We are back to blogging after a great conference! In case you were unable to attend, we will be posting videos of the entire conference hopefully within a week. Until then, here are some of the highlights from the Press. Liz Benjamin and Nick Reisman, with YNN News articles are here, here, here, here, here and here.

More from Rick Karlin and Jimmy Vielkind who write for Capitol Confidential, the Albany Times Union Blog, here and here.

Chairman Long will be on Capitol Tonight (8:00 Pm/11:30 PM on YNN) to discuss a variety of issues, including the U. S. Senate race. A preview of the program is here, and hopefully we will have a link to the segment tomorrow.

Silver shrugs off three primary possibility. Of course he does, it isn't his money that would be paying for them. It is ours, the taxpayers of New York State. Speakers Silver has never had a problem spending our money, its time we remind him that it isn't his to spend.

Are public and private paychecks becoming equal?

In case you missed this, from the Heritage Foundation, last week.

President Obama won't like this news from the CBO. It is outrageous that the US of America has a 10% unemployment rate. This Administration is strangling our economy with its refusal to sign legislation that will put people back to work, the Keystone XL pipeline comes to mind, and its environmental agenda that restricts manufacturing and lest we not forget Obamacare. It is time to end the folly of Hope and Change and let America be America. Ready for your federal taxes to go up? More on the CBO report here.

Cause for concern?

Tuesdays with Thomas Sowell.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Okay, let’s say this all together now... “Taxes are too high!”

In New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is doing something about it.

In Washington, Barack Obama’s “tax folly” would send everybody’s taxes skyrocketing.

Unless, of course, you’ve got the right connections.

Here’s the Washington Times on Obama’s “Crony Capitalism.”

And Charles Krauthammer on Obama’s strategy this year: Think small.

Not much substance in (yet another) GOP debate last night, though most “experts” are calling this one for Romney.

Some poll numbers with an interesting twist – surveys suggest that Florida Senator Marco Rubio has strong support as Vice-President, no matter who the GOP nominates.

It’s early in the game, I know, but do you have a favorite VP candidate for the Republican ticket? This week’s poll has some names – vote for your favorite, and if there’s a candidate we haven’t listed, feel free to “nominate” someone in the comments section.)

Have a great weekend. Hope to see you at CPPAC in Albany!

Not another one! Sadly another stimulus backed energy company files for bankruptcy.

We spend more than most countries, but we need to get better results.

More analysis on the SOTU here and here.

Thou shalt not write bad things about Obama.

SUNY Trustees really need to rethink this as they obviously don't understand the meaning of illegal, as in our country illegally! Time for us to speak out on this issue since it is our money they want to use for illegal students.

Kudos to the Navy Seals!

Here is an article by David Malpass, one of our CPPAC speakers that I am certain you will find enlightening. Also, an article by George J. Marlin, another one of our favorite speakers for CPPAC. And always well received, E. J. McMahon, has his analysis of a Tier 6, and will be speaking at CPPAC on Sunday afternoon. (See related article by Mertacus Center on Pensions here.) We sincerely hope you have registered for CPPAC...if not please do so ASAP, it is this Sunday and Monday! All of above speakers will be with us on Sunday so hurry, email cpnys@nybiz.rr.com if you haven't registered yet!

The Heritage Foundation on the SOTU, the Weekly Standard, The NY Post, Fox News does a fact check and commentary, the Wall Street Journal, and a you tube video titled: Familiar Rhetoric, Failed Record, in case you thought the SOTU sounded familiar. John Podhoretz wasn't impressed.

A breath of fresh air as Mitch Daniels delivers the GOP response.

The WSJ doesn't think the IMF is worth the raise it is asking for.

Interesting article on Germany and its solar experiences.

Soon to be Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Obamacare and Religious Rights.

If you think your taxes are high on your cell phone bill, you are right.

Bonus Thomas Sowell article and Wednesdays with Walter E. Williams

More on hydrofracking here and here.

Now this is newsworthy: Manhattan DA Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., has an opinion piece in today's NY Times that agrees with a position the Conservative Party has supported for years!

