PoliticsWNY.com Watch the Erie County Legislature session, January 23, 2003, by clicking PoliticsWNY.com video screen. We have the Mayor's state of the city speech online video 56K... DSL users can use the link 56K as well. Dial up users can use the DSL link just takes longer to upload. Also we will be doing online video interviews for you once we figure out what additional equipment we will need & the funding of course. We are so excited this technology, state of the art, will allow PoliticsWNY.com to bring you what is lacking in both radio & TV news in WNY ... Extended one on one interviews with the newsmakers of the day.


                                         

 

 "For the good of Erie County ...
                       To end the gridlock" 

These the reasons why Chuck Swanick, according to Chuck Swanick, became a Republican. Swanick made these comments in an interview with WBEN 930 Thursday morning.

This is what happens when you have individuals conducting an interview that are unprepared & or just simply are unaware of the facts to conduct such an interview.

The question that should have followed after Swanick's prolonged responses ... Why did you vote for George Holt for Chairman & then not vote for a special session which would have ended the gridlock  two weeks ago?

You keep mentioning gridlock for six weeks ... Why did you not attend your own caucus meetings for six weeks? etc.

Swanick never answered the question Yes or No if he would take a County job if offered ... He kept talking about his 23 year leave of absence from Con Rail.

The truth is Swanick cut a deal with Joel Giambra because the Dems refused to make him Chairman. Giambra offered him a job at twice his Leg. salary, in the future, to vote for Razenhofer ... At the last moment that strategy changed Swanick agreed to become a Repub on the condition he get the Chair.

This is exactly what happened & Swanick is just an out & out liar. His word is worthless. He betrayed his colleagues for a power position & a few more dollars in his pension  check!

 

  Erie County Democratic Chairman

If political pundits are still fretting over
once and future Erie County Legislature Chairman Chuck
Swanick’s sudden, mysterious defection to the
Republicans, think of what it’s done to the dedicated
group which has worked for weeks to prepare
PoliticsWNY.Com’s annual April Fools issue.  Toiling
night and day, this hearty little band has been coming
up with clever gag headlines for use on this site on
April 1 ever since Dick Clark announced that 2003 was
at hand.
   
Now they are going to have to start from scratch.
Why? It’s very simple. After Swanick cast his lot with
the man he formally referred to so contemptuously as
King Joel, there is simply no longer any assertion or
claim that Western New York political buffs will fail
to believe or think implausible, no matter how
outrageous.
   
Ted Kennedy leaving his party to become head of the
National Rifle Association? …Makes sense to me!…What
about Strom Thurmond running for President of the
Young Democrats?…It could happen!…How about Jesse
Jackson’s appointment as Grand Kleagle of the Ku Klux
Klan?…Well, with affirmative action, you never know!
   
Take heart guys, maybe you should just skip April
Fools and start working right away on Halloween.
   
Anyway, as for county Democratic Chairman Len
Lenihan, he’s ceased being amazed at Swanick’s instant
conversion and has instead gone on the attack.
Declaring the deal “an example of political expediency
at its worst,” Lenihan makes the point that most
voters don’t really care if you’re a Democrat or
Republican. What they care about is that you have a
set of principles and beliefs that are not for sale.
   
“Now if a person changed parties after a long period
of disagreement with the philosophy of the party he
was in, that is understandable,”Lenihan allows. “But,
to just switch so suddenly because you’ve been offered
a bag of goodies on Christmas Eve, that is something
that people are NOT going to understand. How could
Chuck Swanick vote for Butch Holt for Chairman one
week and then turn around and become a Republican and
support their agenda the next? I don’t understand
it…You can bet that we are going to have a strong
candidate running against Mr. Swanick whether it is in
the primary or the general election.”
   
As for former Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon’s
charge, as voiced on WBEN 930 Wednesday morning,
that Swanick was forced out of the Democratic Party,
Lenihan argues that he couldn’t have kicked him out if
he wanted to because he couldn’t even get through to Chuck.
   
“We held two or three caucuses of Democratic
Legislators a week for six weeks and Chuck didn’t come
to one of them,”Lenihan charges. “He also wouldn’t
return any of our phone calls. We couldn’t deal with
whatever concerns he might have because we couldn’t
communicate with him. That wasn’t our choice, it was
Mr. Swanick’s.”
   
Part of what lies behind the whole thing is the
strange menage a trois of hatred and mutual
exploitation that seems to exist between Joel Giambra,
Al DeBenedetti, and Chuck Swanick. As many county hall
hands tell it, apparently DeBenedetti went over to the
Republicans because he didn’t want Swanick to be
chairman. Now Swanick is going over, at least partly,
so he won’t have to work with Al. Is this the way
rational men and women govern a county of a million
patriotic souls?
   
“It is a strange relationship between the three of
them,” Lenihan admits. “But, over all this deal stinks
and it’s something the people of Erie County are going
to find hard to swallow.”
   
Lenihan didn’t want to say who he has in mind as an
opponent for Swanick but he did have some names on his
lips when the talk turned to Democratic opponents for
other Republican incumbents.
   
