AP’s Michael Gormley is floating out that idea this afternoon, saying the possibility of Governor Paterson picking a placeholder for the soon-to-be open Senate seat until the 2010 election is being discussed in Democratic circles.

Even former President Clinton, who was initially rumored as a possible successor to his wife Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton but was quickly knocked down by the former president himself, may also be reemerging as an option, the article states.

Other interesting names mentioned are retiring Chief Judge Judith Kaye and former Gov. Mario Cuomo, instead of Paterson picking his son Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Paterson has rejected the idea of picking a placeholder, saying doing so would only give the person elected in 2010 even less seniority in the Senate. But Paterson has grown increasingly frustrated with all the attention being given to who he may pick.

When the placeholder idea was first discussed a few weeks ago, some mentioned Rep. Louise Slaughter of Rochester, who at age 79 could fill the seat until 2010 and fill some of the criteria that Paterson is considering: a person from upstate and a woman.

But Slaughter seemed to end that talk when she quickly came out in support of Caroline Kennedy.

Governor Paterson today announced that he has commuted the sentences of two New York state inmates, Joanne Carroll, 43, of Staten Island, and Freddie Warren, 56, of Suffolk County.

He said they have requested their release and have “dedicated themselves to becoming productive members of society by excelling in education, vocational, and volunteer programs.”

Paterson’s news release stressed that Inmates whose sentences are commuted are not automatically released. They still have to get approval from the state Parole Board, which in these cases will happen next month. And parole violations could land them back in jail.

Paterson’s office recceived more than 450 applications for clemency, but more than half didn’t meet the eligibility requirements. And while commuted sentences of inmates are mainly given to inmates serving lengthy sentences for drug convictions, few of the eligible inmates applying for clemency this year were serving drug sentences, Paterson said.

Warren was serving 20 years to life on a drug charge, while Carroll was serving up to 15 years for a robbery charge.

Here’s the rest of the press release about them.

Read more of this entry »

State Assemblyman Greg Ball today announced the formation of a new political action committee, one “committed to getting serious conservative candidates elected throughout the Hudson Valley.”

Here’s his announcement:

Prior to being sworn in for his second term, State Assemblyman Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson), announced the formation of a new political action committee known as the Putnam Pioneers.

This ‘by invitation only’ organization is committed to getting serious conservative candidates elected throughout the Hudson Valley.

Today, at his swearing in ceremony at Primavera in Croton Falls, NY in Westchester County the Assemblyman stated, “[b]y supporting Putnam Pioneers, you are helping to lay a strong foundation for maintaining a Republican Majority and getting reform minded candidates elected throughout the county, and beyond,”

The committee has already recruited over 40 committed Republicans, Conservatives, elected officials, successful business owners, labor leaders and even Democrats throughout the Hudson Valley. Each member has made a $2500 financial commitment to help recruit credible candidates who espouse a simple philosophy of cutting taxes, rooting out corruption and cracking down on illegal immigration.

Ball, one of the few remaining elected Republican officials in the Hudson Valley, said the organization “was dedicated to rebuilding the infrastructure of the Republican party by recruiting, raising money, and targeting these resources to support maverick-like candidates willing to support a fiscally conservative and socially populist message to win local, county and state races.”

The founding members of the Pioners, several of whom include rising stars in the state party and local officials who have run efficient races, are working a blueprint for success that will provide financial training, strategic assistance, media consulting, research, staff training and campaign tools to other candidates.

“We are beginning to recruit a tremendous group of Republican candidates for 2009 and 2010,” Ball told a crowd of supporters. “While our party has always had strong grassroots enthusiasm, one thing we have lacked is an organized ‘farm team’ of conservative Republican candidates who are ready to intelligently speak on an anti tax, pro legal immigration and anti cronyism agenda while moving our party forward.”

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Ball, R-Patterson, who won a second term in November, is holding his swearing-in tonight, which may help explain the time references in the announcement. Putnam Pioneers doesn’t show up yet on the state Board of Elections list of political committees. More to come in the days ahead. . .

Governor Paterson issued a statement today on the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas, saying  “I hope and pray for a peaceful solution for both sides and I strongly condemn Hamas for breaking the current ceasefire.”

He added, “I believe the Israeli people, under constant attack from the Palestinian territories, have a right to protect themselves and I stand with them as they fight to defend the basic rights of humanity.

“I traveled to Israel in 2007 and I discovered firsthand what I had always known to be true – Israel is an extraordinary democracy blessed with very courageous citizens who refuse to live their lives in fear. New Yorkers have experienced the horror of terrorism; we must not and will not let senseless acts of terror undermine our commitment and resolve to fight for democratic principles both at home and around the world.”

Congressman John Hall announced today that his district director, Susan Spear, will take on the additional title of Chief of Staff in the coming term. Spear succeeds Jean Bordewich, who was Chief of Staff in Hall’s first term. According to a press release from Hall, “Bordewich has been named Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, the Committee’s incoming Chairman.”

