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Chuck Schumer
Schumer’s Dinner Diplomacy
Nov 11th - 7:08 am
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New York’s senior senator isn’t psyched about the idea of being back in the minority after serving as one of the most powerful men in the Democrat-controlled upper house.
But Sen. Chuck Schumer is going to make the best of it.
He says he plans to reach across the aisle to forge relationships with some of the new members of the state’s GOP congressional delegation.
He’ll start with Congresswoman-elect Elise Stefanik, who won the NY-21 seat currently held by retiring Democratic Rep. Bill Owens in a landslide last Tuesday, making her – at just 30 years old – the youngest woman ever to sit in the House.
“She was in college with my daughter and they were friends,” Schumer said of Stefanik during a stop in Albany yesterday. “So, we start on a good note there.”
“My daughter spoke very highly of her. In fact, not only is she going to come to the office, but her and my daughter are going to have dinner in the next few weeks in Washington.”
“I haven’t asked Ms. Stefanik yet,” the senator said. “We’ve agreed to get together, but we’re going to make it a dinner and invite my daughter. I’m sure they’ll have no objection because they’re friends.”
No word on where this bipartisan dining experience might take place, though the senator’s past fondness for D.C.’s Hunan Dynasty has been widely documented.
Also, for the record: Jessica Schumer and Stefanik attended Harvard, which is also the senator’s alma mater.
Schumer said he has also spoken to Congressman-elect John Katko, who ousted Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei in NY-24, and found the former federal prosecutor to be a “very fine individual.”
The senator said he had a “great relationship” with former Rep. Jim Walsh, the moderate Republican who held the Central NY seat before Maffei.
“Jim Walsh and I were able to do a whole lot for Syracuse,” Schumer recalled. “He’s a Republican, I’m a Democrat. I think the same will be with Mr. Katko. He seems like a fine man.”
“We’re going to meet in my office in the next week in Washington and start going over how we can go over to help Central New York and his congressional district. I look forward to working with him, I think he’s a good guy.”
Schumer: Politics Won’t Affect Lynch Nomination
Nov 10th - 1:57 pm
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Senator Chuck Schumer, Monday, said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch should sail through the approval process in January regardless of a Republican-dominated Senate.
This comes as some top Republican lawmakers in the Senate are calling on Lynch to say whether she would support executive action from the president on immigration reform or not.
The President has said more than once in the past week that he’s planning to use executive action to push immigration reform into law. Lynch’s position on that move could put a bump in the road for her nomination.
But Schumer says her record as U.S. Attorney should smooth over any political issues.
“She’s a professional. She hasn’t been involved in any of the political wars, so I think that should avoid some of the controversy.”
The president officially announced his nomination of Lynch Saturday. Since, Republican lawmakers have requested more time to look at her record and qualifications before voting on her appointment.
Schumer said Republicans have requested that delay to extend into the new session, when Republicans have a clear majority in the Senate.
“Our Republican colleagues have asked for a little more time and asked to do it in the new session of Congress and I don’t see anything wrong with that because I think she’s non-controversial and the more people look at her record, the more comfortable they will feel.”
Lynch has already been approved twice by the Senate for her post as U.S. Attorney for New York’s Eastern Judicial District. One of those times, there were more Republicans in the Senate then there are now. The other – Democrats held the majority.
Schumer, An Eager Booster For State Senate Democrats
Oct 21st - 6:20 pm
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U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has been on the campaign trail a lot this election season.
No, he doesn’t face re-election himself and he’s not stumping for other U-S Senators he knows from Washington. He’s here in New York, endorsing candidates for the state Senate, like Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk.
“It’s really important that we get a lot of people involved in the political process and when I see folks like Senator Schumer and Congressman Tonko and the governor say they support me, I think we’re on the right path,” Tkaczyk said at an endorsement rally in Rotterdam on Tuesday at the public library there.
Tkaczyk is among several incumbent Democrats running in key Senate races whose victories could decide who controls the chamber next year. Schumer says he’s backing these lawmakers and candidates in competitive races because of their support for issues he’s backing in Washington, such as a minimum wage increase.
“The candidates that I’ve endorsed believe in those things,” Schumer said. “I think it’s really important. My passion is to get the middle class back on track and I think we need a state Senate that’s going to do it.”
Not as present on the campaignt trail for Senate Democrats: Andrew Cuomo.
The governor pledged to help Democrats take full control of the state Senate this year. He’s endorsed a handful of Democratic candidates in key races, including Tkaczyk, Senator Terry Gipson and Justin Wagner over the weekend.
But those weren’t personal appearances. Cuomo was traveling in Puerto Rico when his campaign issued press releases (Cuomo did give his nod, in person, to Long Island Democratic Senate hopeful Adrienne Esposito).
