Albany Strategy Lets Rich Evade Donation Limits - New York Times
ALBANY, Aug. 3 — As a candidate for governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer is barred from taking more than $50,100 from any single donor.
But that has not stopped wealthy donors from legally circumventing these state contribution limits to shower six-figure donations on the Spitzer […]

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Media join lawsuit in pork case — Page 1 — Times Union - Albany NY
ALBANY — More than two dozen news organizations moved Tuesday to join a Times Union lawsuit against Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver over their refusal to reveal the names of lawmakers who helped direct millions […]

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N.Y. Lawmakers Aim To Curb Electoral College - July 31, 2006 - The New York Sun
A national effort to institute the direct popular election of the American president is gaining momentum in the New York Legislature.
A small but growing number of state lawmakers who want to make New York a more potent force in presidential […]

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City fumbled ferry oversight, leaving taxpayers awash in debt
Assemblymen Brian Kolb and Joseph Errigo
(July 30, 2006) — In 2004, New York state government made a multi-million-dollar investment in a project that was supposed to revolutionize our region.
Unfortunately, the high-speed ferry project never lived up to its promise and spiraled into financial disaster.
As the ferry project […]

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Buffalo News - The best job upstate has to offer
By DONN ESMONDE
That seals it.
I’ve often pondered, if reincarnation is real, who or what I’d like to come back as. Rock star? Yankees center fielder? Jennifer Lopez’s divorce lawyer?
Reading reporter Matt Spina’s piece in Sunday’s News made up my mind. If there is a second time […]

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Dear Free New Yorker:
We’re having one of our periodic fiscal crises, mainly due to the disappointing fundraiser in June. Frankly, and I’ve always tried to be honest about our situation, we’re in danger of losing our office without a quick infusion of funds.
We greatly appreciate your support and we know that funds are often […]

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Niagara Gazette - GUESTVIEW: The problem with public pensions
By Bob Confer
Niagara Gazette
I know very few people who have or will have pensions and post-retirement benefits. It seems that most people must rely instead on investment accounts, 401(k) plans, insurance plans, and Social Security for their well-beings in their post-career lives.
Likewise, many who were at the […]

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Legislature called on to provide funding for stem cell research after Bush veto - The Business Review (Albany):
A group representing colleges and medical institutions on Monday called on New York state leaders to appropriate funding for embryonic stem cell research.
The group, New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research (NYAMR), said now that President Bush […]

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Cuomo’s AG-ony of defeat
Eliot leans to Green?
A close ally of Eliot Spitzer is raising questions about the front-runner in the race to succeed the attorney general - Andrew Cuomo - and says staff lawyers in Spitzer’s office share his reservations.
“Does [Cuomo] want to be attorney general, or is this simply the consolation prize […]

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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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