Cross Party Lines

Democrats set December 2 deadline for automakers’ to offer plan

Nov 20, 2008 Commentary Leave a comment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate and House Democratic leaders at a news conference:

Obama eyes Arizona governor for Homeland Security

Nov 20, 2008 Commentary Leave a comment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama is considering Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to be U.S. Homeland Security secretary, heading a sprawling agency formed to bolster civil defense in the wake of the September 11 attacks, a senior Democrat said.

Leaders want to cut Congress vacation short

Nov 20, 2008 Politico Leave a comment

Leaders would bring Congress back in December given the economic turmoil and failure to reach agreement on auto aid.

NY: Budget Plan B: ‘We’re Headed for the Cliff’

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

ALBANY—So, since the budget negotiations have failed to accomplish anything, and Washington isn't going to hand David Paterson a check…what now?
The state is still spending money faster than it comes in, which means that if nothing changes, its general fund will run dry before April 1 when the fiscal year turns over.
While they were unable to agree on an immediate course of action, David Paterson and legislators left open the possibility of enacting some budget savings early. Paterson had hoped for measures that would have bettered the books by .2 billion - but what scenarios is New York looking at if we don't?
I caught Elizabeth Lynam, an analyst with the independent

OH: Voinovich helped to secure $4M in grants to assist workers affected by layoffs

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

The office of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Cleveland) announced today that Ohio's senior senator has helped secure nearly million in grant funds to assist workers affected by layoffs within the Wilmington Air Park at DHL Express, ABX Air, Inc., and ACS Business Process Solutions.
Earlier in November, DHL's German parent company said it would cut 9,500 jobs in the United States as well as eliminate shipping within the U.S. by land and air, but DHL spokespeople are saying the air cargo hub in Wilmington will continue to operate for now. 
However, DHL is still planning on a deal with UPS that would compromise the Wilmington hub and could result in the loss of around 8,000 jobs. DHL says it expects a decision with regard to the UPS deal by the end of the year.
At the time, Voinovich said his office would be, "tireless in their efforts to ensure that state and local governments have the full federal resources needed to cope with this economic disaster."

NY: Democrats See Ethnic Profiling in Queens Recount

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

Democrats are accusing Republicans of discriminating against minority voters during the recount in Queens where Republican State Senator Frank Padavan leads his Democratic challenger, Jim Gennaro, by 500 votes.
Friday, members of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus in the state legislature will travel to the Board of Elections office in Queens in order to oversee the recounting.
A spokesman for the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, Austin Shafran, emailed me to spell out the objections:
After the recanvassing of the voting machines, which brought Padavan's lead down from approximately 700 votes to approximately 500 votes, the lead attorney for the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, John Ciampoli began systematically challenging the ballots of certain voters, particularly Asian American and Latino voters.

VT: Douglas names deputy chief of staff

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

Putting the finishing touches on his new administration, Gov. Jim Douglas announced Thursday morning that his re-election Campaign Manager Dennise Casey would take over as deputy chief of staff.  Casey has been a member of  Douglas senior staff for several years, serving as the governor's special assistant and secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, and managing both his 2006 and 2008 re-election campaigns. Casey fills the shoes of Betsy Bishop, who was appointed on Monday as commissioner of the Department of Economic Development.  "Dennise is smart, energetic and understands the important work we have before us," Douglas said in a statement.
The governor added that he was confident that Casey would work successfully with the state legislature to implement the governor's economic and social initiatives.   
 

NY: Commissioner on Day Care Centers: ‘It’s Fair to Say Some Will Close’

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

At the H.H.S. City Council hearing just now, the commissioner for the city Administration for Children Services told Council members that under Michael Bloomberg's budget cuts, 21 child care centers will lose “substantial” funding, and added, “It’s fair to say some will close.”
The commissioner, John Mattingly, went on, “Our choices are limited here.“ If the city “let the system crash,”  then it “won’t have services for people who need it,” according to Mattingly.
Mattingly also said, “At this point in time, I don’t have money to pay for vacant classrooms.”

NJ: Karrow’s decision does not put the brakes on Holt

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

Hunterdon County Freeholder Matt Holt said today that Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow’s (R-Flemington) decision to run for the seat of outgoing state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) will not deter his own ambition.
Holt, who announced that he was setting up an exploratory committee last week, told PolitickerNJ.com today that he is likely to run for the seat as well.
“If anything, it energizes me even further,” said Holt. “Since the press release and my sort of formal announcement of my intent to move forward, I have just had an extremely large number of supporters both on a financial end as well as the working end of the campaign.”

NY: Gioia Plays the Bush Card

Nov 20, 2008 Politicker Leave a comment

At a City Council hearing on how Michael Bloomberg’s budget will impact the Health and Human Services agency, its commissioner traded barbs with City Councilman Eric Gioia over the issue of “finger imaging” recipients in order to qualify for benefits.
Gioia said the program costs about million annually, and acts as a “deterrent of humiliation” driving away countless New Yorkers.
Commissioner Robert Doar said the program works, and is also required by the state. “We are merely implementing a state program,” said the commissioner.
Gioia said the rationale for the program reminds him of arguments the “right wing used because they thought they had to be hard on poor people to be good conservatives.