Speaker Sheldon Silver supports a legislative pay raise, but the NY Post believes the Speaker should win the prize for gall for suggesting they deserve a raise. Going without a raise since 1999 is a long time, however, every two years they make the choice to run again, the pay can't be all that bad, they do get reimbursed for each day in Albany and get stipends for leadership roles and heading committees. Not bad pay for what is supposed to be a part time job.

The Heritage Foundation on the State of Dysfunction.

This will get your blood pressure up! So will this. And while we are raising your blood pressure, here is another one, and the last one for today.

Americans still want Obamacare repealed!

Be prepared for the SOTU, Obama will sound populist as he ignores the law when it comes to submitting the budget.

William McGurn: Obama offends the Catholic Left

Did the Founding Fathers believe in isolationism? Hint: Government spending, its massive bloat and constitutional overreach must be on the chopping block. But the core and undisputed constitutional responsibility of the United States government to provide for the common defense is not up for negotiation.

Tuesday's with Thomas Sowell, first the final installment from last week and today's.

Yesterday marked the day that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Roe v Wade, one of the most contentious rulings ever decided by the Court, and one that this Party would like to see overturned. As science progresses, and women see their child through sonograms, we believe their hearts will change, even if the Court does not. President Obama is completely wrong, nowhere in the U. S. Constitution are you granted the right to end the life of a completely innocent baby. I challenge President Obama to show me where that right is guaranteed. When our Founding Fathers declared our independence, they understood the value of life as they declared: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

One thing we can celebrate this week is school choice.

Seems to me the "do nothing Congress" is the U. S. Senate! No budget in the Senate for how many days, yet the House is considered "do-nothing". Where is the outrage from the press?

Brian H. Darling explains why we are not creating jobs.

China will benefit from Obama's decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline and Brazil is looking to sell to China, neither article good news for the United States. Gayle Norton writes about the possibility of America's decline based on Obama's decision.

The NY Post weighs in on the US Supreme Court decision on Texas' redistricting.

Are ACORN and AG Holder joined at the hip?

How fracking lies triumphed! It is the headline, but unless the Governor and Legislators hear from people supporting hydrofracking, it could become true.

Weekly Wrap-Up

As President Obama drifts off into his own dream world, where he “continues to demonstrate that he has no idea how real jobs are created or how the economy works”...

... Republicans continue to decide who should run against him this November. No easy task, for sure.

The American Spectator reports from the “southern showdown” in South Carolina:

Rich Lowry gives the win to Newt, with kudos for Rick Santorum as well.

Plenty of debate analysis here from the Washington Examiner, which examines (so to speak) Mitt Romney’s poor debate showing.

Human Events answers some questions about tomorrow’s primary and beyond.

After all of this week’s campaign twists and turns, who are you supporting in the GOP presidential primary? That’s our first Weekly Poll question today.

Here in New York we’re gearing up for epic showdowns of our own after Gov. Cuomo’s “aggressive” and “unprecedented” budget proposal this week that calls for sweeping pension reforms and stricter teacher evaluations.

Public-employee unions are already on the attack – and as the Daily News notes, entrenched Albany politicians (from both parties) are never eager to embrace big and politically difficult changes.

So who do you think will win – Gov. Cuomo or the “politics as usual” crowd? That’s our second Weekly Poll question. I hope you’ll give your opinion today.

And have a great weekend!

And now there are four in the GOP race and a recount shows Rick Santorum had more votes than Romney in Iowa.

Is the Keystone Pipeline XL really shut down for the United States? It is pathetic that President Obama chose politics over jobs. However, Congress may try to revive bill.

Governor Andrew Cuomo visits the NY Post Editorial Board.

Speaker Silver says Governor has a long way to go on pension reform while E. J. McMahon gives the proposal a positive review. The proposal is a very positive step in the right direction for all New Yorkers and something we have proposed for years, the long term savings will be a major benefit to all New York taxpayers and is a major component of much needed mandate relief.

Kathleen Gallagher, one of our CPPAC speakers, has a great column in the Albany Times Union, a column all who support "woman's rights" should read and then ask themselves how they can.

Congressman Grimm calls Port Authority tolls job killers.

NYC Comptroller Liu just keeps getting into deeper problems and here.

