What Republican Wants to Give School Budget Control to Albany?

Joe Saladino does.

In his News12 debate with Democrat Craig Heller, Saladino says he wants to give control of YOUR school budget to Albany.
The same Albany lawmakers that can barely get a budget in on time and has run up a huge debt.
This means in YOUR school district, funding will be determined by lawmakers from outside the disrict that know nothing about the schools needs.

I know I don't want people from Monroe or Erie County deciding what is best for my kids school and I'm pretty sure they don't want Joe Saladino deciding how their schools should be run.

We can do better than Saladino.
We NEED to do better than Saladino.

We need Craig Heller who wants REAL school funding reform and wants to lower your taxes, not hand over control of your schools to Albany.

Problem Posting

We have a weeks worth of stuff because of technical issues.

Stayed tuned for some interesting stuff...

The Newsday Non-Endorsement Endorsement of Assemblyman Joe Saladino

A funny thing happens when you read the endorsements from Newsday or any paper for that matter. They usually say "Newsday endorses..."
And example from this weeks endorsements:
"Newsday endorses Lavine."
"Newsday endorses him (Barra) again."
"Newsday endorses Walker."
"Newsday endorses Sedacca."
"Newsday endorses Jackson."

What did they say about Saladino?
"Saladino has demonstrated, even in his short tenure, that he deserves to return."

What, no "We endorse?"

A Two-Fer - This Blog Mentioned in the Media

Our reporting on State Senator John Flanagan's ad taking a cheap shot at Democratic opponent Brooke Ellison got a mention in the New York Times "The problems presented by a campaign involving a disabled candidate were underscored when some Ellison supporters took offense at a 30-second Flanagan commercial they called insensitive and gratuitous. In the ad, an unnamed “Democrat for Flanagan” describes herself as a teacher, mother and golfer, then adds: “Huge — I have a huge handicap.”
On a blog, www.nassaugopwatch.blogspot.com, Democrats complained that the ad was “vile and reprehensible” and “in bad taste.”
Mr. Flanagan defended the ad, saying it was simply one of several unscripted testimonials from supporters in the district. Neither the candidate nor his campaign manager could explain why a comment about a golf handicap would be chosen for inclusion in a campaign commercial. They also declined to identify the woman in the ad.
Last week Mr. Flanagan introduced a new ad that praises Ms. Ellison as courageous and inspirational, even while questioning her credentials by describing her as “young” and “inexperienced.” (Mr. Flanagan, 45, was first elected to the Legislature at 25 — younger than Ms. Ellison.)"

And our other site Peter King Watch made an appearance in Newsday "In the online universe, the Peter King-Dave Mejias race is red-hot, and it's mostly a one-sided affair.
From satirical parodies on YouTube and MySpace to liberal blogs like kingwatch.blogspot.com, Mejias and his supporters are delivering King a drubbing. One of the more whimsical screeds is a music video that features King's head dancing to an up-tempo jazz beat called, "Have You Had Enough of Peter King?"

Wanna see the video? Go to: http://kingwatch.blogspot.com/2006/09/have-you-had-enough-of-peter-king.html

Hannon Ringing Death Knell for New York Republicans?

E.J. Dionne, Jr. writing in the Washington Post "The Empire State strikes back, Hillary, Spitzer lead attack on New York Republican machine in shambles, " quotes Sen. Kemp Hannon about the state of NY republicans. "State Sen. Kemp Hannon, a Long Island Republican who has spent nearly three decades in the Legislature, also worries that the coalition of "Reagan Democrats" that D'Amato helped build -- "they were Irish, Italian and Polish Democrats and some Jews" -- is a thing of the past. "I believe that Bush has destroyed that whole thing," Hannon says. "It's not here any longer in the Northeast." And the parts of upstate New York "not moving ahead economically whatsoever ... feel it a great deal."

Al D'Amato adds "You have a foreign policy which is groping and a domestic (Mark) Foley scandal, so you have a lot of disaffected people and I think it's going to result not only in the Democrats taking over the House, but also with substantial numbers."

Assemblyman Saladino's Opponent On MassapequaNews.com

Democratic candidate for state assembly and local attorney Craig Heller is a guest host on the massapequanews.com webcast this week.

