Reform, Golisano style

I'd feel better about the prospect of the Republican coup in the State Senate leading to real reform if one of the Democrats who switched sides isn't under indictment for slashing his girlfriend and the other isn't facing $60,000 in penalties for failing to disclose his campaign finances.

This is reform, Tom Golisano style.

He's got to be the most influential resident of Naples, Fla,. the Empire State has ever seen.

Golisano has reportedly been working behind the scenes for a month to flip the Senate from Democratic to Republican control. Golisano, 'tis said, was miffed that the Dems didn't embrace his idea of reform. And, in fact, by hiring the likes of Baby Joe Mesi, the new majority party didn't exactly set themselves up as the party of change.

Keep in mind that Golisano poured a lot of money into mostly Democratic Senate candidates last fall, including Bill Stachowski and the aforementioned Baby Joe, with the expectation he'd have lots of influence if the Dems took over. Apparently he and sidekick Steve Pigeon didn't have as much juice as they wanted, although in getting their Baby Joe a job, they certainly seemed to have some influence.

Some folks have said Golisano isn't in the game for real reform, but for power, and Monday's developments show he's got a lot of the latter, while doing something to advance the former.

Consider the Senate rule changes the Republicans announced almost immediately. Hardly a template for model government, but they do appear to move beyond what the Dems have done so far.

Rather than reform, the real end game for Golisano and Pigeon might be that, finding themselves in the good graces of the new Senate majority, they might just have gotten out from under a potentially explosive investigation by the state Board of Elections, which had fielded complaints about the conduct of Responsible New York and an affiliated front group.

I'm told it takes both Democratic and Republican commissioners on the state Board of Elections to authorize an investigation and that's the direction things appeared to be headed a few weeks ago. But the GOP owes Golisano too much now to dare let that investigation move forward.

Lest anyone think I'm crying for the Democrats, well, I'm not. They inherited a mandate for change and then went out and pulled stunts like hiring Baby Joe.

To quote Pete Townshend: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

But I'm also under no illusion that the new Senate majority is likely to take the steps necessary to clean up their house.

The state is sinking like a leaf in a whirlpool and our so-called leaders are preoccupied with playing politics.

It's enough to bring out the cynic in any Who fan, and really, who in their right mind is not a Who fan?

Hit it, Pete.

Comments

[nykaren]

Money buys power. however, the people who voted them in doesn't. The people should be outraged. He may have a lot of power here but not in Naples.. I go there a lot and my parents live there. I want to send this article to Naples newspaper. They talk about doing things behind our backs. But, they just did the same thing. Crazy. The republicans where in power for 40yrs. So,now the people can have there misery back. That's not what we voted for.I'm out of NY come Sept. Going to FL. again. NY is so messed up. Nothing has been done here in the 23 yrs I was gone. Buffalo is a mess. There must some law to protect our votes. Love your article thank you.

[plynch]

What makes people think that the Republicans will do any better than they have for the 70 years they were in control? Yes, voters should be outraged- money shouldn't be dictating the actions of the legislators- the peoples' voice should!

[gary]

Any changes made will be only to benefit a few. Anyone who thinks that this is going to bring about any serious reform is delusional at best. WNY will continued to get screwed at the the same level, if not more. Sigh...

[abdul]

Unfortunately, this is what NYS politics have degenerated into. Someone who moves to Naples, Florida because of high state taxes can call shots up here and get his way. He thought he could be more powerful and influential by backing flawed Democratic candidates like Baby Joe Mesi. He didn't get out of it what he wanted, and he decided to go this route. Is it a wonder why so many people want to move out of this state?

[Sarah]

Abdul "Is it a wonder why so many people want to move out of this state?"

State? I am making plans to head up to the Great White North where I shall remain happily until my death...this whole country has turned into a Banana Republic where the making of money usurps the well-being of its citizens.

[DBLooking In]

Yes, Money buys power and votes do not. But votes alone do not bring on change. Activism behind the vote carry out constituents' concerns for change. I am not a fan of these antics and hidden agendas, but if the people truly advocate change, they need to continually press upon their representatives at the highest degree. This, coupled with their own actions to take on some of the responsibility for civic mindedness and creative thought leadership, may lead to progress momentum. All the more reason to support less government....

[Colin]

Golisano spent millions trying to get a Democratic majority in the Senate last fall. Now he's behind the move to give the Senate back to the Republicans. Isn't it disturbing to have our government subject to the whims of a Florida resident?

http://eagercolin.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/gay-marriage-a-billionaire-and-the-nys-senate/

[DBLookingIn]

What's disturbing is NY forced him to become a Florida resident.... with many more to follow.

[NB]

Both of these State Senators are under felony indictment. Hiram goes to court next week, dealing with "how his girlfriend's face fell into a beer bottle". Espada & Friends scammed $60,000 out of a health care fund into his election fund. And as for Pigeon...he spent millions of Tom G's bucks in really slimy, and quite often a probably illegal ways, trying to con people into voting for those who would further Pigeon's interests and those of his clients, among other things. Cute.

So, The Bronx and Brooklyn, two regions devastated by decades of Rethuglicanism (whether with DINO's or the real repubs), now have de-facto Republican's for nominal representatives. And the real reason for this...Tom G, Hiram and Pedro, being such "ethical" people, have a problem with gay people getting married. Bigotry rules above all else.

Well, actually, not. Money, or at least the "well monied" does rule, and resists all attempts at mitigating absolute control of NY money, and how it gets allocated and recycled to various constituencies. The upward re-distribution of wealth and income, often a result of the "financilaization" of our economy must continue....and if the "lower realms" have to be squeezed even more...so be it. Give them sports, gambling and more debt...that should keep them distracted and sort of happy, for a while.... and maybe they won't even notice how their manufacturing jobs that built NY's middle class are disappearing...

