Friday March 12, 2010

New York Political News

Pataki Still Not Saying 'No' On Senate Run

Even as his fellow Republicans are moving forward with plans to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Gov. George Pataki is taking his time in making a final decision about the race. During an endorsement event at Grand Central for gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio earlier this week, Pataki was asked if he might throw his hat into the ring against the junior senator and replied: "I� ...

Bloomberg Pledges To Help Ravitch Sell His Plan

While allowing that he`s no fan of borrowing, Mayor Bloomberg this morning offered to help LG Richard Ravitch lobby the Legislature for his long-term plan to return the state to sound fiscal footing. Bloomberg said he remains skeptical that state legislators will agree to the bonding-plus-budget-reform proposal Ravitch has set forth, but nevertheless insisted it`s a "good idea" - provide ...

Friday March 12, 2010 5:12PM | nydailynews.com

President Obama delays Asia trip to push health-care

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has delayed his visit to Asia, his first international trip of the year, to focus on the push to salvage health care legislation after a year of contentious debate. The trip to Guam, Australia and Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim country, where...

Friday March 12, 2010 4:49PM | nypost.com

WFP To Interview Gillibrand, Tasini

The Working Families Party`s executive committee will be interviewing Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and her lone announced Democratic primary challenger Jonathan Tasini in Albany this Sunday, a WFP source confirmed. Tasini is a labor activist, UAW member and certified lefty. He ran against Gillibrand`s predecessor, Hillary Clinton, in 2006, on an anti-Iraq War platform and won 17 percent of th ...

Friday March 12, 2010 4:40PM | nydailynews.com

Brooks Out In NY-29

Monore County Executive Maggie Brooks has officially taken a pass on running for disgraced former Rep. Eric Massa`s seat, all but clearing the way for already-announced GOP candidate Tom Reed, who has been running for months now. While it would have been a distinct honor to represent the hardworking residents of New York’s 29th Congressional District, after thoughtful deliberation with my ...

Friday March 12, 2010 4:23PM | nydailynews.com

Reports of salt's death have been greatly exaggerated

Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, much mocked for his bill introduced this week to ban all salt in all restaurant foods, is out with a clarification this morning: “My intention for this legislation was to prohibit the use of salt as an additive to meals. If salt is a functional component of the recipe, by all means, it should be included. But, when we have meals prepared by restaurants that pil ...

Friday March 12, 2010 3:24PM | nydailynews.com

Gibbs Makes News on Twitter

Does this change the meaning of “a little birdie told us?” Robert Gibbs, on Wednesday White House spokesman Robert Gibbs made news on Twitter this morning, announcing that the President is pushing back the departure of his overseas trip a few days. “The President will delay leaving for Indonesia and Australia - will now leave Sunday - the First Lady and the girls will not be on the trip.� ...

Siena: 13th SD Is Peralta's To Lose

Today`s Siena poll finds Assemblyman Jose Peralta with a 45 percentage point lead in the race for the Queens Senate seat from which his opponent, Hiram Monserrate, was expelled last month. With just four days remaining until the March 16 special election in the 13th Senatorial District, Peralta has the support of 60 percent of voters, while Monserrate is at 15 percent and Republican Robert B ...

Friday March 12, 2010 2:30PM | nydailynews.com

Yassky finds a home in City Hall as Bloomberg's taxi chief

Former Councilman David Yassky, who lost the comptroller`s race last year to John Liu after casting a critical vote to extend term limits, has found a new job in Mayor Bloomberg`s administration as head of the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Bloomberg announced the long-expected pick on his WOR-AM radio show this morning, telling host John Gambling that Yassky had the skills and experienc ...

Friday March 12, 2010 2:18PM | nydailynews.com

Paterson: It's the Legislature that's distracted.

Gov. Paterson says its the Legislature, not him, who seems distracted by a mushrooming scandal engulfing his administration, DN Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett reports. Appearing on Daily News columnist Errol Louis` morning WWRL-AM radio show, Paterson deemed it unfair to blame his problems for the lack of progress in the budget talks. The budget is due at the end of the month and there has b ...

Friday March 12, 2010 2:15PM | nydailynews.com

White House fires back at Roberts: We judge Supreme slap fair

Chief Justice John Roberts is getting quite a lesson in First Amendment law - from legal scholar Barack Obama.

Friday March 12, 2010 1:56PM | nydailynews.com

Briarcliff venture capitalist wants to take on Lowey for Congress

In the 2008 election, a lot of attention was paid to Republicans who switched parties to become Democrats.