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Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Casino Interests Getting Their Money's Worth

The initial hearing for attorney Eric Snyder's lawsuit challenging the wording of the casino amendment will take place in State Supreme Court on Friday.  The Board of Elections will be represented by in-house council; and not by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.  According to a post on the Politics by the Hudson blog:

Under normal circumstances, the Board of Elections would be represented by the state attorney general’s office, which acts as the lawyer for the executive branch.
However, Schneiderman reportedly recommended that the Board of Elections utilize the neutral language before that language was changed by the Board in consultation with the legislature and Governor Cuomo the office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.  Snyder’s lawsuit makes mention of the office’s advice.  So, maybe the Board has not consulted with the AG because it seemed like a poor fit.

Or, maybe somebody, somewhere, decided that it would be unseemly, if not an outright conflict, for Schneiderman to defend the language considering that gambling interests have contributed $129,500 to his campaign fund?

Nah.  I'm sure that had absolutely nothing to do with it.  

If it did, then the office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo similarly would not have been the least bit involved in writing language so obviously biased towards interests that have contributed $361,500 to his campaign.  Neither would the majority Democrats in the Assembly ($414,750); nor the Senate Republicans ($403,750) nor the IDC ($51,800 to leader Sen. Jeff Klein).....nor the two chairmen of the Assembly and Senate gaming committees ($110,000).

And you wonder why there's such broad support for this amendment in Albany?  Do you think the politicians are more interested in funding for schools, or for themselves?  Maybe something for the Moreland Commission to look into.

Oh....nevermind.

 - The  Laborers International Union of North America has started a campaign effort in support of the amendment.  It represents some 35,000 construction workers in the state, so I guess it qualifies as a special interest group in the matter.  Billboards are already up in the Catskills and bus ads are coming to the Capitol Region.  The group has made "massive" radio buys there, and in other regions, including NYC.

 - In the 9th at Belmont today, Princess Mara (12-1) looks like lone speed for trainer Gary Contessa.  Gets the one hole too.  Last time on grass, this five-year old daughter of Leroidesanimaux, in her first start for the barn after being claimed from David Jacobson, ran into the speedster Roses For Romney, and chased that one through quick opening fractions.  After being wide on the turn, she still finished with interest for fifth, and earned a 90 TimeformUS figure which is tops amongst recent efforts of any horse in this field.  Her prior grass effort was a front-running win at this distance at the Big A.  Could take some running down here. Pure Amour (5-2) would seem to be the top candidate to do so.  Tactical speed should keep her within striking distance.  Daughter of Pure Prize has shown good improvement off a long layoff for new trainer George Weaver, with two wins at Belmont during the spring, and then a third at Saratoga in which she may have been victimized by a turf course which was favoring speed at that time.  Best of luck and have a great day.

1 Comment:

Anonymous said...

Yesterday was a nice day around here(Detroit area)and I had some errands to run so I decide to stop at the track and bet Princess Mara around 2 o'clock. $20 win on the # 1. Later turn on the computer to watch the race and it dawns on me the entry in the race was the #1 and Princess Mara was the #2. Wake up.

RG