By Gerald Benjamin   The brief dustup in the Judiciary Committee regarding the nomination of Jenny Rivera for the Court of Appeals is just the latest piece of evidence that Republicans, with their Independent Democrat coalition partners, are presiding in the Senate but not governing through it. The Committee is comprised of 12 Republicans, 9 Democrats and 2 Independent Democrats; unlike the Senate as a whole, it has a Republican majority. The committee chair, John Bonacic, and some GOP members… [More]

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If the Legislature takes the first step toward legalizing casino gambling in New York this year, it could be the easiest step in a long and complex process. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has wrapped up key support for casino gambling on non-Indian lands, with legislative leaders backing a constitutional amendment to remove the prohibition on gaming and pave the way for Las Vegas-style gambling palaces. The tougher questions are where to build, how many casinos to allow and who gets to… [More]