Cynthia Nixon's primary run is already paying dividends.
18
Funny how Cuomo always manages to find solutions just before the final buzzer sounds. Remember how he spent all those tax payer dollars to avert an LIRR strike a couple of years ago? Forget about the kids going into debt getting college degrees so that, if they are lucky enough to find a job, they'll earn less than the average LIRR railroad worker. In the NY Senate, how long would 'divide and conquer' have reigned if Cynthia Nixon hadn't joined the race. So, here's the question: what crisis needs to happen before Cuomo looks at the corruption (including his staff) and does something about it?
12
I am concerned that the "Progressive" wing of the Democratic Party leans toward being non-union. I hope that the Building Trades can survive this marriage.
5
I don't trust Gov. Cuomo or Jeff Klein, let alone Felder, who held up the budget so his constituents can keep their children in darkness: avoiding Math and Science education. He's a horror show.
23
The IDC members should still be thrown to the curb by their districts.
24
Do NOT trust them! As Winston Churchill once said, "It's easy to rat on your party, but it's hard to re-rat." And these Democrats are truly rats running in fear of being voted out. Don't welcome them back, and mobilize to defeat them this November.
19
How many New Yorkers would like to see them ALL "reconciled" together in prison for manifest corruption and failure to serve the public interest?
Along with Silver, Skelos, etc. ... -- and of course the arch-manipulator Cuomo!
9
IMPORTANT CORRECTION in the oft-recommended posting from "WOID." The date of the District 34 primary between challenger Alessandra Biaggi and IDC founder Jeff Klein is Thursday, Sept. 13. Yes, you read that right. A Thursday.
6
Governor Andrew Cuomo allowed this arrangement to persist when he thought that having a Republican-controlled Senate would permit him to run for the presidency claiming to have worked closely with Republicans of New York in a bipartisan manner. Now, that his support for this arrangement has become a political liability, as Democratic groups are seeking to oust these breakaway Democrats and use this against Mr. Cuomo as he runs for reelection, he has brokered a deal to end the situation that he allowed to persist. Anyone who sees leadership in Mr. Cuomo’s actions mistakes self-service for doing what in the public interest.
10
What makes Democrats think they can hold the IDC seats in Senate districts that voted Trump or otherwise lean to the right? Or that they won't lose seats when they're free to pursue their "progressive" agenda, which deeply offends the sensibilities of average New Yorkers in some cases?
3
Cuomo frames the Democrat-Republican split as an antithesis. He is right. But for years he promoted that split to his own advantage. In one sense, the state's agenda was determined by Republicans rather than Democrats and to the governor's and IDC's personal advantage. Ms. Nixon provides clarity on what was done.
Those of us who revile the Trump and Republican agenda see very clearly now where the Republicans are taking the nation and have slowly come to the conclusion that those who help Republicans need to be removed, not converted! Felder should be thrown out of the Democrat party. Let the Republicans have him if they will take him. And the IDC better well demonstrate that this is no game on their part. The same applies to the governor.
16
I don't trust the IDC as far as I can throw them. They see the handwriting on the wall with real challengers in their upcoming races. They are afraid of losing their seats in November to real Democrats. They should be tossed into the gutter where they belong.
41
Felder definitely has to go, but they all are traitors and should be voted out.
38
I have no truck with the politics practiced by the IDC. I respect all the comments posted here, but the simple answer is for real Democrats to run against the IDC.
I’d love to read that comment posters were volunteering for a campaign and, if possible donating money. It is well to recall that in 24 hours the gofundme page for former FBI Director McCabe raised approximately $530,000.00. His original goal was to raise $150,000.00 to pay his various attorneys to fend off the spurious and mean spirited attacks upon his service and to enforce his cpension rights. Many donations were in the $5 to $10 range. The point? Even small donations help a lot. Skip the Starbucks Lattees in this election cycle. Donate the money saved to the campaigns of true Democrats wherever possible.
