Weekly Wrap-Up

Welcome to our early Weekly Wrap-up.  We will be observing Good Friday tomorrow and look forward to celebrating the miracle of life that Easter represents.  We hope you enjoy this special time with your family.

This week we saw the ongoing assault against traditional marriage as it has existed for centuries, between one man and one woman. 

This is an issue with deep religious connotations, and Michael Reagan is wondering where are the churches who should be leading the fight to protect marriage. 

What do you think will happen – will the Supreme Court kick the door wide open for same-sex marriage?  Will the leave the matter to the states? Or will the justices make a stand for a traditional, time-honored definition of marriage?

Give your opinion today in our new Weekly Poll.

This week we also saw “new math” from Albany, as the New York Post points out – the new “2+2=5,” but this time an increase in funding equals a penalty for the union-run New York City schools.   

We saw a new example of a liberal, Big Government politician who talks big about campaign finance “reform” but continues to exploit every loophole available to rake in the cash.

A new look this week at the ragged state of freedom in the state of New York – but people are still free to leave, which is what’s happening.

More on this from Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore, who write about “The Red-State Path to Prosperity” in the Wall Street Journal. 

We saw new evidence that the “free” health care promised by Obamacare would be anything but free...

... and even more evidence that the Obama Administration doesn't care one lick about the disastrous impact 

We have a new look at the distance between Andrew Cuomo’s rhetoric and New York’s reality...

...and another look at the fiscal calamity facing our state.

We saw new opposition to Chris Quinn’s plan to micromanage the NYPD, from members of her own party.

Have a great weekend!

New York State anticipates collecting an additional $25 million from drivers who speed, wouldn't it be wonderful if drivers didn't give NYS one penny in speeding surcharges, let alone an additional $25M.  Oh, and its not only speeding surcharges set to be increased, texting and talking fines will also be increased.  So let's keep everyone safe and not give the the state any additional revenue.   Read what Chairman Long thinks of the budget about to be passed.   The NY Post editorial is not very impressed with the budget either.

Nicole Gelinas looks at London's mistakes and urges Governor Cuomo to change his business not welcome here attitude to one that encourages a Wall Street rebirth.

Former Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey explains what happens when states like New York and California  continue to make it difficult to create businesses and overtax the population.

Governor Cuomo, if you won't listen to us, why not take the advice of a fellow democrat Ed Rendell who supports the benefits of hydrofracking. 

We obviously do not agree with the Mayor on has "nanny state" ideals, but he is right on this.

The Heritage Foundation has an update on the UN's Arms Trade Treaty.

This is not good news however it is not surprising nor unexpected for those of us who believe in the free market.

Three years of broken promises.

Thanks, Jonah Goldberg, for reminding those to young to remember, Dan Quayle was right.  

Wednesday's with Walter E. Williams.

More coverage here and here  on Saturday's Anti-NY SAFE Act rally in Syracuse, New York. Read the heart wrenching article of how one father of a fallen police officer fells about the NY SAFE Act.  Charles C. W. Cooke writes in National Review on line about Cuomo's Shameful  SAFE Act.  If Governor Cuomo, or for that matter certain Members of the Legislature,  think for one minute they can make minor amendments to the NY SAFE Act and have this issue go away, they are sadly mistaken.  By the way, the headline writers should have been in the amphitheater because those who were physically present estimated the crowd to be thousands, not hundreds. 

As you read today's blog the US Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the definition of marriage and laws that are doing their best to define and redefine what the definition of marriage is.  Yesterday the Heritage Foundation wrote about the marriage debate through the eyes of a child and today in the NY Post, Rich Lowry has a thoughtful op-ed piece as does the Post Editorial.

He's back taking your money again!!  NYC Comptroller John Liu is running for NYC Mayor and raking in your tax dollars....no wonder legislators want campaign finance, for every $175 in private donations, they can get $1050 from taxpayers.  Seriously, is this a system the hardworking residents of New York support?  Isn't it time to end campaign finance reform and not expand it through out New York State. 

Some of the items in this year's NYS budget being written about in newspapers here, here and here...your tax dollars "hard" at work. These are just three items (there are far too many to list)  but don't you seriously believe you would make better decision in spending your own money.   Albany is taking your money, not asking for a donation, it is taking your money and four men in a room fund their pet projects.  When will you say enough is enough?  Isn't it time to say stop taking my money to buy my vote!

Another broken promise by a politician and another possibly payoff for that broken promise.

George J. Marlin opines on the Governor's abortion plan. 

Before the NYS Assembly moves on MMA, they really should read this.

Tuesdays with Thomas Sowell.

Cuomo not doing what he promised seen as a bitter betrayal to the private sector.

Supporters of ObamaCare face disaster in 2014.

