UPDATE#2, Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 a.m.: Monroe County Democratic Committee chair Joe Morelle sent out a press release last night, responding to the statement from Warren’s camp. His statement follows Warren’s at the end of this blog. UPDATE, Tuesday, April 23, 4:15 p.m.: Lovely Warren’s campaign has responded to the MCDC’s endorsement of Tom Richards. […]
Joe Morelle
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Power play
The powers that be want to close a nuclear plant that provides electricity to downstate, but upstate ratepayers shouldn’t be on the hook for that decision, State Senator Ted O’Brien says. | Federal licenses for Indian Point Energy Center’s two operating reactors expire soon: one at the end of September, the other in 2015. And […]
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Cuomo bats leadership ball back to legislators
The New York Post published an article this morning speculating that Governor Andrew Cuomo and his staff want to push Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver out of his leadership post. It also says that Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle could be installed in Silver’s place. According to the Post, Cuomo planned to use last week’s arrests […]
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O’Brien says upstaters shouldn’t have to pay for Indian Point closing
The powers that be want to close a nuclear plant that provides electricity to downstate, but upstate ratepayers shouldn’t be on the hook for that decision, state Senator Ted O’Brien says. Federal licenses for Indian Point Energy Center’s two operating reactors expire soon: one at the end of September, the other in 2015. And some […]
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Morelle steps into MCC fray
State Assembly member Joe Morelle is sharply questioning Monroe Community College’s plan to move its downtown campus. Morelle is not the only local elected official who has been skeptical of the plan; Mayor Tom Richards and County Legislature Democrats have been very critical of it. But Morelle’s involvement is adding to tensions over the plan. […]
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Morelle gets high-level Assembly post
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has selected Assembly member Joe Morelle to serve as the chamber’s majority leader. Morelle lives in Irondequoit and his district includes the town, Brighton, and parts of the City of Rochester. He also serves as chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee. During an interview last week, Morelle said he’d […]
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A Morelle is headed to the Legislature
Monroe County Democrats will move to put Joe Morelle Jr., in the County Legislature seat vacated by Ted O’Brien, who is starting his term in the State Senate. An announcement is expected later today. Morelle is the son of State Assembly member and county Democratic Committee chair Joe Morelle. According to media reports, Morelle Jr. […]
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Presidential election boosts local candidates
Local political observers say they’re not surprised that incumbent Democrat Louise Slaughter beat Republican Maggie Brooks, the Monroe County executive, in their Congressional contest. But they are surprised, they say, by Slaughter’s margin of victory. According to unofficial results from the Monroe County Board of Elections, Slaughter bested Brooks by about 15 percentage points, 166,342 […]
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Fracking’s insurance issues
Environmental and economic issues have so far dominated New York’s discussion of high-volume hydraulic fracturing. But there are other issues to consider if state officials decide to green-light fracking, including the complex question of insurance. The State Assembly’s Insurance Committee has been studying the implications of fracking on homeowner, mortgage, and title insurance policies for […]
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Divide or conquer? The Dems’ dilemma
These days, Steve Minarik’s life can’t be easy. Despite clinging (barely) to a majority in the state Senate and to the governor’s mansion, the Grand Old Party is in unstable condition statewide. And things are likely to get worse; polls of almost every conceivable match-up show Republicans ceding the governor’s position and failing to steal […]
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Judge not
Memo to Bob Duffy and Tim Mains: Joe Morelle’s got your number. Morelle’s held the Democratic Party’s top job for less than two weeks, but he’s not waiting to build political capital before twisting a few arms. Exhibit A: Deb Crowder. Crowder was one of four people vying for the party’s nod to seek a […]
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Revolving chair
For Joe Morelle to assume the Democratic Party’s reins is either its death knell or the first step toward recovery. The state assemblymember from Irondequoit is next in line to brave the revolving door that is the party’s top job. Molly Clifford resigned as Monroe County Democratic Party chair three months ago, and two weeks […]