“Against Elise Cusack in Amherst, we are looking at a
35 year old attorney, John Flynn, a young guy who
formally worked for the JAG Corps. In West Seneca,
there is Councilman Tim Wroblewski or else Dan
Smasniak. We are going to have strong candidates in
both those races and in many, many others.”
   
By the way, if you’re wondering why the Dems haven’t
endorsed any candidates for Common Council yet,
Lenihan says it’s because the lines simply haven’t
been finalized yet.
   
“If we went ahead with endorsements now,”Lenihan
points out, “what we do could be challenged in the
courts.”

US Senator Charles Schumer  Wednesday issued the following statement in response to Secretary Powell's presentation at the UN:
 
"It's clear from Secretary's Powell's speech that the weapons inspectors haven't found a smoking gun but that's not because one doesn't exist - rather it's because Saddam is doing a very good job of hiding it. 

"I think Secretary Powell's presentation today advanced the cause that you can't expect much from Saddam except deception. The speech laid out a real case in very graphic terms that Saddam is not cooperating with the inspectors in any way at all, that he has yet to come clean and show that he has no weapons of mass destruction, that he's stopped producing them or that he's willing to give them up.  I still think it's worth allowing a little time for this to sink in and let the members of the United Nations see the clarity of the evidence because it would be a lot better to go to war with as many nations on our side as possible."

SENATOR BROWN NAMED TO SENATE COMMITTEES

Named to powerful Finance Committee

Also named Ranking Member to Cities and Tourism Committees

 New York State Senator Byron W. Brown (D-Buffalo/Niagara Falls/Grand Island/City of Tonawanda) has been appointed ranking member to both the Cities and Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Senate Standing Committees. Senator Brown was also named to the influential Finance committee, as well as the Banks; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Higher Education; Labor; and Housing Construction and Community Development committees.

"I am very excited to be named the leading Democrat on two very important and influential committees," said Senator Brown. "As a representative of the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Tonawanda, I look forward to serving on these committees, and look forward to continuing my work in my other committee assignments as well. My role on the Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development committee will allow me to continue to promote Western New York as a sports and tourist destination," said Senator Brown.

Senator Brown’s appointment to the powerful Finance committee –– which is responsible for analyzing all of the legislation dealing with the budget -- in just his second term in office is nearly unprecedented.

In addition to Senator Brown’s committee assignments, the Senator was also recently named Assistant Minority Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs.

"Being named to a leadership position after only two years in the Senate is very exciting and I look forward to working closely with my partners in government in my new capacity as Assistant Minority Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs. The Democratic Conference can most certainly improve its relationship with other levels of government and I look forward to that challenge," added Senator Brown.



Sources: Bonnie Russell will run against University District Betty Grant for her Common Council seat.  As we reported two weeks ago PoliticsWNY.com   supports & endorses Ms Russell's candidacy.



Hoyt Appointed to Ways & Means Committee

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo, Grand Island) announced today that he  received a coveted appointment to the Assembly Ways & Means Committee.  The powerful Ways & Means Committee shapes the state budget.

Hoyt said, “This is the toughest budgetary year I have seen since entering  the legislature.  I am thankful for the confidence Speaker Sheldon Silver showed in me by adding me to the team preparing for this year’s budget
battle.”

Hoyt added, “My goal is to use this position to improve upon the Governor’s budget proposal, especially as it pertains to Western New York and education.”

Twincities.com: "DON'T PRINT THAT • Pssst: The whispering within NHL circles is that Brian Lawton, the former North Star who is a Minneapolis-based agent, is putting together a group of investors to buy the bankrupt Buffalo Sabres for $75 million. It's a good bet that Lawton's father-in-law, financial tycoon Noel Rahn, would be a significant" investor."

Golisano & his associates are negotiating with the NHL et al. ... Things are moving along at the same pace that transformed this guy from a wannabe millionaire to an in fact billionaire ... Get the point ...

Meantime as we have suggested once Hamister's bid imploded media would circle the wagons around Golisano.  I should mention in answer to readers questions: Hormoz Mansouri is a great guy & an assset to this process. I am proud to call Hormoz a friend, a colorful character by the way!

Of course you have Joel Giambra claiming there are other interested parties ... Such nonsense! ...

There is a war of words between Senator Dale Volker & BNP's Andrew Rudnick ... The Partnership suspending the ticket sales program. Andrew saying he hopes Hamister, BNP Chairman, can resurrect his bid ... Hamister's bid, Andrew, was never legitimate, & Hamister will never own the Buffalo Sabres.

Actually I expect the guy who put the Stanley Cup contender together in the late 90's, Larry Quinn, will have a leadership role once Golisano completes his purchase of the team ... Remember it was the then IlluzziLetter.com ... Now PoliticsWNY.com that came out publicly to congratulate Quinn for putting that team together, albeit he had left the team prior to 1998-99 season.

Among those agreeing with Senator
Clinton’s stand on restoring funds for the COPS program is
Buffalo Police  Benevelent Association President Meegan.
In an interview with PoliticsWNY.Com yesterday the PBA head
expressed the hope that “our elected officials will
work against” the Bush Administration’s proposed 90%
cut in the police officer hiring program.
   
