Well, according to the New York Observer, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s campaign will be returning money to donors who request a refund.

The email to donors from campaign spokeswoman Allyson Giard reads:

“As you are likely aware, we are currently disbanding Spitzer 2010. We intend to re-distribute the campaign’s remaining funds on a pro-rata basis to contributors who make an official request for a refund, either by email or letter.

“To expedite this process, we have set a deadline of June 15; in order to be honored, a refund request must be received by the campaign office by close of business on that date. After June 15, we will determine the rate at which we are able to issue contribution refunds and will begin issuing checks. (We will not be able to honor any requests received after June 15.)....

“This has obviously been a difficult period for everyone, particularlyfor those individuals who were supportive of the campaign, and I want to personally express my appreciation for your patience andunderstanding during this time. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to be of assistance to you.”

Meamwhile, Senate Republicans, who passed a gas-tax suspension last week, said more than 20,000 New Yorkers have signed petitions set up by its members.

Tedisco’s petition can be found here.

Overtime costs among the state’s nearly 400 agencies jumped by more than $66 million between 2005 and 2007, a 16 percent increase, and some state workers have more than doubled their salaries because of the state’s generous overtime.

The top beneficiary in 2007 was a nurse at the Rochester Psychiatric Center, according records provided by the state Comptroller’s Office. Mei Kuei Lin brought in $113,282 in overtime in 2007, more than double the nurse’s $61,757 salary.

The top five overtime recipients in the state in 2007 were workers at the state’s psychiatric centers, which unions say have been woefully understaffed.

Overall, state overtime soared to $481 million in 2007, from $437 million in 2006 and $415 million in 2005.

State Police had the largest amount of overtime in each of the past three years, with $43 million in 2007. Yet that was down from $52 million in 2006, records show.

He said he doesn’t want to take away representation of upstate businesses, but feels it’s important to have one person at the helm of the agency. Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer split the agency into an upstate and downstate branch, which has been hailed by upstate business leaders.

Business leaders in upstate are criticizing the governor’s plans to go back to the old policy, in which a New York City chairperson oversees the state’s entire economic development program.

Right now, Dan Gundersen serves as the upstate chair, based out of Buffalo.

“No one has said that we are taking Mr. Gundersen away from upstate,” Paterson told reporters after a town-hall meeting in Batavia on farm issues with Sen. Charles Schumer.  (There is Paterson and Schumer, on right, before the event today.)

“And I certainly understand that the economy is reeling, the anxiety is overflowing in upstate New York.”

Paterson went on to say that “I wanted to have an ability of the agency to have a centralized organization” yet he doesn’t plan to diminish any services to upstate.

“If we don’t change something, we’re not going to have improvement around here,” Paterson said.

“And I would invite some of those who said they were irked, to please call me because I let them know since the time I was in office two months ago that if they ever had a problem, they should call me and not one of them have called me in the past few days.”

The $300-per-ticket fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. at BOE Restaurant, 324 Central Park Ave,  in White Plains.

“I don’t count on any polls except the ones that actually are on Election Day,’’ Clinton said during a brief hallway interview at West Side High School. “So I’m going to wait and see what happens tomorrow.’’

The Suffolk University poll found Clinton with the support of 60 percent of likely Democratic voters and Barack Obama with 24 percent.

But doesn’t it get you excited when a poll shows you with a huge lead, she was asked.

“I don’t get excited and I don’t get unexcited,’’ she said. “I just do what I do every day. For me it’s about what voters actually do.’’

However, at her next campaign stop in the southern West Virginia community of Logan, Clinton was introduced by a supporter from the state legislature who urged voters to help Clinton score a lopsided victory of 80-20 or even 90-10 that would send a message to the national media.

Clinton seemed to agree. She concluded her tump speech by saying, “This is going to be a crucial turning point in this election.’’

