The state Senate recently released its report on member-item grants, also known as the "community projects fund," also known as pork-barrel spending, depending on your perspective.
You can scan for projects in your neck of the woods by visiting the Senate's reports Web page and downloading the pdf, but beware: It's 4,399 pages long. A good way to find local projects is to do a key word search for your county.
The Assembly posted its list of projects on its own reports page. That file, labeled "legislative initiatives," comes in at a modest 3,791 pages, but it's tougher to search because the projects aren't identified by county. Better to search for your Assemblyman's name.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Politics or public good?
Here are a couple of questions to ponder, one open-ended and the others more to the point.
First, is any aspect of government completely free of politics?
In this case, I'm not necessarily speaking of "politics" in the nefarious sense of the word, though certainly you could provide many examples to support that connotation. Rather I'm talking about the day-to-day business of getting things done in government. Political play seems to be written into the DNA of democracy.
This brings me to my more specific questions, which relate to the often strange beast known as the political appointment.
This press release was disseminated by Michael Kelsey, assistant to Dutchess Legislature Chairman Gary Cooper, R-Pine Plains. Some Democrats cried foul because it was the work of a county employee. Clearly the points made in the press release are political, at least in the general sense, but was the press release inappropriate?
For starters, here are a few things to consider.
Kelsey is on the county payroll. He was appointed by Cooper, who was chosen as chairman by the Republican majority in the Legislature. You can argue that Kelsey is being paid partly to push a Republican agenda, but isn't that to be expected?
The Democrats, if they were in the majority, surely would rely on an appointed chairman's assistant to push their own agenda? Or would they?
Regardless of who is in power, is such a position serving the public good? You might agree that the chairman needs an assistant to fulfill the administrative responsibilities that come with the top job in the Legislature. But when does public service cross the line into political campaigning, which isn't supposed to be done on the public's dime?
My guess is that Republicans and Democrats have differing takes on this scenario, but the underlying questions shouldn't be partisan. What do you think?
First, is any aspect of government completely free of politics?
In this case, I'm not necessarily speaking of "politics" in the nefarious sense of the word, though certainly you could provide many examples to support that connotation. Rather I'm talking about the day-to-day business of getting things done in government. Political play seems to be written into the DNA of democracy.
This brings me to my more specific questions, which relate to the often strange beast known as the political appointment.
This press release was disseminated by Michael Kelsey, assistant to Dutchess Legislature Chairman Gary Cooper, R-Pine Plains. Some Democrats cried foul because it was the work of a county employee. Clearly the points made in the press release are political, at least in the general sense, but was the press release inappropriate?
For starters, here are a few things to consider.
Kelsey is on the county payroll. He was appointed by Cooper, who was chosen as chairman by the Republican majority in the Legislature. You can argue that Kelsey is being paid partly to push a Republican agenda, but isn't that to be expected?
The Democrats, if they were in the majority, surely would rely on an appointed chairman's assistant to push their own agenda? Or would they?
Regardless of who is in power, is such a position serving the public good? You might agree that the chairman needs an assistant to fulfill the administrative responsibilities that come with the top job in the Legislature. But when does public service cross the line into political campaigning, which isn't supposed to be done on the public's dime?
My guess is that Republicans and Democrats have differing takes on this scenario, but the underlying questions shouldn't be partisan. What do you think?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
More Congressional election buzz
The race toward the starting line of the race for Congress in the mid-Hudson Valley continues. (Game time: November 2008.)
Roll Call, the insider newspaper on Capitol Hill, reported today that two multimillionaire Republicans are eyeing challenges to the just-elected Democrats in the 19th and 20th Congressional districts.
In the 20th District, which spans from Poughkeepsie to northern New York, former New York Republican Chairman Sandy Treadwell has filed papers to explore a challenge Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, according to Roll Call.
And in the 19th District, from Poughkeepsie south into Westchester, Andrew Saul, "a veteran of the fashion industry and the investment world," is considering a bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, Roll Call reported.
The Roll Call story quotes Dutchess County Republican Chairwoman Corrine Weber as saying it might be a tough decision for county Republicans between Treadwell and fellow 20th District hopeful Richard Wager, a native of Hyde Park and son of a former Poughkeepsie Journal publisher.
