Article 1 Sections 8, 9

Article 1, Section 8- Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, pay debts, borrow money, regulate commerce, establish a rule of naturalization and bankruptcy, coin money, punish counterfeiting, establish a post office, secure patents and copyrights, create courts, punish piracies, declare war, create an army and navy, call the militia, govern District of Colombia, and apply the necessary and proper clause. 

Article 1, Section 9- Congress can not regulate slave trade, suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus, pass a bill of Attainder (cannot be held without Court ruling) or ex post facto law (cannot be held if law was passed after something "illegal" happened) set taxes or duties on Articles, provide for interstate tariffs, give preferential treatment for some states, draw money from the Treasury, or grant a title of nobility. 

Article 1 Section 4, 5, 6

Section 4

• Congress must assemble once a year preferably 1st Monday in December. 
• Elections for senators is set up by state government but can be altered by Congress.

Section 5

• Each house is in charge of their own members and determine their own punishments for members. Expulsion requires a 2/3rd Vote. 
• Each house keeps a journal of every meeting but are still allowed to keep secrets. 
• Neither house can be absent for 3 days while other is in session unless other chamber approves. 

Section 6

• Senators and Representatives are paid from the Treasury of the United States.
• Congresspeople can ditch jail time when in session unless they have committed treason, felony and Breach of Peace. 
• Congresspeople can't be appointed to Civil Office under Authority of U.S. while elected. 

The United States Constitution Article 1 Section 3 and 7 Annotations

The United States Constitution Article 1 Section 3 and 7 

Article 1 Section 3 

• 2 Senators per state 
• Each Senator serves a 6-year term and each get a vote 
• Senate is divided in three classes according to election cycles (ex. 1st class elected at the 2nd year (1/3 of the Senate is chosen during an election cycle) 
• Requirements: Minimum age of 30 years, 9 years inhabitant of the United States, and a resident of the State that he/she represents
• United States Vice President serves as the President of the Senate. He/she doesn't get a vote unless if there's a tie. 
• Power of impeachment -> 2/3 vote 
• The power of impeachment includes kicking an elected/appointed official out of office and does not include criminal convictions. 

Article 1 Section 7

• Money Bills originate in the House. 
• The Senate is allowed to make amendments to Bills.
• Every Bill has to go through both the House and the Senate before it is sent to the President to be approved to be a Law. 
• The President is allowed the power to approve or veto the Bill. However, 2/3 of the voting body can override the President's decision by holding a vote. 
• Each voter and his/her vote in favor or against the Bill has to be officially recorded.
• If the President doesn't return the Bill signed after 10 days, it is considered to be signed. Unless if Congress prevents its return, then it will not be a Law. 

Article 1 Section 1, 2, and 10

Section 1:

The powers of legislation is given to Congress which consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. 

Section 2:

A Member of the House of Representatives has a two year term. They must be older than 25 years, be a citizen for at least 7 years, and live in the state which they represent. 

The amount of representatives from each state is determined by population. The census will be taken every ten years to determine the population. 

The executive of the state (Governor) can call for a special election if they need to fill in vacancies. 

The House has the only power of impeachment. 

Section 10:

States do NOT  have the power to make treaties, alliances, coin Money, pass bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, or grant a title of Nobility.

The states can NOT tax imports and exports without the consent of Congress.

The states can not raise a militia or engage in war unless invaded or in imminent danger. 

Homework/Presentation Schedule

Cuomo, Perry play politics on Ebola

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/opinion/louis-ebola-quarantine/

This article discusses how politicians have made poor decisions regarding the Ebola outbreak in the US. It lambasts both governors of Texas and New York, the two states where Ebola has emerged. Governor Rick Perry is criticized for giving off the impression that Texas Medical professionals know how to handle Ebola, which is mostly false - nurses report no training on cases of Ebola. Perry also supported travel restrictions to seal off the country from Ebola, an ineffective measure. New York is given more praise than Texas has been, but Cuomo is criticized for being too wishy washy on his stance on Ebola. He first attempted to minimize the threat of Ebola to the New York community, then reversed his position and called for a 21 day quarantine of health care professionals who return to New York. This could certainly hurt Cuomo's campaign for reelection.

Governor Cuomo and opponent Rob Astorino exchange insults in the final days

With the election season in its final days, Governor Andrew Cuomo and his opponent Rob Astorino are going head to head. According to a poll by Siena College, Cuomo is leading the race 54 percent to Astorino's 33 percent. Astorino has been focusing on tearing down Cuomo's campaign by criticizing his campaign's focus on abortion rather than woman equality and the economy. He also critcizes how Cuomo has such a large fund for his campaign but still has people backing his campaign with large donations, calling him a 'gavone'. Astorino also talked about repealing the SAFE Act if he were elected. Cuomo, who hasn't ran a slander campaign like Astorino's, fought back by defending the SAFE Act's benefits and calling Astorino crazy.

In the final days of the election, it's important that both candidates are getting their name out, but they really should be focusing on their campaigns instead of their childish tactics. I would rather know why I should vote for someone than why I shouldn't vote for your opponent! Astorino, who seems to be instigating the slander camapigns should really be focusing on soley getting his platform out instead of comparing it to Cuomo's, especially since people who walked away from a recent event with his literature didn't even know who he was.

http://www.newsday.com/elections/rob-astorino-gov-andrew-m-cuomo-exchange-insults-on-campaign-trail-1.9545131

Verbal Boxing Match Occurs Between Astorino and Cuomo During Debate

So Governor Cuomo and Republican opponent Rob Astorino had the first and possibly the last debate during this election. Cuomo explained what he has done to fix the struggling economy and corrupt government and attacked Astorino about how he is guilty of financial mismanagement as well as increasing property taxes in Westchester. Westchester has the highest property taxes of any U.S county. Then Astorino asks Cuomo about the Moreland Commission, which was disbanded abruptly. Astorino also says that Cuomo might be indicted after the election is over and he listed the possible crimes he could be convicted for. Governor Cuomo defended himself and said the commission led to worthy reforms. He also tried to paint Astorino as ultraconservative and racist using Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil war to support his claims. He also attacked Astorino on his part in a housing discrimination dispute. Astorino also attacked Cuomo on his indecision on fracking while Cuomo accused Astorino as flip flopping. He compared Astorino to Sarah palin while upstate as well as Mark Ruffalo when he's in Westchester. He also pointed out that Astorino signed a bill that banned the use of fracking wastewater to be used to de-ice roads. One thing is for sure. Does this debate weaken either candidate? But one thing is certain. Dirty politics is fun politics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/nyregion/in-new-york-governors-debate-cuomo-repels-astorinos-jabs-with-his-own.html

Andrew Cuomo jumps into the Ebola spotlight, leaving Bill de Blasio behind

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/cuomo-jumps-ebola-spotlight-leaving-de-blasio-behind-article-1.1987095

Cuomo went on a coast-to-coast, national tour talking about ebola and what to do about it instead of focusing on New York. He's running for reelection for governor and yet he does a lot of national publicity tours. He might be better off if he focused on NYC and the race he is currently running then his dream of presidency. 
It also really doesn't help his message when he's been saying he's working closely with DeBlasio for everyone's benefit and then leaves him in the cold.

"Cuomo has built a reputation for not playing well with others and acting the alpha male role in times of crisis. And the take-charge Cuomo famously derided Gov. George Pataki during the 2002 governor’s race as Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s “coat-holder” after the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Cuomo and then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg held virtually all their public briefings separately."

"“This is more like the way the Cuomo operation works — make decisions at the last minute,” the insider said. “It’s all done at the top, and they don’t do anything (to alert other officials).”"

