“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it”-Ronald Reagan
Ken Girardin exposes the truth – State knew of UI shortcoming – if you have been furloughed from your job, you, unfortunately, have experienced the shortcomings; your stress level is increased due to this inability to access the unemployment insurance you have been promised. This article will only add to your stress level, but it is important for all to know, how big government has never been about helping the everyday citizen; progressive governments’ empty promises are only made to gain their votes, then they are quickly tossed aside while they serve their master.
Social media is normally a wonderful way to get yours and our messages out to the general public. Our Facebook page is a great way to communicate with others and gives the Conservative Party a way to let you know what we are doing. If you haven’t stopped by the Party’s Facebook Page recently, please do so today and click on our Video section where you will find how our Conservative endorsed candidates for Congress are helping out during the current coronavirus crisis.
(As I noted, social media is normally a wonderful way to communicate with others, until a bump in the road prevents you to access your account. Three weeks ago, we were locked out of Twitter (@cpnys) with no explanation. I have tried my best to contact Twitter; the only response is an auto response telling me to access the code sent to my smart phone and/or email address. It has been 3 very long weeks with no code being sent to either place. If anyone knows how to resolve this, it would be appreciated. BTW their phone # 415-222-9670 only refers you to the website, that I have been contacting for 3 weeks. Thanks for any suggestions.)
Speaking of things not working properly – while I certainly do understand that the number of applications are overwhelming – and no one ever anticipated government closing most non-essential businesses – it really is unbelievable that their technology is so outdated. Government is not spending wisely, but there is nothing new about that fact.
New York’s new budget is all about denial. Note the last sentence of the last paragraph: “The one saving grace is that Cuomo & Co. didn’t raise taxes as New York heads into recession. But if the same crew is running the Legislature after this fall’s elections, you can bet it’ll be their first resort next year.” (emphasis added.)
Joe Mahoney writes in Politico how Albany’s balance of power tilts back to the governor. “Every major bill legislators have passed this session increased the powers of New York’s governor, an office that political scientists already considered to be one of the country’s most powerful.” Based on that observation by Mr. Mahoney, I think the taxpayers of New York could save the entire costs of the Legislature and just elect the Governor since they willingly ceded their obligations to him.
E. J, McMahon honest assessment of this year’s budget crisis: NY lawmakers letting Cuomo make all tough budget decisions — when he gets to it. Governor Cuomo is a micromanager, a blessing and a curse, and while the legislators have given him the ability to do so expand his control over the budget, albeit, for this year only, Governor Cuomo does not like to cede control once it is handed to him on even if on a tarnished silver platter. And has been proven through the years, the legislators, continue to abdicate their responsibilities by allowing major issues that should stand alone (for example the Criminal Justice Reform adopted in last year’s budget – see related article below) to be passed after a floor debate and vote and not rushed through in budget bills that have little or no time to be methodically reviewed.
With so much on Governor Cuomo’s tarnished silver platter, he still tries to silence those who do not agree with him: Previously Struck Down in Court, New State Campaign Finance System and Political Party Ballot Thresholds Passed in Budget. Flashback: Andrew Cuomo, who said conservatives aren’t welcome in his state, lectures on need to tone down rhetoric. Again, buried in a budget bill, Governor Cuomo places limits on New Yorker’s freedom of association and speech. The Commission he created last year to quash minor parties, was struck down by a Supreme Court Judge, but that hasn’t deterred his quest to silent his critics. Governor, you may be riding high now, but the higher you ride, the deeper you fall. The Conservative Party came before you and will continue long after you are gone. Quick question Governor: if you are so certain you are right about everything, why the need to suppress the First Amendment? Obviously, Gov. Cuomo is not a student of Sir Francis Bacon who said,” This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge, keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal, and do well.”
Tammy Bruce reminds us when you are the best at what you do; both sides want, respect and listen to your expertise and that blind resentment even in a time of crisis sometimes colors the opposition’s judgment.
