Media reports are saying that Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is under investigation.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Hopefully Preet Bharara will expand the investigation into the whole corrupt Nassau GOP.
Details are important
This article is making the rounds, “Shouting match leads to gun confiscation, forfeiture“:
“… The suit, Weinstein v. Krumpter, et. al., alleges that on Feb. 25, 2014, the plaintiff, Marc Weinstein, in his home, engaged in a dispute with his adult son “regarding the use of a washing machine. There was shouting between them but no violence, no threats of violence, and no brandishing of weapons” (emphasis mine). The elder Weinstein’s wife called the Nassau County, Long Island Police Department. That turned out to be a big mistake …”
What the author of this piece leaves out is the fact the police were responding to a legitimate domestic violence call. Don’t expect the courts to weigh in on any constitutional issues because of this important little detail.
He’s out
Sheldon Silver’s reign as Assembly Speaker has come to an end. Current Majority Leader Joe Morelle will be acting Speaker until there is an election on February 10.
Don’t count on him keeping the job. The NYC Democrats do not want someone from outside their home turf.
Circling the drain
Despite the denials, Shelly Silver is going down:
“Leaving the Capitol shortly before midnight, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he has not resigned, and plans to attend a Tuesday conference where his Democratic colleagues will begin discussing his successor. “I am the speaker,” Silver told reporters, flanked by two press aides as he left the Capitol. “I will be in the conference. … I have not told anyone that I am resigning.” …”
We past the point where his opinion on the issue matters. What is keeping him there right now is that a successor has not been settled on yet.
Supporting Shelly (for now)
Virtually all the Assembly Democrats are supporting Shelly:
“During the immediate fallout after the news of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s arrest, Assembly Democrats held a quick news conference to declare their support for the Manhattan Democrat—before even taking the time to read the complaint … Sources told City & State that Democratic members of the Assembly will close ranks around Silver on Monday and continue to support him …”
There are three reasons they are doing this:
- Shelly has stood by all of them and protected them no matter how egregious their behavior has been.
- They know what happened to Mike Bragman and do not want to cross him in case the legal charges do not stick.
- Shelly likely has dirt on many of them and they do not want him to use any of it an attempt to lessen the charges against himself.
Not happening
“… Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, R-Rensselaer, renewed his calls today that Republicans and Democrats in the 150-member Assembly should work together and elect a new speaker. And he said Morelle, D-Irondequoit, Monroe County, has the respect on both sides of the aisle. They would need 76 votes …”
A similar arrangement was proposed during the Mike Bragman coup attempt fifteen years ago. Two reasons it ain’t happening:
- Democrats will never give up absolute control of the Assembly.
- NYC Democrats will not tolerate having a Democrat from outside the five boroughs as their Speaker.
Legislative Report #2
Legislative Report #2 is now online.
Arrested development
Best political news I’ve seen in years, “Sheldon Silver, Speaker of New York Assembly, Is Accused of Taking Millions in Graft.”
“… Mr. Silver surrendered to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents early Thursday morning in Lower Manhattan, law enforcement officials said. Mr. Silver, before entering 26 Federal Plaza, said, “I hope I’ll be vindicated.” …”
And I hope to win this week’s Powerball.
That statement does not express much confidence.
Here is a link to the complaint against him and here is a picture of Shelly handcuffed in the back of a cop car.
Here it is! Photo of Sheldon Silver in handcuffs in the back of a cop car. http://t.co/6XXnuW00oh pic.twitter.com/U7ZHNvfk30
— the albany project (@albanyproject) January 22, 2015
The question that immediately comes to mind is, how many people will Shelly roll over on to save his own ass? …..
The sound of silence
Govenor Cuomo did not call for more gun control in his State of the State address. There is just some self-aggrandizing BS about SAFE in his “2015 Opportunity Agenda” starting on page 253.
The Republican response was silence:
Funke/GOP response to SoS omits any reference to SAFE Act reform – a kick in the shins to voters Upstate. Huge disappointment.
— Bill Nojay (@BillNojay) January 21, 2015
Nothing
Obama invited a gun control advocate to his State of the Union speech last night and gave him nothing.