Cuomo needs to present a more united front and really focus on NYC.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney agrees to debate with GOP opponent Nick Di Iorio

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rep-carolyn-maloney-agrees-debate-opponent-nick-di-iorio-article-1.1988087

               In the race for the seat representing New York's 12th district, Nick Di Iorio is the longshot compared to his Democratic opponent, Carolyn Maloney. With almost no chance of losing in a highly Democratic district including Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, Maloney has little reason to agree to a debate with Di Iorio who, being in the same place at the same time outside the Metropolitan Opera, forced a debate for Thursday. Nonetheless, he is not the only underdog candidate who has had a hard time persuading favored candidates to debate issues, as this common practice has become more prevalent in the United States. For example, Andrew Cuomo probably will not agree to the televised debate which his opponent, Rob Astorino, has sought for after their previous debate which erupted as a one-on-one accusation brawl. I believe this practice is wrongful however, and if the candidate who is to play a role in Congress is to be guaranteed that seat, then he/she must agree to all debates and speak on all problems no matter their status. For Di Iorio, although his campaign may be completely underfunded and is struggling, I salute him for trying to do whatever he can to
get his points across and contrast them with those of Maloney.

Cuomo, With a Daughter's Help, Tweaks His Education Image

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/25/nyregion/cuomo-with-a-daughters-help-tweaks-his-education-image.html?_r=0

In this article, Rob Astorino and Governor Andrew Cuomo evaluated the issue of education especially the Common Core which is a set of academic standards that has been adopted by more than 40 states. Rob Astorino tried to tie Governor Cuomo, a democrat, to the Common Core, and Mr. Cuomo's new ad "Education" seems to be a response to Astorino's statement. In the ad, it features Mr. Cuomo sitting with one of his daughter helping her with homework. In the ad, Cuomo says that he wants real teachers and school evaluations, to stop over testing children, and not to use Common Core scores for at least five years. He also plans to invest $2 billion to build new technology classrooms in schools and also believes that the best education equipment is the kitchen table, and the best teacher is the parent.

Cuomo handling the Ebola crisis in NYS

Yes, Mr. Cuomo is running for reelection, but he is focussing on his current position more than on his campaign - which is a good thing! Andrew Cuomo expected Ebola to arrive to New York State weeks prior to the disease arriving this week so proper preparations and training were ready to be tested for a real life situation. By focusing on current issues and less on his campaign, Cuomo is showing New Yorkers that he is doing his job and he is doing it right. The changes in quarantine policy will ensure that patients diagnosed with the Ebola virus are treated with respect and have a smooth and comfortable recovery. Especially since most of the individuals getting Ebola are doctors and healthcare workers, we need to honor them for their work, rather than shoving them in an isolation bubble and treating them like criminals. Cuomo is learning from the mistakes of other states like New Jersey, which is helpful in becoming a role model state for how disease should be controlled.


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/nyregion/ebola-quarantine.html

Under Pressure, Cuomo Loosens Policy for Ebola Quarantines in New York

New York and New Jersey had both hastily announced a quarantine of any health care worker returning from countries with Ebola. The quarantine was meet with a lot of negativity including the white house, who they had not informed of their decision. A lot of the negativity has come from the treatment of Kaci Hickox, a nurse put in quarantine after returning from West Africa. One with no knowledge of Ebola would think it is reasonable to quarantine anyone who’s come in contact with it. But scientist have shown the virus is not contagious if the person shows no symptoms. So now Bill de Blasio has revised the rules regarding the situation. Instead of a 21 day quarantine, all health care workers returning from West Africa will be monitored for 21 days by health officials. This is a reasonable policy and hopefully will not discourage health care workers from volunteering in West Africa.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/nyregion/ebola-quarantine.html?ref=politics&_r=0

White House pushing Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Chris Christie to reverse mandatory Ebola-fighter quarantine order

This article is a perfect example of Cuomo working hard doing his job dealing with a crisis while Astorino is out "campaigning." Since Ebola is the number one concern for people living in New York, the fact that Cuomo is out trying his best to contain the outbreak and make people feel safer is what is going to get him reelected. A situation such as this is the perfect moment for Cuomo to shine and show New Yorkers what he can truly do for them and get himself reelected.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/cuomo-mandatory-quarantine-ebola-health-care-workers-legally-enforceable-article-1.1987466

White House pushing Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Chris Christie to reverse mandatory Ebola-fighter quarantine order

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/cuomo-mandatory-quarantine-ebola-health-care-workers-legally-enforceable-article-1.1987466
Once the Ebola outbreak hit home, Americans began to panic unreasonably. Politicians, as well, have not responded to this outbreak well enough. Governor Cuomo along with Governor Christie issued a mandatory quarantine for healthcare workers returning from western Africa in an attempt to prevent the spread of Ebola. However, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the quarantine wouldn't help the situation. The quarantine would instead discourage doctors from volunteering to combat the disease in Africa. According to Fauci, the best way to protect ourselves is to stop the spread of the disease in Africa. Cuomo, however, upheld the legality of the mandatory quarantine, saying that it is legally enforceable.

The actions of many politicians regarding ebola aren't based on the science behind the outbreak. People who are asymptomatic do not transmit the disease, so a 21-day quarantine despite not having any symptoms isn't a logical plan. This leads to a lot of unnecessary "precautionary" measures that just increase panic and worsen the situation at hand.

Ebola scare in city puts spotlight on Andrew Cuomo, casting off Rob Astorino as Election Day looms

This article discusses the how the Ebola scare has affected Governor Andrew Cuomo's campaign as well as Rob Astorino's campaign. It also discusses Rob Astorino's plans on curtailing the Ebola virus. The article discusses how Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken a charge on the Ebola and chose to focus his attention on that by going to five morning shows this Friday, and four of those morning talk shows were on national television. This is a really good focus for Governor Cuomo because it is showing that he is on top of things on the Ebola outbreak and he really cares more for the safety of the people of New York than he cares for the election. I think that this mentality will win him a lot of votes. Rob Astorino criticizes the fact that Cuomo has decided not to ban people coming from the Ebola hot zones in West Africa. Despite trying to get his idea's across, no one is listening to Astorino because people are focused on Govenor Andrew Cuomo.

Link: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ebola-scare-city-puts-spotlight-cuomo-casting-astorino-article-1.1986666

Cuomo’s Gun Law Plays Well Downstate but Alienates Upstate

Cuomo passed the Safe Act in 2013, after the mass school shooting in Newton, CT. While it was an achievement to many voters in New York City, it alienated many others in upstate New York. The act includes an expanded ban on assault weapons, a broader requirement for background checks, and harsher penalties for gun crimes. One of the most controversial parts of the act was the requirement of owners of firearms to register them, which many gun owners refused to do. Some felt that the act focused too much on regulating responsible gun owners. Thus, one has to question the effectiveness of this act: If it can’t get normally law-abiding citizens to abide by a certain provision (registering guns), how effective will it be in preventing criminals from obtaining assault weapons?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/25/nyregion/with-gun-act-cuomo-alienates-upstate-new-york-constituency.html

'Point 10' of Women's Equality Act revives political debate over abortion

Cuomo's Women's Equality Act has been met with broad support from almost all New York politicians — save for the tenth point, which would codify Roe v. Wade in New York law in the case the original ruling is one day overturned or eroded. Many groups are involved in the debate over whether to pass the act with or without the tenth point. Although Cuomo and head of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York State M. Tracey Brooks assert that the tenth point would not expand abortion law to include unregulated abortions in the third trimester, anti-choice advocates of the New York Catholic Conference say otherwise. This issue has been a heated debate in New York ever since Operation Rescue in 1992, where many anti-abortion activists assaulted women at clinics trying to get abortions and the doctors giving them. Several politicians such as Mark J. Grisanti are personally opposed to abortion, but believe that abortion is a problem upon which a woman, her doctor, and her spouse should decide upon. However, anti-choice activists continue to barricade proceeds and advocate for the banning of all abortions, without question.

This article discusses the issue from a relatively neutral point of view, including input from Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and the two sides of the abortion-specific debate. I think that people like Kathleen Gallagher, the director of Pro-Life Activities at the New York Catholic Conference, are forgetting the law that separates church from state. Whatever one's personal moral beliefs may be, it is not one's role to impose those beliefs on other people if one is not directly involved in the situation (i.e., not the woman seeking an abortion, her doctor, or her spouse). As Assemblywoman Peoples-Stokes eloquently states, "I don't think God wants other people to make those kind of judgment calls."