Nassau GOP Losing Voter Edge

From year to year, the republicans are losing the wide gap they used to have in Nassau County. According to Newsday's Spin Cycle site ,
"Democrats are closing the registration gap in Nassau County, once a Republican stronghold.
Since March 1, 6,925 new Democrats have registered to vote in Nassau compared with 3,658 Republicans, according to Democratic elections commissioner William Biamonte. In that period, 5,225 new voters registered but did not enroll in any political party.
That brings the total number of registered Republicans to 331,280 compared with 300,063 Democrats and 177,780 unaffiliated voters.
If this trend continues, "we're moving towards being a Democratic county," Biamonte said. He declined to predict a time frame, but added, "Hopefully not that long."
- Celeste Hadrick on Long Island"

It's still a 31,000 voter gap but his is as close as it has ever been.
Democrats Tom Suozzi, Comptroller Harvey Weitzman, DA Kathleen Rice and Assesor Harvey Levinson all won county-wide.
The large number of unaffiliated voters means it's going to be harder to gauge how the voters are going to cast their votes. Whoever gets the majority of unaffiliated voters are the ones who will control Nassau.

From Our Neighbors in Suffolk

Yes this is Nassau GOP Watch but this stroy needs to be told...

"During an ad for John Flanagan (NY Senate district 2), the narrator has a complete non sequitur about golfing, during which she says "Huge, I have a huge handicap" and laughs.
This is significant because, as I'm sure you know, Flanagan is running against Brooke Ellison, a national advocate for the disabled. She's been paralyzed since she was hit by a car at 11. Brooke is extremely accomplished: she graduated magna cum Laude from Harvard in 2000 (and the Kennedy school in '05). She's been on the Today Show and in the NYT. Christopher Reeve's last project was directing The Brooke Ellison Story.
You can see the full ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3l-LxT3-q8
Chris Stoller from MyDD went to school with her, and did a great post about it: http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/9/26/204631/835"

A Two-Fer.. He's Just a Little "Off": UPDATE

What happend to the original post?
I ran into Joe Saladino and Steve Labriola hanging outside the opening of Peter King's campaign office. Saladino seemed visibly upset over things on this website.
Saladino disputes what was said that he did. He said that what happend was entirely different than what was conveyed.
Fair enough.

Since there is a dispute of the events, I told Saladino I would take down the post and that is what I have done. This was a matter of "He Said/She Said" and we'll leave it at that. I've known Joe for a few years and I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say "yes, things can be misinterpreted."
I'm also not saying the source of the stories is wrong. Joe sees it one way and the source sees it another. He gets a bye this time.
He was alo unhappy with the Photoshopped images which placed him in historical photos as a way of adding a funny graphic to the story. Although the photos aren't offensive, I understand Joe's feelings about be misrepresented in the crowd at the Lee harvey Oswald shooting and at the destruction of the Hindenburg and I did not mean to convey that Joe had anything to do with either event.

Saladino wants to keep to the issues and a heartily agree. He had to go to another event today so he did not want to engage in "street debate" with me on some issues.
I welcome the opportunity to engage in a discussion with Saladino on the issues here or at any venue. I am not his opponent but I am a constituent.
I'd like to know why the state legislature has done nothing to solve the school funding issue.
I'd like to know why the "members items" fund has no accountability.


Anyway, the post is down because we want to be fair.

UPDATE: The Original Post is BACK....

Over at massapequaNEWS.com, Christine Sohmer tells us a couple of weeks ago at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a local politician (JOE SALADINO) she will not name (JOE SALADINO) sat next to her and proceeded to eat from her plate. BLECH!
Being coy, she just says a politician who won a special election and won't name names.
JOE SALADINO

You'll remember that it was an unnamed local politician (JOE SALADINO) who wanted to be photoshopped into a photo-op because he wasn't there.



We at Nassau GOP Watch central found something very interesting when we slowed down the last massapequaNEWS.com webcast.
Keep your eyes open and look for a special visitor to the webcast...



Now for the two-fer....

