Politics on the Hudson » Brian Tumulty

What’s the theme of Obama’s 2012 campaign?

Brian Tumulty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:17:41 +0000

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith summed up Vice President Joe Biden’s re-election message at a campaign fundraiser in Tallahassee earlier today.

“If you want to know in 2012 what we’ve got to say, it’s very simple – General Motors is hiring and Bin Laden is dead,” Smith was quoted as saying in a media pool report filed by the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper.

Mortgage disclosure included in Senate-passed STOCK Act

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:37:10 +0000

In a rare show of overwhelming bipartisanship, the Senate voted 96 to 3 this evening to approve legislation that prohibits members of Congress and federal employees from financially profiting by trading on insider knowledge.

The bill, known as the STOCK Act (Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge), came to the floor as an amalgam of bills proposed by New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand and Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown.

One of the last amendments approved by the Senate today is a requirement that lawmakers disclose information about all of the real estate mortgages they hold. The bipartisan amendment authored by Democrat Barbara Boxer of California and Johnny Isakson of Georgia also applies to mortgages held by the president, vice president and executive branch employees who are subject to Senate confirmation.

House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor has promised a floor vote in his chamber by the end of the month.

House Democrats led by Louise Slaughter of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota have started a petition drive to force a vote as soon as possible.

President Barack Obama issued a statement after the Senate vote urging the House to act quickly.

Obama also urged Congress to do more to restore public trust “like prohibiting elected officials from owning stocks in industries they impact, and prohibiting people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress from lobbying Congress, an idea that has bipartisan support outside of Washington.’’

Alexander has $20,587 for Hayworth challenge

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:05:03 +0000

Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander had $20,587 in campaign cash at the end of December for his bid to win the Democratic line in the November election for the 19th Congressional District seat.

Alexander is one of three Democrats seeking their party’s line to run against freshman Republican Rep. Nan Hayworth of Bedford. The Federal Election Commission website did not display Alexander’s filing early Wednesday, even though it was submitted before the midnight Tuesday deadline.

Hayworth’s campaign reported having $1.1 million at the end of the year.

Richard Becker, a heart specialist from Cortlandt seeking the Democratic line, had $165,282. A third Democrat, Tuxedo Park Mayor Tom Wilson, announced his candidacy only two weeks ago.

Hudson Valley GOP freshmen stash cash for congressional races

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:14:17 +0000

The Hudson Valley’s two Republican freshmen in Congress – Nan Hayworth and Chris Gibson—ended 2011 with sizeable stashes of campaign cash.
Hayworth, an ophthalmologist from Bedford, had $1.1 million in her campaign treasury while Gibson, a retired Army colonel from Kinderhook, had $702,022.

None of Hayworth’s announced Democratic opponents came close to her in fundraising.

Gillibrand ended year with $8.1 Mill in campaign cash

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:46:03 +0000

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand heads into the 2012 election with $8.1 million in campaign cash, according to a yearend finance report filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.
New York’s junior senator raised $9.76 million last year, coming out of a successful 2010 campaign in which she spent $13.4 million to win the remaining two years of the six-year term that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected to in 2006.
Republicans George Maragos, who serves as Nassau County’s comptroller, and Marc Cendella, CEO of TheLadders.com job search website, have been traveling around the state meeting with party leaders and seeking their support to run as the GOP standardbearer against Gillibrand this November, when she will be seeking a full six-year Senate term.
Both Republicans have indicated they are willing to spend millions of dollars of their own money for the campaign.
State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox criticized Gillibrand’s campaign fundraising several weeks ago when she traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to a campaign event.
According to Gillibrand’s campaign spokesman Glen Caplin, money raised from the campaign event held in Geneva, as well as others held in London and Paris, will be reported in her first quarter 2012 campaign finance report. During the trip Gillibrand tapped into donors who are members of the organization Democrats Abroad.

“It’s not unusual, and in fact, it is quite common for American citizens living abroad to participate in the democratic process back home,” Caplin stated.
New York’s senior Democratic senator, Chuck Schumer, won a third six-year term in 2010 and won’t be up for re-election until 2016.
Schumer’s campaign committee received $645,637 in donations in 2011 and ended the year with just over $10 million.