“I believe the governor endorsed CeCe a couple of days ago and Kathy Hochul was here and so, yes, I think the governor and I are singing from the same hymnal,” Schumer said.
The state Democratic Committee, which Cuomo essentially controls, has sent out mailers with the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee in conjunction with their candidates. Part of the tricky situation is that Cuomo is not popular in some of these upstate and rural Senate districts Democrats won two years ago and are now defending.
In the 46th Senate district, voters are being hit with a ton of mail pieces, as well as an endless stream of television ads. Tkaczyk says voters could be densitized to it all, but she hopes they focus in the final weeks of the campaign.
“I think people are getting inundated, but there’s a lot at stake,” Tkaczyk said.
Senate Republicans continue to link Tkaczyk to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“It’s no surprise that another liberal New York City politician is endorsing the full slate of Senate Democrat candidates,” said Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif said. “Who’s next? Mayor de Blasio? Everyone knows that New York City wins big and Upstate taxpayers lose if Democrats seize control of the chamber next month, especially the New York City politicians. We are not going to let happen.”
Tkaczyk denies de Blasio’s support for a Senate Democratic takeover will influence her votes.
“I’m listening to the voters in the 46th Senate district,” she said. “I’m not listening to Mayor de Blasio and any indication otherwise is just fear mongering from my opponent.”
Tkaczyk To Receive Schumer’s Nod
Oct 20th - 2:44 pm
Democratic state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk on Tuesday will receive a re-election nod from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer at an endorsement rally in Rotterdam.
The 1:30 event is scheduled to be held at the Rotterdam Public Library.
Schumer has traveled around the state to endorse Democrats running in key districts this month as the party seeks to gain full control of the state Senate.
Tkaczyk is one of about three Democratic incumbents who face tough re-election battles this fall.
She faces a rematch from Republican former Assemblyman George Amedore, who she defeated in the 46th Senate district two years ago by only 18 votes.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with his running mate, former Rep. Kathy Hochul, endorsed Tkaczyk, along with Sen. Terry Gipson and Democratic candidate Justin Wagner, over the weekend.
Schumer has been an especially active participant on the hustings for Senate Democrats. He doesn’t face re-election this year, but has attended a Working Families Party rally for the Democratic conference.
He also endorsed Buffalo Democrat Marc Panepinto, a district where Cuomo has not ruled out backing Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti, the last sitting Republican incumbent to back same-sex marriage in 2011.
Schumer’s Senate Dem Endorsement Tour
Oct 16th - 8:53 am
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U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is endorsing nearly every state Senate candidate Democrats are offering up this cycle.
Schumer today will endorse Democratic hopeful Justin Wagner, who is running for a seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Greg Ball.
Schumer previously has endorsed Democrats Marc Panepinto in the Buffalo area in a four-way race and Adam Haber, a candidate on Long Island trying to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Jack Martins.
Schumer also made a point of traveling to the Working Families Party rally in New York City, attended also by Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, as the labor-backed organization seeks to turn the state Senate to full Democratic control.
For now, Schumer has gone further in endorsing Senate Democratic hopefuls than Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The incumbent governor so far has publicly endorsed one Democratic challenger for the state Senate: Adrienne Esposito in Suffolk County.
Cuomo pledged in May to help Democrats gain full control of the chamber while receiving the endorsement of the Working Families Party.
Cuomo has insisted he is helping Democrats in their effort to gain control of the chamber, and the state Democratic Committee,which he controls, has spent money on mailers for candidates in key races.
Part of the problem for some of the races is Cuomo’s unpopularity in upstate districts, especially in the areas where Democrats Terry Gipson and Cecilia Tkaczyk are running for re-election against Sue Serino and George Amedore respectively.
But the lack of visibility on the hustings for Democratic candidates is making for no shortage of concern for Cuomo’s liberal critics.
Zephyr Teachout, the Fordham Law School professor who challenged Cuomo in a Democratic primary last month, knocked Cuomo’s efforts on the state Senate in a Capitol Pressroom radio interview on Wednesday.
“He’s not putting his heart and soul into this, which is a problem,” she said.
For Schumer’s part, he may be looking to avoid a similar trap Cuomo fell into this year with a challenge from his political left. Schumer is up for re-election in 2016.
Schumer Endorses Two Senate Dems
Oct 8th - 4:52 pm
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer endorsed two Democratic candidates for state Senate on Wednesday on Long Island and in western New York.
The endorsements are two key, battleground state Senate districts that Democrats hope to capture in order to gain full control of the chamber this year.
In Nassau County, Schumer endorsed Democrat Adam Haber, who is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Jack Martins.