Hall and 93 other Congress members have urged President Bush to stop buying oil to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the rest of 2008 or until the price of oil remains under $50 per barrel for three months.

“President Bush is violating one of the most fundamental rules of the market: buy low and sell high,” Hall said. “Right now he’s doing the opposite at the expense of taxpayers and to the detriment of the American driver.”

The President has the authority to authorize a drawdown of the petroleum reserve through an oil release or oil swap in a time of crisis. But instead of releasing oil from the reserve into the market, Bush is taking 70,000 barrels of oil every day and putting it into the reserve, Hall said.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that they plan to increase that rate to 76,000 barrels per day before the end of the summer. At present, the reserve is 97 percent full, containing 700 million barrels of oil.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton released 30 million barrels of oil from the reserve, Hall said. Within several days, crude oil had fallen by $6, home heating oil was down 10 cents on the wholesale market, and wholesale gasoline was down 14 cents, Hall said.

Kuhl represents the 29th Congressional District, which runs from the Southern Tier to the Rochester suburbs.

Politicial parties will release internal polls to help show the viability of their candidate and spur campaign contributions and support. So it’s interesting that a two-term incumbent would have to release a poll that shows he’s in the lead against Massa, whom Kuhl narrowly beat two years ago.

But Kuhl has been outraised by Massa this year, and Kuhl remains one of the most vulnerable Republican House members upstate, especially after his Republican colleagues, Reps. Thomas Reynolds and James Walsh, have chosen to retire than seek re-election in November.

The poll had a margin of error of nearly 8 percentage points and was a small sample of only 300 voters in the district, which is the most heavily Republican seat in the state.

“As the numbers in this polling memo illustrate, Randy Kuhl is well-positioned to win in November. Eric Massa is a re-run candidate that now will carry the weight of a Democrat Congress that has voted for new taxes and increased spending at every turn on his shoulders,” NRCC spokeswoman Julie Shutley said.

There was no immediate reaction from Massa’s campaign.

Updated: Here’s the response from Massa campaign manager Dave Marion:

“Eric Massa is focused on creating good jobs with benefits in Western New York, not cooking up last winter’s left-over poll numbers. When this poll was taken last winter, the majority of people thought that the Patriots were going to win the Super Bowl, but we know how that turned out.”

Touting the success today of the state’s recent decision to triple its film tax credit (from 10 percent to 30 percent), Gov. David Paterson announced today that production of the ABC series “Ugly Betty” would be returning to New York City.  The city’s 5 percent “Made in NY” tax credit will boost that to 35 percent.

The show’s move will create 200 full- and part-time jobs and is the first time an established television show has transferred its operations to New York City, according to Paterson. The state has lost about $750 million in film and TV business in the past few years because of increased competition from neighboring states.  The state tax credit is expected to cost the state $5 million this year, $10 million next year, and $15 million the third year.

New York City is one of the most desired filiming locations in the country and we are pleased to welcome ‘Ugly Betty’ into that storied history,” Paterson said in a statement. “With this hit show set to film in Manhattan and Queens, this will allow viewers to see more of our great city.”

The pilot for “Ugly Betty”—about Betty Suarez, a “fashion-challenged” Queens woman who works for a high-fashion New York City magazine— was shot in New York City three years ago, but the series has been filmed in Los Angeles for two seasons. Mark Pedowitz, president of ABC Studios, said the higher tax incentive made the return possible. (more…)

“Everyday there are developments occuring and we don’t how many of those superdelegates are going to be switching sides, just like they are doing now,” LaFayette said in a telephone conversation a few moments ago.

LaFayette, who presides over the party in Clinton’s home county, said Clinton should at least remain in the race through the conclusion of all the primary contests.

“I think you should at least give every state a chance to play a part,” LaFayette said.

Regardless of who the Democrats nominate, however, LaFayette still sees a big Democratic turnout in Westchester this fall and easy re-election victories for local Democratic incumbents — especially state Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer, who Senate Republicans have targeted.

