20 years, said “I’ve been at this a long time. I never thought I’d see the day when it has gotten this dysfunctional.”

And he added, “I’m telling you all bets are off for every legislator in the state of New York.”

The Conservative Party, which has the fourth line on the ballot behind Democrats, Republicans and the Independence Party, is still an important endorsement for Republicans in heavily blue New York. Since 1974, no Republican has won statewide office without it.

But Long said “I think the Legislature, both sides of the aisle, disgraced themselves.”

Long has supported Paterson’s efforts to cut spending, and said Paterson should have forced lawmakers to vote on his spending plan—even if it would have been shot down, so he could put the blame on them.

But he said the lawmakers the party endorsed should have had their own plan to deal with the fiscal crisis.

“The people that I endorsed should have had a plan, should have had a bill, should have worked at it,” Long said. “They should have been prepared to have a bill put on the floor that would speak to and correct what the problems of our economy are.

“I don’t expect anybody could wave a magic wand, but I do expect that in good faith” that they should have made a proposal, he said.

Long said that “I have an obligation to the Conservative Party leaders. I have an obligation to rank-and-file conservatives, and I feel the party has an obligation to the rank-and-file taxpayers.”

“And more importantly, I have an obligation to my kids and their kids, my grandchildren,” he said. “And the way this Legislature is going to not have the courage or the spine to deal with tough problems, they are only inflicting damage to my family and every family in this state.”

He said lawmakers should give back any money they received for coming to Albany Tuesday.

“They didn’t deserve it. They didn’t do their job,” he said. “If I had a job and showed up to work and did what they did, they should be fired.”

He said lawmakers should have been kept in Albany until an agreement was reached.

“They owed it to the citizens of this state to fix this problem. They shouldn’t be going back home. They should be locked in Albany until they fix the problem.”

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