However, he had other things on his mind,
specifically his union’s drive to get more pay for his
members from a city that is reportedly more strapped
for funds than at any time in its history.  
   
“There’s been all this talk that they had a $45
million deficit or is it $35 million or $40 million or
$60 million,” he declared."  “Now we hear that they are
actually going to run a surplus. They certainly have
plenty of money for the Mayor’s  raise and
raises for other elected officials. Meanwhile the ‘for
sale’ signs are going up all over the city. Why? The
biggest reason is lack of police protection. They’ve
laid off  a sinificant number of police officers and not
all have come back."
   
“The truth is that the way to stop crime is to put
more police officers on the street. This is what stops
crime. It’s worked in every city whether it’s
Cleveland or New York. But, what are we doing here? We
are cutting police officers. This doesn’t make any
sense.”
   
As for the recent job action at Rt. 33 exits that
seemed to disturb so many, Meegan describes it as
simply a case of officers doing their sworn duty to
uphold the law.
   
“One of the complaints we always hear from the city
is there isn’t enough productivity on the part of our
officers,” Meegan noted. ‘I assume from that they mean
not enough tickets and summonses being written. So
fine, our officers went out and wrote summonses due to
violations of the law which they found. Some people
think that Buffalo is an open city. They’re wrong. We
enforce the law here just like everywhere else. And,
that’s all we were doing that day.”
   
On the subject of one officer cars, Meegan insisted
that while they might be fine for the suburbs, they
simply wouldn’t work in any neighborhood of Buffalo
due to much higher crime rates.
   
“Did you know that 70% of the arrests in Erie County
are made in the City of Buffalo,” he asked. “Our
officers do up to 70,000 contacts with the public per
year. We take one million calls. There is just no
comparison between what we do and what officers do in
the suburbs. Here you couldn’t have one man cars
because you never know when you’re going to run into
four guys who just robbed a bank coming down the
street with no time for you to call in any back-up. By
the time you called for help, you could be dead.”

SWANICK’S PARTY SWITCH HINTS AT QUID PRO QUO

 As a 26 year old Democrat I was astounded at the headlines I read in the Buffalo News regarding Erie County Legislator Chuck Swanick’s switch from the Democratic Party to the GOP. In recent years, I have watched this legislator attack the Republican party’s leadership with such fervor that he left a lasting impression on all who listened. Young men and women in the Democratic party had every reason to listen to what he had to say. Here was a man who spent a good portion of his life, 23 years to be exact, fighting for what he told us was right, over and over, challenging those who stood in the way of his personal and party values.

I, for one, looked up to his leadership abilities and his role within the Democratic Party. That all changed when Swanick decided to put aside all of the rhetoric he fed us for years to join the Republican party.
I cannot be convinced that Legislator Swanick would so quickly dismiss all the convictions and principles he represented for so long, without being promised something in return. Although neither side would ever admit it, all signs point to a politically motivated ploy by the County Executive to retain power at whatever means necessary, and lends credence to reports of illegal political pressuring by Giambra and his administration.

Obviously there is more to the story than both Swanick and Giambra are letting on. This is a time when we are supposed to put our faith and hope for a better quality of life in the hands of our elected officials. Are the citizens Legislator Swanick represents supposed to actually put their trust in what he says? We now know the outcome of doing so.

Timothy M. Kennedy

Illuzzi: Keep in mind readers Chuck Swanick worked part - time for 23 years as a Legislator ... Moreover he realized over $1,000,000.00 in salary plus benefits as a Democrat during his tenure on the Leg. ... Not to mention millions in member item funds. I believe the most ludicrous remark Swanick made is that he was going to help get the Bridge built as a Republican Chair ... I just had to laugh at that one!

 

Governor George E. Pataki proclaimed February as African American History Month. 

"African American History Month provides an opportunity for all Americans to remember the sacrifices of those who have contributed to American society and to the proud history we all share," Governor Pataki said. "This year marks the 78th annual observance and provides all New Yorkers with an opportunity to pay tribute to the African American community, its rich traditions and many contributions that have helped shape our country."

This is the eighth annual Kick-Off Celebration, and is being hosted by the Governor's Office, the New York State Museum, and the New York State Education Department. Other sponsors of the event include Consolidated Edison, Price Chopper Supermarkets, State Farm Insurance, NYS Correctional Services, NYS Lottery, Office of Children and Family Services and the NYS Police.