“I don’t think Suzi is in danger in a presidential year,” LaFayette said.

There first stop was Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes, where the pair announced that the state Department of Transportation will develop new policies to keep large trucks off local roads in central New York.

They said that the countryside is being marred by trucks carrying garbage use local roads to avoid tolls and use shortcuts.

At 1 p.m. the pair is holding a town-hall meeting in Batavia.

There have been reports across the state of state judges recusing themselves from cases involving lawmakers’ firms in protest of not receiving a pay raise since 1999.

Protests aside, some judges said it would be inappropriate to hear cases involving lawmakers’ firms because judges are now suing the state Legislature for a pay raise.

Yet the Commission on Judicial Conduct disagreed, saying today that case law doesn’t indicate judges have the right to summarily refuse to hear such cases:

“It would benefit neither the judiciary nor their justifiable interest in a fair compensation package for the Commission to be constrained to consider complaints against judges alleged to have violated these or other sections of the Rules in connection with the salary issue.

“The Commission urges all parties with a role to play in this matter to do so responsibly, professionally and with the utmost sensitivity to promoting public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, the courts and the administration of justice.”

Not only that, 67 percent of voters questioned by Suffolk University say Clinton should remain in the race the for Democratic presidential nomination regardless of the outcome in tomorrow’s primary. Twenty four percent think she should withdraw.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards remains on the ballot in West Virginia, with 4 percent of likely voters saying they still support him despite his Jan. 30 withdrawal from the race. Eight percent of voters remain undecided.

More good news for Clinton: 72 percent said she is not hurting the Democratic Party by running in the remaining primaries. After West Viriginia, only four states and Putero Rico will remain.

Reflecting the findings of the poll, Obama is largely ignoring West Virginia. He is scheduled to speak at the civic center in Charleston at noontime today, but then leaves for Kentucky and won’t return. His one other campaign appearance in the state was March 20, according to a local TV station.

Clinton, on the other hand, has a full schedule of campaigning today. She also campaigned in the state Sunday.

The Suffolk University poll was conducted May 10 and May 11, 2008. The margin of error on the statewide survey of 600 was plus or minus 4 percent.

In advance of the fundraiser, the Clinton campaign released a new video in which Chelsea Clinton shares her thoughts about her famous mom on Mother’s Day.

Paterson’s move leaves questions about Gundersen’s future, yet Paterson said he wants to keep Gundersen, who works out of Buffalo.

Gundersen’s statement essentially suggests he supports whatever direction Paterson wants to go and reaffirmed Paterson’s commitment to the upstate economy. (Yet Gundersen spelled Plattsburgh wrong in the release.)

Here it is:
As Commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development, I share Gov. Paterson’s view that New York must be unified to compete effectively in the global marketplace.
Governor Paterson has visited a number of upstate communities including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Plattsburg to underscore his commitment to Upstate. He has already pledged to keep Upstate a priority of his administration and has strongly demonstrated that commitment with the $700 million Upstate Revitalization Fund included as a part of this year’s budget.
As upstate chairman of ESD, my charge has been to focus on the ailing Upstate economy to create jobs and improve communities and, in so doing, better position all of New York to compete for economic opportunities. Significant improvements have already been realized in these communities.

I look forward to working with the governor on his vision to position all of New York State so that it can compete compete as a leader in the global economy.

Download:

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday that would make hybrid vehicles sales tax-free in the state.

If signed into law, the tax waiver would apply to hybrid gas-electric vehicles, vehicles which get over 35 miles per gallon or vehicles that do not rely on gasoline or diesel, according to the bill.

The bill is intended to encourage the purchase of hybrid vehicles after the tax credit that made them lucrative expired in 2005, according to the bill.

The tax exemption is expected to cost the state $36 million in lost tax revenue for the current fiscal year, and an additional $42 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The same bill is awaiting a vote in the Assembly.