You can access the Roll Call story here, but you'll need to subscribe to the Web site to read more than the first paragraph.
Roll Call, the insider newspaper on Capitol Hill, reported today that two multimillionaire Republicans are eyeing challenges to the just-elected Democrats in the 19th and 20th Congressional districts.
In the 20th District, which spans from Poughkeepsie to northern New York, former New York Republican Chairman Sandy Treadwell has filed papers to explore a challenge Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, according to Roll Call.
And in the 19th District, from Poughkeepsie south into Westchester, Andrew Saul, "a veteran of the fashion industry and the investment world," is considering a bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, Roll Call reported.
The Roll Call story quotes Dutchess County Republican Chairwoman Corrine Weber as saying it might be a tough decision for county Republicans between Treadwell and fellow 20th District hopeful Richard Wager, a native of Hyde Park and son of a former Poughkeepsie Journal publisher.
You can access the Roll Call story here, but you'll need to subscribe to the Web site to read more than the first paragraph.
Polly Sigh a-go-go
No one knows how to party like political scientists know how to party. OK, so they aren't actually partying this weekend, but they will be having a major conference here in our back yard.
An estimated 200 or more political science panelists from this country and Canada will converge Friday at the FDR site in Hyde Park and Saturday on the campus of Marist College in Poughkeepsie for the 61st annual conference of the New York State Political Science Association.
Gannett News Service's Albany bureau chief, Jay Gallagher, will deliver the keynote address Friday evening in Hyde Park. (Gannett also owns the Poughkeepsie Journal.)
The conference is intended for scholars, students and government officials, though others are welcome, too. If you're curious about the association click here.
A (mostly) unrelated side note: Some of you might be familiar with a song called "Political Scientist" by alt-country rocker Ryan Adams, who is scheduled to perform May 16 in Kingston.
The song, from the album "Love is Hell," is less about academics who teach and study political science than it is about the decay of civilization and politicians who allow it to happen. Bleak stuff, but perhaps it will end up as required listening in a college course someday.
But I'm not the PoJo's music writer. If that's your bag, check out John Barry's blog.
An estimated 200 or more political science panelists from this country and Canada will converge Friday at the FDR site in Hyde Park and Saturday on the campus of Marist College in Poughkeepsie for the 61st annual conference of the New York State Political Science Association.
Gannett News Service's Albany bureau chief, Jay Gallagher, will deliver the keynote address Friday evening in Hyde Park. (Gannett also owns the Poughkeepsie Journal.)
The conference is intended for scholars, students and government officials, though others are welcome, too. If you're curious about the association click here.
A (mostly) unrelated side note: Some of you might be familiar with a song called "Political Scientist" by alt-country rocker Ryan Adams, who is scheduled to perform May 16 in Kingston.
The song, from the album "Love is Hell," is less about academics who teach and study political science than it is about the decay of civilization and politicians who allow it to happen. Bleak stuff, but perhaps it will end up as required listening in a college course someday.
But I'm not the PoJo's music writer. If that's your bag, check out John Barry's blog.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Campaign dollars still rolling in
I know it's a long time until the 2008 Congressional elections, but ...
Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, had amassed $342,000 in campaign cash by the end of the latest federal reporting period, which ended March 31. He started the period on Jan. 1 with $63,000, according to the Federal Election Commision.
Hall beat incumbent Republican Rep. Sue Kelly in November to win his first two-year term in Congress, and he isn't the only freshman with a growing war chest.
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, had $552,000 in cash on had as of March 31. She started the quarter with $44,000 after unseating Rep. John Sweeney, the Republican incumbent, in November.
Contributions from political committees, as opposed to individuals, totaled about 30 percent of receipts for each representative.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, who ran unopposed last year, had a modest $69,000 on March 31.
Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, had amassed $342,000 in campaign cash by the end of the latest federal reporting period, which ended March 31. He started the period on Jan. 1 with $63,000, according to the Federal Election Commision.
Hall beat incumbent Republican Rep. Sue Kelly in November to win his first two-year term in Congress, and he isn't the only freshman with a growing war chest.