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo-politics/point-10-of-womens-equality-act-revives-political-debate-over-abortion-20141025

Saying No to a Party: A Gap Within a Gender in New York Politics

On Monday, Gloria Steinem, a political activist, sent out a mass email to New Yorkers urging them to vote for candidates like Governor Cuomo and others who are supported by the Working Families Party. The Working Families Party stands for more economic policies like raising wages, increasing taxes on the wealthy, and more rights for domestic workers. Althougth this party supports Cuomo, they do not seem to agree with his affliation with the Women's Equality Party which focuses more on sexuality and reproductive rights. They want voters to cast their ballot based on the Working Families line. Cuomo's campaign has shown the divide between womens movements who are concerned more about reproductive rights and those that focus on economic issues. 

Although the Working Families Party and Women's Equality Party stand for different issues, they are both liberal groups who should support each other's goals instead of trying to make their issue more important the others. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/nyregion/a-gap-within-a-gender-in-new-york-politics.html

Governor Cuomo Not Informing Mayor DeBlasio on Ebola Quarantine

http://nypost.com/2014/10/25/de-blasio-not-consulted-before-cuomos-mandatory-ebola-quarantine/

With the diagnosis of Ebola on a New York City resident, governor Andrew Cuomo released new regulations to quarantine travelers who have had contact with Ebola patients in West Africa. Governor Cuomo did not inform our city's mayor Bill DeBlasio with the excuse saying it "wasn’t city specific. It was every city in New York, every city in New Jersey. And it’s an airport protocol." Mayor DeBlasio believed that he should have been informed saying ‘“This is not about feelings. This is not about personalities. This is a crisis in which we all have to hang together to protect our people…We understand in a fast moving situation that sometimes there will be moments where the communication is not everything we want it to be.”’ When asked if he supported this policy, he brushed it off. 

Rob Astorino, Gov. Andrew Cuomo exchange insults on campaign trail

With only less than 10 days until Election Day, the gubernatorial race has been heating up like never before. Both Astorino and Cuomo are traveling all over the State trying to gather support from voters. However, they have also been spending a lot of time exchanging insults, especially those pertaining to hot topic-policies such as reproductive rights and gun control. At an event at Huntington Station, Astorino calls Cuomo a pig for requesting more monetary donations despite that his campaign account holds $15 million, whereas Cuomo calls Astorino "mentally ill" at a union event held in Queens, in regards to Astorino's adamant opposition to gun control.

Cuomo's spokesperson calls Astorino, "more unhinged" and that his "temper tantrums, name calling, and childish outbursts" are beneath a candidate for governor. However, Astorino believes that he has a very good chance at victory because he believes that the suburbs will support him enough to win this election. To the contrary, the most recent polls conducted by Siena College show that Cuomo is leading at 54%, whereas Astorino is trailing behind at 33%.

I've witnessed a lot of the name-callings from Astorino in our own Election Simulation, and I believe that it's actually doing more bad than good for him because it makes him seem even more incompetent as a candidate for Governor.


http://www.newsday.com/elections/rob-astorino-gov-andrew-m-cuomo-exchange-insults-on-campaign-trail-1.9545131

Travelers in Contact with Ebola Patients, including returning nurse with fever, now face mandatory 21-day quarantine in New York, New Jersey

Both NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and NJ Governor Chris Christie both agreed in a press conference that all health care workers arriving from Africa treating patients with the Ebola disease must be immediately quarantined for 21 days. It is said to be stricter procedures than the federal procedures from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. This is following a case in New York where a doctor who returned from a trip to West Africa suddenly got sick with the Ebola virus on Thursday. However aid organizations are mad that these procedures might discourage doctors and nurses from traveling to West Africa to help Ebola patients. They reason that only the Ebola symptoms are contagious, and that only bodily fluids infect other people anyway, so it is not necessary to have mandatory quarantines. This health issue has also put aside the Astorino and Cuomo governor race temporarily. It has now put the spotlight on Cuomo, who has conducted many speeches in morning shows and also the press conference with Christie, while Astorino is continuing to criticize Cuomo for implementing these bad procedures.

This new health topic has made people rely on Cuomo rather than Astorino, who can't do anything but speak empty words about Cuomo's ineffectiveness as governor. With Cuomo, he is already responsible for the rest of New York, so people will see first hand how much of an effective governor he truly is for themselves. If Cuomo continues to ensure New Yorkers' safety, as in how he doing now, I am sure Cuomo will ultimately topple Astorino in the election.


http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mandatory-21-day-quarantine-travelers-risk-ebola-n-y-n-article-1.1986460

Cuomo spending more than $400,000 a day on campaign

Governor Cuomo recently filed his campaign finance documents, and the numbers are, quite frankly, staggering. Since the beginning of his campaign, Governor Cuomo has raised over $45 million for his campaign and spent over $8 million this month. $76,000 came from an affiliate of a company he used to work for, which will does not help the beleaguered governor who is already under attack for corruption. The fact that he is spending so much money on a race in which he is beating his opponent by at least twenty points in all of the polls shows how ridiculous our political system is getting. Running for office should not require being a millionaire or being a friend of a millionaire, it should only require being capable and willing to serve the people. Cuomo's outrageous spending may be an effort to build his base for the 2016 presidential election, in which he has hinted that he will be running.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/albany-politics/cuomo-spending-more-than-400000-a-day-on-campaign-20141024

Cuomo campaign event turns into a Hillary ’16 rally

During a campaign event for the re-election of Governor Cuomo Hilary Clinton made an appearance to show her support for Cuomo. Now Hilary Clinton is a big name known throughout the whole of the United States. She was the First Lady, Secretary of State, and held great positions in the U.S. government. This is a great success for Cuomo because he is attracting the vote of feminist in America. This will help him prevail again in the next election over a strongly debated issue of "women's equality. Cuomo has a great chance in earning many women votes this election.

http://nypost.com/2014/10/24/cuomo-campaign-event-turns-into-a-hillary-16-rally/

The Times Recommends Re-electing Eric Schneiderman and Thomas DiNapoli

This article is promoting Eric Schneiderman and Thomas DiNapoli. It states how greatly they have both been running New York and how they they should be reelected. It states that Eric Schneiderman has secured 60 billion dollars  to help homeowners. It talks of his aid to the environment as well as his efforts to advance public safety. It also speaks of Cahill's, his opponents, faults. Such as the fact that he has no plan for if he wins or that he opposes gun safety. It also speaks of DiNapoli's accomplishments. This is great publicity for the two candidates before the election, especially since the New York Times is a very reputable newspaper.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/opinion/the-times-recommends-re-electing-eric-schneiderman-and-thomas-dinapoli.html?_r=0

Seeking Votes at Home, Cuomo Goes Far Afield

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/nyregion/seeking-votes-at-home-governor-cuomo-goes-far-afield.html

With the election coming close, Governor Andrew Cuomo tried to attract more votes from Hispanics by taking a brief trip to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He explained his trip as a sign of respect for the Hispanic New Yorkers. Cuomo already has many women voters by traveling the state on a bus called the Women's Equality Express, and appealed to many Jewish voters with his visit to Israel. This trip was to help Cuomo's support with Hispanic leaders since Cuomo showed little interest in pushing for the Dream Act which would give state tuition aid to students who are not documented immigrants. Astorino, Cuomo's opponent also made his effort to appeal to Hispanic voters by speaking to them in Spanish and campaigned with State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.

Andrew Cuomo campaigns without traditional events, while challenger Rob Astorino crosses the state

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cuomo-campaigns-traditional-events-astorino-crosses-state-article-1.1979252

The article discusses the different approaches Andrew Cuomo and Rob Astorino have taken towards winning the gubernatorial campaign. As the incumbent, Cuomo has engaged in very few "traditional" campaign activities, choosing instead to just do his job, promote his memoir, and make trips outside New York. He appears to be "running out the clock", seeing how little time there is left until Election Day. Astorino, on the other hand, has been engaged in the typical campaign activities in his attempts to become more visible, by traveling all over the state, giving speeches, and participating in interviews. Many people have mixed opinion's over Cuomo's activities.