The New York Times -- big lie -- what else is new?

Taxpayers pockets get picked again.

Thousands protest Cuomos UNSafe Act.

Weekly Wrap-Up

This week marks the third anniversary of Obamacare. It’s a milestone no serious person would celebrate, so of course Nancy Pelosi celebrated.

Doctors serving in Congress are not so happy...

Investors Business Daily offers up ten disturbing facts about the health care law. 

The Manhattan Institute compares the rhetoric to the reality on Obamacare.

And former New York Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey predicts that there will be a reckoning for Obamacare – probably in plenty of time for the 2014 elections.

And Mona Charen advises Republicans to be ready for the collapse of Obamacare with an actual policy alternative.

Do you have a birthday wish for Obamacare? Vote “Happy Birthday” or “Go Away” in our new Weekly Poll.

Andrew Cuomo isn’t celebrating the tax increases he’s slipped into the new budget – instead, “the governor has come up with new math on how a tax increase is really a tax cut,” according to the New York Post.

Also in the Post, it’s no surprise that New York is “closed for business” thanks to the Cuomo Agenda.

But as his budget proposal shows, Gov. Cuomo does have some clear priorities – including tax breaks for his friends in Hollywood and in the media (i.e. people who give generous campaign contributions).  Obviously, getting The Tonight Show to move to New York City is a top concern for hard-working New York families.

And of course one of the biggest concerns weighing on the hearts and minds of upstate New Yorkers right now is whether or not Andrew Cuomo and his friends in Albany will have sufficiently enjoyable seats at upcoming Buffalo Bills games. Well fear not, Cuomo and Co. are now taken care of.  

What are the odds that more than a few Cuomo donors will end up enjoying these prime NFL seats? Pretty solid, I would say.

More repairs are being made to the best gun-control bill ever. Like Obamacare, I suppose, the politicians in Albany had to pass gun control so we could see what’s in it – and what’s in it is living down to our worst expectations.

Have a great weekend!

It is being widely reported that New York has an agreed budget that will be passed this weekend.  Tom Precious, writing in the Buffalo News, lets us know that precise details still need to be released over the next 48 hours.  Read his observations here.  Jimmy Vielkind, writes for the Albany Times Union, and his observations are here.  City and State point out the the NYC school system will receive an $890 million increase in school aid, but lament an additional $240 million in state grants linked to a teacher evaluation program are not included because the city did not complete the requirements. 

The NY Daily News says "there's no thrift involved in election year bonus"!

The NY Post slams the hike in the minimum wage.  And Bob McManus has an excellent column on how Governor Andrew Cuomo is Governor of New York City.  (emphasis added to city by us.)

The Wall Street Journal calls the state budget "Cuomo's Job-Depletion Plan".

The WSJ also writes about the fuel shortage after Sandy. The 11th paragraph speaks volumes about the Cuomo Administration.

The Heritage Foundation opines on President Obama's Middle East trip.  So does Cal Thomas.

The New York Times writes about young opponents of same sex marriage and why they will not give up keeping marriage defined as between one man and one woman.

Mayor Bloomberg, you are 100% right!  The NYPD does not need another level of bureaucracy.

Real cause for concern!  Is Secretary of State John Kerry throwing America under the bus?


If the 2nd Amendment is ignored, will the 1st Amendment be next?

ICYMI:  Papa Cuomo does not approve of Pope Francis.

Tax Foundation confirms what New Yorkers already know; our taxes are among the highest in the nation in almost every category.  Knowing this, Governor Andrew Cuomo and his compatriots in the Legislature are poised to extend for the second time the "temporary" millionaires tax first imposed in 2009 and renewed by Governor Cuomo in 2011.

Michael Saltsman writes about a Rotten deal on NY Wages. 

While Michael Solon's article in today's WSJ is written with regard to the federal budget, the bottom line is states should be applying the same principles to their budgets.  Governor Cuomo, you really should take Mr. Solon's advice. The Heritage Foundation also covers the federal budget in today's Morning Bell.
 
Governor Cuomo in no hurry to settle budget, insists the deadline is April 1, 2013 (he's right, but the Legislature is scheduled for two weeks off for religious services.)

Governor Cuomo, did you see this?  Requests for gun permits in Newtown, CT have increased since the horrific tragedy that took the lives of 20 innocent first graders and six of their teachers. 

This is precisely why American's are concerned about restrictions on our 2nd Amendment right. 

You can track the counties and towns that are opposed to the NY SAFE Act here.

When President Obama cannot get what he wants from Congress, he continues to do an end run around them.  I guess when you have a "taster" to check your food, you begin to believer you are royalty and can do whatever you please. 

More from Thomas Sowell.

Wednesdays with Walter E. Williams.