Insider trading bill advances in the Senate

Brian Tumulty — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:50:00 +0000

Bipartisan legislation that would require members of Congress to disclose financial trades on a more timely basis cleared a key Senate procedural vote on Monday.
Under the STOCK Act, for Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge, lawmakers would have 30 days to post online any trade of least $1,000.
The legislation aims to clarify that members of Congress and their employees are subject to the same federal anti-fraud laws that prohibit other Americans from making stock trades based on insider knowledge.
Monday’s vote was 93-2 to take up the bill and allow amendments. Sixty votes were needed for the measure to move forward. A final vote is expected later this week.
Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who joined fellow Republican Richard Burr of North Carolina in opposing the bill, said in an interview the legislation is unnecessary. A simple signed statement by lawmakers attesting that they had not violated the law would serve the same purpose without as much bureaucracy, he said.
“Why are we playing a game with the American people?’’ Coburn asked.
The White House said Monday it “strongly supports’’ the bill, which it said “makes clear that members and employees of Congress owe a duty arising from their position of trust and confidence not to use nonpublic information obtained by virtue of their position for personal benefit.’’
Monday’s vote allows senators to begin offering amendments that could replace the 30-day reporting period with a shorter time frame. Currently, members of Congress are required only to file annual statements of personal wealth that report their assets in broad ranges.
“I have heard a number of amendments that are being considered to make it tougher or clearer or add other provisions,’’ said Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, one of the lead sponsors of the Senate bill.
Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., have proposed an amendment that would permanently ban congressional earmarks.
Federal law enforcement agencies say they need timely data in order to analyze whether lawmakers are using privileged information for financial gain.
The STOCK Act may be just the first in a flurry of bills lawmakers introduce this year in response to polls showing public confidence in them is at an all-time low.
Gillibrand plans to offer separate legislation to increase transparency that would, among other things, require the Supreme Court to televise its proceedings.
House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia plans to schedule a floor vote on an expanded version of the STOCK Act in February, according to spokeswoman Laena Fallon.
“Building upon the Senate bill, this common-sense proposal will not only deal with insider trading of stocks, but also prevent all federal officials and employees from using insider information for profit in other areas in a constitutionally sound way,’’ Fallon said. “As Leader Cantor has said, he strongly supports increased disclosure to prevent any sense of impropriety and ensure the public’s confidence and trust in our elected officials.”
The original STOCK Act was proposed in 2006 by Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter of Fairport and former Rep. Brian Baird of Washington state. The current House bill has 254 sponsors, with 218 votes needed for passage.

Hinchey retiring

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:05:59 +0000

Ten-term Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey of Ulster County will retire at the end of the year, according to
spokesman Mike Morosi.

Hinchey will make the official announcement Thursday in Kingston.

The impending retirement was first reported by The Politico, which cited unnamed sources.

The 73-year-old congressman underwent a second round of surgery for colon cancer earlier this month at Albany Medical
Center, following an initial procedure in July.

Hinchey felt “very fortunate to be cancer-free’’ following the recent surgery, Morosi said. He described that
operation as “a final benchmark procedure, marking the completion of (Hinchey’s) cancer protocol.”

In April, Hinchey released a statement from his doctor saying he was undergoing radiation treatment for colon cancer
at the Ulster Radiation Oncology Center in Kingston.

He underwent surgery July 12 at the Albany Medical Center, followed by periodic chemotherapy that continued through
the end of 2011.

Last week, Morosi said Hinchey faced “a number of hurdles” in deciding whether to seek re-election.

Hinchey is making his announcement a couple of weeks prior to the expected release of new congressional district
lines by the state Legislature, and the timing serves a courtesy to lawmakers in Albany who may have intended to preserve the current configuration of his Democratic-leaning 22nd Congressional District. The current boundaries include
numerous cities and colleges. The western boundary includes Ithaca and Binghamton, while the eastern boundary includes the mid-Hudson Valley cities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh Middletown and Kingston.

New York is losing two of its 29 House seats under redistricting this year because the state’s population grew slower
than the rest of the country.

Last year Hinchey’s campaign fundraising lagged behind many other New York incumbents in Congress.

He ended September with $107,213, much less than the $225,000 to $890,000 held by each of three Republican freshmen in surrounding congressional districts.

Hinchey’s campaign has not yet released its year-end 2011 fundraising report.

Two Republicans already have announced they’re running for the 22nd District seat.

George Phillips, a teacher from the Binghamton area who lost to Hinchey in 2008 and 2010, had $55,640 at the end of
September.

Tom Engel, a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, declared his candidacy in
October. An Ulster County resident, Engel is a principal in the McKool Smith law firm.

Tuxedo Park mayor wants to challenge Hayworth

Brian Tumulty — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:30:59 +0000

The mayor of the village of Tuxedo Park in Orange County has announced he is seeking the Democratic Party line to run against Rep. Nan Hayworth of Bedford.

Mayor Tom Wilson is the third Democrat to announce against Hayworth in the 19th Congressional District.

However, the boundaries of the Congressional District have not yet been set through redistricting.

One or more of the candidates could be redistricted out of the 19th.

A candidate still is eligible to run if he or she does not live in the district, but it does have an impact on electability.

The two other Democratic candidates are cardiologist Richard Becker of Cortlandt Manor and Wappingers Falls Mayor Matt Alexander.

United Farm Workers endorse Obama

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:32:28 +0000

The United Farm Workers of America announced today they are endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election in November.