Use the time saved to volunteer for Democratic candates. I’m a volunteer for local village, state and federal campaigns of true Democrats. I donate what I can to campaigns around the country and of course to campaigns within my state. That’s what wins elections: boots on the ground and a big war chest. Let’s give our Democratic candidates the tools they need to win in November.
44
The one thing that unites every member of the city and state government is complete obeisance to the real estate and financial interests, which is why this city has been transformed into a sterile forest of terrariums. Cuomo and de Blasio might detest one another but when Vornado or the Related Companies whistle, they both come running, panting like little poodles.
11
Let's not forget -- as the NY Times reporters so often do -- why Andrew Cuomo has spent the last 4 years punishing New York City. Because Mayor de Blasio had the "chutzpah" to work to elect Democrats statewide so that New York State would have a Democratic majority. Cuomo and the right wing billionaires who donate to his campaign and own him wanted the breakaway Democrats to caucus with the Republicans to prevent any progressive legislation.
Let's not forget -- as the NY Times reporters so often do -- that Andrew Cuomo has actively worked to keep those 8 right wing fake Democrats in the NY State Senate aligned with the Republicans.
Let's not forget that this is a election year and Cynthia Nixon has successfully pointed out the hypocrisy between what Cuomo promises during an election year and the fact that he is bought and owned by the right wing billionaires who donate to his campaign.
Anyone who believes any promises that Andrew Cuomo makes during an election year is a fool. And like the Trump voters, they will continue to be fooled by this man who has absolutely no moral core.
43
Cuomo will go back to splitting his party as soon as he is inaugurated. NY big money must be served.
19
Get rid of them. I'm throwing time and resources at getting Jesse Hamilton out of office and helping elect a real Democrat in his place.
30
By caucusing with his party Klein would be just one of a nameless several dozen, by going his own way in a nearly evenly split chamber, he's a chief...the mark of a self absorbed, narcisistic individual. But for some reason Cuomo is to blame for not somehow getting adults to play together? Please.. the problems that infect the New York legislature have been present for decades, one of the main reasons a bland Republican like Pataki was able to outflank them for years. Cuomo plays the game the way it was meant to be played, so he's a sell out to progressives? Please..Cynthia Nixon, who's claim to fame is playing a straight women in a TV show thinks she is going to unseat Andrew? Dream on...the best she'll do is play Bernie Junior and poison the well enough to give the GOP a window to stealing back the state house...
3
I used to like Cuomo, but he now represents the same old 'business as usual'-way too many back room deals and hidden agendas.
I think it is time to clean house and get some new blood.
The old regime just drags us down.
18
Mr. Felder is an obstructionist who has no business remaining in the Democratic Party and shafting all progress in New York for the sake of his regressive ultra-conservative constituents who choose to live apart from the rest of the community.
28
The only reason Cuomo did this is because he’s running for re-election against a Democrat that can beats him. Vote for Cynthia Nixon for Governor don’t be a FOOL!
31
I doubt it and I don't like Cuomo either.
5
If you to know why every NY state Senate bill that you care about is held up or not on the table - it’s because of the IDC. By using State republicans to give kick backs to Klein and the 7 other crooks, Cuomo has created the ultimate path to handicapping a Democrat majority in Albany. He remains more powerful with a dismantled democratic leadership. His father was special but this guy is an arrogant DINO with a real mess on his hands. You may hate de blas and Nixon but their strategy is on target. Let’s take NY back
32
Senator Felder must be thrown out by his constituents. His voting with Republicans is a thorn in the Democratic process. If he wants to vote with the Republicans, let hem. He needs to run as a Republican.
40
Read the other story:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/nyregion/yeshivas-budget-new-york.html
He's giving them just what they want.
4
Felder enables his constituency to wallow in ignorance and remain in the 17th century, at great disservice to their children who sadly, have no choice in the matter. It's about as cynical an arrangement as can be imagined, which is why he continues to be re-elected again and again.
