School Merger Shot Down

          Canton-Potsdam school districts have proposed and since vote on a merger between the two school districts. Which to the public overwhelming disapproval did not go through. The state asked for this merger because ever since the 2010-2011 cuts made the county aid has been reduced, and in turn districts have less money and have even had to make cuts. They enacted a Gap Elimination Adjustment which was supposed to adjust districts aid evenly and reduce cuts. But this has come to not help as much as desired. Governor Cuomo has said to blame the Financial turmoil on "lack of efficiency in public schools." 

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          Vic Rycroft, Canton school board President says the state offer the districts a $75 million reward for merging as well as $75,000 for merger study. to this Vic says the state is trying to pressure schools into merging when it was there negligence who got us here. With their vote, residents were asked to fill out surveys and about 1,500 coming in the public spoke. With more than a majority expressing desire of separate districts. Potsdam Super Intendant Patrick Brady said in an email, “Hopefully, the large showing of support for our schools last week will translate into a grass roots effort to lobby the governor and state legislature for a more equitable school aid formula,”. Similarly, “There is strength in numbers for this type of work and Albany is more inclined to listen to our parents and other community members than school officials.”

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         As for now we are left in the dust. We have no where to go from here says Brady. School will have to come out with budgets soon and it will be interesting to see what they cut this year.“There will have to be some kind of general change in the way education is handled in the county,” Says Roycroft.

Lynch for Attorney General?

President Obama recently unveiled his nominee for Attorney General; Loretta Lynch. If her nomination passes through the Senate, she would replace leaving AG Eric Holder, who has been a longtime cabinet member and advisor to the President. Holder announced his resignation two months ago, waiting until his position is filled to leave. Lynch has been US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, encompassing parts of the City and Long Island, since 2010 and held the position previously over a decade ago.

www.justice.gov

Loretta Lynch has spearheaded major investigations and indictments, but according to some, spearhead is a generous description of the decorated lawyer. She has been criticized for alleged "fronting", where she appears tough on criminal political behavior, but in reality leaves a large portion of the pool untouched. John Samson, the former New York state Senate Majority Leader, is an example. Facing trial next year, he has been indicted for embezzlement (among other charges) but the trail goes much deeper, something Lynch apparently hasn't taken much interest in.

To others, Lynch's controversial use of civil forfeiture -the government seizing personal assets without due process- will hinder her nomination procedures. Civil forfeiture is legal, but grey areas in the law raise doubts about it's growing use. Proponents such as Lynch have pointed to the unprecedented monetary gain the legal tool has garnered, in a time when belt-tightening and cost-saving is an absolute necessity in federal and state governments.

Despite these criticisms, Lynch has shown to be a stubborn and heavy-handed legal boss in her decades-spanning career -characteristics required for becoming the most powerful lawyer in the country. Her nomination has seen crucial Republican support, and as the majority of the chamber when her hearings will likely occur, this is a must for President Obama.

Obama's Immigration Reform Plan

President Obama will be giving a speech tonight, outlining his plan to change the nation’s immigration system. This has been a very controversial topic because Conservative Republicanshighly oppose president’s plan, and accused him of exceeding authority of his office by trying to pass his immigration policy unilaterally. Senator Ted Cruz even went on to say that way President Obama is going about trying to get this legislation passed is similar to “the tactics of a monarch”. Some Republican lawmakers have even threatened to impeach or sue the President over the legislation.

With that being said, the president still plans to push for the passage of his immigration plan despite the many threats by Republicans. His plan will result in the temporary legalization of about 5 million undocumented immigrants. A large portion of these immigrants would be the immigrants who have kids that were born in the United States, and the immigrants who have been in the U.S. for a long time already and have established themselves in their communities.

Obama’s plan also has parts in it that are a kin to what Republicans desire out of immigration reform. For example, the 5 million undocumented immigrants that will be receiving temporary citizenship from the reform will not be granted citizenship or legal permanent residency. Instead they will be shielded from deportation proceedings if they pass background checks. They would receive work permits and would be assigned social security numbers so they can work and pay taxes. In addition to that, the plan also intends to deny the shielded immigrants of government healthcare benefits and public benefits like food stamps. The restrictions on healthcare and public benefit programs were most likely incorporated to appease the conservative lawmakers who already oppose the plan.

Tappan Zee Bridge

In a recent appeal to Governor Cuomo using upwards of $500 million in taxpayers money on Tappan Zee Bridge Repairs and replacements. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Environmental Facilities Corp. filed a federal rejection for the use of  federal clean water loans to help pay for the $3.9 billion in bridge repairs and replacements. This would enrage the environmental community in a time when Cuomo is stepping all over them says a reporter from Syracuse news, referring to hydrofracking. In the Environmental Facilities 53-page appeal it stated how a sub office of the EPA has went beyond it reach of control and put down multiple projects that were sanctioned under Clean Water State Revolving Fund. They did this so the money could be available for state officials to use for there bridge. 

