Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – April 11, 2018

Coverage of Albany and New York State government

  • Governor Brokers Deal to Reunify Senate Democrats
  • Governor Announces Administration Appointments
  • Assemblywoman Resigns Ahead of Fraud Trial
  • Attorney General Files Census Lawsuit
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

Governor Brokers Deal to Reunify Senate Democrats

Last Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo brought together the leader of the Senate’s mainline Democrats and the Senate’s eight-member Independent Democratic Conference (IDC).  The three announced an agreement for the Senate’s Democrats to unify in an effort to gain control of the State Senate.

Since 2011, a group of Democrats led by Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) have organized as the IDC and aligned themselves with the Senate Republicans.

The IDC has agreed to dissolve and rejoin the mainline Senate Democrats, with Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) as the Democratic Conference leader. Senator Klein will serve as her top deputy.

The move could have major implications in the closely divided, 63-seat State Senate, which Republicans currently control by a one-vote margin with the help of Brooklyn Democratic Senator Simcha Felder, who caucuses with the Republicans.

But the agreement does not change control of the State Senate right now, because Democrats control just 29 of 63 seats. (Two seats in which the Democrats are favored will be filled in April 24 special elections.)

The timing of the agreement – after passage of the state budget, but before the April 24 special elections – has raised speculation that Gov. Cuomo is trying to fight off a primary challenge from Cynthia Nixon, the actor and education activist who has criticized the Governor for not doing more to unify Democrats in the State Senate.

The Governor said that part of the agreement is that his campaign will coordinate with Democrats running for Senate, Assembly, and Congress. In addition, none of the Democrats will support primary challenges against incumbent office holders.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York is under attack by an ultraconservative government in Washington that is threatening the progressive soul and economic base of our state. Everything we stand for, they are against. Today, we are uniting the Democratic Party to fight a common enemy for the greater good. I want to thank all the individual members for putting aside their personal interests to unify as Democrats and continue to make New York the strong progressive leader that it is. But our work is not done. By joining together as Democrats, we will continue to fight to achieve the entirety of our bold agenda to make New York a fairer, safer, more equal state for all.”

The Governor and seven IDC members are facing primary challenges. However, those challengers and many of their supporters said that the campaigns will continue.

Cynthia Nixon took credit for pressuring the Governor to act to bring the IDC and the mainline Democrats together.  She said:

“Today’s announcement on the IDC deal shows the power of our movement.  Power concedes nothing without a demand. We demanded — and now a terrified establishment is throwing voters a bone.”

On Friday, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan stripped the former IDC members who chaired Senate Committees of their positions.  Senator Marisol Alcantara has been replaced by Senator Fred Akshar as Chair of the Senate Labor Committee; Senator David Carlucci has been replaced by Senator Chris Jacobs as Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection Committee; Senator Jesse Hamilton has been replaced by Senator Elaine Phillips as Chair of the Senate Banks Committee; and Senator Tony Avella has been replaced by Senator Pam Helming as Chair of the Senate Children and Families Committee.

Governor Announces Administration Appointments

Last week, Gov. Cuomo announced the following administration appointments:

  • Lindsey Boylan as Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Special Advisor;
  • Michael Schmidt as Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor;
  • Zackary Knaub as First Assistant Counsel;
  • Carolyn Pokorny as Special Counsel for Public Integrity;
  • Camille Joseph Varlack as Deputy Director of State Operations;
  • Giancarlo Pellegrini as Assistant Counsel to the Governor with a focus on federal affairs, election law, and constitutional law;
  • Andrew Chan Wolinsky as Assistant Special Counsel for Public Integrity;
  • Abigail Belknap Seidner as Assistant Special Counsel for Public Integrity;
  • Michael Donegan as General Counsel at the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs;
  • Mark Noordsy as General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner at the Office of Mental Health;
  • Karen Mintzer as General Counsel at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and
  • Sumit Sud as Deputy Chief Special Counsel for Ethics, Risk and Compliance.

Assemblywoman Resigns Ahead of Fraud Trial

Assemblymember Pamela Harris (D-Brooklyn), who was indicted in January on fraud and corruption charges, resigned her Assembly seat last week.

Ms. Harris, who represented the 46th Assembly District that includes several southern Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Coney Island, is facing multiple counts of wire and bankruptcy fraud, as well as charges related to making false statements, witness tampering and conspiracy.  She has pleaded not guilty.

Attorney General Files Census Lawsuit

Last Tuesday, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that he is a leading a coalition that has filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from demanding citizenship information in the 2020 decennial Census. The coalition includes of 18 Attorneys General and six cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

The group is arguing that demanding citizenship information on the Census will depress turnout in states with large immigrant populations, threatening those states’ fair representation in Congress and the Electoral College, as well as billions of dollars in critical federal funds for education, infrastructure, Medicaid, and other federal programs.

Attorney General Schneiderman said:

“One of the federal government’s most solemn obligations is a fair and accurate count of all people in the country, citizen and non-citizen alike. For decades, administrations from both parties have treated this constitutional requirement with the respect and reverence it deserves. Now, the Trump administration is breaking with that tradition – recklessly abandoning nearly 70 years of practice by demanding to know the citizenship status of each resident counted. With immigrant communities already living in fear, demanding citizenship status would drive them into the shadows, leading to a major undercount that threatens billions in federal funding for New York and our fair representation in Congress and the Electoral College. I’m proud to lead this coalition in the fight for a full and fair Census.”

Political Update

Molinaro Officially Launches Gubernatorial Campaign

Last week, Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro formally launched his campaign for Governor in the town of Tivoli, where he was elected mayor at 18 in 1994.

He promised to bring accountability and bipartisanship to state government and promised to push for greater state investment in opioid addiction treatment and tougher ethics laws.

But his main push appears to be Gov. Cuomo’s governing style.  He said:

“This governor is often too happy to divide people. If you’re too far right, you don’t deserve to live in the state of New York. If you’re too far left well then, he suggests, I don’t have to listen to you. The truth of the matter is, everybody who calls the state home has to know that their leader is listening to them.”

Molinaro has been gaining support from GOP leaders across the state, and now appears to be the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Other announced candidates include State Senator John DeFrancisco and Joseph Holland, a former aide to Gov. George Pataki.

32BJ Endorses Cuomo’s Re-Election

Last Wednesday, influential labor union 32BJ endorsed Governor Cuomo’s bid for a third term.

32BJ President Hector Figueroa said:

“Governor Cuomo has a long and strong record of progressive policies that have earned him our members’ support. He has delivered a $15 minimum wage for New Yorkers, 12 weeks of paid family leave, a $19 minimum wage for over 40,000 New York-area airport workers and championed many other pieces of legislation that have made working families in our state better off. That was why our executive board decided to endorse him. We look forward to working with him in the years ahead to keep improving the lives of working New Yorkers.”

Democrat Announces Run for 50th Senate District 

Last week, Democrat John Mannion announced that he is running for the 50th Senate District seat currently held by Republican John DeFrancisco. Mannion is a biology teacher in the West Genesee Central School District and is president of the West Genesee Teachers Association. This is his first run for public office.

DeFrancisco, who has held the seat since 1993, is seeking the GOP nod for Governor. He has said that it is unlikely that he will seek re-election this year.

The 50th Senate District includes parts of Onondaga County, including the north side of Syracuse.

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read last week’s list here.

Coming Up

Lawmakers return to Albany on April 16.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on April 19.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on April 24.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on May 3.