Wow, Shakespeare would have loved the intrigue, and the plots. I wonder if there are any gay Repubs who want to revel in this new power of their party, all care of bigotry against the life they (secretly) live. And no doubt, those trying to relieve the rich of some of the taxation burden will also be emboldened, as once again a Repub controlled Senate can advocate for their real constituency - the upper crust, and especially those who got that way due to political, social and upper class connections.

It looks like we should just shut down the Senate for a while, and let Pedro and Hiram have their days in court. Odds are, they get Felony convictions, and then the Senate will be minus a pair of sleazy politicians. Next time politicians want to get sleazy, maybe they will be a bit more discrete in their transgressions. Maybe the Repubs take control of the NY State Senate for a few months in the fall, until the Fall elections replace the non-ambiguously Despicable Duo of Hiram and Pedro. I wonder how well Repubs will do in those districts in the Bronx and Brooklyn?

Maybe for starts, we could get some polling done for those districts on how those voters feel about their purported representatives. The Despicable Duo are probably not well liked, and are unlikely to be held in anything but contempt.

NB

[Albany Observer]

Read the fine print of the deal. Pedro Espada is now next in line to be Governor thanks to Dean Skelos. Reform? Nothing more than a power grab from a political opportunist with a "the people be damned" attitude. It the the absolute pinnacle of irresponsibility.

[Dave]

Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!! Like I said before... Once my kids graduate from High School (2 years) there is NOTHING keeping me in this state. If you have to ask why, you just don't get it...And Paterson and his 2 buddies in the room didn't see this coming??? Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!

[SSN]

I can't say I feel sorry for the Dems. They think our state begins somewhere in Long Island and ends at Albany. Not to mention they passed a state budget that increased spending almost 9% while in a deep recession.

You can argue the GOP isn't going to be a Godsend but they certainly can't due any worse.

[Eville Curmudgeon]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, whether he is from Naples New York, Florida, or Italy. I do not care.

At least Uncle Tom speaks of reform, and that is infinitely better than Sheldon Silver, Gov Dave, and Malcolm Smith and their masses of yes-men like Hoyt and Stachowski.

Turmoil and gridlock are welcome and preferable to the slew of new taxes and pending pro-union legislation that will destroy farms and businesses.

Thank you Uncle Tom and thank you Senators. I hope your intentions are pure, but for today, I’m just glad you acted.

[frquarter]

now we shall see what maziarz and the rest of pubs do ....will it be reform....and hopefully REMOVE SHELDONSILVER AND NYC FROM THE STATE...they control ny state....they received 10 billion and the taxpayers lost their rebates and also received higher taxes from those 2 puppets in the room....davy and smitty,,,,,its over gov best for you to resign NOW..SAME FOR YOU SMITTY

[Neil]

As Vizzini says in the immortal "Princess Bride" - Inconceivable?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-b7RmmMJeo&feature=related

[my2cents]

Money has always ruled "Politics" - on every level.

Mr Golisano is using the status quo rules to play the "game"

Repubs - Dems who cares what banner they wave - change can only come through action - not lip service - not recycled candidates - not power hungry "Party Bosses"

A fed up taxpayer with cash can create change - Thanks Uncle Tom!

[David II]

I can't wait for Dave's kids to graduate too so that he can leave and stop trolling the boards and posting the same comments over and over.

[itswingnut]

It's standard fare for Golisano. He swayed two "less than desirables" to jump ranks and cross over party lines.

Look at his "choice" to run his hockey team.

[my2cents]

Article quote:"Rather than reform, the real end game for Golisano and Pigeon might be that, finding themselves in the good graces of the new Senate majority, they might just have gotten out from under a potentially explosive investigation by the state Board of Elections, which had fielded complaints about the conduct of Responsible New York and an affiliated front group.

So are your saying that the State Level of the Board of Elections is corrupt ? ! ?

It appears the article implies "Political Power" supercedes the law ! ? Now thats what tax payers and voters should be upset about.

Oh My God - next you'll say "Politicians don't lie!"

[City Taxpayer]

David II says he can't wait for Dave's kids to graduate (in 2-yrs) so he can leave the state...

Why does Dave have to wait 2-years? Aren't there schools his kids can attend where he plans to move from WNY?

What's the matter? Schools out there not good enough?

Dave, yank your kids out of school now and get out of Dodge! They'll get over it, trust me... lots of other kids do when their parents have to relocate to keep their jobs when their employer leaves Buffalo for greener pastures...

[Dave]

Well City Taxpayer and Dave II. You see, I made a promise to my children (that is when you say you are going to do something and actually do it) that I would not take them out of high school away from their friends. Are there better schools out there... you bet. I don't live in the city because the last time I looked the graduation rate was around 50% or so and the schools SUCK. (unless you go to McKinley obviously - but that is another wonderful story.) And the suburban school they go to are not any better or worse than anywhere else. (it is in the top 15 from the list brought out a week ago) My son who graduates this year has already been accepted to a college outside of NY and my daughter (who actually has better grades than my son) is only applying to schools out of state (as are most of their friends according to other parents). Let the 3 men in a room run the state and let Western NY continue to accept what crumbs they want to give us. I, like a lot of people that I talk to, are fed up. The problem the legislature didn't think of was... They can tax people that make more money higher rates than others, but we are the ones that can afford to leave (and we are) so they will not only not get the extra tax revenue they will also lose the baseline revenue that they were receiving before they raised the rates. How can a government raise taxes 9% when they are also getting a 2 year government bailout and still not have a balanced budget?