NEW YORK PASSES ‘POLITICAL BUDGET’ AT EXACTLY THE WRONG TIME: NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
New York–Apr. 2…New York Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar today criticized the “highly political” state budget passed with less input than at any other time in New York State history potentially. Mr. Kassar said that Governor Andrew Cuomo should have pigeonholed controversial items in his budget and moved them into the regular legislative session where they belong and could be vigorously debated.
“In times of crisis, politics has to take a backseat to pragmatism, and that sadly didn’t occur in Albany this week,” Chairman Kassar said. “While members were away from the chamber and reform advocates were sequestered in their homes, billions of dollars of new borrowing was green-lighted; some small political parties were all but eradicated in New York; a taxpayer-paid campaign system was created; new financial burdens were placed on small business owners, and a massive $3-billion bond issue was approved for the November ballot, among other things. What else the governor stuffed into this budget we will soon find out.”
Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, virtually no budget debate took place in Albany in the days leading up to the budget’s passage. Senators and assembly members were not present in their respective chambers and votes were taken remotely.
Mr. Kassar also expressed disappointment that judges were deprived of the right to use discretion in determining whether to require cash bail from those arrested for crimes. Law enforcement leaders and prosecutors begged the governor and state legislature to give judges that discretion. Governor Cuomo’s budget further deprived localities of the right to require approval for certain energy development projects, making a mockery of local zoning laws and effectively eliminating “home rule.”
“We are looking at a policy-driven budget of misstarts and overreaches,” Chairman Kassar said, “and New Yorkers will pay dearly for it.”
Statement on Cuomo Budget Power Grab by New York State
Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
April 1, 2020
“It’s unfortunate in the extreme that Governor Andrew Cuomo capitalized on the Coronavirus pandemic today by embedding taxpayer-paid political campaigns in state budget bills that are needed to keep the state afloat. This is akin to having a new and odious tax shoved down our throats while everyone is preoccupied with life-and-death health issues.
“The Governor, who has the support of all New Yorkers during this crisis, should know better than to engage in a political trick like this now. New Yorkers don’t want welfare for politicians — they have made that clear for years in polling — and legislators should have been able to debate this as a standalone issue later this year. This was a cynical ploy and a time where cynicism is least appropriate.
“Taxpayer-paid campaigns will cost New Yorkers a minimum of $100 million per election cycle, and, plain and simple, that’s money we don’t have. Even before COVID-19, New York was in a six-plus billion dollar hole. When all is said and done, the state’s debt load will be many multiples of that. And yet, taxpayers will be forced to shell out money to political consultants.
“It is equally outrageous that the budget was used to eliminate political opposition and dissenting speech. By drastically increasing the requirement for small political parties to attain ballot status, Governor Cuomo will have effectively stifled debate in a state that needs more of it. The Conservative Party will more than meet the new threshold based on our nearly 58-year history of garnering votes, but other smaller parties will almost certainly perish, directly suppressing the political speech they have traditionally provided.
“Governor Cuomo has been widely lauded in the news media for his leadership during this crisis. But what he did today in Albany was anything but. New Yorkers will be paying for it for years to come.”
This is one of the rare times that I indicate a must read column: A Nation’s True Test Comes After the Crisis. Kudos to Lawrence W. Reed for reminding some of us what we may have forgotten and others who were never taught of why we are so very blessed to be Americans.
It is safe to say that Governor Andrew Cuomo should read Mr. Reed’s column.
We seldom, if ever, agree with editorials in the New York Times, however we will admit that today’s editorial, Keep It Simple, Albany. This Is No Time for Budget Games, makes some good points. (Did anyone really think we would agree with all of it?) We, like others, believe that important policy decisions should not be rolled into the budget.
Joe Mahoney, writes in the Lockport Union -Sun and Journal that Cuomo vows to swing ax at state spending. The article explains how the progressives and fiscal hawks are all making their voices heard for their own agendas. One thing is certain, New York was facing a $6 billion deficit prior to the economic catastrophe caused by the closing of businesses and requiring non-essential employees to work at home. Simply put, the NYS Budget cannot add one additional penny to its budget, as it faces a loss of up to $15 billion due to the loss of income caused by government shutting down “non-essential” businesses. The fiscal hawks must win this budget battle; if it doesn’t, New York will see an exodus that exceeds tenfold the one we have experienced in the last ten years.