The text of the Governor's Proclamation is printed below:

"Whereas, each February, communities across this State and nation join to commemorate African American History Month; this year marks the 78th annual observance and provides all New Yorkers with an opportunity to pay tribute to the African American community, its rich traditions and many contributions that have helped shape our country; and

"Whereas, this year's national theme 'The Souls of Black Folk,' has been specially chosen by the Carter G. Woodson Foundation in Washington, D.C. and serves to remind all New Yorkers of the spirit that renowned African Americans such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Paul Robeson embodied; their energy helped motivate and drive the quest for freedom and equality, and it is fitting that we recognize these individuals along with many others who showed tremendous vision and leadership in advocating for change; and

ereas, the African American legacy and history are extraordinary, and marked by the strength, determination, character and courage of its people; the meaningful lessons taught by previous generations are to be remembered for their impact on all mankind and we honor those who have dedicated themselves to advancing this nation through the wisdom of their experiences; and

"Whereas, African American History Month provides an opportunity for all Americans to remember the sacrifices of many who contributed to American society; today, our brothers and sisters of African American heritage remain strong and proud, and continue to realize achievements that represent the hopes and dreams of past ancestors and which are a source of inspiration for people everywhere; and

"Whereas, the greatness of our society is reflected in the solidarity of our citizens who represent the most diverse and culturally rich population; as we take this opportunity to acknowledge our African American communities, we recognize their impact on the social, cultural and economic development of this state and nation, with added appreciation for the important place occupied by those of African American ancestry in the annals of history;

"Now, Therefore, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim February 2003 as African American History Month in the Empire State." ###

Clinton proposes amendment to restore first responders’ funding

 Declaring that she is “profoundly disappointed with
the Bush Administration’s decision to cut more than $2
billion from traditional first responders’ programs,”
US Senator Hillary Clinton announced today that she
will introduce a budget amendment which would “restore
$4.3 billion for programs that support first
responders.”
   
Her amendment would put: $1.2 billion back into the
budget for the COPS program, $900 million for the Fire
Act, $600 million for the Byrne Act, $500 million for
law enforcement block grants, and $1.1 billion for the
Safer Act.
   
“It is very disheartening to me that this
administration refuses to fund the Safer Act which
seeks to hire 75,000 fire fighters across this
nation,” she said. “Here in New York we are facing the
worst fiscal crisis in generations. It matters greatly
what kind of help we get from the federal government.”
   
During a several minute opening statement to a group
of reporters from throughout the state, Senator
Clinton pointed out that at least some of the urgency
she feels regarding the COPS program comes from the
current plight of the City of Buffalo.
   
“I read in the paper that Mayor Masiello of Buffalo
was very concerned about prospective cuts in the COPS
program because he was counting on these resources to
rehire 32 laid off police officers,” she recalled.
‘This (Bush Administration) budget reads as if it was
written by people who are unaware that we’re in a war
on terrorism, unaware of the  important role first
responders play in this war here at home.

If the Bush budget passes we could lose 4,000 police officers and
11,000 fire fighters across the USA. This makes
absolutely no sense to me. By this amendment I intend
to restore these funds for first responders so that
our communities will be as well prepared as possible
to fight both the war against terrorism and the war
against crime.”
   
When a PoliticsWNY.Com reporter opened the
questioning by asking the Senator what the chances
were of getting the bipartisan support she would need
to pass her amendment, she responded with both
confidence and defiance.
   
“I am certainly going to be working to achieve that
kind of support,” she promised. “As these numbers sink
in and my colleagues begin to understand the effects
of these cuts on law enforcement and first responders,
I think there will be bi-partisan support for this
amendment. But, this is the right thing to do and
regardless of whether I have support across the aisle
or not, I will wage this effort to try to get first
responders the help they need here at home.”




PoliticsWNY.com: Governor Pataki  has tapped Attorney Dennis Scinta (R) for Erie County Family Court. Scinta will replace Justice Janice Rosa (R) who won a seat on the State Supreme Court last November.





The Hamister Sabres epitaph 
 
Mark Hamister, a good & decent man, caught the Giambra virus ... The result, as is Giambra's first term, terminal failure ...

The powers that be found a financier, Todd Berman, to give the Hamister proposal the appearance of credibility, where none existed. The proposal from day one, according to the most impeccable sources, was predicated on a circa 2-1 capital taxpayer subsidy. The guy who promised he could deliver, CE Joel Giambra, originally  Giambra intended to use the Adelphia Tower money to fund the deal ... But the Governor, Empire State Development would have none of it.

Senator Volker et al. (Pols) was the only reason why this hoax was allowed to continue as long as it did. Volker giving his word, putting his credibility on the line, "the Hamister bid is valid & Hamister will secure the taxpayer funding necessary to go forward"  ... Volker made these statements just three days ago. Volker was not telling the truth nor was he speaking for Governor Pataki as widely speculated in the media, just the opposite. Witness recent events!

Now we have State officials blaming the locals ... The locals blaming the State ... Sheldon Silver blaming Pataki ... Pataki's people saying, "we were never in it!  We promised nothing & said way back, when Giambra was promising the world via that $50 million from the Adelphia deal, this is not going to happen."

What happened here is the same  scenario we have witnessed via the DeBenedetti, now Swanick, et al. debacle, you deal with Giambra, you catch the Giambra virus. The symptoms, loss of veracity, integrity, honor! Notice Hamister, who caught the virus, did not thank Joel Giambra for his efforts on his behalf.

Finally, we all need to move on, Hamister did the right thing Monday by withdrawing with class.  Look to Tom Golisano & Hormoz Mansouri to put this deal together. Golisano told NHL Commissioner Bettman Monday they  intend to move forward with the purchase of the team. Not overnight as the Mayor Masiello suggests,  but on a reasonable schedule!  Tom & Hormoz are going to concentrate on putting a winner on the ice, a Stanley Cup winner ... After all isn't this what it is all about, Hockey!