President Obama stands with farm workers and immigrants,’‘ UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said in a press statement. ”His administration is fighting against mean-spirited partisan legislation and gratuitous attacks by Republican politicians against hard-working, tax-paying immigrants who are among the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Hayworth agrees to bipartisan congressional seating

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:10:18 +0000

A bipartisan advocacy group says freshman Republican Rep. Nan Hayworth of Bedford has agreed to its pledge to sit with a member of another political party during the Jan. 24 State of the Union address by President Barack Obama.
The group, No Labels, said it has a commitment from a dozen lawmakers so far. “That was just our initial outreach,’’ said spokeswoman Sarah Feldman. “We are going to be speaking to every single office.’’
No other members of the New York delegation were part of that initial group.
Last year many Republicans and Democrats arranged “bipartisan dates’’ for the speech after the idea was floated by Third Way, a centrist Democratic advocacy group.
Both of New York’s Democratic senators sat with Republicans.
Sen. Chuck Schumer sat with conservative Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand invited Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to join her.

USDA proposes closing 4 NY offices

Brian Tumulty — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:37:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it wants to close 131 offices around the country, including four in New York.

The targeted locations in New York are in Yates, Saratoga, Sullivan and Albany counties.

The money-saving move was announced yesterday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as part of his agency’s Blueprint for Stronger Service.

“The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago,” Vilsack said in a press statement. “We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars. We must build on the record accomplishments of farm communities in 2011 with a stronger, more effective USDA in 2012 and beyond.”

After the closings, the Farm Service Agency will continue to have more than 2,100 offices around the country.

Among the other money saving measures the agency is taking, USDA will reduce the number of cell phone plans it uses from 700 to 10.

White House has commitment for 180,000 summer youth jobs

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:34:36 +0000

The White House plans to announce today it has received a commitment from businesses, nonprofits and federal agencies to provide summer jobs for 180,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 24.
Private-sector partners include CVS Caremark, the Gap, Starbucks, Syracuse University and United Parcel Service.
President Barack Obama had proposed a $1.5 billion summer youth employment program as part of his American Jobs Act, but Congress didn’t act on that request.
The plan to be announced Thursday builds on a theme of congressional inaction that the administration has used to justify more controversial actions, such as Wednesday’s recess appointments by Obama of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three members of the National Labor Relations Board.
The federal agencies that will participate in the summer youth jobs program won’t get new funding, according to the administration.
Even so, the Agriculture Department plans to provide summer employment to 7,100 youths, the Interior Department will employ 12,000 and the Health and Human Services Department will employ 324.
In 2009 and 2010, economic stimulus legislation financed 367,000 summer youth jobs, according to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
“When those Recovery Act dollars dried up last year, I made summer youth jobs a top priority here at the Department of Labor,’’ Solis said. “I personally traveled to communities across the country and challenged employers to make a commitment. A number of major corporations like Jamba Juice, UPS and Wells Fargo signed on. They created thousands of summer work opportunities for young people.’’
Altogether an estimated 80,000 summer jobs were offered in 2011, with the help of groups such as the U.S. Conference of Mayor and community-based nonprofits.
Solis said she hopes to enlist more employers in coming months and ultimately employ 250,000 youths for the year.
Unemployment among 16-to-24-year-olds was 18.1 percent in July. The rate among blacks was 31 percent. Among Hispanics, it was 20 percent.
In July 2007, just prior to the onset of the Great Recession, unemployment for that age group stood at 10.8 percent.
In conjunction with the initiative, the White House plans to release a report outlining the national economic burden of not providing job opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
The report, authored by two faculty members at Columbia University’s Teachers College and another from Queens College, estimates the nation has at least 6.7 million disadvantaged youths between 16 and 24 who neither work nor attend school. On average, they impose an immediate taxpayer burden of $13,900 a year compared to other youths in the same age group.

Hayworth explains why House GOP accepted a 2-month deal

Brian Tumulty — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:14:36 +0000

Here’s the press release:

U.S. Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, M.D. (NY-19) released the following statement after the House passed a 60-day extension of the payroll tax reduction, unemployment benefits, and Medicare physician reimbursement rates after the Democrat-led Senate agreed to appoint conferees and begin working with House Republican negotiators on a long-term solution:

“Today Congress passed a short-term extension of the payroll tax holiday, federal contribution to unemployment benefits, and current Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors. I have always supported these programs, and in recent days I’ve been privileged to be a highly visible advocate for providing the greatest possible certainty to hardworking taxpayers, job-creating employers, the growing ranks of unemployed Americans, and our seniors and doctors who rely on Medicare. On December 13 I voted with a majority of House Republicans, and many Democratic colleagues, for significantly lengthier continuation of these crucial initiatives. The Senate voted differently, and now it’s time to work towards consensus.
“As part of today’s legislation, the House of Representatives and the Senate have convened a conference committee to devise longer-term extensions for the payroll tax holiday, federal unemployment contributions, and Medicare reimbursements. I have been honored to be one of eight House Republicans selected for the committee, and l look forward to working closely with my colleagues in both parties and both chambers of Congress to do our best for all the people we serve.”