Here is another comprehensive article on the NYS Budget crisis written by another longtime Albany reporter, Joseph Spector for the Democrat & Chronical today. Needless to say, while NY is in dire financial straits, to pass the recreational use of marijuana in the budget, would be an unconscionable action by the Legislature. Instead of seeing the sale of recreational marijuana as a partial panacea for its financial woes, the Members of the Legislature must consider the severe pitfalls of this Schedule 1 drug.
Yesterday’s daily update included this article Cuomo: ‘Numbers don’t work’ in ‘terrible’ Senate stimulus package, in which Gov. Cuomo complained that New York was not getting enough money in the $2T “Coronavirus Bill.” E.J. McMahon, writes in the Empire Center about how the stimulus bill treats NY. While the rest of the nation swoons over Governor Cuomo’s handling of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Mr. McMahon, rightfully points out the WSJ editorial (subscription required) on the Bill and that Governor Cuomo’s “beef arises from his own more direct concern: a state government revenue shortfall he now estimates at $10 billion to $15 billion.”
The exodus from New York continues. (In the above article where Gov. Cuomo says the numbers don’t work, Gov. Cuomo states “We’re not a big-spending state. I cut taxes every year,” Cuomo added. “I have the lowest growth rate of the state budget in modern political history. We are frugal and we are efficient,” which begs the question, why are New Yorkers still moving out of New York?)
Most government employees will not face the same economic problems that private employees will face as New York battles the coronavirus. They have generous vacation and sick time that can be used during this medical emergency, with that being understood, it seems to be reasonable to postpone their 2% pay increase until New York regains its financial footing.
While everyone complains about the ever-increasing costs of prescription drugs, after learning about that many of our prescription drugs are manufactured in China, would people be willing to pay more knowing they are manufactured in America. I certainly would. Is US Too Dependent on China for Medical Supplies?
A medical pandemic is, to say the least, a serious health problem that needs to be addressed. However, in doing what is right for those at risk, and those who do not know they have the virus, for carriers who do not get sick, and for everyone who breathes, government must realize that the economic fall out in doing all of what may be necessary, may bring about an economic crisis greater than the medical pandemic currently being faced. In fact, government is well on its way to creating an economic crisis the likes of which may rival any previous one throughout our history. Yes, government has an obligation to protect her citizens, but it also has a fiscal and moral obligation to not waste her revenues. Americans and New Yorkers are strong individuals that will withstand this crisis and be that much stronger as we always have since the birth of our great nation.
Today’s NY Post editorial writes this: NY lawmakers will pass a state budget, must stick to what’s necessary. “The first instinct of the progressives who run the Legislature — hike taxes in the name of balancing the books — is guaranteed to make the economic picture worse, kicking average New Yorkers when they’re down.”
Today is a good day to read Jim Geraghty article “A Pep Talk for America” published online yesterday in National Review. It reminds us that we will get through this scary coronavirus crisis as we have gotten through everything else America has faced.
This article was published almost two years ago and every person who is a Bernie supporter should read it, perhaps even Bernie himself — for he also, does not appreciate all the good that capitalism truly does here in America and throughout the world. Here is another one for the Bernie Bro’s.
According to this, the Criminal Justice Reform Law is wreaking havoc on code enforcement as well is criminal justice.
Statement by New York Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar on “Total Victory for Political Freedom in New York; Reason Has Won out Over Machiavellianism”
March 12, 2020
“Today’s court decision confirms what the State Conservative Party has maintained since day one: Governor Cuomo’s Public Finance Commission had no Constitutional right to make or amend state law. This was a total overreach by an overzealous governor, and we are grateful that the Court acted to protect the political and First Amendment rights of New Yorkers and the parties with which they choose to affiliate. This is a total victory for political freedom in New York, and a reminder to Governor Cuomo that he is an executive and not an emperor. Reason has won out over Machiavellianism, and New York is better for it.”