Tom Golisano owes no explanations to anyone, the diatribes directed at him, et al., by Giambra, Volker, media, et al., were uninformed, unfounded, & mean spirited. The truth is we owe Tom Golisano our thanks for being willing to bail the REGION out ... Especially after the way he was vilified & his integrity questioned by Giambra, Volker, et al. ... We are still forced to listen to the Golisano "put up or shut up" nonsense ... Just Bovine Manure!

Speaking of the Mayor: The Mayor needs to accomplish something soon ... We would suggest major initiatives in the neighborhoods addressing quality of life issues without question.

Currently, this Mayor needs to put a deal together with the Senecas to get this casino built. Not the absolutely ridiculous idea of opening a casino in the Statler right next to our new $100 million court house, the federal reserve,  the Dulski building, or the business district.

This Mayor needs to negotiate with the Senecas to operate a casino at the Adelphia Tower site, build the parking ramp. The Bass Pro thing is in trouble, I wonder why ... Tear down the AUD ... Build a Convention Center there.

Follow thru on Brian Higgin's plan for the Skyway & Inner & Outter Harbor ... We have been talked, commissioned, planned  to death, do something Mayor Masiello. Begin by getting behind Tom & Hormoz.


 

Our guy getting Statewide attention

 NY Times: "Indeed, the black elected official mentioned most often as a possible candidate for statewide office in 2006 is State Senator Byron W. Brown, a Democrat from Buffalo who is seen as a possible candidate for lieutenant governor." Brown is the ranking member of Senate Tourism Recreation Sports  Committee ... He also serves on the Cities & the coveted Finance Committees!

  Talks Budget!

It was a clearly angry US Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton who shared her views on the latest Bush
Administration budget proposal with a state-wide group
of reporters late this afternoon. She spoke from
Rockland County immediately after an appearance there.
   
“On balance this budget is bad for New York,” she
announced. “It does more harm than good to millions of
households across New York. It cuts billions of
dollars in revenues to our state and cuts funding for
first responders in the War Against Terrorism while
creating an historic deficit of $307 billion. This
budget serves as a symbol of this administration’s
priorities and they are not New York’s priorities.
   
“When you come right down to it this budget cuts
everything but the deficit. In the coming weeks and
months, I will fight against any measure which places
in jeopardy New York’s fiscal stability.”
   
Senator Clinton seemed especially incensed over the
fact that, in her view, the Bush budget cuts funding
for first responders, education, domestic security,
health care, and the environment while spending
billions on tax cuts mainly aimed at the extremely
wealthy.
   
“This administration would rather spend $364 billion
to eliminate the tax on stock dividends and $90
billion to cut the highest income tax rate than spend
that money to keep our nation safe,” she charged. “The
Bush Administration’s budget spends $3.65 billion on
domestic preparedness. But, they get that money by
eliminating or severely cutting programs for first
responders and law enforcement. They cut 90% from the
COPS program which has put thousands of additional
police officers on the streets. Included in those cuts
is $330 million cut from a hiring law enforcement
personnel, $100 million from communications equipment
for law enforcement, and $20 million from the Safe
Schools Initiative.”
   
She was also critical of the Bush budget’s effects on
health care which she charged would include forcing a
million seniors into HMO plans and away from access to
their own doctors.
   
However, she seemed to become most acerbic when the
subject turned to the long term effects of the growing
deficits envisioned by the Bush budget on the US
economy…Especially at a time when war clouds are on
the horizon.
   
When asked by a PoliticsWNY.Com reporter about the
down the road repercussions of protracted deficit
spending on our collective economic prospects, she
harkened back to the surplus laden economic prosperity
of the Clinton years.
   
“I believe in the Clinton School of Economics,” she
declared. “I know that large budget deficits as far as
the eye can see will tend to crowd private borrowers
out of the credit market and lead to high interest
rates and a lack of confidence on the part of
investors that will lead to extremely bad consequences
for our people such as unemployment and a lack of
growth in our economy. We can’t continue to live off
of a credit card as this administration seems to be
doing. It’s just not fair for us to pass on this
burden to future generations because we were not able
to be fiscally responsible.
   
“I came from a home that believed that if you didn’t
have the money to buy something, you didn’t buy it. I
believe in fiscal responsibility, not deficit
spending.”
   
But aren’t these deficits mainly due to additional
expenses incurred due to the War on Terrorism, one
reporter asked. It was at this point that the Senator
grew even more animated.
   
“Then why the heck are we proposing even more tax
cuts,” she asked indignantly. “There has never been a
President in American history who proposed tax cuts at
the same time that he was leading the nation to war.
Why don’t we wait until we find out how much the War
in Iraq is going to cost? Why don’t we wait until we
know how much we are going to need to protect
ourselves. Why don’t we wait until we know how large
these deficits are going to be? We can’t just keep on
passing on the consequences of our fiscal
irresponsibility to our children!”