Last weekend at a parade in Plainedge, Democratic Assembly Candidate Criag Heller was marching in the parade. As he went over to the side to shake hands with someone, Assemblyman Joe Saladino rushed in front of Heller to shake the hand first.
Heller was heard saying "That's nice" when it first happend.
Heller would introduce himself as "I'm Craig Heller and I'm running against the guy who just shook your hand."
This would elicit a laugh from the people as Saladino marched on to the next person.
Saladino brought along a BIG CHECK to hand out and get his picture taken.

9/11

Monday September 11th is a day to let politics go.There is alot to say and alot to be done but for this one day, there is something more important than politics.

Tuesday's Children is a non-profit working to help the families and count on donations to keep their important programs running.

National Search Dog Foundation

World Trade Center Police Disaster Relief Fund

Uniformed Firefighter‘s Association Scholarship Fund

The Port Authority Police World Trade Disaster Survivors’ Fund

From the Community Alliance: Peter Schmitt To Nassau's Parks: "Drop Dead!"

Peter Schmitt To Nassau's Parks: "Drop Dead!"
The Belligerent Nassau County Legislator Holds Up $$ Allocated For Park ProjectsWe all remember the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act -- that $50 million package passed overwhelmingly by Nassau voters back in 2004 designed to preserve open space, remediate brownfields, and to improve the condition of the County's public parks. [Okay. So some of us don't even remember 2004. :-)]
Anyway, the Environmental Bond Act Advisory Committee, back in March of this year, issued a report detailing recommended properties and projects for funding.The report, together with the Committee's recommendations -- based, largely, on nominations and proposals submitted by County residents -- was presented to the Nassau County Legislature, which, to the amazement of many (including this blogger), acted responsibly and relatively quickly in approving the bonding.In fact, Newsday, in a recent editorial, reports: "the county legislature has approved the bonding for $32.5 million out of the $38 million allocated for open space purchases, while deals to use the remaining funds for two other parcels are moving well along. Of the remaining $12 million, all but $205,000 is committed to specific projects, including 15 parks, two brownfields and various water-quality improvement projects. " [SEE, Take two on bond act.]
All well and good, up to this point.
Unfortunately, well enough is rarely left alone, even when it is accomplished admirably by our venerable County Legislature.
Sadly, Newsday also reports, in the very same editorial, that the bonding for park improvements -- to the tune of $12 million -- is being held up, and unduly so, by Mr. congeniality himself, Peter Schmitt."Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Seaford) is objecting to approving the $12 million in bonds, saying some of the park proposals include new dugouts, backstops and gazebos, which should be covered instead by the county's capital budget. The GOP position, however, ignores language in the act that specifically allocates money for parks. ""Mischief-making" is what Newsday call's Schmitt's ploy to delay funding and derail monies necessary and lawfully to be appropriated for the improvement of local parks.
"Holy Schmitt" is what we say. Stop with the arrogant, politically motivated upstaging and grandstanding. Show Nassau County residents the money that they have earmarked for our parks and open spaces.
-Nassau County residents are urged to contact Peter Schmitt to demand the release of some $12 million dollars in bond money for the improvement of our parks. In addition to the online contact form, Legislator Schmitt's office can be reached by telephone at 516-571-6212.

A Blind Item from massapequaNews.com

Over at massapequanews.com, site owner and reporter Christine Sohmer in her video news segment tells us of a local Massapequa politician who missed a photo-op at the Classic Car Night at the Massapequa LIRR station. Ms. Sohmer goes to all the local events, photographs the activities and visitors and posts the pictures on her site.
Seems this one politician missed the chance to be in the pictures and requested that he be added into the picture using the digital manipulation software Photoshop.
Who is this politician?
Ms. Sohmer won't tell.

Our money is on Assemblyman Joe Saladino.

Joe wants to be in every photo-op. Just check the local papers and see his beaming mug at every event.
With the magic of Photoshop, Joe can be added anywhere... and anytime. Joe will never miss an important photo-op past or present.

State Legislators Set Bribe to Get Your Vote

Watch as Skelos, Fuschillo, Balboni, Hannon, Saladino, Marcellino, Walker and McKevitt all tout the "rebate" check you will be getting this fall.
Guess when the check will get to you?
According to Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno it'll be October 31st, just one week before election day.
The rebate check as Skelos describes it "every homeowner on Long Island will receive an annual school property tax rebate check from New York State. The rebate check will equal 30% of the homeowner’s STAR savings."
Well.. not exactly "annual."
As the Albany-Times Union tells it "Under the agreement reached this year by Pataki and the Legislature, if next year's budget does not include money for rebate checks, an amount equal to the rebate homeowners would have received must be offered in the form of tax credits."