16
Amazing and impressive Cynthia Nixon's campaign in a few days has accomplished what Gov Cuomo was unable and unwilling to for nearly 8 years! Still, I doubt he is about to propose or support actual ethical reform he has ignored or enabled. Dems need to get over their fascination with him and abandon their expectation that he will support reform or actual progressive legislation to protect environmental quality or address inequities in housing or education or any other issue over the past 8 years, much less accomplish anything close to what CA Gov Brown has in the same time period. The allegedly liberal positions he has taken amounted to little risk as they had long since been broadly accepted by enough voters to lose their controversial status. With his 2020 presidential campaign ending in court rooms in Albany, there is no reason to keep this dishonest corrupt failure in office ny longer.
31
unable? hah unwilling, you bet ya!
1
Just vote them out in November. I will be voting for Robert Jackson, who is running against IDC member and fake Democrat Marisol Alcantara.
29
Will anyone run against Senator Simcha Felder in the Democratic Primary???
20
A lawyer named Blake Morris is challenging Felder: https://twitter.com/BlakeMorris4NYS
2
Sorry Gov. Cuomo, it's too late. How can I, as Democrat, ever trust my State Senator Marisol. I was so angry when I found out that she voted with Republicans, and helped them control power in Albany. Those that are willing to vote in their own best interest and not in the interest of those that put them in office, do not deserve to remain in office. I'm voting for Jackson.
27
The IDC exists primarily because the Democratic caucus is so undemocratic. The only way the IDC members can have any say in legislation and policy is to caucus with the Republicans. If the Democratic Party opened up its processes so that all Democrats had a say in policy and legislation, there would be little need for the IDC.
7
Interesting. Please provide one example of what you call undemocratic processes used by the mainline Democrats.
And please give one example of how the IDC has had any influence on the Republican conference over the last 6 years.
12
"The only way the IDC members can have any say in legislation and policy is to caucus with the Republicans."
Compromise with the GOP only compromises the compromiser.
The rest of that comment is unproven, and just bizarre to anyone paying actual attention.
14
You needed to change your party affiliation to "D" in October 2017 to even vote in this year's Democratic primary, for one.
New York has some of the strictest voter registration laws in the country. And don't try to tell me the parties are "private" organizations—In a two-party country, these laws effectively mean disenfranchisement.
7
NY needs a two-party system to keep politicians honest. One party is not enough to have politics and democracy.
If the Democrats automatically win every election, then they're going to split into factions. They don't call themselves two parties, but that's what they are.
5
State Senate New York 11 (Queens):
John Duane is challenging IDC member Tony Avella.
State Senate New York 13 (Queens):
Jessica Ramos is challenging IDC member Jose Peralta.
State Senate New York 20 (Brooklyn):
Zellnor Myrie is challenging IDC member Jesse Hamilton.
State Senate New York 23 (Staten Island, Brooklyn):
Jasmin Robinson is challenging IDC member Diane J. Savino.
State Senate New York 31 (Manhattan Upper West):
Robert Jackson is challenging IDC member Marisol Alcantara.
State Senate New York 34 (Pelham):
Alessandra Biaggi is challenging IDC member Jeffrey Klein.
State Senate New York 53 (Onondoga):
Rachel May is challenging IDC member David Valesky.
And best of all:
US House New York 14 (Brooklyn and Bronx)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is challenging Joe Crowley.
Primaries on June 26. Have a nice day.
71
I am definitely voting for Ramos over Peralta. But I will always vote for Crowley.
1
Is no one challenging David Carlucci?
Thanks for this list!
4
Only way to effectively vote in NY is with your feet.
Welcome to the South!
5
The IDC are traitors in my opinion. I would vote them all out if I could.
29
yes you are right. They should run as independent or Republican. I can not believe they did this for so long.
5
Primary every IDC member and Cuomo, snakes in the grass every single one of them. Let’s get some real democrats in Albany who will actually fight for progressive change. Cuomo is a tool and represents everything that is wrong with the Democratic Party in New York State.
31
Yes. We need higher taxes. We need to throw out more money down the cesspool of corruption.
5
Tired of holding my nose to vote for the least repulsive candidate.
No amount of old spice covers the stench.
