Politics on the Hudson

From Jon Campbell of the Gannett Albany Bureau:

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said today he would follow the law as his office understands it and will release $4 million in pay to the Legislature as soon as it passes a budget that allows the state to continue to operate.

Speaking to Fred Dicker on Talk 1300 AM in Albany this morning, DiNapoli said the law is clear and precedent has been set.

“It indicates that we have to determine whether or not the appropriation bills have been acted upon and that they are sufficient for the operation, not in terms of balance or the cash behind the appropriations, but in fact that the appropriations have been enacted in a way that will provide for state government and local assistance to be in operation,” DiNapoli said.

The Comptroller’s Office has not asked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for a legal opinion, he said.

DiNapoli said the task of setting a good budget does not rest on his own shoulders. Republican Comptroller candidate Harry Wilson has suggested withholding legislators’ pay until they pass a budget that is suitable to the comptroller.

“My responsibility is to follow the law, follow the precedents that have been clear,” DiNapoli said. “It is the responsibility of the Legislature and the governor to come up with a budget – a responsible budget – that is in balance.”

The comptroller also defended his proposal to allow local municipalities to borrow from the state pension fund. He said that since borrowers must set up a reserve account, contribution rates would be more stable during tough economic times.

“It would provide for more stability, more predictability, which would help local governments in managing this obligation,” he said.

DiNapoli recently lifted a self-imposed limit on individual contributions to his campaign, which he set at $20,000, well under the legal limit of nearly $56,000. He said it was a necessary step to keep pace with Wilson, who is expected to contribute heavily to his own campaign.

“We found that the Republicans have nominated someone that obviously is a person of wealth, and has indicated he is going to be raising and spending a lot of money,” DiNapoli said. “We just want to keep a level playing field so the race is a competitive one, and we’re going to go for the limits provided under the law.”

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