Bush to Send Congress $2.23T Budget Plan

By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) shipped lawmakers a $2.23 trillion budget for 2004 on Monday bearing record deficits and seeking deep new tax cuts, an ambitious expansion of Medicare and bolstering security at home and abroad at the expense of domestic programs.

 

AP Photo

Though Republican majorities in Congress mean Bush's plans will get a better reception than last year's did when Democrats ran the Senate, some elements will clearly be reshaped, like his call for a fresh 10-year, $1.3 trillion tax cut. Whatever happens, the proposal sets the stage for a partisan battle over fiscal priorities likely to rumble right into next year's White House and congressional elections.

 

Democrats said the budget would deepen government debt just as it should be shoring up Social Security (news - web sites) and Medicare for the approaching retirement of the 76 million-strong baby boom generation.

 

"Buried in President Bush's budget is a plan to dismantle Social Security and Medicare," said Rep. Charles Rangel (news, bio, voting record) of New York, the House Ways and Mean's Committee's top Democrat. "By demanding large tax cuts again even though there are no longer surpluses, the administration will starve the government of funds."

 

The president said his plan focused on the most important challenges facing the nation.

 

"A recession and a war we did not choose have led to the return of deficits," Bush said in a message accompanying the five-volume, 13.5-pound blueprint. "My administration firmly believes in controlling the deficit and reducing it as the economy strengthens and our national security interests are met."

 

One item sure to get special attention on Capitol Hill was Bush's proposal to give NASA (news - web sites) a modest 3 percent increase to $15.5 billion in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

 

The budget, completed before Saturday's space shuttle Columbia disaster, included $3.97 billion for the shuttle. The administration said that was 4.7 percent more than it expected Congress to approve for 2003 when lawmakers finish this year's overdue spending bills.

 

The Justice and Labor departments were the only Cabinet-level agencies whose overall budgets would decline. But to contain burgeoning red ink, proposed cuts included some Army Corps of Engineers water projects, rural development, high technology aid to business, and state grants for fighting drugs in schools and for clean water.

 

While Bush predicted last year that the government would dip its toe into deficits for just three years, Monday's spending plan acknowledged hefty shortfalls as far as the eye can see — a projection both parties fought to turn to their advantage.

 

Bush projected deficits of $304 billion this year and $307 billion in 2004, easing to $190 billion in 2008, the final year shown. Not factored in was a possible war with Iraq likely to cost at least tens of billions of dollars.

 

The highest deficit on record was $290 billion in 1992, when Bush's father was president.

 

Less than two years after Bush projected $5.6 trillion in surpluses for the next decade, on Monday he estimated $1.08 trillion in cumulative deficits for the coming five years alone. The budget mostly projected five years ahead instead of the 10 years customary recently, with administration officials saying longer forecasts are guesswork. Democrats said Bush was avoiding showing the full, bleak picture.

 

"You'd think in the face of a reversal like that, they'd offer a process or plan to right the budget. There is none," complained Rep. John Spratt (news, bio, voting record) of South Carolina, lead Democrat on the House Budget Committee.

 

Also weighing in were presidential contenders like Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., who said, "According to the president's budget, what he cares most about is giving a tax cut to the taxpayers who need it the least."

 

White House budget chief Mitchell Daniels responded that balancing the budget "is not the top, let alone the only priority." He said eliminating deficits could only be achieved by strong economic growth and spending restraint.

 

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., called the plan "a commonsense budget" that "makes the necessary investments in the future without spending our nation into bankruptcy."

 

Strikingly, the $1.3 trillion in tax cuts Bush proposed Monday amid looming deficits was only marginally less than the $1.6 trillion he proposed two years ago as projected surpluses soared.

The lion's share of his new proposal was $695 billion for stimulating the economy, dominated by a slash in taxes on corporate dividends. That benefit became $25 billion more generous at the 11th hour.

Bush also proposed to make the 2001 tax cuts permanent at an additional cost of $588 billion. That package, enacted at $1.35 trillion, would otherwise expire after 2010.

The president called for setting aside $400 billion over the next decade for revamping Medicare, the health-insurance program for 41 million elderly and disabled people, including adding prescription drug coverage. But he provided few details, ensuring a battle with Democrats already claiming that his proposal is inadequate and would force seniors into managed care plans.

Bush proposed to give states more latitude in spending federal funds for Medicaid, which provides health coverage for the poor, and for Head Start preschools in low-income neighborhoods. Democrats say Bush's plans, his response to states reeling from their own deep deficits, are a step toward dismantling both programs.

The president would spend $782 billion next year for the operations of all federal agencies, excluding the two-thirds of the budget that covers automatic benefits like Social Security. That is $30 billion, or 4 percent, more than Bush has so far sought in the bills for this year that lawmakers are still writing.

Of that, half would be for the Pentagon (news - web sites), giving it a 4.2 percent increase over this year to $380 billion. Underscoring Bush's drive to curtail spending, that paled compared with the 11 percent boost the military won in 2002.

The new Department of Homeland Security would grow to $26.7 billion, $1.3 billion more than its component agencies are on course to get this year.

Other increases would go for veterans health care, education for disabled and low-income children, and fighting AIDS (news - web sites) in Africa and elsewhere overseas.