The rebate checks can be anywhere from $100- $600
Skelos says "When added to the STAR program, Nassau County homeowners will save an average of $1,300 on their school property taxes this year, with Enhanced STAR-eligible seniors saving $2,288."
That also is not exactly true.
You get the rebate check, the school tax bill comes - which is not any lower than before - and you pretty much just sign over the "rebate" to your local taxing authority. This isn't "found money" like they want you to think.
Spend the money on groceries, gas or a new tv, and your school tax bill will still be the same.
Basically instead of working to get more school aid to the schools and not just the piddly one-shot increases this year, the state government is cutting you a small check to pay a part of your school tax bill.
Your next school tax bill will be the same amount with no reductions.
And here's the kicker.. to process, print and mail these checks, the state is spending over a million dollars.
Wouldn't that money be better spent elsewhere.. you know like to reduce school taxes???

Senator Fuschillo says "Providing hard working, overburdened Long Islanders with tax relief has been my number one priority. Through this new plan, hundreds of dollars in savings will be delivered directly to homeowners in the form of a rebate check," said Senator Fuschillo. "This new tax plan, when combined with the record amounts of school aid included within the state budget and the millions of dollars in STAR savings, should help to ease the burden on families."
The property tax relief plan will provide taxpayers with a check for a portion of their school property taxes. This refund would be in addition to the existing Federal and State deductions for local property taxes, STAR payments and the State circuit breaker tax credit. Checks will be mailed in the fall, when residents receive their school tax bills."

Once again, this is pretty much a one-shot you won't be seeing again and does NOTHING to lower your real property taxes or school taxes.
This isn't "tax relief" but a gimmick to make you think they are trying to help you.
And in the end, the state will still have to come up with a budget next year to fund schools without the money they are "giving back" to homeowners.

Don't be fooled by the shell game. The Nassau state legisaltors have not done a thing to bring down your school taxes beyond election day.
The Times-Union says "The Senate Republicans, who are fighting to retain their four-seat majority this November, made property tax relief in the form of the rebate checks a top priority in this year's budget negotiations...
"The largest rebate checks will go to regions with the highest property taxes, which also tend to be key suburban swing districts with competitive Senate races.
In addition, homeowners who are 65 or older -- who historically have voted in high numbers -- will receive bigger rebate checks as they already benefit from a higher STAR exemption."
Politics as usual from Albany and they expect us to buy it.

The only suprising thing is that Skelos and the gang aren't handing out individual over-sized checks to each homeowner for a photo-op.
Then again, I might be speaking too soon.