8
Rewarding with legislative perks these traitors who acted as Republicans but labeled themselves as Democrats is crazy. Why buy them off when they have no chance of being re-nominated provided the state Democratic party does its duty and outs them to the people who vote in the primaries? Andrew has inherited his father's cowardly cynicism.
14
I'm ostensibly a constituent of Klein's and will vote against him on primary day. He neither solves the governmentally-related problems of his constituents such as horrible bus service throughout his district nor supports important progressive legislation that would help all of New York State. I keep getting mailings from his office with photos of his smug, smiling, self-loving face. I don't want to have to keep seeing that power-drunk smirk after the year's end. Ugh! Ptui!
32
Not to mention he’s now in a sex assault scandal. Real quality, real quality
8
Events in New York State are also of interest to people who do not actually live there.
Such as myself, to pick one non-random example.
That being the case, it's not helpful that this article doesn't contain a single word about the POLICY differences which have divided these two groups of people.
12
Key policy difference: The state Assembly, which is close to 2-1 Democratic, has regularly passed bills to strengthen the rent-stabilization laws covering New York City and its inner suburbs. The state Senate has blocked every single one, and the city is not allowed to enact rent regulations stronger than the state's. By giving the Republicans control over what bills come to the floor in the Senate, the IDC and Simcha Felder have effectively prevented New York and its suburbs from closing the massive loopholes the state put in rent regulations in 1997. The real-estate lobby is a major contributor to Klein, the IDC, and Cuomo.
22
It’s just a difference of opinions about race. They (the IDC and Cuomo) wanted to maintain the four (white) men in a room negotiating norm.
5
There should be no room in the Democratic Party for unprincipled opportunists who sell out to the highest bidder.
Any Democrat siding with the Republicans needs to pay a price at the polls.
40
Unprincipled opportunists who sell out to the highest bidder? Sounds like Cuomo, de Blasio and virtually every politician.
1
Klein and his renegate group are Republicans using Democratic money to usurp power.They must be voted out ,not reached out. Why is Cuomo so eager to work with them? Does he feel more confortable to deal with a Republican majority in the Senate in order to nix a progressive agenda? I am going to vote gleefully for CYNTHIA NIXON in November!
49
Don't wait until November. She is challenging the Governor in the Democratic primary which is in September!
10
Because Cuomo is a republican swamp creature too.
8
As part of the deal all eight should be compelled in writing not to vote with the Republicans on ANYTHING. At the first hint of a transgression, they should all be aggressively primaried. I'm still not sure it's a good deal. I'd prefer to see the actual Dems grow a spine, roll the dice and primary them all.
17
What a waste of time. I guess you're one of those who don't want anything passed if it doesn't fit your narrow view.
1
No, some of us would like a blue NY state and are willing to work for a supermajority in the Senate. Getting Cuomo out would be a great first step. His first state of the Union was compelling but he’s been on a solid downward tear ever since. We have a few influential republicans in NY but most are poor moneysucking degenerates who don’t deserve political representation.
7
Cuomo et al were disgraceful in not inviting Stewart-Cousins to be "in the room where it happened" for the budget talks or even for discussion related to women's rights. She represents a much larger group of senators than Klein so why was he in the room and she wasn't? Because Cuomo likes the statement which gives him more power.
I don't trust this, obviously highly choreographed, farce.
34
As a life-long New Yorker, watching from the deep red South, I will believe it only when progressive policies for socializing healthcare, deeper criminal justice reform, transportation, and education funding equity are enacted by a Democrat-led Senate. I will expect Democratic politicians to worry about overreach (as they do in California), but still move forward, if and when there is a genuine power shift.
In the meantime, throw the IDC bums out with yesterday's trash.
36
Jeff Klein is only doing this because he sees his leverage evaporating in the midterms. He needs to be turfed out.
38
"Liberal activists have mounted challenges to multiple members of Mr. Klein’s conference this year and it is not immediately clear what will happen in those contests."
