Governor and Lawsuit update....

By Rus Thompson | 07/09/09

I just sent this out to all the media contacts I have. Governor and Lawsuit update…. First the Lawsuit. Last week Tom DiNapoli asked the court for permission to stop the pay of the senators. He did this after he was served with our Lawsuit. It’s great that he is finally doing it but how he is doing it is not how we the taxpayers would do it. I am flattered that he is following our lead, but I just wish he would let us handle... read more »

Amid Impasse, Paterson Picks a Lieutenant Governor

By Rus Thompson | 07/09/09

Court, this will be fought in court and we will pay the cost of the lawyers for all sides. The verdict I believe will be no, this is not constitutional and we lose all the way around. This play for power actually ruins the agreed upon plans for a shared leadership role and puts the senate back to square one. The Lt Governor only casts a vote in the case of a tie. When each side refuses to sit with the other. First we have to get them to... read more »

Pension Costs for Local Governments May Triple

By Rus Thompson | 07/09/09

  Pension costs are going to kill us and here is more proof. I said this last year, then again a couple weeks ago. Albany loves to point the finger of blame at the local governments but most if not all of the fault goes right back to their mandates and pensions have got to be the biggest. Read this, read what our future holds as the legislature, mainly the assembly run by dictator Silver refuse to do anything about it. He has not even... read more »

Citizen Tries to Break Logjam in Albany

By Rus Thompson | 07/08/09

  This just came to my inbox. Funny this all happened so long ago. Now look, DiNapoli has stoppe their pay when a couple weeks ago he said he couldn’t do it. Problem is he will give it all to them eventually, I want them to give back the 2 weeks pay they already received. BUFFALO (CN) – A political blogger fed up with the stalemate in Albany seeks a court order stopping the paychecks of state senators who “refuse to... read more »

NY Senate Standoff Hits Breakthrough Or Does It?

By Rus Thompson | 07/08/09

Is there a deal? Hardly. Why has the governor called a Press Conference for tonight at 5:01, wants not only air time but TV time too. This is when the locals start their local headline news. But his staff also told the media outlets not to reveal this until it is confirmed there is a deal. This is what I am hearing from my sources. There has been a deal struck in concept. The senators will share leadership by rotating leaders. But the... read more »

Legislative wins and losses - Erie County

By Rus Thompson | 07/08/09

  I figured the legislators would do exactly this, they always claim to be all about reform. openness, transparency etc….blah, blah, blah. But when it comes down to doing something substantial the fall far short and proves they are once again all about themselves and we eat cake. We should be voting on downsizing to 11 not 13. We should be voting on 4 year terms on a separate ballot line. This is pure crap and once again we get the... read more »

Governor Paterson could end Albany deadlock right now

By Rus Thompson | 07/06/09

Are they pulling at straws yet again? They Lt Gov is elected as a team with the governor not as an individual legislator or executive. Magic bullet? Hardly. I think this is just more wishful thinking and do not think this will hold up in court. While the state constitution says that the senate president assumes the duties of the lieutenant governor, Gianaris and the two advocacy groups, said Section 43 of the state’s Public Officers... read more »

Senate stand off nears its fourth week- Lawsuit Update

By Rus Thompson | 07/05/09

 We had over 700 people come out for the Tax Revolt/Tea Party yesterday. It was a great turnout considering the day. The Lawsuit is getting the attention of everyone in the Senate. They know we will win so DiNapoli runs to the court after he gets filed with our suit just so he can claim he is doing the right thing? No, he is doing it to try and take credit and stop any credit from being shown to the TaxPayres of this state. We filed it... read more »

Senators A.Thompson-Stachowski do downstate's bidding

By Rus Thompson | 07/03/09

Tell me that these two are representing us here in WNY…. First they took $550 Million from NYPA and now they are touting the downstate line. These two are puppets and are totally controlled by others. They have NO control, NO power as they keep saying to us. They are blatant liars. Here’s how clueless Bill Stachowski and Antoine Thomspon are: The Democratic leadership trotted them out in Albany Thursday to plead for passage... read more »

FACTIONS & THE ALBANY STANDOFF

By Rus Thompson | 07/03/09

I am so glad someone else is finally reporting this. The democrats keep pointing their finger of blame at the republicans, but in truth, it is the democrats that are fighting and have no idea who is in control and are fighting amongst themselves for power and control.   WHY is the state Senate still stuck in its standoff? It comes down to this: Dem ocrats are too splintered to settle on any truce. Republicans are too desperate for... read more »