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Nassau OTB officials among state tax panel

Celeste Hadrick on Long Island; James T. Madore in Albany; Rick Brand on Long Island

February 4, 2008

PROPERTY TAXES

Two from local OTB on panel

County Executive Thomas Suozzi, chairman of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's tax study commission, has two other Nassau officials working with him. And apparently, he's giving good odds that they can find a solution to soaring property taxes.

Dino Amoroso, president of Nassau's Off-Track Betting Corp., was appointed by Spitzer to be the commission's counsel, to be assisted by Amoroso's OTB counsel, Dianne Malone.

Amoroso said both he and Malone are working at the commission for no pay while they continue their OTB duties.

"The objective of OTB and the objective of this commission are in harmony with one another," Amoroso said. "We try to generate as much money as we can to help defray property taxes. The commission is going to try to do the same thing to try to reduce property taxes in New York State."

- Celeste Hadrick on Long Island

Lunch date no-shows

Although Nassau's new presiding officer, Diane Yatauro, promised bipartisanship on the county legislature before she was inducted Jan. 2, the Glen Cove Democrat has yet to sit down with Minority Leader Peter Schmitt.

Yatauro's office invited the Massapequa Republican to lunch Jan. 17 but Schmitt was away. Her office then suggested Jan. 29, but Schmitt had to cancel because of a death in his district. Schmitt suggested last Thursday, but Yatauro couldn't make it. Her office then rescheduled lunch for Feb. 20.

"It would be easier for Schmitt to meet with Barack Obama than with Diane Yatauro," quipped Schmitt aide Ed Ward.

"We've tried three times to reach out," Yatauro objected. "I didn't cancel any of them. He knows the number, too. "

She added, "It's nothing but two people who have busy schedules. That's all it is."

- Celeste Hadrick on Long Island

THE SPITZER WATCH

Gov. Eliot Spitzer appeared last week to drop his requirement that lawmakers first approve an overhaul of the state's campaign finance laws before receiving a pay raise.

"I think we are better suited in Albany to deal with issues on their merits," he told reporters. "This isn't a day where I'm linking 10 issues, sort of creating a Rubik's Cube of interconnectedness. Let's pass issues."

Spitzer's reversal, together with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's confirmation that the governor "is not averse" to a salary hike, was a relief to lawmakers who haven't seen their base pay of $79,500 increase since 1999. State judges and agency heads also haven't received raises in years.

Still, many lawmakers aren't struggling because they have second jobs, mainly as lawyers. They also receive extra cash for leadership duties, committee work and travel expenses. Members of the New York City Council and some county legislatures earn more, however.

Pressure for a pay raise is greatest among Assembly Democrats. But passage is doubtful with all 212 lawmakers facing re-election in November.

- James T. Madore in Albany

TODAY ON THE BLOG

Neophyte GOP congressional hopeful Lee Zeldin has raised $107,000 to challenge Rep. Tim Bishop. But $44,000 comes from a personal loan he made to himself, and he has only $10,000 in cash on hand that is not borrowed, his latest campaign finance report states. Zeldin, who had first promised to raise $200,000 and later $100,000, raised $63,000 but spent $53,000, much of it on fundraising. The $44,000 personal loan to the campaign gives Zeldin about $54,000. "We're $2 million away from the $2 million we need," conceded Zeldin, 28, a lawyer from Shirley. "We feel the pain of being middle class on Long Island. " Zeldin said his fundraising was hampered because he did not want to seek donations until after Election Day. He also said that efforts were impaired by the fact that his party has not formally named a candidate yet. Harry Withers, Suffolk GOP chairman, said he expects that to happen later this month. Bishop has raised $610,000 since his last election and had $423,000 left over from his earlier campaign, yielding him a total of $1,033,000. He has spent $283,000, leaving $750,000 cash on hand for the campaign.

- Rick Brand on Long Island

NAKED AMBITION

Which was the most fevered lunge for self-promotion? Vote at newsday.com/spincycle.

1. Suffolk Legis. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centereach) pushing legislation to require licensed contractors in the county to document their employees' legal working status.

2. Rev. Allan Ramirez condemning the measure, and arguments used to support it, as "race-baiting."

3. Radio commentator Rush Limbaugh saying Sen. John McCain, despite winning GOP primaries, "is not the choice of conservatives as opposed to the Republican establishment."

Last week's results: Rudy Giuliani, 66.7 percent; Bill Clinton, 33.3 percent.