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, had $552,000 in cash on had as of March 31. She started the quarter with $44,000 after unseating Rep. John Sweeney, the Republican incumbent, in November.
Contributions from political committees, as opposed to individuals, totaled about 30 percent of receipts for each representative.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, who ran unopposed last year, had a modest $69,000 on March 31.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
This just in, from Wappinger
For all of you on Joe watch, here are a couple tidbits from the Wappinger town supervisor's State of the Town speech tonight that might fuel speculation.
Joe Ruggiero, a Democrat, is considering a run for Dutchess County executive this fall, but he also is considering staying put as Wappinger town supervisor. His hourlong speech, just completed at the Wappinger town hall, was mostly about the town, though he managed to get in a few jabs at incumbent County Executive William Steinhaus, a Republican.
Ruggiero refered to Steinhaus directly, though not by name, in talking about town-level efforts to promote affordable housing. He cited related comments in Steinhaus' State of the County speech earlier this year and described Steinhaus' ideas as unrealistic.
But the more pointed jab came when Ruggiero noted the recent collaboration between Wappinger, Fishkill and East Fishkill on private well-testing laws following Steinhaus' veto in February of a county-wide measure.
"Wappinger will join Fishkill and East Fishkill in protecting our resources, because it is obvious that Dutchess County doesn't care," Ruggiero said, rewriting the theme of Steinhaus' administration, "Dutchess County Government Cares."
Are Steinhaus and Ruggiero rivals? Maybe. (Ruggiero is chairman of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee, after all.) But Ruggiero said after the speech that he still hadn't made any decisions about his political future.
Joe Ruggiero, a Democrat, is considering a run for Dutchess County executive this fall, but he also is considering staying put as Wappinger town supervisor. His hourlong speech, just completed at the Wappinger town hall, was mostly about the town, though he managed to get in a few jabs at incumbent County Executive William Steinhaus, a Republican.
Ruggiero refered to Steinhaus directly, though not by name, in talking about town-level efforts to promote affordable housing. He cited related comments in Steinhaus' State of the County speech earlier this year and described Steinhaus' ideas as unrealistic.
But the more pointed jab came when Ruggiero noted the recent collaboration between Wappinger, Fishkill and East Fishkill on private well-testing laws following Steinhaus' veto in February of a county-wide measure.
"Wappinger will join Fishkill and East Fishkill in protecting our resources, because it is obvious that Dutchess County doesn't care," Ruggiero said, rewriting the theme of Steinhaus' administration, "Dutchess County Government Cares."
Are Steinhaus and Ruggiero rivals? Maybe. (Ruggiero is chairman of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee, after all.) But Ruggiero said after the speech that he still hadn't made any decisions about his political future.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Dutch Cabin welcomes Young Dems
If you're registered with the party of FDR but weren't old enough to vote for Michael Dukakis (remember him?), then Sunday might be your night.
The Dutchess County Young Democrats will gather from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the Dutch Cabin Restaurant, 35 Fairmont Ave., near Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. The group will elect leaders and discuss its plans for 2007.
You can be a part of those plans if you're a registered Democrat of at least 18 years but not more than 35 years.
The group's president, Dan French, called 2006 a "strong year" filled with reorganizing and rebuilding. "In 2007, we will build upon this success as we make plans for our membership to make a difference by serving our community, working on local political campaigns and encouraging local candidates to address issues that affect young people," French said in a news release.
If instead you're registered with the party of Lincoln but weren't old enough to vote AGAINST Michael Dukakis (remember him?), surf on over to the Web site of the Dutchess County Young Republicans to see what they're up to. (They allow 40-year-olds, so some members might have first-hand stories of opposing Dukakis after all.)
The Dutchess County Young Democrats will gather from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the Dutch Cabin Restaurant, 35 Fairmont Ave., near Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. The group will elect leaders and discuss its plans for 2007.
You can be a part of those plans if you're a registered Democrat of at least 18 years but not more than 35 years.
The group's president, Dan French, called 2006 a "strong year" filled with reorganizing and rebuilding. "In 2007, we will build upon this success as we make plans for our membership to make a difference by serving our community, working on local political campaigns and encouraging local candidates to address issues that affect young people," French said in a news release.
