OpEd - A Few Brave Veterans - By Tom Chandler
A few brave veterans.
As this legislative session expires, it is once again time to consider the impact of a few brave media veterans who have year after year taken on all-comers, no matter how powerful and influential, to make this a better safer State for all […]

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Baby sitters, cars and season tickets
For New York’s state legislators, campaign contributions help make the living oh so easy
Donors to state legislators do more than finance political campaigns. They also help their favorite politicians live larger, travel farther and buy a finer cut of meat.
They underwrote the purchase of Assemblyman Sam Hoyt’s personal cars […]

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Child Molesters Would Face Death Under New Bill
Convicted child molesters would face the death penalty for killing their victims and a felony charge for failing to update their whereabouts with authorities under a bill the Senate approved Thursday.
The bill was designed to help police find more than 100,000 such sex offenders by creating the first […]

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‘Prisoners’ in their homes
The state has systematically deprived many poor, severely disabled New Yorkers of wheelchairs and other medically necessary equipment, violating state and federal regulations in its pursuit of the bottom line, according to a report released by the State Assembly.
“Department of Health uses and misuses legal and bureaucratic means to unfairly prevent people […]

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Niagara Gazette - DON GLYNN: Silver’s law firm draws up suits in state parks
If you ever get injured while visiting a state park, you might be surprised to know the extent of legal action you can pursue.
Take this scenario, for example.
You’re gaping at the Bridal Veil Falls from the Hurricane Deck at the Cave of […]

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Pataki vetoes retire-at-55 bill for public jobs
ALBANY — Gov. George Pataki vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have allowed teachers and other government workers with 25 years of experience to retire at 55 with the benefits now available at age 62.
Pataki said the measure, passed last month overwhelmingly by the Legislature, would have cost state […]

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Study: New York’s campaign finance laws among worst in nation - Newsday.com
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s regulation of millions of dollars in campaign donations from special interests is among the worst in the nation, according to a study released Thursday.
The study, performed by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, […]

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Wasted Time
There are many different opinions about the hybrid system, and it remains the focus of much debate. Given its high profile in the media, it is perhaps most surprising that the Legislature defeated the hybrid government proposal. Other notable proposals rejected by the Legislature include:
—The establishment of Blueprint for Change, an attempt to put […]

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WIVB TV4 Buffalo,Niagara Falls, NY - News & Weather - Video on Demand - Minority of Legislators Plan to Revive County Manager Proposal
A bi-partisan faction of lawmakers has unveiled plans to revive a county manager proposal that was nixed earlier by the full legislature.
Five lawmakers have introduced a proposed charter revision creating an appointed deputy […]

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News - Employee Payouts
The head of the local CSEA Employee Union retired last week and is about to get a check for $45,000.
It’s for vacation and holiday time Mike Bogulski never used.
It’s a practice that Erie County Executive Joel Giambra says he stopped when he came into office, but union workers are still governed by […]

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