Thomas Sowell's part II and III of "An Ignored Disparity". And Wednesday's Walter E. Williams column is here.

Westchester County Executive, Rob Astorino (scheduled to speak at our conference in Albany [more details at www.cpnys.org]) has an informative article in today's NY Post on how NY's Labor Law is choking NY's government. Bill Hammond writes in the NY Daily News that Cuomo must break public unions' grip over New York. The Buffalo News prints Russell Sykes article on the same issue: Drop Triborough Amendment to control expenses.

Early analysis from Liz Benjamin on NYS Budget proposal here. Tobacco gets taxed again. Expect non-profits to howl. State Agencies to merge. A look at Agency appropriations (last year and this year) here. So far, have not seen anything on possible new pension. Take a look at this, they say a picture is worth a thousand words....this is real money to be saved by taxpayers.
Background on the budget and process is provided by Robert B. Ward.

It is only January and this presidential election year is in full bloom as President Obama heads to Church, Valerie Jarrett blasts republicans from the pulpit and President Obama likes the benefits from Marcellus Shale hydrofracking.

This is disturbing news: nearly half of U. S. lives in households receiving government benefits.
Does this make you proud, Mr. President? How will all those families feel when you make an announcement on Thursday from Disney World? If they had a job maybe they would be able to plan a trip there, instead of you opting to expand VISAs for non-citizens to go to Disney World to help tourism.

We can thank President Obama for one thing....William McGurn explains.

Tuesdays with Thomas Sowell.

The NY Post Editorial is right again: Raise wages, kill jobs.

The "occupiers" certainly know how to help people who need help, not who I want in my friends category.

Will NY's rent control laws be overturned by the US Supreme Court?

NY Post Editorial Editor, Bob McManus, has an excellent column on making the teacher's union accountable.

Steve Malanga: How stimulus spending ruined Buffalo

Michael Goodwin on the politics of envy.

Some leaks on what the Governor's budget may include are here, is it possible he may propose a defined contribution pension for new hires?

Weekly Wrap-Up

Obama's wrong: That seems like a good theme for this week.

He's wrong on job creation.

Wrong on class warfare.

The Obama Administration is wrong on religious freedom.

And the President's wrong about being above the law with his illegal "recess" appointments.

And as for Andrew Cuomo - we believe he's wrong about making New York City end fingerprinting of food stamp recipients.

What do you think? Should food stamp recipients be fingerprinted as a way of eliminating fraud? Vote today in our new Weekly Poll.

On the presidential front, Charles Krauthammer takes a look at Ron Paul's impact on the GOP race.

The Post is impressed with Romney.

But Peggy Noonan introduces us to South Carolina voter "Romneybut" and shows us that not everybody is satisfied with the "front-runner."

Have a great weekend!

The Mayor has a quick turn around on his controversial proposal to curb drinking.

Looks like the honeymoon is over between Governor Cuomo and Speaker Silver. The NY Post Editorial page is not a fan of AQE and neither are we. More on the simmering story from NY1.

Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch supports fingerprinting of food stamp recipients, as we do, in an effort to reduce fraud. More on fingerprinting from Russell Sykes.

The headline says Agency Cuts, but the article says spending continues. Note in the article, it states the request was made, but it is not a hard order.

The Triborough Amendment may not be eliminated this year according to this article, but it has a lot of organizations, including the Conservative Party, that support its repeal.

Seriously, would anyone expect the Justice Department to say otherwise? Just because DOJ says the Cordray appointment was constitutional, doesn't make to so. The Washington Examiner thinks differently and so does Bruce Ackerman (certainly not known as a Constitutionalist).

Please say this isn't so....Solandra seeking to pay bonuses.

Those seeking first time unemployment benefits up again.

The fact that the US Supreme Court decision is unanimous speaks volumes! Note the far reaching effects had the decision gone the other way.

The Free Market works.

Latest report from Cornell University disputes previous climate impact caused by hydrofracking.

Texas hands right-to-lifers a victory, what is New York waiting for?

Governor Andrew Cuomo makes a point when he says the Assembly puts the Teacher's Union before the students.

An awful elex fix!