 

Sabres Update:

Hamister suspends bid pending another backer ... Partner Todd Berman withdraws from the process outright ... NHL opens the process ... Bankruptcy judge in town.

Businessman Mark Hamister has ended his bid to purchase the Buffalo Sabres hockey franchise.

The NHL has announced an extension will not be granted for Hamister/Berman to retain the exclusive rights to buy the team and that the league will again seek bidders for the team, which is under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Hamister/Berman received exclusive rights to buy the team in November but they have been unable to negotiate a package of financial aid from New York state regarding a loan on HSBC Arena and other upgrades to the facility. That package is said to total some $40 million, part of an overall sale price of $70 million. 
 

Democratic Chair Len Lenihan Calls Swanick/Giambra Deal Sad and Pathetic

 

   ( February 3, 2003 , Buffalo , NY )  At a time when our country is mourning heroes who exemplified the best of public service – today, in contrast Joel Giambra has created a political spectacle.  County Executive
Giambra has bought the vote of Chuck Swanick, the very person he demonized as “Mr. Obstructionist.”  Giambra found the one sure way to eliminate an obstructionist – buy him out!

 

What is the sticker price on this deal?  How could Swanick become a Republican after 23 years as a Democrat and 6 years as the Democratic legislative leader?  A year from today Chuck Swanick will have a plum political job and Erie County taxpayers will be paying for it with a new 9 percent sales tax.

 

As disloyal as Swanick’s actions are to his community and his colleagues, what is worse is Joel Giambra’s obsession with controlling Erie County .  This move upsets the checks and balances we rely on for good government.  There is no more accountability – all three taxpayer watchdogs are now under the thumb of Joel Giambra.  With Giambra as grand puppeteer controlling the Legislature and Comptroller, Erie County taxpayers will never hear the truth about the County’s fiscal mismanagement.

 

What is really important today is that nine other Democrats refused on principle a similar self-serving deal offered by Giambra.  Legislators David Dale, Al DeBenedetti, Ray Dusza, Judy Fisher, George Holt, Ed Kuwik, Lynn Marinelli, Mark Schroeder, and Demone Smith make me proud to be Democratic Chair. Illuzzi: At least Giambra didn't tap Elise Cusak for Leg Chair ... Some good news! ... The question: What has Giambra gained the Dems voted with him 97% of the time anyway?



Guest Commentary:

 "A few observations on the decision of Chuck Swanick to throw his lot in with Joel Giambra -- all of which involve statements by Chuck or Joel Giambra...

1)      On November 26, 2002, the Buffalo News ran an article concerning the Republican-controlled Legislature's approval of the 2003 county budget.  Responding to the approval of a budget without the Democratic minority having an opportunity to introduce amendments, Chuck Swanick said “This is not a dictatorship… This is not a one-party government.”

Interesting, eh?  There's more...


2)      A November 2, 2001 Buffalo News article discussed Swanick's general election campaign against Kevin Hardwick (a campaign in which $29,000 of Hardwick's $35,000 campaign funds came from GOP headquarters/Joel Giambra).  The article cited a letter that Giambra sent to registered voters in Swanick's district.  The letter said: "That's the difference between Kevin Hardwick and Chuck Swanick -- Kevin will be open to our ideas for change… Chuck Swanick has proven time and time again that he will put his political agenda first and the taxpayers last.”

My, how things must have changed!  Joel and Chuck are now "new best friends" and Chuck is suddenly putting the taxpayers first!  Yeah right.


3)      In a February 27, 2001 Buffalo News article, Giambra labeled Swanick as an “obstructionist” bent on thwarting Giambra’s “agenda for change.”  Swanick responded by saying that Giambra is attempting a “grab for raw power,” and added that Swanick's reluctance to go along with Giambra is based on a principled stand for the “integrity of the Legislature.”

        Swanick further said “I think Joel doesn't grasp at this moment the structure of our charter that the Legislature can view things differently than the county executive.  Joel's view is 'my way or the highway.'”

Ironic, isn't it?  Makes Chuck and Joel appear to be hypocrites, doesn't it?  Now, both Chuck and Joel are making a grab for raw power and taking the position that it is "my way or the highway."


4)      In a January 15, 2001 Buffalo News article concerning the Fall 2001 Legislature primary and general elections, Swanick said “Joel Giambra is not looking for a Legislature that's responsible to the people, he's looking for a Legislature responsible just to him.  Never has an executive been involved in legislative races the way Joel Giambra plans for this year.”

        Swanick further said “This is not about Democrats and Republicans; it's about the Joel Giambra agenda and getting it without question or modification… And that's not a good process.”

        Swanick added that Giambra's plan is “all about power” and that Giambra “can target whomever he wants… But let's not kid ourselves; this is all about one person's rise to power.”

Nah -- that's not correct!  It is all about two people's rise to power -- King Joel and Prince Chuck!"

 

GRELICK ANNOUNCES NEW E-COMPLAINT FORM

  Susan J. Grelick, today announced residents can file complaints via the "E-Complaint" form available on the Town of Amherst website at www.amherst.ny.us  ... http://www.amherst.ny.us

"People with concerns can now access a complaint form on the Town website, fill it out, and send it to my office. We then refer the people and the e-complaint form directly to the appropriate department for immediate action. It should really speed up the process," said Supervisor Grelick.

