Spin Cycle
News, views and commentary on Long Island, state and national politics
GOP Senator's queries draw new mention of Weiner wife's $ deal
Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images
Previous reports about Hillary Clinton aide and Anthony Weiner spouse Huma Abedin doing outside consultant work while on the State Department payroll got new exposure with word that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is making further inquiries about the arrangement from his perch as ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Here’s the relevant Politico update.
Clinton, of course,...
Read more »Albany: Law to use old voting machines still awaited
The State Senate and Assembly have yet to agree on a bill that would authorize the use of old lever machines in this year’s elections. The Assembly version covers only New York City, while the Senate’s measure also authorizes counties, villages and towns in Nassau, Suffolk and elsewhere to save money by deploying the old devices instead of electronic scanners required for federal elections.
The...
Read more »Nassau: Liberals' chair a Haber backer - and Mangano appointee
Photo credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
Politics does indeed make for strange bedfellows.
The New York State Liberal Party, chaired by longtime Nassau politico Jack Olchin, last week endorsed Democrat Adam Haber for county executive.
But, Olchin -- who ran for county executive three times in 1980s -- was appointed in 2010 by Republican County Executive Edward Mangano as a member of his Assessment Review Commission, which reviews...
Read more »After protests, ex-LIPA trustee and activist got his say on new plan
Foes of the governor’s latest LIPA plan expressed anger over the attempt to shut down the local public hearing in Suffolk earlier this month before allowing Irving Like, a respected former LIPA board member and long time public power advocate from speaking.
Like, a pioneer in the fight against the Shoreham nuclear power plant, had submitted his questions about the plan beforehand, had even...
Read more »To tee up with Bellone, just ante up at campaign fundraiser
Photo credit: Ed Betz
Want to play a hole of golf with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone? All you have to do is plunk down $1,000 to be part of the “VIP afternoon” at the county executive’s invitational golf outing July 15.
For that $1,000, an individual also gets to have dinner and cocktails after the golf at the Bethpage Red Golf course in Farmingdale.
Of course, VIPs are not limited to a single ticket....
Read more »In Nassau comptroller race Maragos, Weitzman trade barbs
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos officially launched his re-election campaign this week, prompting an immediate war of words with his once and future Democratic opponent, Howard Weitzman. Maragos announced his candidacy on Wednesday at a fundraiser at Chateau Briand in Carle Place attended by more than 200 people, campaign officials said. The comptroller cited his record of helping cut...
Read more »Pallotta backs Martinez for Montano seat
Islip Town Democratic chairman Jerry Pallotta has endorsed Monica Martinez for the Ninth District seat now held by veteran Suffolk Legis. Rick Montano (D-Brentwood).
Pallotta praised Martinez as a “positive and effective force in the community” who has “touched the lives of countless young people as an educator and school administrator” in the past decade.
The town leader’s move breaks...
Read more »Unions, Cuomo meet on binding arbitration as deadline nears
Police union representatives from around the state and other labor officials met with the Cuomo administration Wednesday to discuss the state’s binding arbitration law, which is set to expire at the end of June, several sources said.
Back in January, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo proposed capping police and firefighters' pay hikes, that are awarded through arbitration, at 2 percent for some communities....
Read more »Despite promised tweaks, GOP will still block abortion proposal
Republicans won’t change their minds and allow a vote on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to strengthen abortion rights, even if he adjusts it to address late-term abortion, an official said Thursday.
"From the start, we've said that what the governor is proposing is either unnecessary or an extreme measure that expands late-term abortion,” said Kelly Cummings, spokeswoman for Senate co-leader...
Read more »Nassau posts county attorney opinions
Many folks may remember the late Suffolk County District Attorney James Catterson, a pugnacious prosecutor who died in 2007.
Fewer may recall that Catterson was the Nassau County Attorney from 1976-1977 when Republican Ralph Caso was county executive.
But the legal opinions issued by the county attorney’s office during Catterson’s tenure in Nassau are now, for the first time, public...
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