Does Mayor Bloomberg think he is the only person in NYC capable to make decisions for everyone? The Mayor is out of control with his absolute need to control what people do. He is so busy trying to control every aspect of our lives that he lost control of what a Mayor should be doing, balancing budgets, being prepared for disasters and certainly NOT putting his mismanagement on the backs of future generations. New Yorker's should be able to recall seriously flawed leaders!

E. J. McMahon writes about the Trouble with Triborough.

Wednesday's with Walter E. Williams.

The Heritage foundation has another article on Obama's Arrogant Authoritarianism. Congressman Alan West says GOP must stop Obama's Imperial Presidency, both are on the right track as a new poll shows that American's, by a 2-1 margin, fear Obama's re-election. We say with good reason, for the 39th consecutive month America ran in red. With policies like this, the Administration will continue to destroy America's economy.

Will Texas' redistricting affect New York's?

Pennsylvania and abortion clinics, isn't it time for New York to do the same?

The NY Post Editorial is right to continue to scrutinize NYC Comptroller Liu.

We have called for this in our legislative platform for many years.

You still have time to help hydrofracking get started in New York.

Great article by William McGurn hope Mr. Stephanopoulos' reads it.

Tuesday's with Thomas Sowell.

The comment period ends on Wednesday, and so far the comments are 10 - 1 against putting people to work. Hydrofracking is needed in NYS, residents need the jobs. Contact the DEC (Dept of Environmental Conservation) and let them know we need jobs!

The Heritage Foundation on education, and how one couple took on the EPA and ended up in the Supreme Court.

In case you are wondering what group gets the most Obamacare waivers, the answer is here.

Obama believes federal employees need a raise. We don't have a problem with people getting a raise, but with the deficit at record highs and we are borrowing from China {while giving them financial aid} to pay our bills, is now the time to consider raises?

How Regulations Work: Ready, Fire, Aim!

Somebody please show me where in the US Constitution it say taxpayers have to supply broadband access to low income families?

Abandoning Ship.

The NY Post Editorial hits the nail on the head, while political satirist Frank J. Fleming uses humor on a very serious subject.

Condolences to Tony Blankley's family.

Congratulations to Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Who does President Obama think he is?

After his unprecedented power grab this week, the Washington Examiner has an idea, noting that the President’s end-run around the Constitution is “the same sort of fundamental disrespect for the rule of law that is routinely practiced by tinhorn dictators like Hugo Chavez.”

In Human Events, we learn that as far as the Senate concerns, this means war.

Who do you think President Obama is – a legitimate leader? A South American-style dictator? Vote today in our new Weekly Poll.

Speaking of war – well, let’s not, because the Obama Administration is completely undermining America’s ability to defend ourselves.

The Washington Times has the story on Obama’s gutting of America’s defense capabilities...

... as well as a take on why these cuts are disastrous for America.

And here’s more analysis of Obama’s dangerous defense cuts.

On the primary front – Charles Krauthammer sees Rick Santorum as perhaps the first worthy challenger to be faced by Mitt Romney.

In the Weekly Standard, Fred Barnes explains how “It’s the Media’s Republican Primary.”

Oh, and who does Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand think she is – a lawmaker, or a jet-setting socialite? She’s off to Europe to rake in some more campaign cash. Must be nice.

Have a great weekend.

The Heritage Foundation on Obama's Tyrannical Abuse of Power. This is a must read article on Obama's "utter disregard" of our U.S. Constitution. More on Obama's appointment from the NY Times, the Washington Times , Human Events the Wall Street Journal, The Hill and the NY Post. The arrogance of making this appointment will certainly become a key issue this year since the language of the bill is quite specific and many in Congress would be happy if the Dodd-Frank Bill was repealed.

Cordray was not the only recess appointment made by Obama.

AG Eric Holder back in the news regarding Fast and Furious.

Mr. President: Listen to him!

Governor Andrew Cuomo gave his State of the State yesterday and as expected outlined his support for casino gambling in New York State. The Daily News ran this article and it really is an apropos piece.

E. J. McMahon comments on the convention center proposal.

The New York Post Editorial has an honest assessment of the Governor's State of the State and raises the right concerns and all New Yorkers should seriously consider the issues raised in the editorial instead of the rhetoric used by the Governor.

Trouble in paradise?