Gas Tax Cap Proposal Full of Schmitt

What's worse than taxes?
A badly planned psuedo-tax cut.
Pataki and the NYS legislature passed a cap on gas tax which went into effect July 1st. The cap is set at $2.00/gallon.
Now Schmitt and his republican soldiers are proposing the same in Nassau.
"Minority Leader Peter J. Schmitt and members of the Republican Caucus to the Nassau County Legislature have filed a bill which would not only opt Nassau County into the elimination of State tax on gasoline passed over $2.00 a gallon, but also provides for Nassau County to eliminate its tax on gasoline over $2.00 a gallon.
Recent New York State legislation will cap the New York State Sales Tax on gasoline at $2.00 per gallon and Republican Legislators have introduced legislation to also cap County Sales Tax at $2.00 per gallon."
Sounds good right?
"Minority Leader Peter J. Schmitt stated, “We want to be ready to give much needed tax relief on the ever-increasing price of gasoline to our residents.”
“Legislation in Albany will soon be passed and we want Nassau County to be ready to not only join in eliminating the State Sales Tax over $2.00 a gallon but also the County tax on the same amount continued Schmitt.”
The higher price of gasoline has especially burdened Long Islanders who use their cars to commute to work. With the upcoming summer, residents are expected to vacation locally, and while good for the Long Island economy, they will be using their automobiles at a higher rate.
“If the Administrators of Nassau County would stop thinking about taxing our residents and proposing new tolls on our highways, they could begin to attempt to eliminate some of the taxes all our residents pay”, stated Legislator Schmitt."
Wow, a grand burden will be lifted from us taxpayers.
But Wait!
All is NOT what it seems.
While the proposed savings could be up to 8 cents per gallon, reality just happens to get in the way. Gas prices are still going up and the savings are lower than 3 cents per gallon if that at all.
But the the real problem is the cost - the REAL cost - to taxpayers.
It might make a nice sound-bite to motorists who are paying alot at the pump but a few pennies saved won't compare to the loss the state and the county will incur.
On the state level, Nassau is looking for more school aid which would bring down school taxes which are the bulk of our taxes. With this cap, the state will lose $450 million this year.
Wouldn't it be better to apply this $450million to alleviate school or property taxes instead of literally nickel and dimeing taxpayers with such a miniscule "tax cut" that will come to a few dollars over the year?
And where will the state make up this loss?
What gets cut next year and what gets increased?
Now Schmitt and company want to cap the Nassau portion of the tax.
We all know that the county, because of Schmitt and the Gulotta republicans, sank to near bankruptcy. Schmitt says “We want to be ready to give much needed tax relief on the ever-increasing price of gasoline to our residents.”
It's not the taxes but the actual cost of the gas that is hurting consumers. And by capping the Nassau portion of the tax, Schmitt will make the fiscal situation in Nassau worse.
Other counties in NYS are already seeing the problem with the cap "In Albany County, as Comptroller Michael Conners is prudent enough to point out, the loss of revenue is likely to be $2.7 million a year for the county itself, and $1.8 million a year in money the county shares with cities, towns and villages.

In Broome County "when (County Executive) Fiala found out the cap would cost the county about $2.3 million annually with current prices, she modified the proposed gas tax cap to $3 per gallon. That would help taxpayers if costs continue to rise at the pumps, although it currently affects only higher grades of gas.
Any county losses would have been made up by increasing property taxes, Fiala said.
"We didn't want to give with one hand now and take from the other later," she said."

Republican mayor Bloomberg in NYC said the city could lose up to $50million. From the Gothamist "Fifty million dollars a year is probably a thousand cops, close to a thousand cops, close to a thousand teachers," he said. "If we don't have the money, we can't have these things. What do we want to do without?
Reducing taxes when you're trying to end energy dependence on foreign cartels is not exactly a terribly smart policy
The long-term solution in this country, which nobody wants to hear, is to use an awful lot less energy and to get away from fossil fuels, particularly oil, that mostly comes from overseas."

What will Nassau lose?
How much revenue that could go to funding youth programs, hire more police or keep property taxes stable will disappear for a cheap stunt pseudo-tax cut?
Wouldn't it be better to use the gas tax revenue to continue to revive the county?

And wouldn't it have been smarter for our state legislators to properly fund our schools instead of trumpeting a "tax cut" that will hurt us in the long run?

Congratulations Assemblyman Saladino!

Our esteemed state lawmaker Joe Saladino from the 12AD has gotten his very first bill passed in the Assembly.
We know what a tireless photo-op seeker.... err.. legislator he is, and it comes as no suprise that after almost 2 1/2 years in the Assembly he got a sponsered bill passed.
Assembly Bill A11171 calls for the designation of the Striped Bass as the official New York State Salt Water Fish.
We already have a Fresh Water Fish in the Brook Trout. It is about time that there be an aquatic equivilent in the salt waters that splash upon the shores of New York State. True representation of the gilled inhabitants has finally arrived.
Reading from the bill is completely worth it even if you don't like the web of legalize you can encounter in important legislation.
"It is the purpose of naming an official fish, bird, animal (mammal), tree and so forth, to give the state an identity, to assist with its promotional and tourism endeavors and to educate the
public as to ):he bounty of its resources, characteristics, strengths, cultures or especially a commonality or pride found within. While the State of New York prides itself on the tremendous fresh water fishing opportunities within its borders, there are plenty of species found to the south especially in the tidal portions of the Hudson River and surrounding the Long Island sound the bays and ocean shores of New York City and Long Island.
"Morone Saxatilis stripped bass grows to an average of 18 to 35 pounds as an adult with the largest of the species caught off Long Island`s east end reaching a record of some
75 pounds.
"This fish is a prized and well sought game fish contributing to the 4 billion dollars the fishing and boating industry generates annually on Long Island alone each year. It is one of the most tasty marine species to consume and the striper`s resiliently is clearly evident in the speediness of the species recovery and abundance following a moratorium and limit restrictions in New York which proved to be a template for success known nationally in the field of marine resource management. There is, without a doubt, room for both an official fish and official marine fish of the State of New York and no better species of salt water swimmers to catch and associate with New Yorkers than the strong, majestic and domestic Striped Bass."