Boehner’s call to Obama

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:25:41 +0000

FROM HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER’S PRESS OFFICE: “Today, Speaker Boehner called President Obama to discuss the Speaker’s desire to provide a full year of tax relief for American families before December 31st. With Senator Reid having declined to call his Members back to Washington this week to join the House in negotiating a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut, the Speaker proposed that the President send members of his economic policy team up to Congress to find a way to accommodate the President’s full-year request. The Speaker explained his concern that flaws in the Senate-passed bill will be unworkable for many small business job creators. He reiterated that if their shared goal is a one-year bill, there is no reason an agreement cannot be reached before year’s end. The President declined the Speaker’s offer.”

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: Speaker Boehner called the President this morning and the President reiterated to the Speaker that the only viable option currently on the table is for the House of Representatives to pass the bipartisan Senate compromise that received the support of nearly 90 percent of the Senate. The President told Speaker Boehner that he is committed to begin working immediately on a full-year agreement once the House passes the bipartisan Senate compromise that prevents a tax hike on 160 million Americans on January 1.

Hayworth, Reed help spin House GOP position on tax cut extension

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:41:25 +0000

Two freshman Republican House members from New York were in spin mode Wednesday, staying in Washington for a media blitz to urge further negotiations for a one-year extension of a payroll tax cut.
Reps. Tom Reed of Corning and Nan Hayworth of Bedford spent the day shuttling between television cameras and their congressional offices.
Their message to the public: Pressure the Senate and House to negotiate a one-year deal instead of accepting the Senate’s two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits and Medicare reimbursement rates.
“This is the time-honored process that the founders provided wisely for,’’ Hayworth said in an interview shortly after appearing on CNN. “We are hoping for January 1 to dawn with the American people receiving the longest-term relief we can provide them.’’
Reed, who appeared on two cable news programs Tuesday night, also made the media rounds Wednesday, doing interviews with Bloomberg, Politico, the National Journal and Roll Call.
“Messaging has been part of the operation, obviously, but we are also digging into these issues,’’ Reed said during an interview in his office. “I truly believe, if the Senate came to the table we could work this out.’’
Democrats say House Republicans should accept the Senate deal, and they noted that that several GOP senators agree.
In a phone call Wednesday, President Barack Obama urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to allow a House vote on the Senate’s two-month deal while reiterating the need to ultimately agree on a one-year extension.
The two-month extension approved by the Senate in an 89-10 vote Saturday was negotiated by Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer appeared Wednesday on MSNBC and Fox News, accusing House Republicans of using their proposed negotiations to shelve the payroll tax cut extension.
Reed and Hayworth said they will stay in Washington as long as necessary because House GOP leaders have appointed them to a possible House-Senate conference committee on the tax cut extension.
Meanwhile, other New York Republicans have taken differing positions.
Freshman Republican Rep. Chris Gibson of Kinderhook voted Tuesday against the House GOP proposal to seek negotiations with the Senate.
And freshman Rep. Richard Hanna of Oneida County issued a statement Wednesday saying he would have voted in favor of the Senate plan.
“While a year-long extension is preferable to a two-month extension, I certainly would have voted for the Senate-passed bill if given the opportunity,’’ Hanna said. “Because the Senate bill was not brought to the House floor for a direct vote, I voted to … move to a House-Senate conference to resolve differences between the chambers.’’
Hanna said the Senate and House should get back to working on a deal.
“I stand ready to finish this work,’’ he said. “Letting the payroll tax cut or unemployment insurance expire next year is unacceptable.’’

India’s ambassador meets with NY lawmakers

Brian Tumulty — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:31:23 +0000

India’s ambassador to the United States says she was in Purchase last week to meet with her friend Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s president and chief executive.
“We just had a conversation,’’ said Ambassador Nirupama Rao. “We are friends, old friends.’’
Ambassador Rao spoke during a congressional reception Thursday evening attended by New York Reps. Nita Lowey of Harrison, Eliot Engel of the Bronx, Gary Ackerman of Nassau County and Joe Crowley of Queens.
Rao took over as India’s ambassador to the United States in September. She’s served her country in the U.S. before as the embassy’s minister for press and cultural affairs from 1993 to 1995.
Lowey, who serves as the ranking Democrat on the House appropriations committee with jurisdiction on foreign operations, noted that PepsiCo has extensive operations in India that date back to 2000 when she made a trip there with then-President Bill Clinton.

