Wednesday’s Briefing: Two Men In A Room

by Contributor | June 25, 2008 11:27 am

One of the “three men in a room” won’t be in the room anymore. State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno’s abrupt departure made waves that swamped most of the other news coming out of the end of the state legislative session.

Republicans moved quickly to install a new leader[1], Senator Dean Skelos[2] of Long Island[3]. His elevation to the post means that Upstate NY has no direct advocates[4] among the three men in the room — New York’s Shelly Silver and Gov. David Paterson as well as Skelos.

There was so much fuss about Bruno’s sudden departure that it drowned out news that the three year old criminal investigation involving Bruno took a turn this week[5], too. Bruno says he’s not a target of the probe, but it appears to involve his business dealings. The feds can notify him at any time that he’s a target of the investigation.

The question of the day in Albany: Will Skelos get along with, or undermine, Gov. Paterson[6]?

The question of the day among Republicans: Will this change make it harder to keep the majority[7] in the Senate?

The Work Grinds On:

With all the Joe Bruno stuff going on, did the Legislature accomplish anything of significance on Tuesday?

• Um, no[8].
• In fact, one failure to act will leave some non-profits with a problem[9].
• Oh — something did get done: A crackdown on the massive problem of cockfighting and dogfighting[10]. Well, I’m relieved.
• And you’ll be able to check online to see if your family doctor’s got legal problems[11].

Elsewhere:

• The State Regents are tightening rules for re-hiring[12] retired superintendents of schools.
• A state court says cleaning up a polluted site doesn’t mean it has to be “clean-clean”[13].
• One observer says the judges hearing the court fight over gay marriage recognition seem to have sided with the Governor[14].

Your Health Right Now This Minute:

• RiteAid and CVS earn the legal wrath[15] of the Attorney General for allegedly selling expired drugs, even after he told them not to.
• Excellus won’t require preapproval for routine tests[16] for cancer patients and others, after AG Cuomo gets involved.

And Then There’s This:

• Your new “Rock, Paper, Scissors” champ[17] is crowned!
• A sign of the time[18], if the time is The Great Depression.
• When Bees Attack!!!!![19]

And Finally:

If your kid plays clarinet, don’t tell him/her that it sounds like a mating whale[20].

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/editors-desk/wednesdays-briefing-two-men-in-a-room/

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