Gillibrand early target
GOP field already growing for senator's seat in 2012

The Times Union tries to make a race of it. By centering an article around a guy who is "mulling a run" in paragraph three (in the reporter's words), but who is "unlikely to do it" in paragraph seven (in the gentleman's own words).

Odd construction, that.

The article also offers up some opportunities to the GOP to get some shots at Gillibrand on the record, which is fine for them, but an odd choice for the TU.

Then, down in the lonely, last paragraphs, we read that "53 percent of the voters were prepared to re-elect Gillibrand" and "she dwarfed her potential challengers and trounced both Maragos and Wilson in hypothetical head-to-head matchups."

Gotta make things seem contested, apparently. Better for business, perhaps.

New ethics panel posts a tough sell for Cuomo

"Attracting people to state government is a major problem for me. Why? ... Over the last few years, Albany has not enjoyed the best reputation, the pay scale ... is not the highest, and when you go into the public sector you expose yourself to criticism, scrutiny, et cetera."

Pay scale?

I would like venture a guess, Governor Cuomo.

One of the reasons you have this dreadful problem with recruitment might be because your social circle consists of rich people. If your social circle included people from the middle class, or heaven forbid the lower class, you might find that those people would consider these public sector positions to be a step up and an opportunity to serve.

But those classes likely don't donate big dollars to you, and it seems you don't associate with them. Perhaps you should consider expanding your social circle, and perhaps you might find a larger pool of candidates.

Kudos to Mr. Soares.

Despite Protests, Cuomo Says He Will Not Extend a Tax Surcharge on Top Earners

Mr. Cuomo insisted that under no circumstances would he consider backing the extension of the surcharge, saying it would encourage residents and businesses to move to other states.

Governor Cuomo: Appeaser of rich whiners.

Also, the governor's premise of needing to appease the rich whiners is wrong. Tax Flight is a Myth.

Why not move the high school so that it's farther away from the lower income neighborhoods? What could go wrong?

Autoplay video is a scourge of the internets.

New York’s Proposed Health Exchange Likely to be a New Public Authority

Yay?

Message to NYS Senate Republicans: The ACA is the law of the land. Face up to it, and get to work for the benefit of the citizens of the state of New York.

Via the NYT.

I have a lot of respect for this reporter and the TU for the way in which they are reporting these issues. It's important to identify who is behind the front groups, which Nearing and the TU have done here. It's important to point out the consensus of scientific opinion on climate change, which they have also done here.

Nicely done.

Mayor wants VLTs in Albany
Jennings says city can reap $140M if gaming permitted as panel reviews changes

Why not? We've got our garbage revenue stream, and now we'll have a gambling revenue stream.

The marketing slogan writes itself: Albany - We Take Your Trash, Now Let Us Take Your Cash

Hey Google. How many times has the TU quoted E.J. McMahon of the "conservative Empire Center for New York State Policy"?

Wow. That's a lot. It would be fair to say that the TU generally endorses his views and analysis. Interesting, that.

A $10 million renovation of the Crowne Plaza in Albany, New York, is expected to start this fall now that city officials approved a new, 30-year property tax break for the hotel’s owner.

The board of the Industrial Development Agency voted unanimously to approve the new tax break, said Michael Yevoli, the city’s commissioner of development and planning.

Why not? The city is all set for tax revenue apparently. No need to get any from this big money entity.

This must be some form of the "shared sacrifice" I've been hearing about.

One of our mega-rich overlords has spoken: Tax the rich.

Sounds good to me.

Apparently Wanda Willingham did something that was not wrong, and it is now a big deal in the Albany County junior high Legislature.

As I said in a comment on the TU blog, it would be useful if the TU provided some info as to whether the information was confidential or not. Don't just report what Willingham said, and what Conners said - look into the rules and report what the rules are.

Other than that, the blog comments seem to show that many are ready and willing to take shots at Willingham. This suggests to me that the whole purpose of this is ... to take shots at Willingham, regardless of the merits of the accusation.

There is also this, from the first TU article:

But [County Comptroller Michael Conners] has issues with the system.

"The way welfare has been administered hasn't worked," he said. "The number of poor has grown significantly in the last 30 years, particularly in the last 20, and I believe we need to evaluate the success of the system. There is an entitlement mentality that I don't think has worked for the long term benefit for the poor or for the taxpayer."