Payroll tax cut expansion would net $600 for ave. NY family

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:18:50 +0000

The average New York household would pay $600 less in payroll taxes next year under a proposal being pushed by Senate Democrats.
A family earning the state’s median income of $54,554 already will pay $1,090 less this year under a 2-percentage-point reduction in payroll taxes that began in January.
That tax cut expires at the end of this year, but Senate Republicans announced this week they will back a one-year renewal.
“It’s a huge step in our direction that they are now saying they want to support this kind of payroll tax cut,’’ New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday.
But Senate Republicans aren’t supporting President Barack Obama’s proposal to cut the payroll tax in half – by 3.1 percentage points – next year. Obama also wants to cut employers’ share of payroll taxes if they hire new workers or give employees raises.
The White House said Wednesday the proposals would provide a $12.8 billion cut in payroll taxes for 10.3 million New Yorkers in 2012, compared to $7.8 billion this year.
Nationwide, it would provide $179 billion in tax relief next year, the administration said.
Senate Democrats want to offset the cost of the tax cut package by enacting a one-year, 3.25-percent income tax surcharge on millionaires, but Republicans oppose that.
Republicans released a plan Wednesday that they said would cover the cost of renewing the 2-percentage-point payroll tax cut for one year while reducing the deficit by $111 billion.
The plan would freeze salaries of federal civilian workers for three years, reduce the federal workforce over time by 10 percent—or 200,000 employees—and begin means testing for federal benefits such as health care, unemployment benefits and food stamps.
“Republicans will put aside their misgivings and support this extension,’’ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday, prior to the release of the GOP plan. “Not because we believe, as the president does, that another short-term stimulus will turn this economy around, but because we know it will give some relief to struggling workers out there who continue to need it nearly three years into this presidency.”
Schumer, who’s pushing for passage of Obama’s plan, released county-level data comparing the impact of the payroll tax cut now in effect to the larger one proposed by Democrats.
In Westchester County, where the median income is $77,057, the difference is $848 ($1,541 compared to $2,389).

President Clinton talks about Hillary’s next job

Brian Tumulty — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:37:17 +0000

The husband of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is making a prediction on what she will do after she steps down from her cabinet post, as planned, at the end of 2012.

Former President Bill Clinton told Newsmax.com on Sunday that his wife ”will have a major role to play in the nongovernmental world. That’s what she plans to do and I think she’ll do it well.”

The former president said, ”Around the world, she’s done an enormous amount of good, in you know, the so-called soft power areas empowering women and girls, educating them, giving them access to capital, helping them make a living, promoting better healthcare practices.”

Here’s the link:

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/clinton-bill-hillary-president/2011/11/27/id/419171

New Yorker possible as top Dem on Financial Services

Brian Tumulty — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:15:34 +0000

This morning’s announcement by Massachusett’s Rep. Barney Frank that he will retire from Congress at the end of 2012 already has people asking who will replace him in 2013 as the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee.

One possible successor is New York Rep. Gary Ackerman of Nassau County, who has served in the House since 1983.

Ackerman is a member of Financial Services, although he’s also active on Foreign Affairs, where he serves as ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. For a Jewish New Yorker with a congressional district covering parts of Queens and Nassau, that’s a plum subcommittee position.

But New York City is the financial services capital of the world.

Ackerman also may be a more appealing choice to party leaders than California Rep. Maxine Waters, who is the second most senior Democrat on Financial Services but doesn’t have as much overall seniority as Ackerman as a House member.

Another possibility is Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan, who serves as ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. Maloney was a prime sponsor of the recent law clamping down on credit card abuses.

On the Republican side, Rep. Peter King of Nassau County is the second ranking member of the GOP on the full committee. Freshman Rep. Nan Hayworth of Westchester County is one of the panel’s junior members.

Lowey condemns treatment of Bachmann

Brian Tumulty — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:47:43 +0000

Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey issued a statement this afternoon condemning late night comedian Jimmy Fallon for introducing Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann on his show by playing the song “Lyin’ Ass Bitch’’ as the walk-on music.

Lowey described the music as ”insulting and inappropriate.’’

“I do not share Michele Bachmann’s politics, but she deserves to be treated with respect.,’’ Lowey said. ”No female politician – and no woman – should be subjected to sexist and offensive innuendo like she was last night. The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, and NBC should apologize.”