Cuomo Uses Social Issues Against Astorino

Cuomo has been using Astorino’s views on social issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, against him, with TV ads that portray Astorino as “ultraconservative”. Astorino is pro-life and against same-sex marriage, although he says that he won’t try to limit abortion rights or overturn NY’s same-sex marriage law that Cuomo signed in 2011. Cuomo, on the other hand, is actively supporting women, and has taken bus tours to promote his Women’s Equality Act. Due to these efforts, Cuomo’s lead over Astorino is 59 percent to 22 percent among women, according to a poll taken in late September. Astorino has accused Cuomo of focusing on abortion just to get the votes. However, the fact remains that Astorino is Republican in a state with much more Democrats than Republicans, and his pro-life view is working against him.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/10/18/andrew-cuomo-rob-astornio-abortion-governor/17506755/

DiNapoli considers the divestment question

This past Wednesday, in a debate versus NYS Comptroller DiNapoli and opponent Antonacci, DiNapoli spoke about a divestment in the pension fund toward fuel such as coal, natural gas and oil. For our current comptroller, climate change and its economic effects are important in the managing and investment of the pension fund. In this debate, DiNapoli said that "long-term sustainability wasn't a political calculation but rather a financial one, and that corporations' behavior is a major factor in managing the fund". In order to make the best investments, DiNapoli wants to make sure that companies are exhibiting proper corporate behavior. National environment advocacy groups wish he went further on the issue, but overall applauded DiNapoli for his statements. Despite these statements to divest, no major policy changes have been cited.

I'm glad that DiNapoli is addressing an issue that affects not only New Yorkers but the world at large and making sure that money is well spent since it's his job. It's important that he dumps fossil-fuels from the pension fund for a better future. He is successful in showing that he can manage New York's pension by maxamizing tax returns and investing with care. Although he did make a point of addressing the issue and his office says that climate change and its effects economically are important in budget management, I hope he isn't addressing the issue soley to attract a certain group of voters due to the upcoming election. If re-elected, hopefully he continues to make these "steps in the right direction".

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/10/8554746/dinapoli-considers-divestment-question

Cuomo Defends Law Denying Guns to Mentally Ill People

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/20/nyregion/cuomo-defends-law-denying-guns-to-mentally-ill-people.html?ref=politics&_r=0

             After a recent campaign rally in the Bronx where he supported a law that would make taking guns away from the mentally unstable easier, Governor Andrew Cuomo hopes to strengthen the law that was proposed over 18 months ago. He argues how although there are 34,500 people reported to the state to be mentally ill, there are 110,000 people institutionalized who could still pose a threat to other people if not in the right state of mind with a weapon. For example, it's presently unknown how many of those who entered the hospital submitted themselves voluntarily. If they entered by involuntary submission however, they would be barred from buying guys after being processed through a federal database. Cuomo still has flaws in his gubernatorial race, as young protestors at the campaign interrupted his speech, pushing for larger support for the DREAM Act, which would provide funding to immigrant students for college tuition. Despite the opinions of others, I believe Cuomo is working hard in all fields daily to relieve the cries of the public in a very one-sided election and is making the right, sensible choices in his campaign. On the other hand, his Republican opponent Rob Astorino believes that repealing the Safe Act and working to recognize early signs of mental illness is the right thing to do, when I honestly think that these type of illnesses are unexplainable and infrequent- therefore something so small as a social inequality should not be used against a person in any way whatsoever,

Cuomo Tries to Win the Hearts of Western New York

Governor Cuomo has had a history of not getting the votes in Western New York. This time, he will not let that happen. Cuomo had started an initiative to jump start technology, manufacturing, and life science industries there. He calls it the Buffalo Billion. So far, the Buffalo Billion has had 841.9 million dollars of state funding being put into it and it supports a collaboration with the University of Buffalo and the New York Genome Center, as well as a medical hub on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and a solar panel factory. $350 million is going into the construction of hotels, an aquatic park, and expressway replacement. Even with helping Buffalo and Western New York by providing funding for various projects, it will be hard for him to win. The voters there do not like the Safe Act and the taxes that they pay. Will Cuomo win the region over? And do you think he is giving to much money to them?

http://online.wsj.com/articles/cuomo-tries-to-win-over-western-new-york-1413768453

Andrew Cuomo's No Good, Very Bad Year

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/10/andrew-cuomos-bad-year.html
When it comes to accomplishments in his first term, Andrew Cuomo certainly has something to boast about, and he has. Legalizing gay marriage, reducing the state deficit, and passing stricter gun control laws are among these accomplishments. However, this article brings up the things Cuomo has failed to do. Cuomo set out to replace the Tappan Zee bridge, without a source of funds to do so. He has yet to make a decision regarding fracking. It also seems as if he doesn't care about the upcoming election, with a significantly lower amount of campaigning than his challenger, Astorino.

I agree that it is important to also focus on what Cuomo has failed to do in his first term as governor, rather than just his accomplishments. As voters, we must be informed and know the whole story of every candidate. That requires knowing what the individual is capable of doing and what he/she hasn't done.

Republican Attorney General candidate John Cahill is looking at big pay cut if he wins

This article talks exclusively about the salaries of John Cahill and Eric Schneiderman. It mentions their tax return and how much money they have each made in the past five years. The article mentions that Cahill is looking at a half a million pay cut if he wins. It also mentions that when asked why Cahill is willing to lost so much money, Cahill says he would do it to restore integrity back to the governors office. I think that this article is extremely promotional towards Cahill's campaign because it is showing voters that he is willing to give up a lot of money in order to get the job that he wants and it shows that he cares enough about the city he wants to win for to give up money in order to make it better.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/republican-ag-candidate-john-cahill-big-pay-cut-elected-article-1.1970801

Andrew Cuomo's "Non-Campaign" Capaign

Cuomo seems to be taking the backseat on his campaign since he is using no traditional campaign methods. Cuomo spent last week promoting his new book and visiting The Late Show with David Letterman. Keep in mind, Cuomo is still doing his day-to-day job and held a press briefing on the states precautionary measures against the spread of Ebola. Cuomo fails to impress when it comes to international travel and departed on a 24-hour stay to Puerto Rico, only two weeks after visiting Afghanistan.

On the other hand, Astorino is swarming the state from corner to corner, trying his best to catch as many voters as he can. Astorino is very active in his campaign, but the polls are not suggesting that this a very effective method. Even calling Cuomo coward, Astorino feels that the governor wants nothing to do with the average person. Does that really make sense? I rather have a governor do is job, versus spewing nonsense just to get elected.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cuomo-campaigns-traditional-events-astorino-crosses-state-article-1.1979252

Bill de Blasio Boosting Thomas DiNapoli With a Fund-Raiser

Bill de Blasio is trying to ensure that as many democrats win as possible. He is holding a fundraiser for state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli Tuesday and is supporting other democratic candidates, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, statewide. New York is a very liberal state so he shouldn't have much of a problem getting democratic candidates elected. The reasons for his support are clear. You always want your side in office. It makes getting policies you favor passed. Even though Bill de Blasio is a mayor, and therefore has little affinity with the state as a whole, the state still can affect the city. Therefore it is good to have fellow democrats in the state senate and as governor.

http://observer.com/2014/10/bill-de-blasio-boosting-thomas-dinapoli-with-a-fund-raiser/

Party of the rich: In Congress, it's the Democrats

According to a recent survey, Democrat members of Congress hold more of the top ten wealthiest districts in the country than Republicans do. Although the general consensus is that Republicans are usually the richer politicians, it has been found that Carolyn Maloney's district, the 12th Congressional District in New York, commonly known as the Upper East Side, makes an average per capita income of $75,479, making it one of the wealthiest districts. Other Democratic politicians hold equally wealthy districts throughout New York and California, two consistently blue states. Republican districts make about $1,000 less on average than the average Democratic district.

I believe that this article isn't quite understanding the concept of "party of the rich." Democrats may hold more wealthy Congressional districts, but what the author should also consider is that almost any district in New York City, especially Manhattan, is going to be supremely wealthy in comparison to districts somewhere in the back alleys of Kansas. Additionally, the concept of "party of the rich" applies more to the actual wealth that Republicans amass through untaxed capital made through stock market investments. With this, Republicans are also more likely to support the incredibly wealthy through their economic policies of laissez-faire, and as such really are the party of the rich.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/10/16/3905688_party-of-the-rich-in-congress.html?rh=1

Andrew Cuomo campaigns without traditional events, while challenger Rob Astorino crosses the state

Andrew Cuomo is not following traditional procedures for his campaign. Instead, just last week, Cuomo went to a book-signing for his new memoir, and made a visit to the David Letterman show. He also made a public briefing about the state procedures to deal with the Ebola virus, and even flew to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, gaining approval from Hispanic voters. This counts as his third trip so far in merely a few months, after his other visit to Israel and Afghanistan.