It is clear. IDC senators Alcantara, Klein, Hamilton, et al will be primaried and voted out. That's why we have primaries. New Yorkers will not accept Trump Democrats as their representatives. Particularly when these same Trump Democrats purported to rejoin the Democrats in 2014 only to jump ship back into the GOP at the first opportunity.
39
There has to be major consequences for both the IDC and Cuomo. There's been years of this monkey business and they think that they can just call it resolved and escape being primaried?
41
Odd? Or criminal? What these Dems are doing is surely the latter, and by doing it, they leave our state in the backwater of every progressive possibility.
6
Why criminal, Carol?
Not good enough. The IDC "Democrats" must be primaried out and replaced by real progressive Democrats. The IDC traitors will all lose and good riddance to them! Cuomo should never have made a deal with them in the first place.
31
Cuomo loves them because they’re all DINOS like him.
9
go ahead and try to make a deal, IDC. I'm still going to vote you out. Marisol Alcantara is a two-faced LIAR, trying to pretend like she got a conscience and a spine and all the while she and her staff try to spin, manipulate, gaslight, and lie to her constituents. we're coming for you, marisol. expect us at the polls.
46
If you caucus with Republicans, you are a Republican.
63
So Bernie Sanders is a Democrat and not an Independent?
4
For all practical purposes, this is obviously true, even if the "independent" fig leaf that he uses makes some of his supporters feel better.
4
In effect yes
3
This move is mere window dressing. It does not make the view of no transit support, no single payer healthcare, no progressive taxation and free higher level education without burdensome hurdles any more palatable.
Go Ms Nixon, go! Let our governor spend quality time with a true window dressing expert for his future career out of politics.
11
The IDC sees the writing on the wall: if Republicans in long-standing GOP districts (see Alabama, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin et al) can be voted out by Democrats in special elections, then rogue Democrats can certainly be voted out as well. There is nothing mysterious in this. It is simply "political survival." But as most people here have said, these turncoats should be primary-ed out anyway; this type of "reconciliation" is far too little far too late.
26
The coalition was formed the first week of Cuomo's first term, and only now 6 years later, it's ending, I'm sure at Cuomo's insistence. This is just a ploy by Cuomo, so Nixon can't bring it up in her primary challenge. Who knows what they're getting in return. I think all of these so called Democrats should be challenged in primaries and voted out, along with Cuomo. The idea that Felder only agreed not to hold up the budget, until he got what he wanted, sub standard educational standards at tax payer funded yeshivas. Who needs Democrats like this?
57
Felder is a disgrace
8
All of this leaves Felder as--at least temporarily--the most powerful person in the state. I wonder what his price will be to caucus with his putative party? Make the people in his district tax exempt? Let them run their own, separate educational system regardless of Board of Regents standards? Or will a large cash bribe suffice? This is going to be interesting.
25
I'll believe it when I see it.
...unless the IDC Dems are worried about being primaried by people who hate what they've done to the Senate majority.
The revived level of activism and challenging elected leaders nationwide (with some amazing results at the state level) has probably caused some IDC members to re-evaluate their positions.
19
Neither Klein nor Cuomo can be trusted to follow through with integrity. Primary challenges to both are essential if they are, at least, to be forced to implement progressive reform in Albany. Better, I think, for Klein to be denied a Democratic line in November. It isn't likely to happen to Cuomo, though his record, as a subtler version of Christie, warrants it.
37
True. Cuomo has been governor for 8 years now I believe and he finally has dealt with this issue now that he has a serious challenge for the first time in a primary. Not to mention that suddenly after 8 years he has suddenly discovered that New York City has a subway and public housing, which he has ignored up till now. He is the quintessential politician, concerned about nothing but his own career. He would sacrifice everything and everyone for the opportunity to run for president, He is definitely cut from a different cloth than his father.
7
Larry, do you think Cynthia Nixon is a more serious challenge than Zephyr Teachout was? Nixon is better know, for sure, but as a celebrity/actor.