With that kind of rhetoric, perhaps Mr. Conners should consider switching over to the Republican party.

I'm guessing that won't happen.

Yes to this: State Comptroller to Propose a Hydraulic Fracturing Fund

Gee. I wonder if the current administration will cave to these demands. (Link: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Aging-Albany-hotel-faces-gray-future-1629951.php)

Previously: "They're not doing anything (to help the city) by sending a message that we're anti-development," Jennings said, "and that's what we're doing now." (Link: http://albanylayman.blogspot.com/2010/08/httpwww.html)

Worst persons in the world:

LISA THRUN, JUDITH FORD, and AVA ASHENDORFF

Link: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/73035/suit-hits-cuomo-dec-nyserda-over-cap-and-trade/

Actual important issues, not involving any Weiners:

Two plans for NY's insurance exchange – 1 regulates, the other does not
Link: http://blog.timesunion.com/healthcare/two-plans-for-nys-insurance-exchange-1-regulates-the-other-does-not/2374/

Bad headline: Violent spring does not signal climate change

Why is it bad? Take a look at the article itself (emphasis added):

"You cannot take any events in a single spring and say that is definitely a result of climate change," said Jessica Rennells, a climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.

[...]

Extra moisture and energy in a warmed atmosphere are a sign of a changing climate, said Rennells, but there is no clear link between such changes and increased tornadoes. The violent, localized storms need a special kind of wind shear to form, along with warm humid air from the south, coupled with a cold front to causes air to rise and rotate at the same time. There is no proof that these factors are influenced by climate change.

That view was echoed by Paul Roundy, an assistant professor in the Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Department at the University at Albany. "We can't say that even one season of enhanced weather activity is linked to climate change. You have to look over a series of years."

So the headline writer looked at all that hedging and qualifying by the scientific types ... and then made a definitive statement. HONK.

Woulda been OK: Violent spring may not signal climate change. Violent spring does not definitively signal climate change. Violent spring not proven to signal climate change. Not OK: the headline above.

Is there no end to the expense of these so-called public servants? Is there no end to their unaccountability, to their hiding behind the rhetoric of educating our young people?

From the TU's weekly traffic column:

Paving will be done between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday on Linda Court from Meadow Lane to the dead end and the entire length of Meadow Lane.

Is this Mayor Jennings' block? Because it looks an awful lot like an out of the way cul-de-sac with little to no through traffic.

As opposed to, say, North Main, which is a busy avenue and is in absolutely terrible shape.

Seriously. Awful.

I wonder what is the agenda behind this short piece. I'm not the type to go looking for an agenda all the time, but this is clearly a non-story, and the reporter pretty much admits to badgering a supporter. So ... what's behind this?

The TU looks at: What should NY’s insurance exchange look like?

Mr. Vielkind,

This isn't really much of an improvement over the previous attempt:

But Gibson never embraced Republican proposals to move Medicare from a fee-for-services model, where the government reimburses doctors and hospitals for eligible procedures and care, to one in which government offers cash support for future enrollees to buy private health insurance from pre-approved companies.

You are still comparing how the docs get paid, of which fee-for-service is just one method, to how people obtain access to coverage, which in the case of Medicare is a matter of hitting a certain age and becoming eligible for the tax- and premium-supported single-payer plan.

The Ryan proposal basically throws seniors to the wolves. The Ryan proposal offers vouchers to obtain coverage in the private market, as opposed to automatic coverage through the government plan.

Here's where your research and reporting should take you next: how will seniors fare in trying to obtain affordable, useful coverage in the private market?

Hint: insurance companies desire to take in more money than they pay out. Hint two: seniors require more medical care than younger people. Hint three: no more hints.

Your descriptions, and Gibson's dodging, of these issues are not helpful and serve to confuse.

Yours sincerely, etc., etc.

Quote of the day:

"Listen if a guy can throw his girlfriend down the (expletive) stairs and still have his job back [...]"

Link

Some good news, because why not.

Jefferson Awards honor 18 for their volunteer service
Jefferson Awards recognize Capital Region residents who volunteer to improve lives

Budget plan closes deficit with no tax increase

Cuomo's grin broadened. "I'm hoping that this spirit of love and euphoria that I feel is infectious and grows and continues," he said. [...] Cuomo turned to Silver, his fellow Democrat. "We hope you keep feeling it," the speaker said to laughter.