Mark Duffy, a spokesman for the Assembly Majority, said he’s “not sure” if the bill will be voted on before the end of the session in June. “It’s still being reviewed by committee,” he said.

Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, whose district runs through the Hudson Valley into the Albany area, is touting the fact that she was the first member of Congress to come out against former Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to provide drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants.

“Washington’s lack of response to immigration has left New York in a hole. Kirsten Gillibrand is working to lift us out,” the mailer says.

The mailing from Gillibrand, who is seeking a second term in November, was released today by her Republican opponent, Sandy Treadwell. Treadwell claims that Gillibrand has helped block measures to toughen immigration policies in the U.S.

Gillibrand did come out early against Spitzer’s drivers’ license plan, yet other Democrats in Congress soon followed and also led Hillary Clinton to waver over the issue during the early presidential debates last fall—the first crack in her campaign.

The pressure from Democrats for Spitzer to drop the plan ultimately led him to do so during a trip to Washington—no not that trip.

That infamous rendezvous to the Mayflower Hotel was a few months later, in February. Spitzer resigned in mid-March.

“I don’t think it’s fair to pressure her to drop out,” said Schumer. “It’s close, and I’m not going to pressure her to drop out. I don’t think it has damaged the party thus far. I think we’ll be a united party and in good shape for the election in November.”

Rep. Nita Lowey, speaking at the same conference on legislation to ban certain plastics from infant products, also spoke in favor of Clinton’s candidacy. She called Clinton “our next president.”

The above comes from my colleague, Robert Marchant.

Prevention efforts will target some of the most dangerous hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA, which is caused by a staph infection; Clostridium difficile, which causes intestinal problems; bloodstream infections; and ventilator-associated pneumonias.

The Healthcare Association of New York State, which represents more than 200 hospitals statewide, is receiving $105,023, and the Greater New York Hospital Association is getting $174,860.

Westchester County Healthcare Corp. in Valhalla is getting $199,991, to reduce hospital-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care and respiratory-care patients. The infections have been found to extend the length of stay and increase costs by up to $40,000 per survivor.

Each applicant had to get collaboration of at least five hospitals to be eligible for the funds.

The coalition—which represents more than 45,000 businesses from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton and Utica—said that upstate would be better served with downstate and upstate chairs rather than Paterson’s plans to make one person head of the entire agency.

Paterson has argued that one person can better oversee the agency for the entire state, but business leaders disagree. We ran a story on the issue today.

“The current structure provides the Upstate region with a government official with the power to hire and fire staff, approve projects and allocate resources – the powers necessary to effectively move the Upstate economy forward,” said Sandy Parker, right, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, a founding partner in Unshackle Upstate.

“To dilute those powers in any way would be a huge step backwards in terms of Gov. Paterson’s commitment to Upstate business owners struggling to stay afloat and the people they employ. How can we have a revitalized economy if Empire State Development packs up its bags and heads home to mid-town Manhattan again?”

The group said in a news release today that under the current structure, Upstate Empire Development has been able to move projects along with greater ease and more speed.

“It’s not about titles, it’s about having the authority to make the deals and decisions necessary to move the economic needle in our fragile region,” said Andrew J. Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and an Unshackle Upstate leader.

They said that last month Paterson visited upstate cities to pledge his support, but now they fear Paterson may be pulling back from his promises after taking over for Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

“For the first time in our history, we had a governor (Spitzer) who gave a State of Upstate Address,” said Darlene Kerr, president of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and an Unshackle Upstate leader. “There was so much optimism among upstate business leaders that real change was going to take place. There appears to be a real disconnect on the part of the current administration and its advisors.”

Unshackle Upstate leaders are reaching out to the state senators and assembly members who represent the region asking them to push Paterson to reconsider.

Unshackle Upstate also sent out email messages to the coalition’s 72 partner organizations, encouraging their members to voice their concern directly to the governor and his team o”f downstate advisors.”