While Cuomo went along with his own affairs, Astorino went to the South Bronx to rally together the Hispanic voters there and delivered a speech calling for term limits. He also went to Brooklyn, Rochester, Westchester County, and Long Island, and also participated in many radio interviews.

During those times, he kept calling Cuomo a coward for not meeting up with him in one-on-one televised debates.

But before, Cuomo did do some of his traditional duties to campaign as governor. He went on bus tours to promote women's issues, and visited black churches. He also held some NYC events with Hispanic leaders. However, it is true that Cuomo never really made an effort to face Astorino in a one-on-one battle of the words.

Political analysts admit that, while it does deprive the state of a true fight for governor through debates and such, they find nothing wrong with Cuomo's approach.

Honestly, I feel as if Cuomo is not putting much effort into this campaign because he definitely knows that he will win. He has more money, and a bigger lead in the race overall. But his lack of spirit in fighting shows. I feel as if Cuomo thinks that he can get away with work just because he has more power and money. I feel bad for Astorino who has to fight tooth and nail to overcome this adversity.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cuomo-campaigns-traditional-events-astorino-crosses-state-article-1.1979252

Sole Debate in Race for New York State Comptroller Is Gentlemanly

After way too much mudslinging in the gubernatorial race it's nice to see that some candidates can actually get along. On Wednesday, Tom DiNapoli and Robert E. Antonacci who are competing for New York State Comptroller, engaged in a friendly debate. The debate included issues about pilot public financing programs and the use of state pension funds to control the behavior of companies. At times the candidates even argued about issues that they have little conrol over like fracking, but it seemed that the two had a lot in common during the yes or no questions round. Although comptroller is a lesser known race, it is still important for voters to make informed decisions and debates like these do help. It is essential for voters to know who is spending our state's tax dollars and how they are spending it. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/nyregion/sole-debate-in-race-for-new-york-state-comptroller-is-gentlemanly.html?ref=politics&_r=0

Cuomo receives award from conservative research group

Andrew Cuomo was rewarded with "the outstanding achievement in state tax reform award" by a conservative research award. This is a very big achievement for Cuomo who is looking for re-election in a couple of weeks. This award can help Cuomo gain re election because when people see this, it will only glorify his name. Cuomo's accomplishments include reducing tax by .6 percent ad abolished corporate levy. He has helped New York which was ranked last in having the worst tax climate. New York is back on the rise now and Cuomo may be too in the upcoming weeks.

http://nypost.com/2014/10/17/cuomo-receives-award-from-conservative-research-group/

Seeking Votes at Home, Cuomo Goes Far Afield

Governor Andrew Cuomo decided to make a trip to Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo this past week in order to appeal to the Hispanic voters back in New York. Instead of garnering support from Hispanics within New York State like his opponent, Rob Astorino, is, he is traveling hundreds of miles to do so. This is not the only trip he's made in attempt to gather support from different groups of people. Cuomo has visited Israel to appeal to the Jewish voters, traveled to different parts of New York State to advocate women's rights to appeal to the female voters, and addressed black congregants at churches to appeal to the black voters. Whereas Astorino used his Spanish-speaking skills to acquaint himself with Hispanic voters in Bronx, NY at an event held for the elderly. Astorino, aware of Cuomo's visit to Puerto Rico, fired, "While Governor Cuomo is enjoying himself on the island of Puerto Rico,” Mr. Astorino told a reporter, “I’m here in the South Bronx, speaking Spanish, talking to Puerto Ricans who live here.” 

Unlike Astorino, Cuomo spoke to little no Spanish during his opening speech during his visit in Puerto Rico. And when asked about the purpose of conversing with people of Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo when there were Hispanic voters in back at home, Cuomo responded that he had the opportunity to do so everyday. However, it seems like the real purpose of this visit was to gain endorsements from Hispanic leaders such as Puerto Rico's governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla, which he successfully did. I think that Cuomo's way of thinking outside of the box by traveling to these places as an attempt to appeal more to different groups of voters is interesting and seemingly effective. From the likes of it, Cuomo seems to be the more favorable candidate out of the two.




http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/nyregion/seeking-votes-at-home-governor-cuomo-goes-far-afield.html?_r=0

Sexual Assault Activists Meet Kathy Hochul and Christine Quinn

Sexual assault is a widespread problem on college campuses, and most administrations have done less than nothing about it. The problem has become more prominent after Columbia student Emma Sulkowicz's mattress protest, which was on the cover of New York magazine, and attracted the attention of politicians. This is yet another example of Cuomos' attempt to push his Equal Rights Agenda through his running mate. Kathy Hochul has attempted to brand herself as a woman's rights activist by campaigning with the Women's Equality Party, and this is just another example of this.

http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2014/10/16/sexual-assault-activists-meet-kathy-hochul-christine-quinn

Andrew Cuomo Announces Random Ebola Drills On New York Subway

This is one of the best decisions I believe that Governor Andrew Cuomo can make regarding the protection of people from the Ebola virus. Right now more people are infected with the fear of catching Ebola than with Ebola because a lot of people feel that they might be unprepared for what happens if someone around them has Ebola. This drill will teach people how to react if someone near them has Ebola. This is extremely important because this will set in place procedures so that people do not feel like they are unprepared and these drills will also serve as practice runs in order to help people practice in case there is an actual Ebola outbreak in New York.
However, a major set back to this fantastic idea is that it may cause an initial panicking reaction by the people in the subway. This short term issue is offset by the skills that the people involved will learn. It is extremely important to learn these procedures even if a Ebola outbreak does not occur because it is better to be safe than to be sorry. This will really get more people to notice that the Governor is trying to protect the people of New York and this may bring him more votes.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/16/andrew-cuomo-ebola-subway-drills_n_5999108.html

John Cahill slams AG Eric Schneiderman's handling of Vito Lopes legal fees

It states in this article that Eric Schneiderman has been using tax dollars to pay for law firms to defend against lawsuits against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Assembly. John Cahill says that it is not the duty of the state officials to sexually harass young women therefore it is not the job of the taxpayers to pay to defend the officials when lawsuits arise. John Cahill is calling upon Eric Schneiderman to stop wasting taxpayers money on this because he already spent $700,000 for law firms. Is this what Eric Schneiderman should be doing this close to the election? Will John Cahill get ahead because of this?
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/john-cahill-slams-ag-eric-schneiderman-handling-vito-lopez-legal-fees-blog-entry-1.1976912

Cuomo To Receive Tax Foundation Award

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/cuomo_to_receive_tax_foundation_award_for_lowering_ny_rates.html

Today Governor Andrew Cuomo received the Tax Foundation Award for lowering its corporate tax rate this year. Before New York ranked as #50 based on Tax Foundation rankings but with new parts of reform, it is said that NY will move to fourth. Cuomo received the award for Outstanding Achievement in State Tax Reform. A spokesperson from the Tax Foundation said "New York's reforms in 2014 reduced unnecessary complexity in the corporate tax base and lowered the corporate income tax rate to the lowest level since 1968." Cuomo created more brackets in the state's income tax code, which lowered rates for many middle-class taxpayers and put more tax burden on the wealthiest New Yorkers. Now the tax rates range from 4 percent to 8.82 percent.
Rob Astorino wants to continue this type of reform. 
If Cuomo is doing a good job would electing Rob Astorino be a wrong move? Or is this award all fluff seeming that New York still has one of the highest tax rates in the US. 

