(NY Gov Andrew) Cuomo Says Curbing Public Pension Benefits Will Be His Top Goal in ’12

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, basking in the afterglow of a legislative session that he described as “unusually successful,” said Wednesday that his top priority next year would be limiting retirement benefits for new state and city workers.

He said that his inability to win such an overhaul was the biggest failing of the session that just ended.

In a wide-ranging interview with reporters and editors of The New York Times, the governor was both candid and combative as he offered his thoughts about the poor performance of schools statewide, his concern that high taxes are driving residents away and his reflections on his own use of charm and threats in an effort to win over lawmakers in Albany.

Mr. Cuomo, a longtime student of politics who has recently shied away from commenting on national affairs, called the Republican Party a prisoner of the “extreme right.” He predicted that President Obama would be re-elected despite the nation’s stubbornly high unemployment rate. And he took a gentle swipe at a predecessor, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a fellow Democrat, who he suggested had failed to understand the delicate interplay between the governor’s office and other elements of society.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/nyregion/cuomo-says-he-wants-to-tackle-pension-changes-in-2012.html

[FiveGoodMen]

1. NY needs a Democratic governor!

(I know, I know, but look what he's saying!)

[boppers]

16. You don't think there's a problem with pension corruption?

I don't know much about east coast corruption, but on the west coast, we've had severe issues with public employees taking multi-million dollar pensions...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/07/21/us-economy-california-pay-idUSTRE66K6BX20100721

[plumbob]

17. As you know, those were management folks.

From your link:

California city manager's pension could top $30 million


Limiting or eliminating public pensions should start with all elected officials within the state, from the local constable to the governor, and including everyone else in between.

AFTER that, discuss limiting pensions for janitors at the courthouse.

[yurbud]

2. why is he a Democrat then?

[CrossChris]

10. He's a Third Way, post-partisan!

Isn't that grand?!

[yurbud]

13. all the corruption with no ideological after-taste.

[Wilms]

3. Let me help you with the headline, Alp.

(Koch Backed) Cuomo Says Curbing Public Pension Benefits Will Be His Top Goal in ’12

There.

Here's the background:

David Koch Funds Andrew Cuomo

http://www.ourschoolsnyc.org/2011/03/david-koch-funds-andrew-cuomo/

[SheilaT]

4. Does he think that this is a way to attract and

keep good public employees?

Someone needs to pin him down on this issue.

[watajob]

5. Democrat?!?! He ain't a pimple...

... on his ol' man's ass!

[Liberalynn]

6. +1

Admired the father! Can't say the same about the son at least on economic issues.

[swilton]

7. That's what nepotism brings us

Parents who knew how to work for their achievements - their offspring haven't a clue as to what is in the public interest..the only thing they know is how to obtain finances to run for political office.

[alp227]

19. so it's OK for us to call A. Cuomo "dim son" now? n/t

[swilton]

28. There are a lot of dim sons out there

I'll name a few more - Evan Bahy
(former) OK Governor, Senator and now Oklahoma University President David Boren's son who is a House Representative Blue Dog Democrat - the list is endless

[mntleo2]

8. The Pensions He Needs to Curb is for Judges

...because after elected, they are allowed to also sit on other benches, they collect full pay and about 60% of their regular healthcare and retirement in cash benefits IN ADDITION to their regular salary and benefits. They do not have to use the cash compensation for those things, it is just cash in the pocket in addition to a full extra wage. They often make more than the govorner and US legislators. This is not only true of NY, but other states as well.

Just sayin' ...

Cat in Seattle

[alp227]

26. why does nobody talk about cutting pay of the management/higher ups

but the idea that average workers can get a decent wage is HORRIFIC and public employees are FREELOADERS/insert dirty word here?

I don't think that legislators and other higher-up government workers like judges should have a privileged pension beyond a similar-skilled private sector pension.

[okieinpain]

9. I thought this guy was the champion of progressives that was

going to primary president obama. you know guys maybe once you have to start governing things aren't as easy as they seem. maybe you really have to do some things you didn't think you would have too.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. For those who continue to scream that Cuomo should be the President or VP,

what say you to this?

[eilen]

12. I live in NY and would not support Cuomo in either role.

We were given a choice, much like the Obama/Palin choice. Cuomo or that crazy Teabagger from Western NY. I believe these electoral "choices" are gamed by people like the Koch Bros. and Rove. Why else would McCain choose Palin to run with him? What a nightmare his campaign turned out to be.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. I work at HUD and he was my former boss. Your decision is a GOOD one! n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Progressive hero

Let's not forget that some around here were suggesting not two weeks ago that he would be a good "primary" candidate from the LEFT!

Clueless doesn't begin to describe it.

[primavera]

15. Ewww... and this guy's a Democrat?

How is anyone supposed to believe in Democrats when schmucks like this are our standard bearers?

[villager]

18. thank Christ he's not wasting time prosecuting Wall Street, tackling pollution, or anything else!

Glad to see he's stepped up to face the priorities of today's new 'Democrats!'

[marasinghe]

20. that didn't take long now, did it.

[Jim Lane]

27. Cuomo's not flipflopping -- his campaign showed him to be conservative.

He's demonized unions, slashed spending on programs that help the poor, and refused to tax the rich -- but anyone who claims to be shocked by these developments just wasn't paying attention to what he said as a candidate.

[marasinghe]

29. agreed. i was just hoping ....

what with pushing the state legislature on the gay marriage bill, and his dad's genes, and all - that he might give in to the more lefty side of his nature. i was wrong.

[zogofzorkon]

21. Public employees of NYS should make their goal finding a non NYS job.

NYS voters should make their top priority retiring Cuomo, preferably w/o retirement benefits.

[Chan790]

22. Andy Cuomo's a jerk.

Seriously, you have no higher priority as governor than engaging in anti-worker attacks on the retirements of public employees? Really? Nothing at all, of all the issues facing residents of NY?

Hint, Andrew...you're not half the governor Spitzer would have been if he'd managed to keep it in his pants. You're not even as good as Paterson...and David Paterson was terrible for NY.

[Odin2005]

24. His dad would be ashamed.

[alarimer]

25. Turncoat n/t

[Name removed]

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