In a perfect world, one would think that a Democratic leader in the Assembly would want to see a Democratic State Senate. The bills they have passed to help New Yorkers failed in Bruno's Senate, so having the upper hand in both houses would be considered a good thing. Unfortunately, that isn't how Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver sees things. He'd much rather keep things the same so he can have his fiefdom while leaving his constituents (and the rest of the state) out in the cold. Now it isn't his statements that say all that, it is his checkbook.
From The Albany Project:
Looking at the public info of expenditures of Shelly's two committees, Friends of SIlver and
SPEAKERPAC, I have crunched the numbers. Here are my findings, minus the numbers for a handful of committees that are defunct and I could not figure out what office they are for. [...]
So despite spending all these thousands of dollars on the whole gamut of Democratic politicians, committees, and clubs all around the state, Sheldon Silver has not given a single dime to a Democratic Senate Candidate other than Marty Connor in a primary fight. Democratic Senate challengers in recent years, like Albert Baldeo and Nora Marino in 2006 (when Silver ally, Denny Farrell was heading the state party) were left hanging without sufficient funds to defeat otherwise vulnerable Republican Senators. Even ones that did manage to win, like Andrea Stewart-Cousins, had to do so without Shelly's help.[...]With Shelly, it's all about him and his power. On the night of Darrel Aubertine's vitcory, I wrote about an anonymous Assembly Democrat who had this to say to Azi about Aubertine's victory:
"Losers are democratic assembly members in districts with democratic senators who by this fall will no longer be the only Dems that can pass legislation. Don't cite me as the source for that one."Like that unnamed Assemblymember, Shelly probably wants to be the Democrats' top dog in the legislature. A Majority Leader Smith would eclipse a lot of his power. Additionally, with a Democratic Senate, Shelly can no longer hide behind Senate Republicans for excuses on why he doesn't pass rules reform, campaign finance reform, redistricting reform, or all other types of reform.
And that is exactly what Silver does, he hides. Other favorite activities include dodging, weaving, obfuscating, lying, cheating constituents and covering for his buddies (that commit rape) in the Assembly.
Politicians are supposed to be good at talking and trying to convince an audience. That is why we have to keep them in check when the words do not match up with the actions. Sheldon Silver's actions have nothing in common with his empty promises of wanting a Democratic State Senate....and that is why he needs to go.
|