Cuomo’s Remains Cautious as Election Nears

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1016797-cuomos-remains-cautious-as-election-nears/

              The competition is still on-and alive. At the recent Columbus Day parade, both candidates avoided each other. It's no wonder then that Cuomo, with all of his advertisements, promises, and agreed-on future debates secured him a 51% to 31% lead over Astorino. Cuomo, although wary of the proposed debate on the radio and television, gladly accepted them in hopes of ensuring his re-election. He also hopes on stressing the Women's Equality Party that he created, pushing for more sexual assault policy reform on SUNY campuses. However, his recent plans to go to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico have people questioning why; not only because he is a stay-at-home governor, but also because of, as Astorino was quick to point out, Cuomo's "refusal to debate offers by major Spanish language TV networks" (10). Overall, I think this article, while it does point to Cuomo as the obvious leader, still reflects some important points Astorino makes if Cuomo is to be as successful as a governor as he says he will be.

Rep. Maloney Pushes for Legislation to Reduce Overdraft Fees

Carolyn Maloney has been advocating for legislation that would regulate how banks levy overdraft fees on its customers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has reported that Americans suffer from an average overdraft fee of around $34. It also reported that most fees are applied on debit card purchases totaling at less than $24. Maloney argues that such fees are outrageous, since often overdrafts of such small amounts are little mistakes for which Americans have been paying through the nose. She not only calls for fees that are proportional to the charges, but also expand the opt-in requirement to paper checks and automatic transactions to prevent the risk of overdrawing without realizing. Finally, she wants to prohibit banks from "shuffling" bills, which can sometimes lead to customers incurring multiple fees for the same infraction.

I think this article leans toward the liberal end of the spectrum, being published on a New York-based news network. Additionally, the article offers an open forum to the network's Twitter and Facebook for people to share their personal stories on unfair overdraft fees, implying that it is on the same side as Maloney concerning such financial practices.

http://www.ny1.com/content/lifestyles/money_matters/217168/rep--maloney-pushes-for-legislation-to-reduce-overdraft-fees/

Astorino attacks Governor Cuomo for his potential trip to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/rob-astorino-rips-potential-gov-cuomo-trip-puerto-rico-dominican-republican-panic-pander-tour-blog-entry-1.1972344

With the announcement of Governor Cuomo's potential visit to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, opponent Rob Astorino criticizes the move as a "panic and pander tour". Astorino, fluent in Spanish criticizes Cuomo for his lack of concern with the Latino community. Cuomo has recently turned down offers for debates on Hispanic networks such as Univision and New York 1 Noticias. Astorino thinks thast Cuomo is so out of touch with the Hispanic community and if he wants to connect with them he should visit Latin areas in New York rather than traveling.

This article truly demonstrates Astorino's tactic throughout the campaign. He constantly puts Cuomo's camapign down and speaks poorly of the work he's done. Although Astorino says Cuomo is out of touch with the community he provides very few examples and he doesnt address what he would do in this position. I want to know more of Astorino's policies, not just that they shook their head at what Cuomo is doing. Then need to be proactive, not reactive

Gov. Cuomo releases campaign ad featuring his daughters and girlfriend, celebrity chef Sandra Lee

Governor Andrew Cuomo is making efforts to promote woman's equality. This weekend marked the start of his women quality campaign by releasing his first commercial, featuring his family - three daughters and girlfriend. The commercial raises points about sexual abuse, unequal pay, and abortion. This approach is interesting, as it seems like Cuomo can relate to woman's rights to a great extent, knowing that he lives with four other females. This tactic was used last year by Bill de Blasio, when he featured his son, Dante. I think that bringing the candidates family into the campaign shows the public that these candidates have families too and are willing to represent us as much as they would their family.
  http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/gov-cuomo-releases-campaign-ad-featuring-daughters-girlfriend-celebrity-chef-sandra-lee-blog-entry-1.1971124

Mitt Romney blasts Cuomo in harsh fundraising letter

          Politics always comes back to the voters. At the end of the day they're the ones who give the politicians the power to do what they do. In order to get the votes you have to make your self look good and make the other person look bad. One way to do that is to have outside big-name politicians endorse you or bash the opponent. Mitt Romney is attempting to influence the Governors race by doing both. He insults Cuomo's record and praises Astorino. This could affect the race but probably not seeing as anyone who supports Mitt Romney probably is already voting republican in the race. Cuomo expects to smash Astorino in the race but the polls predict a close election. This could be the result of several factors. One of the big ones probably is a smaller turnout of Cuomo's voters because they feel he's going to win already.

http://nypost.com/2014/10/13/mitt-romney-blasts-cuomo-in-harsh-fundraising-letter/

For Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Incumbency Has Its Perks

Andrew Cuomo is currently in the lead for re-election as governor (about 51% for him to 21% for Astorino, according to a recent poll), and he has been using his incumbency to his advantage. He has opportunities his opponent doesn’t have, such as a military-sponsored trip to Afghanistan and attendance in a SUNY board meeting to introduce sexual-assault policies. It is also to Cuomo’s advantage that all he has to do is remain active in his duties, because he already has a comfortable lead. It really seems that it is easier for incumbent politicians to get re-elected rather than for politicians to get elected in a certain position for the first time.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/for-gov-andrew-cuomo-incumbency-has-its-perks-1413162639

Astorino's Last Hope is for People to ignore Party Lines

It seems that as of now Governor Cuomo has the election. According to Quinnipiac University's poll, he is 20 points ahead of Astorino. Astorino is trying to persuade democratic voters to ignore party lines. His hope is that he can persuade enough democrats and unaffiliated voters so the tide can be turned. According the article, the small business owners in New Rochelle are leaning towards Astorino because they feel that Governor Cuomo has abandoned them and that he focuses on big business and corporations instead. Some voters also agree with Astorino on social issues such as abortion and same sex marriage. I do think that these observations were expected since New Rochelle is in Westchester county and after all, Astorino has been the County Executive since 2009 so, why is it surprising to see New Rochelle residents support him?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/14/nyregion/astorino-trying-to-convince-democrats-to-ignore-party-lines.html?_r=0

Rep. Carolyn Maloney sponsors the most bills

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rep-carolyn-maloney-sponsors-bills-article-1.1971926

According to records, Carolyn Maloney has backed more bills during her 21 years in Congress than any other member of the House of Representatives. She filed a whopping 618 bills since first taking office in 1993 and claims that huger number proves that she and her staff work hard. However, only 11 of those bills have been enacted into laws. Her opponent, Nick Di Iorio used this statistic against her, calling her ineffective in congress. However, the 11 bills that did get passed were, in fact, pretty significant and put her above the average House member.
I think this goes to show that it's about quality, not quantity. Carolyn Maloney seems to be working very hard in Congress and although only 1.78% of the bills she sponsored were passed, she is showing that she cares enough about the people she represents to be extremely active in her role as a member of the House of Representatives.

Andrew Cuomo & Rob Astorino Campaign at NYC Columbus Day Parade

Andrew Cuomo and Rob Astorino were both campaigning during the Columbus Day Parade. Both candidates are sure of their campaigns but Cuomo seems a little nervous in his campaign which shows through his actions. He is making spontaneous trips to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Cuomo is saying that he wants to visit these places in order to show his support to the communities in NY, it seems, however, that he is showing sudden support to these communities because he hash;t paid much attention to them before and now sees that they are important to his election. What do you guys think?
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/10/13/cuomo-astorino-campaign-at-columbus-day-parade/

Mitt Romney blasts Cuomo in harsh fundraising letter

http://nypost.com/2014/10/13/mitt-romney-blasts-cuomo-in-harsh-fundraising-letter/

This article discusses the rising fervor of Cuomo's opposition, particularly Mitt Romney. Romney recently wrote a letter that lambasts Cuomo for the ineffective use of millions of taxpayer dollars for failed programs. His letter also emphasizes some of the worst features of the New York economic climate, such as the exorbitantly high taxes. Romney's timing could not be better for his supported gubernatorial candidate, Rob Astorino. Romney praises Astorino's leadership in Westchester, clearly indicating where his support lies. Since Astorino's campaign doesn't possess nearly the amount of resources Cuomo's does, alliances may be even more important. The article also mentions a surprising fact of the election - Cuomo's less-than-expected lead over Astorino. Although Cuomo spent a great deal of money in the hopes of a landslide victory, recent polls show that it is more realistic for him to expect a close election.