“Adam Haber will make an excellent State Senator. Nassau residents can count on him to fight for their interests in Albany, from passing the Women’s Equality Act and strengthening schools to lowering the tax burden and securing a livable minimum wage,” Schumer said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Schumer also endorsed Democrat Marc Panepinto, a lawyer running in a complicated four-way race in Buffalo.
“Marc Panepinto will make an excellent State Senator. Western New Yorkers can count on him to fight for their interests in Albany, from passing the Women’s Equality Act and strengthening our schools to lowering the tax burden and fighting for the rights of workers and their families,” Schumer said.
Panepinto wants to unseat Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti, who lost his GOP primary to Kevin Stocker last month.
Grisanti is staying in the race on the Independence Party ballot line.
As the last sitting Republican to have endorsed the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2011, Grisanti may receive the backing of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The governor, who supports Democrats taking over the chamber, said earlier today he will be campaigning with Democratic candidates for state Senate later this month.
“A lot of the campaign materials we’re doing together to help Democratic candidates across the state. And we’ll be campaigning with them as well,” he said.
Schumer, Gillibrand Call For Federal Medical Marijuana Waiver
Sep 29th - 2:10 pm
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U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in a joint letter released on Monday called on the Department of Justice to allow the import of certain strains of marijuana in order to help hasten implementation of the state’s medical pot program.
In particular, Schumer and Gillibrand hope the state can import what’s known as “Charlotte’s Web” in order to help treat children with severe epilepsy and other illnesses.
In a statement released by their offices, Schumer and Gillibrand said they were concerned about the need for families to access the medical marijuana sooner rather than later in order to alleviate the symptoms of epilepsy.
“In an August 2013 memo, the Department of Justice signaled that law enforcement agencies should use prosecutorial discretion in cases involving legalized marijuana,” Schumer and Gillibrand wrote in the letter to outgoing US Attorney General Eric Holder.
“We understand that law enforcement agencies must continue to be vigilant in marijuana prosecutions when it serves as a source of revenue to criminal enterprises, gangs, cartels and the like. However, children suffering from severe epileptic and seizure disorders urgently need medicinal marijuana to ease the symptoms of this horrible disease, and these children obviously do not hold any imminent criminal threat. We are deeply concerned that attempts by these families to secure the above-mentioned cannabidiol medical marijuana from Colorado will leave state officials, providers, parents, and patients vulnerable to prosecution under federal law.”
The request from the waiver comes after state officials at the Department of Health in August and, more recently, last week sent letters to Holder and his top deputy asking for permission to import medical marijuana strains to New York.
The state’s law, approved in June, sets up for a gradual implementation of medical marijuana, along with broad control of the program by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
State officials do not expect a medical marijuana program to be in place in New York until January 2016.
Paladino Questions Integrity Of Buffalo Bills’ Sale
May 6th - 6:27 am
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Is Gov. Andrew Cuomo playing politics with the impending sale of the Buffalo Bills? Buffalo businessman and Cuomo’s former GOP challenger Carl Paladino suggested he is.
“Cuomo’s been fixing it,” Paladino said.
Paladino’s remarks followed multiple reports last week that New York City developer and chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority, Howard Milstein, was interested in buying the Bills. Milstein previously co-owned the New York Islanders from 1998 to 2000 and expressed interest in the Washington Redskins in 1999.
“Of course he’s interested. This is a game that’s being played by Andrew Cuomo to take care of his buddy Milstein,” said Paladino.
Milstein has ties to Western New York, controlling a large undeveloped area in the city of Niagara Falls, an area the New Stadium Working Group is considering as a new home for the team.
In the late 1990’s Milstein was given exclusive rights by the city to prime land downtown. Twelve years after he unveiled an aggressive plan for private casinos, condos, and retail the 150 acre plot remains vacant.
“There was talk about this, about Milstein buying the Bills and building a stadium in Niagara Falls on all this land that he’s illegally held onto for ten years because the idiot elected officials up there in Niagara County let him. They never took some action against him for not doing what he said he was going to do in developing this property,” Paladino said.
Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy, the co-chair of the Stadium Working Group, said Friday he thinks Milstein is a good businessman.
“I certainly think he (Milstein) and the Jacobs family and all the names that have been mentioned so far are great names to hear because they’re people that will have connections to Western New York,” said Duffy.
Speaking of the Jacobs Family, Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs expressed similar skepticism about Milstein. Jacobs’ uncle Jeremy Jacobs Jr. owns the Boston Bruins and Buffalo-based Delaware North and has said he’s not interested in selling the Bruins to buy the Bills.
“There’s been a lot of acquisition over a decade, I think by the Milstein group and not a lot of action so I think they would really have to demonstrate that they’re really going to do more than talk at this point in time. We need action,” Jacobs said.