Keep Gov. Cuomo's jocularity in mind over the next year, as you hear about the realities of the budget cuts. Ha ha, fewer teachers. Ho ho, fewer community programs. Hee hee, no extension of the millionaire's tax. Har har, har har.

But hey, he's building his reputation for a presidential run, and that's what really matters to most New Yorkers.

Congrats to the Albany area Mega Millions winners. Use the money well, take care of yourselves, your families, and your communities. Enjoy!

Miller regrets 'negative publicity' about his arrest

How long before we learn that there was something improper done during the arrest, which will conveniently and coincidentally impact the case against him ...

Traffic headaches around Albany Med not easy to cure

Who would have thought that building in the style of a suburban office park, in the middle of the city, would result in traffic problems?

Note that the following words do not appear in the article: public transportation.

Lincoln visits Albany. The state government apparently fails to cover itself in glory.

Mesley. Mesley ... always around when cops are acting badly.

Headline: Ex-girlfriend of Albany cop recalls terror of gun threat

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ex-girlfriend-of-Albany-cop-recalls-terror-of-gun-1004221.php

"Officer Christian Mesley, president of the Albany Police Officers Union, testified that he drove Schunk home to meet with Waters the night of the incident. Mesley said that before leaving, and while Schunk and Waters argued in a car outside, he took Schunk's loaded service weapon off a kitchen counter and disabled it by removing internal parts."

Mesley disabled the weapon. Super. He left a violent, crazed guy alone with his girlfriend. What? The guy couldn't have hurt her some other way?

More Mesley:

http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Union-chiefs-Words-hurt-553661.php

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Albany-cop-fired-after-arbitrator-found-him-604320.php#page-1

This post ...

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/55298/after-election-gibson-softens-position-on-medicare/

contains a lot of gibberish. Some on the part of Rep. Gibson, some on the part of the TU writer.

Gibson: "In the past, I've been concerned about Medicare vouchers. What got my attention is the fact that two bi-partisan commissions supported it."

Supported it?

From the Bowles-Simpson National Commission on Fiscal Reponsibility and Reform and Fried Twinkies report:

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/

"A voucher or subsidy system holds significant promise of controlling costs, but also carries serious potential risks. To assess the balance of benefits and risks, we recommend a rigorous external review process to study the outcomes of the FEHB premium support program to determine its effects on costs, health care utilization, and health outcomes. Although the population covered by FEHB is different from the Medicare population, if this type of premium support model successfully holds down costs without hindering quality of care in FEHB program, that experience would be useful in considering a premium support program for Medicare."

Vouchers now! Or, after a commission - not us, though! - examines some other system and everyone dozes off, and let's pretend we never even brought up vouchers.

Now, let's look at the TU writer ...

Vielkind: "Both reports mention moving Medicare from a fee-for-services model to a premium-supported model [...]"

In insurance terms, fee-for-service essentially means "not managed care." The doc gets paid 80% of his or her fees. A "premium-supported model" is a description of how a person would pay for his or her coverage in the system. So Vielkind is comparing apples (how docs get paid) to oranges (how a person pays for his or her coverage).

"Medicare really is sacrosanct," Gibson reiterated Sunday. "We need a bi-partisan solution to the problem. So when I hear two bi-partisan commissions talking about that prospect (vouchers), I ought to at least consider it."

"Sacrosanct" and "vouchers" are incompatible, despite what the GOP is trying to sell.

In this article - http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/For-starters-a-little-off-top-935393.php - the TU tells us that there is "a looming budget gap of at least $9 billion." And that "Cuomo's state worker pay freeze could save between $200 million and $400 million."

If I have all my zeros correct, that pay freeze amounts to 4% of the state budget deficit.

I think it's safe to say that this 4% of "savings" will dominate the media coverage. There will be talk about how Cuomo is battling the unions. There will be commentary by conservative PR firms and by randomly selected citizens who are willing to be quoted about high taxes and/or bloated government.

(I put savings in quotes up there, because it seems to me a poor assumption that taking money away from residents, taking money out of the economy, actually saves the state money. Less money in state pay, less money to the consumer economy, less money in tax revenue to the state. But what do I know, I'm just a layman.)

This 4% of the deficit will come to take up, let's say, 80 to 90% of the media coverage.

This leads to an obvious question. What about the other 96% of the deficit?