This sounds familiar

NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is the latest Albany politican who dares to suggest reform in state budget process.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090515/NEWS01/905150391/1116/DiNapoli++State+budget+missed+mark

Too bad almost nobody cares

NY Daily News Columnist Bill Hammond hits the nail (Pols in Albany) on the head; again.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/columnists/hammond/index.html

Ugly in Albany

The political jockeying involved in getting the MTA bailout bill passed in the state legislature revealed again that NYC politicians control state government and the rest of the state better beware.

This Journal News article says that most legislators from the lower Hudson Valley opposed the MTA Bill, though some voted for it.
http://www.lohud.com/article/2009905070416

A NY Daily News editorial on the subject blasts the inept leadership in Albany while wrongly supporting the final bailout bill which imposes onerous payroll taxes on non-profits and other businesses in the downstate region.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/05/07/2009-05-07_downright_lousy_masstransit_rescue_shows_albany_at_its_worst.html

This Newsday editorial says MTA deal again shows the utter lack of statesmanship and good government in Albany.
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpmta0712738119may06,0,3638917.story

Bloomy blows it

This NY Times article recounts an unpleasant encounter between a blogger with a disability and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a news conference.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/nyregion/17bloomberg.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

This would not be a big issue, except for the fact that Bloomberg reportedly showed little patience when the blogger's tape recorder began playing and distracted the mayor during his remarks. Blogger Michael Harris was insulted and embarrassed by Bloomberg's tirade and you could argue that Harris may have overreacted a bit.

A member of the mayor's staff did little to diffuse the situation with remarks he made later. The staff member pointed out that Bloomberg's office has been accommodating to Harris in the past by providing him special transportation, which is very nice and above and beyond what would be done for other reporters covering the mayor. Patting the mayor on the back for making sure that wheelchair access is available at official events is a bit over the top, however. We can't wait to see Bloomberg's staff praise the mayor for making sure that there is a Malt Box and electrical power at the next news conference so that TV and radio reporters are afforded access.

They fiddle, we burn

Legislative leaders and the governor are struggling to put together a budget amid typical political posturing and at least some in New York are fed up with the inaction in the capital.
One proposal to bail out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority called for a payroll tax on downstate businesses. That would hurt schools, non-profits and taxpayers who support those organizations without asking for any sacrifices of the MTA.

The links below take you to a couple of stories about the budget process in Albany.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/04/02/2009-04-02_express_to_doomsday_senate_democrats_del.html

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090403/OPINION01/904030309/1004/opinion

20th Congressional race heats up

Elizabeth Benjamin, of the NY Daily News, gives Scott Murphy's first TV ad a positive review and suggests that his large political war chest is the reason he got the nod over other Democrats to face off against Republican Jim Tedisco in the special election to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in the 20th Congressional District. Gillibrand proved last fall that a well-known candidate can beat a newcomer with lots of money. Tedisco, a tireless self-promoter, has a big early edge and may be tough to beat.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/

The Albany Times-Union political blog reversed the order and posted Tedisco's five-minute web campaign spot ahead of the the shorter Murphy spot.
http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/

Former ethics watchdog David Grandeau shows he is still willing to nip at the heals of statewide politicians in this Associated Press article by Valerie Bauman.
http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1234292986234550.xml&storylist=state

Related stories?

NY Daily News Columnist Bill Hammond chronicles some of the lowest of the lowlights of NYS government in 2008. And we continue to elect these people....why?
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/12/30/2008-12-30_in_2008_albany_pols_were_even_more_of_an-2.html

This Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin editorial raises an interesting idea by suggesting that NYS raise the cost of fines for illegal activities as a means of closing the budget gaps. See story above.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20081230/OPINION01/812300313/1005/OPINION