Hearing planned on congressional stock trading bill

Brian Tumulty — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:01:35 +0000

A proposal to ban insider stock trading by members of Congress and their staff will get a congressional hearing Dec. 6 before the House Financial Services Committee.
New York Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, first proposed the bill in 2006 with former Rep. Brian Baird of Washington and, until this week, never had more than 14 House sponsors.
That’s all changed since a CBS TV News segment on 60 Minutes Sunday night drew attention to the ability of lawmakers and their employers to trade on the inside information they obtain about pending legislation and regulations that can move the stock market.
Since Monday, the number of sponsors of Slaughter’s bill has grown to 61.
Slaughter said Thursday that getting a full committee hearing on her bill “shows the power of the press.”
“I’m particularly pleased because my colleagues are really starting to understand that light needs to be shed on insider trading and political intelligence which has been creeping into the halls of Congress for years now,” Slaughter said.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., said Thursday he is calling the hearing even though he personally thinks members of Congress already are prohibited from insider trading.
“The American public deserves for there to be no question or equivocation concerning members of Congress or any citizen being exempted from laws prohibiting insider trading,” he said.
Bachus was one of the lawmakers highlighted in the 60 Minutes report, which drew on reporting from a new book by Peter Schweizer of the Hoover Institution.
Bachus released a letter Wednesday rebutting the accusation that he purchased General Electric stock expecting it to go down in price, pointing out that his purchase options were made with the expectation it would increase in value.
Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who preceded Bachus as the committee’s chairman, released a letter Wednesday saying he “did not pay sufficient attention” to the issue when he chaired the panel.
“I did not see this as a problem that was of any great substance,” Frank wrote. “I am still not sure that this is widespread, but given the attention that we have seen on this matter now, and given the importance of those whom we represent being fully assured that we have acted appropriately, I think we should now take up this legislation.”
While Frank chaired the full committee, Slaughter’s bill only had one hearing at the subcommittee level in July 2009.
New York lawmakers who have joined recently to support the bill include Democratic Reps. Maurice Hinchey of Ulster County, Brian Higgins of Buffalo, Kathy Hochul of the Buffalo area, Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan, Tim Bishop of Southampton and Bill Owens of Plattsburgh.
In the Senate, Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts introduced a version of the bill Tuesday. Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Jon Tester plan to introduce another version as early as next week.

11/18/11 UPDATE: There are now eight sponsors of the second Senate bill. Besides, Gillibrand, Tester and Stabenow, original sponsors include Republican Marco Rubio of Florida and Democrats Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Richard Blumenthalof Connecticut.

Gillibrand gets high favorability rating

Brian Tumulty — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:58:36 +0000

With the election a year away, a new Siena poll shows Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand well-positioned for her bid to win a full six-year year.

Gillibrand has a 49 percent-25 percent favorability rating and 53 percent of voters surveyed said they are prepared to re-elect her.

According to Siena pollster Steve Greenberg, she’s ahead of two possible Republican opponents “by more than 40 points.”

“She leads former state comptroller candidate Harry Wilson 63-21 percent and leads Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos 65-17 percent,’’ Greenberg said. “Both Wilson and Maragos are unknown to more than three-quarters of voters and both are viewed unfavorably by more than twice as many as view them favorably.”

Here’s a link to the poll:

http://www.siena.edu/uploadedfiles/home/parents_and_community/community_page/sri/sny_poll/SNY%20November%202011%20Poll%20Release%20—%20FINAL.pdf

NY lawmakers join call for $4 trillion in deficit reduction

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:25:12 +0000

Ten New York lawmakers are part of a bipartisan group of 100 House members who want a congressional “super committee” to “go big” and consider all options, including revenue increases, for reducing federal deficits.
The group, which includes five Democrats and five Republicans from New York, sent a letter Wednesday to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction asking members to consider up to $4 trillion in spending cuts and revenue raisers over the next 10 years. The committee’s minimum goal is to recommend $1.2 trillion in cuts by Nov. 18.
“To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table,’’ the letter states. “In addition, we know from other bipartisan frameworks that a target of some $4 trillion in deficit reduction is necessary to stabilize our debt as a share of the economy and assure America’s well-being.’’
New York Republicans Reps. Tom Reed of Corning, Richard Hanna of Oneida County, Michael Grimm of Staten Island, Bob Turner of Queens and Peter King of Long Island signed the letter.
The Democratic signatories are Reps. Brian Higgins of Buffalo, Tim Bishop of Long Island, Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan, Gregory Meeks of Queens and Bill Owens of Plattsburgh.
Overall, 60 Democrats and 40 Republicans signed the letter, which was spearheaded by Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho and Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina.
Shuler’s spokeswoman said Wednesday the group plans to seek signatures from more lawmakers in the coming days.

Gillibrand expects Giffords to seek re-election

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:52:40 +0000

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Thursday she expects Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to make a full recovery and run for re-election in her Arizona House district next year.

Gillibrand acknowledged that she hasn’t been told by the Arizona congresswoman, who hasn’t publicly announced her intentions, whether she will seek a fourth term.

“I believe in her and she fully believes in public service,’’ Gillibrand said. “And I think as she continues to heal herself and overcome these horrible injuries, I think she will be able to return full time to public service and she will be able to run for re-election.’’

But New York’s junior senator doesn’t expect an announcement from her fellow Democrat anytime soon.

“I would hope she would focus on her rehabilitation throughout the end of the year and then we’ll see in the new year,’’ Gillibrand said.

Gillibrand’s comments came following a retirement ceremony and reception for Giffords’ husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly of the U.S. Navy, which was hosted by Vice President Joe Biden in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House.