                                                (Tappan Zee Bridge Replacements (Google))

Richard Manna from the EPA Disputes Division apparently has 180 days to decide on the appeal. Instead of this money going to infrastructure it would go to environmental projects.  EFC spokesman John Sorensen says the Fund would go to "protect, restore and promote the Hudson River estuary." "Congress knew full well that human development would pose ongoing challenges to estuaries," written in the appeal. "(EPA) Region 2 cannot invent new hurdles Congress did not impose." This Loan looked controversial from the start says Khurram Saeed of Lohud.com. This is the first time our state is taking money from a clean waters fund to use it for highways and infrastructure. The fund has traditionally been used for local municipalities like drinking water. Despite not getting the loans yet the state has reported is does have enough money for the replacements until early 2015.

Second Term Pinky Promises

                New York’s governor Andrew Cuomo has a tough second term ahead of him. The governor made some promises that he needs to deliver on in order to have a successful second term and possibly secure a third term.  Accomplishing this task will be difficult due to the Republican control of the state legislator. Cuomo helped the republicans gain the majority. He did far too little to help Democrats running for State Senate seats across the state, depriving them of financial support as well as the energy he could have brought to their campaigns. These three core issues are raising the minimum wage, immigration rights, and hydro fracking. With a republican majority, accomplishing these tasks will be very difficult and interesting to see how he governor tackles these problems.

                The first order of business is to combat the corruption in the state. This is will be difficult for New Yorkers to believe Cuomo is the right man for that job. The governor shut down the Moreland commission earlier in the year which was an investigation on political corruption in New York state. I think this was an attempt to save the democratic hold on the legislator during the upcoming midterm  elections.

                                                      New York’s governor Andrew Cuomo has a tough second term ahead of him. The governor made some promises that he needs to deliver on in order to have a successful second term and possibly secure a third term.  Accomplishing this task will be difficult due to the Republican control of the state legislator. Cuomo helped the republicans gain the majority. He did far too little to help Democrats running for State Senate seats across the state, depriving them of financial support as well as the energy he could have brought to their campaigns. These three core issues are raising the minimum wage, immigration rights, and hydro fracking. With a republican majority, accomplishing these tasks will be very difficult and interesting to see how he governor tackles these problems.

                The first order of business is to combat the corruption in the state. This is will be difficult for New Yorkers to believe Cuomo is the right man for that job. The governor shut down the Moreland commission earlier in the year which was an investigation on political corruption in New York state. I think this was an attempt to save the democratic hold on the legislator during the upcoming midterm  elections.

                                      

                The issue on minimum wage seems nearly impossible for Cuomo to accomplish with a Republican legislator. He will not be able to get the minimum wage up to the $10.10 cents he is aiming for. It’s going to take some bargaining on the governor’s part to get things done.

                On the issue of immigration rights the governor has done the best he can. The issue on migration of children from Central America over the summer is just not going to get any better for the governor. The assistance for illegal immigrants in New York is at a point where the republicans aren’t going to give the governor any more leeway.

                

                The issue on minimum wage seems nearly impossible for Cuomo to accomplish with a Republican legislator. He will not be able to get the minimum wage up to the $10.10 cents he is aiming for. It’s going to take some bargaining on the governor’s part to get things done.

                On the issue of immigration rights the governor has done the best he can. The issue on migration of children from Central America over the summer is just not going to get any better for the governor. The assistance for illegal immigrants in New York is at a point where the republicans aren’t going to give the governor any more leeway.

                

The New Look New York State Senate

After taking control of the State Senate a couple weeks ago, the Senate Republicans still have not issued a public agenda. There are several questions people are talking about when it comes to the new Republican-controlled State Senate. Who are going to be the new Party Leaders? And will the GOP continue its cooperation with the Independent Democratic Conference? Senator James Seward said he would like to continue the partnership with the IDC. Jeffery Klein, the leader of the IDC said he would want to cooperate with the state Republicans again even though he said while campaigning we would work with Democrats if they won the Senate. In a private meeting on Monday Senator Dean Skelos unanimously became the leader of the Senate Republicans. The selection of Skelos was highly expected as he has led the Republican conference since 2008. “This a tremendous honor and privilege, and one I don’t take lightly.” Skelos stated.

Senator Dean Skelos has been very active since becoming the Senate GOP leader on Monday. Skelos has set up a meeting with the governor and the assembly to discuss a potential legislative pay raise. Legislators have not increased their annual salary since 1999, when it was increased to $79,500. 

The Senate GOP leader, Dean Skelos has rejected many of the proposed laws on Major Bill de Blasio’s agenda. Some of these proposed laws were the enacting a state DREAM Act, passing another minimum wage hike, and creating a public campaign finance system. Skelos has made it public that he is upset with Major Bill de Blasio for his unsuccessful attempts to help the Democrats regain control of the Senate in the recent election. Skelos stated that he would like to work with the Independent Democratic Conference and has set up meetings with the IDC leader, Jeffery Klein. Skelos has not explained how much power he will give to Klein and the IDC.