Duffy didn’t mention Real Estate Mogul Donald Trump’s name specifically. Paladino has offered his assistance as an investor should Trump make a bid on the team.
Paladino isn’t alone. News broke Monday that Bills Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly’s attorney met with Trump. Kelly, who continues to recover from oral cancer, is friendly with the former USFL owner and even stayed at a Trump-owned apartment while undergoing cancer treatment in New York City.
Kelly has made no secret of his interest in being part of an ownership group. He’s been approached by a number of interested parties about the possibility of joining them in a bid for the Bills.
In addition to names like Trump, Milstein, and even Bon Jovi the Buffalo News reported over the weekend Rochester-Area Billionaire and former Buffalo Sabres Owner Tom Golisano had a private dinner with Bills President Russ Brandon.
This flurry of activity has been connected to new condensed timeline. The Associated Press reported on Saturday there is an anticipation that the Bills could be sold by July, and the sale approved by NFL owners as early as the league’s meetings in October.
Just to add more pressure to the situation U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer told reporters in Buffalo Monday he’d like a plan to either retrofit the current stadium in Orchard Park or build a new stadium in place by the time a new owner is announced.
“Perhaps the best way to get the Bills to stay here, in Western New York, for a generation, is to have some plan for a stadium, in place at the time the Bills are sold,” Schumer said.
Schumer said he spoke with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Monday, and believes the commissioner is “on our side,” and wants the Bills to stay in the area.
No matter who ends up with the team the Cuomo administration is likely to play a key role. The Governor’s office announced last week it had retained a Manhattan based attorney to provide the state and stadium working group with legal counsel while working to convince any potential owner to keep the team in Buffalo.
It’s a move Paladino believes gives Milstein a clear advantage.
“The state’s paying for it, taking care of Howard. You’ve got to simply connect up the dots. It’s real easy. He’d be the worst owner we could ever have for the Buffalo Bills. He’s a greedy developer-type out of New York City. Is that the kind of guy you want?” Paladino asked.
Schumer Says He Pressed Sebelius For Medicaid Waiver (Updated)
Jan 29th - 12:52 pm
A decision on whether New York will be granted a $10 billion Medicaid waiver will come within the next 30 days, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Wednesday.
Schumer said he spoke with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius following President Obama’s State of the Union address to discuss the waiver.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at a joint news conference this week, renewed his call for the waiver, which he said his necessary to save several financially troubled hospitals in Brooklyn.
State Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah made a similar appeal following Cuomo’s budget presentation this month.
The state has been seeking the waiver since 2012, citing $34 billion in savings achieved through the Medicaid Redesign Team.
Schumer said he secured a commitment from Sebelius that New York would receive notification on the waiver by the end of February. Cuomo’s deadline to alter his budget proposal comes at around that time.
Here is the full statement from Schumer:
“Last night I spoke to Secretary Sebelius on the floor of the House of Representatives following the President’s State of the Union Address. I emphasized to her, as I have scores of times over the past two years, the importance of New York State receiving the ‘Medicaid waiver’ they are seeking from the federal government. In our conversation she acknowledged the importance and time sensitivity of New York receiving this waiver, and committed to me that a decision would likely be made within 30 days.
“I told the Secretary that the health care system in New York is undergoing a rapid transformation, and that these funds – up to $10 billion – would ensure that New Yorkers continue to have access to a top-notch level of health care. I appreciate her commitment to concluding the review of this application as soon as possible, and look forward to the state getting a positive decision in the very near future.”
Update: Cuomo spokeswoman Melissa DeRosa sent along a statement in response.
“As the Governor said earlier this week, the State must have the waiver in the next 30 days in order to be relevant in this budget period. We’ve heard promises from the Federal Government before, and with this much at stake, we will not let up pressure until we have the waiver in hand.”
Schumer: ‘Everything We Can’ To Get Medicaid Waiver
Jan 22nd - 2:17 pm
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer told reporters in central New York today acknowledged the state government’s need for a $10 billion federal Medicaid waiver, saying “we’re doing everything we can” to get the application approved.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget is relying on the waiver to aid failing hospitals, but the approval also impacts items in his out-year budget planning.
Health Commissioner Nirav Shah called on the federal government on Tuesday to grant the waiver, which was first requested in 2012.
“We’re doing everything we can to get the federal government… to deliver that Medicaid money,” Schumer said. “It’s important to the state and we’re work to make that happen.”
Asked if he was confident the waiver would come through, Schumer said, “We’re doing everything we can to make that happen.”
New York officials say the waiver should be approved due to cost-savings achieved by the Medicaid Redesign Team developed by Cuomo.