Capital New York

While Cuomo 'sources' reflect on Silver's weakness, on-the-record Cuomo shifts blame to Schneiderman and DiNapoli

Andrew Cuomo made a potentially important semantic argument in defense of embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's handling of a sexual harassment claim against a Democratic assemblyman that resulted in a six-figure taxpayer payment. More

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By Azi Paybarah

Albany leaders have suggestions for an independent watchdog

Andrew Cuomo said he'd have a simple response, if the Joint Commission on Public Ethics didn't expand its investigation into the Assembly's handling of sexual harrassment allegations against Vito Lopez: He'd use his powers under the Moreland Act to conduct his own investigation. More

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By Azi Paybarah

Batra wants a federal probe of JCOPE, Jef Pollock goes Hollywood

"Upon creating JCOPE, Cuomo touted its 'independence' from officeholders like himself --how does that square with / his threat today?" [@ThomasKaplan]

"Under JCOPE's rules, legislative appointees can in effect block an investigation of a legislator in a secret vote." [AP]

JCOPE member Ravi Batra said he wants federal authorities to investigate JCOPE. [AP]

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By Azi Paybarah

Good government groups criticize JCOPE for not investigating Silver too

Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York said if the press reports are true, "then JCOPE will have failed its 1st test as an independent oversight body."

"This confirms the worst fears which Common Cause New York and others have had, that the Commission is set up in a way that encourages gridlock designed to protect powerful elected officials," she said.

Dick Dadey, the executive director of Citizens Union took a slightly different tack. He did not address JCOPE's structure, but did say a wider investigation is exactly why JCOPE was created.

"If reports are true that JCOPE is only partially investigating the Lopez affair, they may be doing the public a disservice."

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By Azi Paybarah

Bob Dole endorses Ulrich's opponent, so Ulrich endorses a Viagra joke

Yesterday, Eric Ulrich's opponent in a Republican primary for State Senate in Queens, Juan Reyes, announced that he was endorsed by, among others, his former boss Bob Dole. More

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By Azi Paybarah

Obama asks for more time, thinks he'll get it

Barack Obama did't make many specific promises last night, said the word "hope" a lot less than he did four years ago, and never explicitly mentioned his signature health care bill. More

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By Azi Paybarah

Grading Cuomo, on the first day of school

A guide to the upcoming primaries. [NYCCFB]

"Look for an Asian candidate to make a hard run for #AD25 in 2014. Insiders were shocked no one did this year." [@RossBarkan]

Republican City Councilman Eric Ulrich dissed his opponent for touting support from Bob Dole, "whose last known endorsement was for Viagra." [@Eric_Ulrich]

State Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin got a shout out in an op-ed by transportation activists. [Paul Steely White and Daisy Chung]

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By Azi Paybarah

In Charlotte, Democrats stand with Sheldon Silver

When New York officially cast their votes to nominate Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee, a number of notable Democrats elbowed their way to be seen next to embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. More

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By Azi Paybarah

Bill Clinton delivers, with relish

Bill Clinton's convention speech last night contained a detailed defense of Barack Obama's policies and a forceful rebuttal of his Republican opponents' criticisms. More

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By Azi Paybarah

On 'The Daily Show,' Gillibrand talks about equal pay and Jon Stewart makes a joke about light bulbs

On "The Daily Show" last night, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand argued that having more women in the House of Representatives and the Senate would lead to bette, more substantive discussions about policy.

Gillibrand rattled off a few topics, including equal pay for equal work. Jon Stewart jumped on that and briefly challenged her.

"How is that enforced? And I've even read at the White House, that women at the White House do not make the same money that men do in the same positions. If that can't be done at the White House where they signed the law, what hope do we have--?"

Gillibrand, unphased, responded by explaining that the first bill Obama signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which extends the timetable for when women can sue an employer for pay discrimination, because "you might not know for twenty years."

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By Azi Paybarah