Tuesday Headlines: Whose Fault Is it Anyhow Edition
The state Senate’s second-most-powerful figure incurred the wrath of Gov. Hochul yesterday after lamenting the disconnect in state budget negotiations.
State Sen. Mike Gianaris, the deputy majority leader, told his colleagues during floor debate for the third budget extender that the governor wasn’t exactly playing ball, as topics like car insurance and updates to the climate law continue to gum up progress.
“It takes three parties to agree, and the person who has proposed the budget seems less than willing to appreciate that,” he said.
The governor, who has spent weeks bashing “special interests” and “billboard lawyers,” and threatening lawmakers skeptical of her plans to reform car insurance, was less than pleased.
“Gov. Hochul is willing to be flexible, but she will not back down on lowering costs for New Yorkers,” said Hochul spokesperson Kara Cumoletti. “If Sen. Gianaris is interested in progress, he should urge his colleagues to support the governor’s efforts to lower auto insurance rates, rather than defending a broken system that benefits the trial lawyers — one of the top donors to the Senate Campaign Committee he controls.”
The New York State Trial Lawyers Association does wield influence in Albany and does have a track record of splashing campaign cash. But Uber has also mobilized millions in advertising to back Hochul’s insurance proposal, while donating directly to the governor’s reelection campaign.
I guess the real question is who is the most-special interest?
More news:
- At any rate, the mobile billboards are back at the state Capitol.
- Uber is also making it rain in the Bronx as the county Democratic Party’s campaign war chest bursts at the seams. (New York Focus)
- And team Hochul is questioning the veracity of crash victim’s legal claims and laundering it through the New York Post of all places.
- It’s basically a rite of passage for upstate political reporters to witness. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Rockland) got chippy with the crowd at his latest town hall in Putnam County. (The Journal News)
- Frustrated state lawmakers will be back later in the week to pass another budget extender. (City & State)
- Hochul usually stays out of primaries, but she endorsed her former aide, Assembly Member Micah Lasher (D-Manhattan), who is attempting to replace outgoing Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan) in Congress. (The Daily News)
- Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha (D-Esopus) is bashing Amtrak as much-needed repairs at the Rhinecliff station fall by the wayside. (Mid Hudson News)
- The wife of the Chester highway superintendent who shot a DoorDash driver admitted she deleted video of the incident. (The Times Union)
- Former Adelphi University President Christine Riordan left court with a misdemeanor conviction after she drove drunk and crashed into a LIRR platform. (Newsday)
- Rep. Pat Ryan’s (D-Gardiner) erstwhile Republican challenger was facing a legal complaint over his residency as he withdrew. (The Times Union)
- Lost in the budget shuffle is a $50-million question about taxing nicotine pouches. (The Buffalo News)
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