These renegade IDC state senators need to be unseated, regardless of any 11th-hour reconciliation they may have. These eight have clearly demonstrated that they are scheming, disloyal, untrustworthy, and dishonest. After four-plus years, it is no coincidence that their sudden desire to reconcile comes just as serious primary challenges against them, fueled primarily by their collaboration with the G.O.P., are kicking into gear. If they align with mainstream Democrats now, a few months before election season, then we can count on them to re-unalign soon after they get reelected.
All eight IDC state senators need to be voted out of office and replaced in the primaries by true Democrats.
105
So many self identified liberals and progressives actually believe the regular democrats are a bastion of progressive good government? Lots of luck. And Simcha Felder is still out there. Where is all the effort to campaign for the 33rd, 34th, 35th democratic seats?
4
Elections are about who is better, not who is perfect. From a liberal's point of view, Democratic control in Albany is light years better than Republican control. With Democratic control, progressive programs like single-payer health care are possible - not certain, maybe not even likely, but possible. With Republican control, single-payer is nothing but a pipe dream.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
6
But you still don't have a Democratic majority. All this effort against the IDC still leaves Simcha Felder as the key vote. So be prepared to pay his price, whatever it may be. And I see more effort to go after the IDC, which brings it to 31 dems, than I see effort to secure a real majority by going after registered republican senators.
Mazel Tov!!!
Vote them out. And vote Cuomo out also.
27
This is great news to hear. I remain optimistic that they can achieve this. I've seen a lot of hate against IDC, especially sexist, misogynistic and racist hate directed at Senator Marisol Alcantara from these far left anti-IDC folks. Hopefully the democrats can work now to stomp out corruption and propel a progressive agenda that respects the rights of all New Yorkers and still ensures economic progress.
1
Why is it "sexist, misogynistic, and racist" to oppose a turncoat politician who ran as and was elected as a Democrat, only to betray her party and her constituents by joining the IDC after being elected? Why is it "sexist, misogynistic, and racist" to oppose someone who quietly accepted campaign funding from the IDC without making it clear to the liberal voters in her district that she would not caucus with the party she ran under?
Opposition to Alcantara has nothing to do with her gender, race, or ethnicity. It has to do with the deceit and disrespect she has clearly demonstrated to her constituents.
21
Why would you accuse supporters of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Dem leader, racist & sexist? She's an African-American woman.
5
No you haven't seen sexist, misogynistic and racist hate directed at Alcantara. That's the false assertion that her sprawling Mercer-funded staff has desperately been making for some time. Alcantara ran as a Democrat then promptly sold out--in the literal sense, for money--to the GOP in return for giving them, a minority party in fealty to Trump, control of the NY Senate. Not surprisingly, her constituents in Washington Heights, the Upper West Side and Hell's Kitchen, possibly the most liberal in the country, have been extremely unhappy with her ever since. Robert Jackson, an African-American with long and deep ties to the district and great integrity, has emerged as her primary opponent. He will defeat Senator Alcantara in September and serve his constituents faithfully.
14
That Klein will be rewarded for helping Republicans block progressive legislation for years and now, facing a difficult primary challenge, suddenly finds he is a Democrat again irks me no end.
64
If the IDC dissolves, then Republicans might actually try to field candidates and win back some of these districts.
It would be good for Republicans to get their dignity back before the next round of redistricting.
1
(a) we should definitely still primary the i.d.c. members, they can't be allowed to escape consequences for their years of frustrating the democratic agenda. we should especially target those who ran as mainline democrats and then joined the i.d.c. after their election, which ought to constitute defrauding their constituents.
(b) perhaps even more important, though, simcha felder needs to be the target of an all-out effort at replacement. above and beyond his complete unreliability and utter disdain for the planks of the democratic platform, this is a guy who worked to try and *raise* the speed limit on coney island avenue with total disregard for the safety of his constituents. he just held up the entire state budget to secure the right for religious extremists to continue not just indoctrinating their children but also failing to provide them with anything approaching a real education (see https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/nyregion/yeshivas-budget-new-york.htm... ). in a state full of sketchy politicians, he may very well be the worst.