The event marked Giffords’ second visit to the nation’s capital since she was shot in the head during an outdoor constituent outreach event at a Tucson shopping center Jan. 8.

Her previous visit to Washington was in July for a House vote on increasing the nation’s debt limit. Her surprise visit to the House floor led to an emotional bipartisan standing ovation from her colleagues.

Gillibrand, 44, and Giffords, 41, both began their congressional careers as freshman Democrats in 2007 and developed a friendship that continued after Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate in January 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Gillibrand said her friend looked “wonderful’’ at Thursday’s event. “She looked beautiful, vibrant, excited. She was so proud, she was beaming with pride for her husband’s accomplishments.’’

Harry J. Wilson sworn in today

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:09:01 +0000

Scarsdale resident Harry J. Wilson, who lost his campaign to become state comptroller last November to Democrat Thomas DiNapoli, was sworn in today as a member of the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s advisory board.

The PBGC oversees failed pension plans.

Wilson earlier served as a member of the U.S. Treasury Department group that oversaw the restructuring of Chrysler and General Motors.

He is currently chairman and CEO of the corporate restructuring and turnaround firm MAEVA Advisors, LLC.

“Harry Wilson has a deep knowledge of corporate restructuring, and highly relevant government experience,” PBGC Director Josh Gotbaum said in a press statement. “This background gives him invaluable insight into the challenges we face at PBGC. I look forward to his wise counsel as a member of the Advisory Committee.”

Lowey on Weiner’s expected resignation

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:40:28 +0000

Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, released a statement today on the expected resignation of Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-Queens.

“There is life after Congress for Anthony Weiner and I hope he devotes himself to repairing the damage he caused to his personal life,” Lowey said

Schumer urges Afghanistan withdrawal

Brian Tumulty — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:30:29 +0000

Below is the text of a letter New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and other senators sent to the Obama administration Wednesday:

The President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our strong support for a shift in strategy and the beginning of a sizable and sustained reduction of U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, beginning in July 2011.

In 2001 the United States rightfully and successfully intervened in Afghanistan with the goals of destroying al Qaeda’s safe haven, removing the Taliban government that sheltered al Qaeda, and pursuing those who planned the September 11 attacks on the United States. Those original goals have been largely met and today, as CIA Director Leon Panetta noted last June, “I think at most, we’re looking at maybe 50 to 100, maybe less” al Qaeda members remaining in Afghanistan.

In addition, over the past few years, U.S. forces have killed or captured dozens of significant al Qaeda leaders. Then, on May 2, 2011, American Special Forces acting under your direction located and killed Osama bin Laden. The death of the founder of al Qaeda is a major blow that further weakens the terrorist organization.

From the initial authorization of military force through your most recent State of the Union speech, combating al Qaeda has always been the rationale for our military presence in Afghanistan. Given our successes, it is the right moment to initiate a sizable and sustained reduction in forces, with the goal of steadily withdrawing all regular combat troops.

There are those who argue that rather than reduce our forces, we should maintain a significant number of troops in order to support a lengthy counter-insurgency and nation building effort. This is misguided. We will never be able to secure and police every town and village in Afghanistan. Nor will we be able to build Afghanistan from the ground up into a Western-style democracy.

Endemic corruption in Afghanistan diverts resources intended to build roads, schools, and clinics, and some of these funds end up in the hands of the insurgents. Appointments of provincial and local officials on the basis of personal alliances and graft leads to deep mistrust by the Afghan population. While it is a laudable objective to attempt to build new civic institutions in Afghanistan, this goal does not justify the loss of American lives or the investment of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.

Instead of continuing to be embroiled in ancient local and regional conflicts in Afghanistan, we must accelerate the transfer of responsibility for Afghanistan’s development to the Afghan people and their government. We should maintain our capacity to eliminate any new terrorist threats, continue to train the Afghan National Security Forces, and maintain our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. However, these objectives do not require the presence of over 100,000 American troops engaged in intensive combat operations.

Mr. President, according to our own intelligence officials, al Qaeda no longer has a large presence in Afghanistan, and, as the strike against bin Laden demonstrated, we have the capacity to confront our terrorist enemies with a dramatically smaller footprint. The costs of prolonging the war far outweigh the benefits. It is time for the United States to shift course in Afghanistan.

We urge you to follow through on the pledge you made to the American people to begin the redeployment of U.S. forces from Afghanistan this summer, and to do so in a manner that is sizable and sustained, and includes combat troops as well as logistical and support forces.

We look forward to working with you to pursue a strategy in Afghanistan that makes our nation stronger and more secure.

?—

Massa’s campaign committee sues former chief of staff

Brian Tumulty — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:14:38 +0000

More than a year after former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa of Corning resigned, his campaign committee has filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court seeking the return of $40,000 in consulting fees from his former chief of staff.