Kudos to Assemblyman Saladino.
A NYS Legislators job is never done and it's tackling the tough issues that make them strong.

And now back to reforming the public school aid formula, right?



Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa Park)
meets with lobbyist Ken "Big Mouth" Bass

Gotta Know Someone

Lois Schmitt, wife of Nassau Legislator and Republican Minority Leader Peter Schmitt is on the Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board.
When did that happen?

Long Island Marathon Outrage

May 8, 2006 (Mineola) The results are in for the Long Island Marathon and the Republican delegation of the Nassau County Legislature has denounced the results. "Once again we see that Tom Suozzi and the Democrat party are giving Queens residents preferential treatment." Minority Leader Peter Schmitt said refering to the winner of the marathon Carlos Grisales living in College Point. "I don't know why Suozzi could not get a Nassau County resident to win." Schmitt continued, "Democrat Legislator Dave Mejias even ran the race and didn't do anything about it. Mejias is just another Suozzi rubber-stamp."
Republican spokesman Ed Ward said in a prepared statement "Of the top five runners, only one was from Nassau County. Three were from Queens and the other came from New Jersey. If County Executive Suozzi would spend more time in Nassau County instead of running for governor, this wouldn't happen. We need a full-time county executive who will make sure the Long Island Marathon is won by the taxpayers who pay his salary."
Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) tells NGW "I say whatever Peter Schmitt says. That's my own opinion. I am an inpependent thinker and I independently thought to agree with whatever Peter Schmitt says."
Legisaltors Nicollelo, Muscarella, Gonsalves, Mangano, Becker and Ciotti all said the same thing Leg. Ford said.
Legislator Dennis Dunne (R-Levitown) said "I was stuck in my car on Old Country Road for a couple of hours. Whats with all the people in the street?"
The Nassau County Republican party plans to use the race results in a new series of television ads called "Suozzi Can't Run from Marathon Results." The ads are expected to blanket local cable channels by weeks end.

State Senators on the Run

from George Pataki.
The Albany Times-Union reports that pollster Frank Luntz is telling state senators that Gov. Pataki is radioactive in this years election. The republicans state-wide are afraid that the state senate will change hands and they are doing whatever they can to save thier skins. Locally, Nassau pols like Balboni opted out of a higher office run (Attorney General) because Majority Leader Sen. Joe Bruno needs all hands on deck to keep control.
From the Albany Times-Union "According to someone who was in the room, Luntz, who has been advising the Senate Republicans for over a year now, provided the majority conference with results from a recent poll on the state budget fight.
As it turns out, this source said, voters are overwhelmingly not in Pataki’s corner, even in strong GOP districts, and the spread in the Senate Republicans’ favor in key swing districts (think Sen. Nick Spano’s Westchester County seat, or Sen. Joseph Robach’s Monroe County seat) is even wider."

We guess these pictures won't be in campaign literature this year...