(c) the fact that it took cuomo since the first week of his administration to put his hand on the scale and facilitate a reconciliation is yet another black mark against him, beyond the exceedingly unpalatable ways he twisted the budget to further his feud with the mayor.
ugh.
73
This would be nice if only because it would undermine the propaganda machine that is hard at work attacking Shelly Mayer in her run for the State Senate seat vacated by George Latimer. No idea who she is, or who she is running against, but can't approve of the obviously ludicrous attack ads claiming she is somehow responsible for the likes of Shelly Silver and various other criminal politicians. Big money obviously spent by someone to saturate the airwaves and attack her since seat was seen as crucial for Democratic state senate control; this will moot that. Womp wah (sound made by tuba).
9
Mayer voted to make Silver the Assembly Speaker. She is guilty as charged.
5
The Koch brothers are behind it
They have a nasty far right political group operating in ny state
NPR reported on them about 6 weeks ago
Of course anything they say comes with a healthy healthy dose of 100% skepticism
15
Paranoid much?
Oh, please.
Remember our murky, back-room "three men in a room" governance with Cuomo, Skelos and Silver all those years? Cuomo's blocking desperately needed ethics reforms? Cuomo has been hand in glove with that faction all along! I can't wait to see him and them voted out so that actual Democrats can get to work for New Yorkers.
80
Lock step.
Also, how can Democrats refuse to acknowledge that immigration of cheap labor has a deleterious impact on union labor.
5
@Billarm
And how can you refuse to acknowledge that it's not the "immigration of cheap labor", as much as the migration of manufacturing jobs to cheaper labor markets abroad that is hastening the demise of labor unions?
15
Immigration has no effect on the strength of unions. If a workplace is unionized, new employees at that workplace become union members, whether they are native born or immigrants. Responsibility for the decline of American unions lies largely with right-to-work laws, which allowed employers to move to low-wage states that make unionization much more difficult. Koch-funded conservatives have made union-busting one of their primary objectives, and with solid GOP backing they have been largely successful. The result has been broad stagnation of working class incomes, job security and working conditions.
Federal pre-emption of right-to-work laws wouldn't solve all of the problems of the American working class, but it would be a really big start - much better than, say, banning immigration.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
12
All 8 of these "democrats" need to be seriously challenged in a primary election. The Governor, who has gone along with this nonsense for 8 years, now feels a little heat and wants a "reunification". He should have demanded it during his past two terms! Senator Simcha Felder should be denied the Democratic line in the primary. If he wants to run, he should run as a Republican. This independent caucus has has let the Governor govern as a bully for 8 years. It is time for it to end, to have real Democrats elected, and make Governor Cuomo responsible again. Now, since the Governor is feeling some pressure, maybe New York can finally get some real ethics legislation passed sine the Democrats will finally control both houses.
133
Felder's seat is safe, because he represents Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn, who live together & vote as a bloc.
2
The IDC should still be primaried. They are craven self serving tools of Andrew Cuomo who could have ended this years ago but is now polishing up his blue state bona fides for a sure to fail presidential run.
118
At present, there are at least 5 primary challengers to the eight IDC members:
http://www.noidcny.org/learn/issues
3
And this is where New York voters should take note of those Senators who are Democrats In Name Only come Election Day.
RESIST. VOTE.
99
Regardless of what deals anyone makes, the voters are primed to get rid of IDC "fake Dems." There is a great slate of opposition candidates that the grassroots supports.
The party bigwigs don't get to choose for the people.
31
@Yerman
You mean like "party bigwigs" got to choose this president???
I can only hope you're right on a national scale.
I disagree that any part of this agreement is to shut down state Democratic party support of primary challengers to Senate incumbents. The turncoat IDC members deserve to be challenged (as do any other incumbents), and support should be given to the best candidate, who could very well be the opponent. This is very undemocratic.
43
Get ready for more spending, more taxing, and even more corruption in Albany. Nothing good happens when Democrats are in control, as proven out by the Cuomo and de Blasio administrations.
7
Get ready for sensible gun laws to keep us safer, protection for reproductive rights, responsible environmental leadership and needed prison reform.
37