If instead you're registered with the party of Lincoln but weren't old enough to vote AGAINST Michael Dukakis (remember him?), surf on over to the Web site of the Dutchess County Young Republicans to see what they're up to. (They allow 40-year-olds, so some members might have first-hand stories of opposing Dukakis after all.)
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
A (possible) rival for Hall
With Democrats now monopolizing the Hudson Valley's seats in Congress, it should come as no surprise that Valley Republicans already are mobilizing for the 2008 elections.
Add Kieran Lalor to the list of Republican hopefuls.
Lalor, a native of Wappingers Falls, served six years in the Marine Corps and now lives with his family in Peekskill. He is an Iraq war vet and a self-described national security activist who has set his sights on unseating U.S. Rep. John Hall, the freshman Democrat from Dover Plains.
Federal campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2007 won't be released until later this month, but Lalor said today his exploratory committee raised $20,000 in that period.
"This is an amazing accomplishment considering I didn’t have a penny on March 1 when I launched my website," he said in an e-mail.
Hall isn't the only one looking over his shoulder. U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, also serving her first two-year term in Congress, has her own list of potential Republican opponents, including Richard Wager, a native of Hyde Park (see previous Straw Poll post).
It's natural for Republicans to go after potentially vulnerable freshman like Gillibrand and Hall, who each won narrow victories against Republican incumbents last fall. But how about finding a challenger for U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey?
Hinchey, D-Hurley, is serving his eighth term after running unopposed last year. Any Republicans in the 22th District up for that battle in 2008?
Add Kieran Lalor to the list of Republican hopefuls.
Lalor, a native of Wappingers Falls, served six years in the Marine Corps and now lives with his family in Peekskill. He is an Iraq war vet and a self-described national security activist who has set his sights on unseating U.S. Rep. John Hall, the freshman Democrat from Dover Plains.
Federal campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2007 won't be released until later this month, but Lalor said today his exploratory committee raised $20,000 in that period.
"This is an amazing accomplishment considering I didn’t have a penny on March 1 when I launched my website," he said in an e-mail.
Hall isn't the only one looking over his shoulder. U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, also serving her first two-year term in Congress, has her own list of potential Republican opponents, including Richard Wager, a native of Hyde Park (see previous Straw Poll post).
It's natural for Republicans to go after potentially vulnerable freshman like Gillibrand and Hall, who each won narrow victories against Republican incumbents last fall. But how about finding a challenger for U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey?
Hinchey, D-Hurley, is serving his eighth term after running unopposed last year. Any Republicans in the 22th District up for that battle in 2008?
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
A (possible) rival for Gillibrand
It's official. Richard Wager might be a candidate for Congress.
Wager, son of former long-time Poughkeepsie Journal publisher Dick Wager, filed papers this week to create an exploratory committee to, well, explore the possibility of challenging U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, in 2008.
"I'm excited to continue traveling the district listening to the hopes and concerns of its residents," Wager said in an e-mail. He plans to hold his first fundraiser this month with family and friends in his hometown of Hyde Park.
Wager, 36, is a 1989 Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
graduate and works as an aide in the Republican administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He is one of several people mentioned as possible candidates for the Republican nomination in the 20th District, including former Congressman John Sweeney, whom Gillibrand defeated in November to win election to her first two-year term in Congress.
Wager also professes to be an avid reader of this blog, which predates his exploratory committee by only a couple weeks.
Wager, son of former long-time Poughkeepsie Journal publisher Dick Wager, filed papers this week to create an exploratory committee to, well, explore the possibility of challenging U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, in 2008."I'm excited to continue traveling the district listening to the hopes and concerns of its residents," Wager said in an e-mail. He plans to hold his first fundraiser this month with family and friends in his hometown of Hyde Park.
Wager, 36, is a 1989 Franklin D. Roosevelt High School
graduate and works as an aide in the Republican administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He is one of several people mentioned as possible candidates for the Republican nomination in the 20th District, including former Congressman John Sweeney, whom Gillibrand defeated in November to win election to her first two-year term in Congress.Wager also professes to be an avid reader of this blog, which predates his exploratory committee by only a couple weeks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
