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Silver, not helpful
Note this under calculatedly horrible timing: Shelly Silver has conveniently flip-flopped on reinstating the same commuter tax he helped kill in 1999. This comes in the wake of his slap-down of congestion pricing, a proposal not entirely dissimilar in its effects on the City's fiscal outlook.
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver supports bringing back the New York City commuter tax he helped eliminate in 1999.
But a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), says the GOP is opposed to any tax increases.
Silver spokesman Daniel Weiller says the speaker supports the concept of the tax, but hasn't presented a specific proposal. He had no comment Friday on why the Manhattan Democrat has changed his position.
It's fair to assume that if there's no majority in the Assembly for congestion pricing, that there is no majority for a commuter tax. Not that this matters, because there's also no legislation, and definitely no majority in the Senate. Meanwhile, Democrats are running highly competitive races in a number of outer-borough and suburban Senate districts - Maltese versus Addabbo, Gennaro versus Padavan, Foley versus Trunzo, McElroy versus Hannon, Johnson versus Donno - and now need to contend with the entirely gratuitous impression that Democrats want to raise the taxes of their prospective voters. They don't want that, of course, but subtleties tend to get lost on the campaign trail.
The commuter tax may or may not be good policy. But talking about it, without an actual legislative proposal, without the votes to pass it, with no public support, isn't helpful; unless, of course, the idea is to let Senate Democrats run against the not all that popular speaker, in which case it would be brilliant political ju-jitsu.
Not Fair To Assume
Candidates should run for or against whatever issue they need to. That's how you win your local race. Most consultants know that. Politics is local. Maybe this is an opportunity and not something to whine about.
You say "It's fair to assume that if there's no majority in the Assembly for congestion pricing, than there is no majority for a commuter tax."
Where's the logic in that? Most of the Assembly conference is NYC. NYC members didn't like congestion = no congestion.
Most of the Assembly conference is NYC. NYC members like reinstating the tax = maybe it happens.
Couldn't agree (much) more
While there are, I think, major differences between the commuter tax and the congestion pricing plan, Silver's comment still doesn't help the effort to take back the state Senate.
Couldn't agree (much) more -- with Bouldin
While there are, I think, major differences between the commuter tax and the congestion pricing plan, Silver's comment still doesn't help the effort to take back the state Senate.
Those Who Can Do, Those Who Can't Blame
Maybe I’ll get you guys a bullhorn: if the Senate doesn’t go Democratic it’s Shelly’s fault. Nice try, I suppose world hunger is his fault too. So let’s see, NY DSCC Consultant says 1. It’s Shelly’s fault (a few posts back) because he’s not doing enough, and 2. It’s Shelly’s fault (here) because he uttered commuter tax. So you’re spending even more time on spin about a loss and these continued attacks on Silver than actually, say, flipping the Senate.
All I see is a Senate consultant who backed Newell and got all involved in taking out Shelly. He even blogged from Denver at the Democratic National Convention that Silver ought to be removed. He considers it “f*&@#*g” with him and he threatens to flood my home for challenging him on this stuff a few posts back.
I know when I’m not welcome and will move on. Consider this my last post, because you guys clearly can’t handle when someone dares challenge you. But since you so quickly come to his defense Dan, tell me was he out working a Senate race 3 weekends ago in one of these hot suburban seats he claims Shelly’s making them lose or was he culminating months and months of work in the LES? It’s about priorities and maybe his are a little unfocused for a NY DSCC Consultant is all I’m saying. If you guys are expending effort like this 36 days out on your defense of why the Senate didn’t flip rather than actually flipping the Senate I’d say you’re not the kind of consultant I’d hire.
’m outta here. Congrats, you chased me off for good. Enjoy your fluffy conversations patting each other on the back.
Bye bye.
You say:
He considers it “f*&@#*g” with him and he threatens to flood my home for challenging him on this stuff a few posts back.
I said:
I can also reverse the tides, so don't fuck with me, or I'll flood your home.
Obviously a statement meant to be taken literally.
Hey
Didn't I see you in the Exodus?
Yeah, that was me.
Now ask me what I can do with locusts.