Schmitt Loses in Court Again

A State Supreme Court has ruled that Legislator Peter Schmitt must bear the cost of the $10million defamation lawsuit against him.
Leg. Dave Mejias tells Newsday "The taxpayers of Nassau County should not have to pay for Peter Schmitt's personal, political attacks and lies,"
The lawsuit stems from charges made by Schmitt in 2004 about the law firm of Crowe-Deagan. Schmitt accused the firm of false billing, illegal campaign contributions and tampering with evidence.
The New York Law Journal reports "At a Jan. 12, 2004, news conference and in an accompanying statement, Schmitt said the nine-lawyer firm, which he said was hired to represent several county agencies without bidding, was receiving "exorbitant, unauthorized amounts of money for work they did not perform." He also said the firm had exceeded campaign contribution limits to give "illegal money" to David Mejias, a successful Democratic legislature candidate. "
"Schmitt moved for summary judgment on the grounds that his statements were either true or constitutionally protected opinion. He also argued that the law firm was a public figure unable to meet the actual malice standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964's New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254. That landmark case required public figures, such as politicians, suing for defamation to establish that false statements about them were made knowingly or with reckless disregard to the truth of the statements."
State Supreme Court Justice Lally denied a request for dismissal of the lawsuit by Schmitt saying "Legislator Schmitt made statements ... outside the protection of legislative immunity," which means he is liable for any defamatory comments he makes.
Mejias tells Newsday that this "proves once and for all that Peter Schmitt will say anything, even lie, to take back control of Nassau County."
The judge ruled that because Schmitt cited actual figures, "While the term exorbitant may constitute protected opinion, language stating that Crowe Deegan received an unauthorized amount of money for 'work they did not perform' and language stating that the firm contributed 'illegal' money 'over the legal limit' to Legislator David Mejias is precise and capable of being proven true or false,"
Schmitt gets hoisted on his own petard with that one.
Schmitt has frequently cited false numbers to bolster his arguments and has been called out on it. Now his words are in a court of law and he can't say he misspoke or change his story as he usually does.
Schmitt tried to play it too cute with the "illegal campaign contributions" to Dave Mejias. Schmitt charged that the firm gave Mejias $4000 which is over the $2000 limit.
Schmitt didn't get that the firm is a partnership and as Lally ruled "A partnership by definition includes at least two persons," which means two partners can give $2000 each which is the $4000 Schmitt was using.
Schmitts attorney Paul Millus argued that it's okay for Schmitt to lie. He actually makes a case for lying "Politicians have to have the flexibility to say things in the public interest."
As a side note, remember last year during the election the republicans complained and complained about non-nassau county residents working for the county and firms employed from outside too?
So who does Schmitt go to?
A Manhattan-based firm Snitow Kanfer Holtzer & Millus

Ed Ward Follies - American Idol Edition

Sixteen year old Kevin Covais of Levitown is a contestant on the FOX show American Idol. It's nice to see a Nassau County teen doing well and getting the attention for his talent he deserves.
Getting into the spirit to support Kevin in his quest to be the the next winner of American Idol, County Executive Tom Suozzi sent an e-mail to county employees to ask them to call the show and vote for Kevin.
According to Newsday, Suozzi wrote "Kevin's father is a retired captain from the Sheriff's Department and his uncle is currently a police officer in the Third Precinct. Your support for Kevin would be greatly appreciated. Let's show the world that Nassau County residents are the best. Go Kevin!"
Great idea right?
Rally the county employees to help Kevin win.

Enter republican legislative spokesman Ed "89,000/year part-time" Ward.

Ward pipes up and says "Is this a legitimate use of taxpayers' money when he's e-mailing all county employees to rig a national election on a television show? Has he nothing better to do?"

Did everyone else just get a headache??
What exactly is the surcharge per e-mail Suozzi sent?
Why there isn't one of course. The e-mail which probably took a minute or two to type and send to "ALL" really didn't cost the county a dime... or even a penny.

And "rigging a national election?????"
What exactly is wrong with Ward?
How is rallying county employees to support Kevin Covais rigging anything???

Suozzi Spokesman Ian Siegel says to Ward "Lighten up. This isn't Watergate. It's just 'American Idol."

Kevin Covais is making us proud and getting him more support is something "better to do."

Friends and family are rallying support for him and according to Newsday, "Pat Gentile, a construction worker and fan who lives down the street, fired up his blue truck and spent hours Saturday putting up posters throughout Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens, urging people to vote for Covais. Gentile and his wife, Patty, also had a party Sunday for about 60 Covais supporters and friends, and on Monday he was back in his truck putting up more posters."Kevin is a decent kid in school," said Gentile. "Kevin does not need 'American Idol' as much as our country needs Kevin as an American idol. He is everything decent and fair."

Tune in to FOX Ch. 5 Wednesday at 9pm and help Kevin by voting for him.

And if you feel like it, call Ed Ward at (516) 571-6212 and ask him why he wants to politicize American Idol.