Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver

Silver moves on from Lopez controversy

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:43:45 +0000

One day after the state’s powerful Assembly Speaker admitted “glaring failures” in his handling of a sexual abuse case, the Albany establishment seemed to be moving on, with the usual round of press conferences, bill passage, and leaders meetings.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver attended a top level meeting with Governor Cuomo and Senate leaders on casino gambling , and oversaw passage of a one house bill on the Dream Act, to help children of undocumented immigrants get funding for college.

Assembly passes fracking moratorium

Matt Ryan — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:39:55 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvk79xW_m5g

The New York State Assembly today passed a two year moratorium on the process of hydraulic fracturing, better known as hydrofracking. The Democrat-dominated chamber passed the legislation which would put a two year freeze on the issuance of certain types of natural gas drilling permits in the state until May 15th of 2015.

Gun deal close in Albany

Karen DeWitt and Karen — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:25:40 +0000

New details are emerging on gun control legislation that lawmakers say could be passed as early as today-

Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein predicts that New York State could have the toughest in the nation gun control laws before Tuesday that includes closing loopholes in the assault weapons ban and strengthened penalties for illegal guns.

“When all is said and done, we’re going to pass a comprehensive gun bill today,” Klein said.

Ethics panel launches probe

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:17:48 +0000

A unanimous state ethics board vote appears to launch a full investigation into the Assembly’s sexual harassment scandal. The vote followed an acrimonious meeting , where commissioners appointed by the Assembly Speaker demanded a public discussion of the deliberations, and called Governor Cuomo’s threats to open a Moreland Act investigation “coercive.”

Following a private session, Joint Commission on Public Ethics Chair Janet DiFiore announced the results of a vote on whether to launch a “full investigation”.

Probes of Assembly sexual harassment scandal to expand

Karen DeWitt — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:05:40 +0000

There are new developments in an ethics investigation and a criminal probe in the ongoing sexual harassment scandal in the New York State Assembly.