The so-called Independent Democratic Conference announced their “progressive” agenda items.
Microstamping is not mentioned.
Espaillat on microstamping
Lots of funny shit going on behind the scenes and some Democrats are screaming. God knows what this means for us:
INBOX: Espaillat (mentioned as possible Senate Dem leader) does not condemn #GOPIDC, calls for “progressive” bills to be taken up. #nysenate
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) December 4, 2012
State Sen. Adriano Espaillat puts out statement urging GOP/IDC partnership to put min wage, Dream Fund, microstamping bills to a vote.
— Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellGAN) December 4, 2012
Notice how quiet both Cuomo and Silver have been lately. That cannot be a coincidence.
Coalition government
I have no idea how this will affect microstamping and other antigun legislation in the upper house:
Skelos and Klein announce an “historic bipartisan partnership to continue the tremendous progress achieved over the past two years”
— Legislative Gazette (@AlbanyLG) December 4, 2012
Sens Klein & Skelos will assume roles of “Conference Leader,” will have “joint and equal” control over active list, agenda, appointments.
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) December 4, 2012
You can’t make this stuff up
On the ongoing chaos in the State Senate:
- Libous “Would Love Very Much to See” a Senate Coalition – “Regardless of the outcome of a too-close-to-call race in the 46th Senate District, Sen. Thomas Libous said Republicans are still open to forming a “coalition government” with a breakaway caucus of Democrats …”
- View of ballots good sign for GOP – “A judge said he was “inclined” to hear the legal arguments behind the mostly Republican-brought challenges to absentee and affidavit ballots that will decide the winner in the 46th state Senate District …”
- Liz Krueger blasts GOP ‘contempt for democracy’ – “… State Senate Republicans are intentionally stalling vote-counting in two State Senate districts with bad-faith challenges to legitimate votes, to prevent two duly-elected Democratic senators from being seated in the State Senate. They believe this would allow them to seize power in January and use that power to make deals and buy the loyalty of additional senators …”
- Dem Smith to join GOP coalition – “Queens Democrat Malcolm Smith is joining forces with Republicans in a new coalition to run the fractured state Senate, the Post has learned. In a stunning move, Smith, the former Senate majority leader, will join the Independent Democratic Caucus, which includes four other renegades who will help keep the GOP in charge …”
- Court papers filed in Amedore-Tkaczyk fight – “As I reported this morning, attorneys for Republican Assemblyman George Amedore and Duanesburg Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk will face off in court today over which of 877 absentee ballots in a close state Senate race should be counted. Republicans objected to most of these ballots — roughly 680 — and a number of the challenges had to do with voter residency. Challenges were also lodged based on incomplete applications for ballots …”
Schneiderman on a roll
Eric Schneiderman is on a roll. First, he successfully defended the constitutionality of the Sullivan Act in the 2nd Circuit. Next, he went after some gun show promoters, obtaining whopping fines of up to $200 from them.
Going for the trifecta, he’s started a coalition of State Attorneys General opposed to nationwide CCW reciprocity. They’re mostly the usual suspects: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. It’s a PR stunt, but he’s good at them.
Sullivan Act upheld
The 2nd Circuit Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Sullivan Act.
More on control of the State Senate
As of now, George Amedore holds the lead in the SD-46 recount. If it holds, Republicans will hold the State Senate 32-27-4. However, it appears likely there will be lawsuits:
Sen. Mike Gianaris on @fud31 right now
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) November 26, 2012
Gianaris stresses there are hundreds of objected to ballots that could be decided by a jude.
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) November 26, 2012
Gianaris: “This is going to be decided in a court room at the end of the day.”
— Capital Tonight (@CapitalTonight) November 26, 2012
Sales volume crashes NICS
Black Friday gun sales are way up, so much so that the NICS system became overloaded.
Reports from around the country show a strong interest in firearms:
Seemingly oblivious to the fact they’re losing the culture war, the Times calls upon Obama to go after Congress on the issue:
“… Mr. Obama talked about starting “a broader conversation” about reducing gun violence. The best place to start is in Congress, which has been grossly negligent toward constituent safety for the past 20 years as it bows to the demands of the gun lobby … Mr. Obama is free of the pressures of campaigning — and free to lead the nation toward sensible laws that can help reduce the flood of guns and related homicides. The need for strong leadership on this issue is growing as statehouse politicians cave to ever more lethal demands from the gun lobby …”
Congress, however, is not free of re-election worries and that should keep any gun control proposals bottled up, assuming Obama even cares enough about the issue to try and do something on it.
Gun Owners Against Illegal Mayors project
The Second Amendment Foundation is launching a media campaign against members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns who have been convicted of various crimes.
Featured in their print ad are former White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley, convicted of domestic violence against his wife, and current Monticello Mayor Gordon Jenkins, convicted of several counts of trademark infringement for selling counterfeit sneakers.
Post-Sandy attitudes
Not surprisingly, the 911 system failed during Hurricane Sandy.
It remains to be seen if this, along with the looting that took place in the storm’s wake, will led to a new appreciation by elected officials for private citizens having firearms for self-defense.