And yes, she’s apparently still in the race.

However, Bill Mahoney, NYPIRG’s research coordinator e-mailed to say that we at Politics on the Hudson misunderstood NYPIRG’s spreadsheet. The corporations that were listed as giving to Andy Spano did, in fact give over the limit, but Spano’s campaign received only a precentage of those donations.

“He did not receive more than $5,000 from any one corporate source,” Mahoney said in his email.

Politics on the Hudson regrets the misunderstanding.

Degnan was endorsed this week by the Southeast GOP committee and a story about the race in today’s paper didn’t include the Westchester GOP’s expected support of Ball, R-Patterson.

I’m sure there’s more to come on this race so stay tuned.

That figure includes delegates from Michigan and Florida who are currently barred from being seated at the convention because their states held their primaries earlier than allowed under party rules.

“I think every delegate understands the importance of the electoral math and getting to 270,’’ said Wolfson.

In addition, Wolfson and Garin also said Clinton would provide more help on the ballot to 20 freshman House Democrats in districts won by President Bush in 2004.

Clinton beat Obama in 16 of those 20 districts. That list includes New York freshman Reps. John Hall, D-Dover, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson.

On the list from New York are Reps. John Hall and Kirsten Gillibrand.

Here’s some of the letter:

Dear Fellow Democrat,

We are writing to you because of our shared belief in our Party’s principles and our commitment to ensuring that we have the strongest possible nominee to lead our ticket against John McCain and the Republicans in November.

The decision about who to support to be our Party’s nominee is not one that any of us should take lightly.  We haven’t.  But, after giving this important decision a great deal of thought, we are convinced that Hillary Clinton has the vision, skills and commitment to make the changes our country needs.

The study looked at 2007 campaign finance data and found many instances where corporations exceeded the $5,000 limit in their contributions to political organizations. Among the findings were 13 instances where Friends of Andy Spano received more than the limit.

Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz, however, questioned the findings, saying the campaign did its own review earlier this year and found only three instances where the corporate limit was exceeded. Those three companies were given refunds.

Schwartz added that the eariler review was prompted by a story in The Journal News  in December that looked at one company — First Environment — and its contributions to Spano.

The campaign, Schwartz added, would review the latest study and, if necessary, make refunds.

According to the study, these companies each gave more than $5,000 to Spano:  Arcadis, Atlantic Aviation, CDM, Executive Jet Management, First Environment, KJM Construction Management, Inc., Reckson Australia Operating Co., Saccardi & Schiff, Inc., the Spain Agency, Inc., Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants, Verde Electric Corp., Wilder Balter Partners Corp., and 41 North 73 West, Inc.

In fact, Democrats Michael Arcuri from central New York and Louise Slaughter received zeros from the group.

Brian Higgins received a score of 2, while John Hall, Maurice Hinchey, Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez each got scores of 6.

The highest scores in New York went to Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, Erie County, with a score of 63, followed by Long Island Rep. Peter King with a score of 50.

And by the way on the Senate side, Hillary Clinton received a zero and Charles Schumer received a 6.

State and local law-enforcement officials said 24 drug dealers were charged this week in a sophisticated drug cartel that was “infecting Schenectady,” state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said today.

The people arrested this morning were part of a cartel that was running drugs from Long Island to Schenectady, Cuomo said.

More than $160,000 in heroin and cocaine were seized by law enforcers, as well as firearms and drug paraphernalia, according to the attorney general’s office.

The bust is an important step in stopping the flow of drugs from New York City to upstate, Cuomo said.

“This is a phenomena, a rash across upstate New York, and it’s a problem that we are going to solve,” Cuomo said.

The arrests were the culmination of a long-term drug crackdown led by Cuomo’s Organized Crime Task Force, according to the attorney general’s office. The state police’s Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the police department and district attorney of Schenectady were also involved in the operation.