 

                                       (a Picture inside the New York Senate)

Keystone Pipeline

I am sure you have heard of the Keystone Pipeline because it has been a topic of debate since before the elections. Supposedly, 14 Democrats joined the GOP in voting in the Keystone pipeline. There has been a pipeline going from Canada to Gulf Coast Texas already, so what is really being voted on? What is being voted on is the Keystone XL pipeline, which is an extension of the pipeline that will cut through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. 

Financially it will be cheaper to send the oil through the pipeline than on a train, but environmentally, the process in which to make it crude oil is volatile. "Producing crude from oil sands emits an estimated 17 percent more greenhouse gases than traditional oil drilling in the U.S. In part, that's because it has to be heated to separate the crude from the sand." The pipeline will create some 4,000 temporary jobs but that will be cut all the way down to 35 permanent jobs in the end though. 

The idea that if the pipeline is defeated the oil will not be extracted is wrong. The oil is going to come out of that ground either way but President Obama summed it up nicely when he said "Understand what this project is: It is providing the ability of Canada to pump their oil, send it through our land, down to the Gulf, where it will be sold everywhere else. It doesn't have an impact on U.S. gas prices." Americans will not see this oil, it goes on a pipeline, straight through America. Maybe around the Gulf Coast would the see a little bit of the oil but for the most part the oil is getting shipped straight out of the Gulf Coast. 

The last controversy surrounding the pipeline is that it will past through Sioux territory. The Rosebud tribe has called it an "act of war" if the pipeline would be put through their territory. They are stating that the pipeline infringes on past treaties. They had this say on the matter, “We feel it is imperative that we provide safe and responsible alternative energy resources not only to tribal members but to non-tribal members as well." Which sums up the conclusion on the pipeline. Instead of environmentalist combating this battle, which they are going to lose. Environmentalist should be looking towards a carbon tax or another one of their major battles instead. The oil is going to get shipped either way, renewable energy is not winning this one. 

The New York Safe Act: The Epicenter of Blame

It looks like the New York SAFE Act is yet again the blame for Remington Arms laying off an additional 126 workers in Illion, New York this week. This is addition to the 105 workers who were fired last August. Remington was ready to invest a lot of money into the company in upstate New York until Cuomo and New York State Democrats decided to really push the new anti gun control law. People that are opposed to the NY SAFE Act believe that Cuomo forced this law into fruition as an attempt to seek the White House in 2016. Remington has been apart of New York State since 1816 but since August, Remington has moved most of its operations to Alabama. One of the main reasons for the move to Alabama was the fact that the NY Safe Act disallows the use and manufacturing of AR-15 rifles in New York state. AR-15 rifles are were the guns that were produced at the plant in Illion, New York. Assemblywomen Claudia Tenney who represents the district where the Remington plant is located said that Remington has not even given the decency of a phone call when the gun legislation was being discussed. New Yorker Against Gun Violence Executive Director Leah Gunn Barrett says that people quickly blame the SAFE Act but in fact this act is keeping guns out of the wrong hands and is also keeping New York communities safe.

What is funny about the Remington situation is the fact that the CEO of the Remington, George Kollitides noted that Remington experienced a period of substantial economic growth before their move to Alabama. Some people believe that the layoffs and the move to Alabama was just another example of corporate greed and have nothing to do with the anti-gun control laws in New York. Alabama has a more friendly “business atmosphere” than New York. Also Alabama offered a lot to open up operations there. It is believed that a total of $65.9 million in state and local incentives was promised to Remington for a 500,000-square-foot firearms factory in the northern Alabama city of Huntsville.

Twitter and Politics

Allegations of the Republican party using twitter to win elections sounds a little crazy, but a deeper look into these allegations will have some of you thinking. "The law says that outside groups, such as super PACs and non-profits, can spend freely on political causes as long as they don't coordinate their plans with campaigns. Sharing costly internal polls in private, for instance, could signal to the campaign committees where to focus precious time and resources. Republicans and outside groups used anonymous Twitter accounts to share internal polling data ahead of the midterm elections, CNN has learned, a practice that raises questions about whether they violated campaign finance laws that prohibit coordination. The groups behind the operation had a sense of humor about what they were doing. One Twitter account was named after Bruno Gianelli, a fictional character in The West Wing who pressed his colleagues to use ethically questionable "soft money" to fund campaigns. A typical tweet read: "CA-40/43-44/49-44/44-50/36-44/49-10/16/14-52-->49/476-10s." 

            The source said posts like that -- which would look like gibberish to most people -- represented polling data for various House races. The accounts that CNN reviewed were active in the months ahead of this month's election, which gave Republicans their largest majority in the House since World War II and control of the Senate. They were live until Nov. 3 but deleted minutes after CNN contacted the NRCC with questions." Then again this could just be the Democratic Party being sore losers.