Romney Backs Astorino

Mitt Romney has just officially backed Astorino in his race for governor. Romney wrote a fundraising appeal and bashed Cuomo by calling him a "typical corrupt politician." It will be interesting to see if any voters are swayed by Romney's support. Will it help or hurt the campaign? Astorino was elected into office by a mainly democratic demographic so will they be turned off by Romney's support? Or will wary Republicans be more enthusiastic with their support?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/13/romney-backs-astorino-in-new-york-governors-race/

Cuomo Denies Interfering with Ethnic Commision

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/nyregion/cuomo-defends-his-handling-of-ethics-panel.html?_r=0

Governor Andrew Cuomo created an anti corruption panel to which he abruptly shut down after five days. He was harshly criticized and accused of hobbling ethics investigation to which he stated that the work of the anti corruption panel was a phenomenal success. On Monday when Governor Cuomo addressed his defense as to his shut down of the panel, his office had wrote a thirteen response defending their action and Cuomo seemed to agree with most of the response but he also contradicted other points that his office had wrote. Because he had shut down the panel so abruptly, federal prosecutors are now investigating Mr. Cuomo and his aides' role in the shutdown. According to the New York Times, last summer, Cuomo had stated that the panel could investigate anything, even his office, but now on Monday, Cuomo said," A commission appointed by and staffed by the executive cannot investigate the executive.

Mitt Romney blasts Cuomo in harsh fundraising letter

It is less than a month away from Election Day, and Governor Cuomo is still making strides to make sure that he wins his re-election by a landslide. However, the most recent Quinnipiac poll shows that Cuomo is just 20 percent ahead of the race, which is considered to be a close call between him and Rob Astorino. The poll also shows that Democrats within New York State do not favor Cuomo, and strong Republicans such as Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush are encouraging Republicans in New York State to vote for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino. Mitt Romney stated in his fundraising letter that, “The unfortunate truth is New York has the highest taxes in America. The state has the worst economic outlook in the country, and since Gov. Cuomo took office, 400,000 people have relocated to states offering more opportunity,’’ and endorses Astorino by saying that “He was twice elected [executive] in Democratic Westchester County because he effectively governs in a bipartisan way.”

Although there is not much else to do now, Cuomo has to emphasize his accomplishments and effectiveness during his tenure as Governor. However, it really depends on how Cuomo's efforts to appeal more to the voters in this last leg of the race to see if he may or may not lose his reelection by a landslide. If anything, the race will end very closely between the two candidates. 

http://nypost.com/2014/10/13/mitt-romney-blasts-cuomo-in-harsh-fundraising-letter/

Indefensible

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman claims that he is doing everything he can to change business and the government for the better. However, the writer questions his actions, saying that he may be helping mortgage lenders and debt collectors who have been giving Schneiderman his profits, but not the rest of New York. In regards to a lawsuit case filed by thousands of people who are denied the basic rights of liberty, they have not done anything. This case was regarding the courtroom procedures where low-income clients were not able to defend themselves with a lawyer, even though the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution explicitly states that lawyers can be provided for the accused free of charge if they cannot afford one. Both Schneiderman and Cuomo in the past attempted to put down the lawsuit based on procedural grounds, rather than enact reforms in order to ensure justice. Schneiderman and Cuomo has only decided up until now (7 years after this event) to negotiate for a settlement. Overall, the writer is clearly against Schneiderman, because the Attorney General talks like he is good, but his actions do not reflect what he says. Yet in the article, the writer admits that in the State Senate, Schneiderman had requested for reforms in the civil courts, but as he is tied with Cuomo, he is obligated uphold his position regarding the courts. Though we may never know why both of them took so long to change their mind about this lawsuit, it is better late than never that they have actually started to tackle these type of injustices in court.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/editorial-indefensible-article-1.1970618

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins working to woo Democrats unhappy with Cuomo

With political campaigns stress the democratic and republican candidates the voters sometimes forget that there are other parties like the Green Party. This article explains that although Green Party candidate, Howie Hawkins, has no chance winning he could deprive Cuomo of the landslide win he is hoping for. Hawkins casts himself as the "progressive choice" in the race. He disapproves of fracking, and the Common Core school curriculum, but wants to increase education aid. It's disappointing that smaller parties aren't able to advertise their goals to the public leaving them at a great disadvantage on election day. We don't even represent the Green Party in the election simulation. If these small scale parties had more resources to get their views out do you think they would do better in the election or will a democrat or republican always win?

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/green-party-gov-canidate-howie-hawkins-gains-ground-dems-upset-cuomo-article-1.1971352

Cuomo Looks to Make Women's Equality Personal With a New Ad

Governor Cuomo released an ad supporting his Equal Rights Agenda featuring his three daughters and girlfriend. The ad was introduced at a Woman's Equality Party rally in Manhattan, where Governor Cuomo and former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke. Both denounced Cuomo's opponent Rob Astorino, one of the most conservative politicians in New York state, for opposing a woman's right to choose and accused him of fighting to make abortion illegal. It is unlikely that Astorino will win this race because most conservative New Yorkers are much more liberal than he is. Astorino is not giving up and took a few shots at Cuomo, accusing him of hypocrisy due to his handling of the Vito Lopez case. Astorino claims that it is not right for Cuomo to continue supporting Sheldon Silver, who helped silence victims of Lopez's sexual harassment, while pushing his agenda which includes a plank against workplace harassment. While this is a valid point, Astorino can hardly consider himself to be an advocate of women considering he is anti-choice even in circumstances of rape or when abortion would save a woman's life.

http://observer.com/2014/10/cuomo-looks-to-make-womens-equality-personal-with-family-ad/

As de Blasio Aids Bid for Democratic Senate, Cuomo Is a Nearly Invisible Man

This article discusses both the importance of the a democratic state senate as well as the Working Families Party and how it is "shaky" in its support for Governor Cuomo. A democratic state senate is extremely important because it can help get laws passed. It can also greatly strengthen the democratic hold in New York state itself. However, according to recent polls the key senate races are leaning in the Republicans' favor. Governor Cuomo had previously mentioned that he would be a strong advocate in helping to lead the fight for the democratic senate, but recently he mentioned. "... elect a legislature: Democratic, Republican, whatever they elect. I think the job of the governor is to figure out how to make it work.” This shows that the Governor seems to have began to care less for the senate race because he is no longer worried about the outcome of the race. This article as discussed how the Working Families Party and its relationship with the Governor has become quite tense. The relationship is so tense that the party initially lent its support to Cuomo's opposition in the primaries, but it later withdrew its support. During a event the Working Families Party held on Wednesday night, Governor was not in attendance and his name was not even mentioned more than a few times.This is just another example of the tense relationships between the Governor and the Working Families Party. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/10/nyregion/as-de-blasio-aids-bid-for-democratic-senate-cuomo-is-a-nearly-invisible-man.html?_r=0

Cuomo has international travel plans to promote trade

Cuomo is planning to visit many different countries if he is re-elected by the people of New York. The reason Cuomo plans on doing this is to promote trade between these countries and New York. Cuomo claims that he did not do this in his first term because he was busy with state plans. This move by Cuomo may get him re-elected because most governors will not focus on issues like this but Cuomo promises New York that he will do this if he gets re-elected. However, this should not be apart of a governors agenda. He should still focus on state plans instead of foreign plans. The infrastructure of New York should be strong before he goes to make foreign trade deals with other countries.

http://nypost.com/2014/10/08/cuomo-has-international-travel-plans-to-promote-trade/

Rob Astorino Gets Endorsement from Democratic State Senator

Today Senato Ruben Diaz announced his support for Rob Astorino. Even though Diaz is a Democrat he refused to support Andrew Cuomo and chose Astorino instead. When asked why he did this Diaz said it was because he only supports the best. But what I am thinking is that he chose to side with Astorino because he is strongly opposes the abortion rights that Cuomo is vowing to pass. What do you guys think?

http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/775951/rob-astorino-gets-endorsement-from-democratic-state-senator/

Cuomo Writes a Memoir?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/nyregion/in-memoir-cuomo-reflects-on-highs-and-lows-both-personal-and-political.html?_r=0

This post is was mostly about the memoir governor Cuomo will be releasing on Tuesday, three weeks before election day. In this book, he talks about the highs and lows of his political and even personal points of his life. In the memoir, he speaks about his father Mario M. Cuomo and ex-wife Kerry Kennedy. Of course, there are mentions of his political outlook and points of what he thinks it takes to do well in politics.