The former chief of staff, Joe Racalto, was served notice of the lawsuit Friday, according to James D. Doyle, a Rochester attorney representing the Massa for Congress Committee.

Doyle said Racalto, who now lives in Syracuse, failed to respond to a letter sent last year by the campaign’s Washington attorney, Joseph Sandler, seeking a return of the fees.

The lawsuit says Racalto was not authorized to receive the money.

Racalto’s payment was dated March 4, 2010, the day after Massa announced he would not seek re-election. Massa abruptly resigned on March 9, 2010, amid a House ethics committee inquiry into his alleged sexual harassment of staff.

At the time, Massa said he was resigning for several reasons, including a possible recurrence of cancer, disgust with partisan politics and an unwillingness to fight the ethics probe.

The ethics inquiry expired when the 111th Congress ended its term in January. The new Congress has not renewed the investigation.

Massa’s campaign committee returned cash to many donors after his resignation. It still had $105,694 on March 31, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The committee reported paying $57,204 in legal fees in the first three months of this year. Doyle, the Rochester attorney, received $33,263, and the Manhattan law firm of Dealy and Silberstein received $23,941.

The former congressman’s campaign paid his wife, Beverly Massa, a monthly salary of $1,686 in the first quarter of this year for her service as treasurer, according to the report filed with the FEC. That translates to an annual salary of $20,232.

Beverly Massa was not paid for her work on the 2009-2010 campaign until this year, but she was paid by the campaign committee during her husband’s first two campaigns for Congress in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008, according to an email from Sandler.

Hochul to be sworn in Wednesday afternoon

Brian Tumulty — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:33:36 +0000

Rep.-elect Kathy Hochul will be sworn in as New York’s 26th Congressional District representative Wednesday afternoon, according to a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner.

The ceremony on the House floor will be held between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. followed by a mock swearing-in where Hochul will pose with family members for photos.

Hochul, a Democrat who won a special election last week in which the top voter issue became the Republican plan to overhaul Medicare, will begin serving the same day the House takes up fiscal 2012 appropriations bills.

The first one on the floor Wednesday will be the Homeland Security Department spending bill. Later this week the House will take up spending bills for military construction and for the Department of Veterans Affairs and related agencies.

Hochul is taking over the suite in the Longworth House Office Building occupied by former Republican Rep. Chris Lee until his resignation in February. She also will occupy the two district offices in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville and the Rochester suburb of Greece.

Outside money flows to NY open seat race

Brian Tumulty — Sat, 14 May 2011 13:08:59 +0000

The National Right to Life Committee is backing Republican candidate Jane Corwin in the 26th Congressional District special election, even though she favors abortion rights in the first trimester.

The organization’s political action committee is among three advocacy groups and two national political party organizations that are putting late money into what’s become an unexpectedly close race in a traditionally Republican district in western New York ahead of the May 24 election.

Much of the money is financing television ads, with a $250,000 media buy by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that began Friday, and a $400,000 commitment by the Republican National Congressional Committee for ads scheduled to begin Monday. The district is in the Rochester and Buffalo media markets.

The DCCC previously spent $150,000 on other campaign costs.

The three outside advocacy groups filed reports with the Federal Election Commission this week reporting their entry into the campaign.

The National Right to Life Committee’s PAC is spending $6,125 on a mailing supporting Corwin because she opposes federal funding for abortions and funding for Planned Parenthood, and she backs parental notification laws.

“I think for her it’s a personal decision,’’ Corwin campaign spokesman Matt Harakal said. “She’s spoken at length about this. She’s been very clear.’’

Her two major opponents, Democrat Kathy Hochul and Tea Party candidate Jack Davis, favor abortion rights without similar restrictions, according to the National Right to Life Committee.

The committee backs Corwin because she “is the only candidate who consistently opposes using taxpayer funds to pay for abortion,’’ spokesman Derrick Jones said in an email. The group said Corwin also opposes “the pro-abortion, pro-rationing Obama health care law and will vote to repeal it.’’

Service Employees International Union’s Local 1199 reported spending $59,750 for canvassing in support of Hochul.

American Crossroads, a conservative advocacy group, is spending $350,000 on television and Internet ads opposing Davis. Former Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan heads the group, and former presidential political strategist Karl Rove is an advisor.

The group may spend even more, according to spokesman Jonathan Collegio, depending on how Davis’ candidacy fares in response to a video showing a Corwin staffer confronting Davis on the campaign trail.

Corwin’s supporters say the video shows a Davis staffer pushing away a video camera held by Michael Mallia, who works on Corwin’s state Assembly staff.

Davis’s campaign spokesman, Curtis Ellis, says the brief video clip doesn’t show physical contact and doesn’t include the verbal abuse Davis was subjected to just prior to the incident.

Davis, who has ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the past as a Democrat, is seen by Republicans and Democrats as a spoiler who could help Hochul win the special election.