“Spear, who will be based in Congressman Hall’s Carmel office, will supervise all operations of the Congressional offices in Washington, DC, and in Carmel and Goshen, NY.”

In addition, Hall said Jim Bradley has joined his Washington office as Legislative Director. Bradleypreviously served for nine years on the legislative staff of Congressman Tom Allen of Maine.

Whoever Governor Paterson picks as the next senator, editorial boards from upstate are weighing in with some advice on what the next senator should focus on.

The Poughkeepsie Journal pulled together the list of opinions here.

The Poughkeepsie Journal wrote “The federal government can help by providing more funding for basic infrastructure improvements and by offering more tax incentives and clean-up money to companies willing to convert old, polluting sites into new business ventures.”

The Batavia Daily News wrote, “Mostly, what our next senator needs to do is get out into the state and talk with the people in counties large and small.”

And the Press-Republican in Plattsburgh wrote: “We need to be given the same – or at least proportional – help by the government as the areas geographically below us. Our farmers, our tourism directors, our border workers and our economic-development specialists all need as much concern for their efforts as the more populous downstaters need (and usually get) for theirs. We desperately need a complete broadband network and continued progress toward full air service to fortify our link with the rest of the state.”

   Gov. David Paterson announced this evening that Carl Andrews, deputy secretary for intergovernmental affairs, is resigning as of tomorrow. Andrews was a state senator representing New York City from 2002 to 2006, then he went on to become director of intergovernmental affairs to the New York City office during former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s administration. Andrews had previously worked in intergovernmental relations for Spitzer when he was state attorney general.

   In 2000, Andrews was deputy campaign manager for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and he was campaign coordinator for New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. in 2001.

   Paterson said Andrews is leaving to establish a consulting firm. The governor said in a statement that he was accepting the resignation of his colleague and friend with “deep regret.”

   ”Carl has been a dedicated public servant for over 25 years,” Paterson said.

Most of the money raised for charities by professional telemarketers in New York doesn’t make it to the charity, according to a new study released today by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Fundraisers keep an average of 61 cents on the dollar.

   In 2007, fundraisers secured $178.7 million in donations to 442 charities. Of that, $108.2 million paid the telemarketers’ fees and overhead costs.

   “Especially in today’s economy, when New Yorkers give their hard-earned money to charity, they expect the donation to make a difference and to help those in need,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This report arms New Yorkers with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about contributing, and also encourages charities across the state to find more effective ways to raise money.”

   Other findings in the study include:

  —In nearly 80 percent of fundraising campaigns, charities kept less than half of the money donated.

  —In about half of the campaigns, charities received less than 30 percent of the funds raised.

  —Charities actually lost money in 51 of the 553 campaigns analyzed in the report.

 Gov. David Paterson’s 2009-10 budget proposal takes steps to align spending and available revenues in the state, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said today in releasing his analysis of the plan. However, the governor’s budget has a number of risks that “could result in the failure of revenues and savings to materialize, jeopardizing budget balance,” the comptroller said. Beyond that, the state debt continues to be too high, he said.

   Paterson’s budget proposal, which he released a few weeks ago, closes a $1.7 billion deficit in the current fiscal year and $13.7 billion in 2009-10 through cost-savings, use of non-recurring resources, and new taxes and fees.

   “The governor has struggled to present a balanced budget in the face of an unprecedented financial crisis,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “It’s a step in the right direction. But there are risks in the governor’s plan. Many of the proposed revenue raisers and spending reductions may not be enacted or realized. And even though the governor is pushing for more pay-as-you-go capital projects, debt levels are still too high.”

   Other findings by the Comptroller’s Office include:

  —Spending continues to increase faster than revenues. General fund spending is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent through fiscal year 2012-13, but revenue will go up only 3.8 percent.

  —There will be average annual debt issuances of $5.3 billion over five years, higher than the $3.6 billion annual average for the previous five years. Annual debt payments are expected to reach $7.6 billion in five years, 40 percent more than debt payments in 2008-09.

  —The projected 2012-13 deficit would decrease from $19.6 billion to $5.5 billion in 2012-13. The total deficit for fiscal yeras 2010-11 through 2012-13 would fall from a projected $55.3 billion to $11.4 billion. Read more of this entry »

The state Power Authority today named a state Supreme Court judge who was defeated in his bid for re-election year as its top internal cop, replacing a controversial figure involved in the Troopergate scandal.
An authority panel named Anthony Carpinello, whose last day as a judge serving the Albany area  is tomorrow, as the organization’s inspector general. If he passes a background check, he’ll assume his new duties – and the $187,000 annual salary – early next year.
The authority has been without an inspector general since last April 1, when former State Police Capt. Daniel Wiese was suspended. He was formally fired the next month. Wiese is being probed for what role, if any, he had as a state cop in the Spitzer administration’s alleged spying on state politicians. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating. Wiese has denied any wrongdoing.
The authority, which is owned by the state and based in White Plains, operates 18 electric-generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.