It seems rather convenient that Cuomo is releasing a memoir three weeks before the election day. Perhaps he is trying to appeal to the people with a more person-to-person focus instead of a pressing the public with his political image. Would this book be a successful way of boosting his image or just fluff?

Cuomo Announces Five International Trade Missions

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/gov-cuomo-announces-international-trade-missions-globe-blog-entry-1.1966144

In this article, Governor Cuomo was criticized for not offering any vision for the next four years because he rarely traveled outside the state. This Tuesday, he proposed to make five international trade missions to promote global business opportunities in New York State. The five countries he plans to visit is China, Mexico, Canada, Israel, and Italy. When asked why he didn't travel in his first term as Governor, he said he wanted to make the point that his job is the governor of New York and that is a job that you do in the state of New York. Cuomo also announced that he would create an "import- export bank" for New York State with $35 million in state funding.

Rob Astorino is Trying to Catch Cuomo

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/new-york-today-trying-to-catch-cuomo/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=nyregion&_r=0

Money is a very important factor in a political campaign. This article discusses Rob Astorino's struggle to make himself heard in his campaign against Andrew Cuomo because he doesn't have the money that Cuomo has. Andrew Cuomo has $24 million in his bank to which he can run T.V. Ads until Election Day while Rob Astorino has $1.3 million in his bank. Astorino is struggling because it is hard to raise money because people don't think you can win, but it's also hard to win if you don't raise money. So while Astorino is visiting Hispanic- owned small businesses, an Elks Lodge, and a yacht club, Cuomo's campaign schedule is blank.

Federal Appeals and Supreme Court Strike Down Appeals to Ban Gay Marriage

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California struck down several state appeals that would ban gay marriage last Tuesday. Idaho and Nevada appealed for a ban on same-sex marriage, but the court decided in a unanimous decision to decline the proposal. This federal appeals court also has jurisdiction over three other states which ban gay marriage (being Alaska, Arizona, and Montana), so many are expecting the bans to soon fall in those states, as well.

This decision was just a day after the Supreme Court refused to reconsider similar appeals to ban same-sex marriage in Utah, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Virginia. Several other federal appeals courts that have jurisdiction over Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina may also soon strike down laws that would prevent gay and lesbian couples from receiving marriage benefits.

I believe that this is an incredible decision on the behalf of federal courts across the country. Ever since the Supreme Court decided that gay marriage was a states' issue, more and more local governments have been enacting laws that legalize same-sex marriage, or have been failing to enact others that would infringe on such freedoms. This article specifically seems to have a bias in favor of same-sex marriage, including positive quotes from the courts and President Obama himself.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/07/federal-appeals-court-gay-marriage-idaho-nevada/16872117/

2014 New York primary election: Andrew Cuomo, running mate prevail in New York

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/2014-new-york-primary-election-andrew-cuomo-running-mate-prevail-in-new-york-110795.html

This article discusses Andrew Cuomo and running mate Kathy Hochul's current lead in the Democratic primaries, against their opponent Zephyr Teachout and Timothy Wu. They have strong support against these candidates, but are also more vulnerable to criticism. Cuomo in particular has been criticized for being too moderate and having a spotty relationship with anti-corruption. Meanwhile, Rob Astorino, the Republican candidate, has been predicted to lose to Cuomo, who has so much more support. Even other Republicans, such as Governor Chris Christie, acknowledge Astorino's disadvantages in the race.

At Cuomo Campaign Rallies, a Focus on Women’s Issues

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/nyregion/at-cuomo-campaign-rallies-a-focus-on-womens-issues.html?ref=politics&_r=0
This article reveals Cuomo's plans to expand women's rights, including fighting for equality and pro-choice policies. This is a stark contrast to the views held by Republican candidate, Rob Astorino, who  opposes abortion rights. Cuomo is also working to pass the Women's Equality Act, which wasn't passed by the NY legislature the last time he introduced it.
I feel that women's rights are a major issue in elections nowadays. In this election, there really isn't any middle ground. Either the candidate is very liberal in regards to women's rights such as abortion rights, or the candidate is very conservative, such as Astorino displayed.

DiNapoli Announces Lowered Fees for New York State's 529 College Savings Direct Plan

http://news.hamlethub.com/ryebrook/politics/1495-dinapoli-announces-lowered-fees-for-new-york-state-s-529-college-savings-direct-plan On October 6th, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that he will be reducing the fees for the state 529 College Savings Program's Direct Plan. New York’s 529 College Savings Program helps parents of college students pay for their tuition. In the past five years, the program has received its fourth fee reduction and reports that more than 650,000 accounts are valued at more than 16 billion dollars. With the price tag for college education increasing at a gradual rate, parents can rest assured that they may be able to pay for their child's college, setting them off to the work-force without mounds of debt on their back.

With focus on Buffalo, Gov. Cuomo turns traditional New York campaign upside down

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gov-cuomo-focuses-buffalo-struggling-economy-voters-question-intentions-article-1.1963655

         It seems Andrew Cuomo has learned another tactic on how to win this year's gubernatorial election after losing in western New York in the 2010 election- and that's by focusing on Buffalo. Despite being beaten by a Buffalo businessman in his prior attempt, Cuomo claims that Buffalo was the part of New York which required the most attention and therefore the most resources and focus. In fact, since he took office in 2011, unemployment has dropped from 8.5% to 6.4%. Not to mention the private-sector developments in Buffalo have surmassed $4.5 billion over the past two years. He hopes to open $1 billion in order to spur more economic development in western New York. Nonetheless, Cuomo has to think twice if he believes that this will guarantee him a landslide victory against Astorino, who believes that the SAFE Act will negatively affect Cuomo's voters.

Opposition of Cuomo's Gun Control Laws is noticed

In the wake of the Newtown school shooting, Governor Cuomo passed the toughest gun control law in the nation. However, this law has gotten many people in upstate NY angry and the law seems to be a key issue upstate. Despite this, most New Yorkers approve of Cuomo's gun control law and Cuomo considers it a great achievement. The people who oppose the act are very active but they are few in number. Although they vow to vote against Cuomo on Election Day, I don't think it will have a huge effect on his lead over Republican candidate Rob Astorino.

http://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/safe-act-gun-control-law-a-key-issue-upstate-in-governor-s-race-1.9469736

Cuomo mandates for SUNY to fix their rules regarding sexual assault

This past Thursday, Governor Cuomo gave a press conference in Manhattan in which he said SUNY has 60 days to change their rules regarding sexual assault on campus. He has mandated that they must work at preventing, investigating, and prosecuting the cases. Cuomo hopes that by doing so, eventually there will be a statewide law regulating sexual assault policies in both state and private universities. Currently, most SUNY schools have policies of affirmative consent but in varying degrees. Consent is when both parties must agree to each act, and they must be in the right health to make the judgement. I think this is a major step forward for New York State to stand up with victims of sexual assault cases. With this change to the policies, victims can now go to police and campus security to report the assault, even if the victim was drinking and is underage. I believe that this change will help re-elect Governor Cuomo in the November elections because it stands out to parents and young voters as an approach in the right direction for NY.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/nyregion/cuomo-orders-suny-to-overhaul-its-sexual-assault-rules.html?_r=0

NRA not giving Astorino campaign money despite anger at Cuomo's NY Safe Act

Governor Cuomo is ahead of his opponent Rob Astorino in the polls by 29 points. This wide margin is what is preventing conservative groups who support him from donating a lot or any money. Governor Cuomo supports the safe act, which puts more restrictions on guns. This of course is not very popular with more conservative voters but New York is a very liberal state so the chance of Rob Astorino winning is very small. The other problem is that Astorino has not been able to raise the same amount of money as Cuomo so funding from outside groups is necessary. Therefore conservative groups like the NRA are wise not to invest money in a failed campaign. They’re money is best invested, as they are doing, in closer races where the chances of putting a candidate with their ideals in office.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/astorino_fails_to_cash_in_on_ny_safe_act_in_race_against_cuomo.html