Supervisor Grelick noted that often residents are unsure where to go to resolve their problems, "Our new system demystifies the process for people and allows us to monitor the complaint," she said.

"Since the Supervisor’s Office is open full-time and has administrative and executive power over certain town departments, it’s natural to use my office as a ‘clearing housing’ for concerns."

Complaints may also be made by mail, telephone (631-7032) or in person Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Supervisor’s Office located at 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY.

"The complaint line and form was reinstated in 1997 when I took office and the e-complaint is an expansion of the program and part of my commitment to open government," said Supervisor Grelick.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Leaders of the state's Ross Perot-inspired Independence Party were meeting Saturday to consider opening their statewide primaries to all non-enrolled voters (Blanks).

Party Chairman Frank MacKay said he expected the proposal to allow so-called independents to vote in Independence primaries, for statewide offices such as governor, to be overwhelmingly approved by the party's state committee, meeting at an Albany-area hotel.

"The Independence Party will make history by inviting the almost 2.5 million blank voters, who have been disenfranchised and disallowed to vote in a statewide primary, to vote in our statewide primaries," MacKay said Friday.

MacKay also said he expected it would take a federal court lawsuit to get the change implemented.

That is because the state Board of Elections has said state law requires voters to be members of a political party if they wish to vote in its primaries.

"They're wrong and we're willing to go to court to prove they are wrong," MacKay said, noting that a 1986 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed Connecticut's Republican Party to open its primaries to non-enrolled voters. Parties in several other states have also opened their primaries to non-party members.

"We're not reinventing the wheel here," the party chairman said. "Shame on anyone for trying to stop 2.5 million people from being invited into a political party primary."

While the Independence Party could seek to change state law, there seemed little likelihood of success on that front given the reaction of state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, when MacKay broached the notion late last year.

"Those who want to participate in a particular party's selection of candidates should enroll in that party," Silver had said.

Opening the Independence Party primaries to non-enrolled voters could, of course, generate more interest in it.

It might also make it easier for MacKay and other party leaders to deliver their nomination to major party candidates.

Unlike most other states, New York allows major party candidates to also run on minor party ballot lines and count votes won there.

Last year, MacKay and other Independence Party leaders sought to hand the party's nomination to Republican Gov. George Pataki as part of his successful bid for a third term.

That plan was upset by billionaire B. Thomas Golisano, the Rochester-based businessman who co-founded the New York party and had been its unsuccessful candidate twice previously for governor.

On Sept. 10, Golisano beat Pataki in an Independence Party primary that was only open to its 260,000 enrolled members. Golisano got 9,572 votes to Pataki's 9,076.

In the general election, Pataki easily won a third term over Democratic challenger H. Carl McCall. For a third time, Golisano finished a distant third.

MacKay hopes that getting non-affiliated voters involved in the Independence Party primaries would lead some of them into enrolling.

Of the state's 11.2 million registered voters, 5.3 million are Democrats and 3.1 million are Republicans. Almost 2.3 million are not enrolled in a political party, according to the state Board of Elections.

Pataki's ``slaughterhouse'' budget plan

By MARC HUMBERT
AP Political Writer


ALBANY, N.Y. -- It seemed the perfect metaphor for Gov. George Pataki's budget proposal _ even the slaughterhouses would feel the pain of the state's fiscal crisis.

Under the Pataki plan to deal with a revenue gap he projected at $11.5 billion, the cost to slaughterhouses of their required biennial operating permits would increase to $200, up from a maximum of $100.

Pataki budget documents indicated the higher fee, which also applies to refrigerated warehouses, would raise a relatively paltry $19,000 extra annually for the state. Nonetheless, it was evidence the Republican governor was leaving no small carcass unturned in his search for extra money.

What Pataki did do, however, is avoid touching any of the big carcasses, including the state's income tax and major corporate taxes. According to Pataki, the goal was to avoid any "job-killing taxes."

Instead, the governor chose to propose raising narrower taxes and fees, in effect nickel-and-diming New Yorkers to the tune of $1.3 billion. Included in the Pataki plan was a new $2.25 levy on every new tire sold in the state. That alone will eventually cost New Yorkers $45 million a year, according to budget documents.

The Republican governor also called for slashing state aid to education _ currently about $14 billion annually _ by more than $1.2 billion.

"As someone who was educated in New York's public schools, and as a father whose children have benefited greatly from our excellent public school system, the last thing I want to do is reduce spending on education," Pataki said. "However, the crisis is that bad. We have no choice."

Pataki also proposed reducing spending on Medicaid by more than $1 billion. Medicaid pays for health care for the poor.

The governor called for increasing program fees and deductible rates by 10 percent in the EPIC program that subsidizes senior citizens' prescription drug purchases. Pharmacies would get 5 percent less for filling EPIC prescriptions. The state would save $38 million on the EPIC program from those changes.

Pataki said he would not condone any delay in $177 million worth of pre