GOP legislators accuse Cuomo of bullying

ALBANY -- So bent was he on getting a unanimous vote to support his tax package, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo threatened any Assembly Republican who voted against it that he'd campaign against them in their home districts next year, several GOP legislators said Friday.

Cuomo had called Assembly GOP leader Brian Kolb (R-Canandaigua) after 11 p.m. Wednesday as Republicans met to discuss a bill to raise taxes on the wealthy, lower them on middle-income people and partly roll back the MTA payroll tax, among other things.

"Brian hung up the phone and calmly told our members that the governor said he would personally come in and campaign in your district if you vote no," said Assemb. James Conte (R-Huntington Station.) "We all kind of looked around and said, 'What the hell?' I don't understand it. Ninety-eight percent of us were looking to vote for this thing. What more does he want?"

In response, Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said, "The governor does not discuss details of private conversations. Leader Kolb and the governor have a good working relationship and while there will be issues on which they don't agree from time to time, their relationship is always cordial and productive."

Kolb responded similarly: "My policy is to not disclose the substance of private conversations with the governor and conversations of our conference."

While hardball is part of Albany politics, the perceived intimidation struck many legislators as shocking and "Spitzeresque," mainly because the tax package was going to pass easily. The final vote was 132-8; six Republicans and two Democrats opposed it.

"The first thing people started saying was, 'My God, is this Spitzer all over again?' " said Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), referring to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose relations with lawmakers blew up in 2007 after he tried to bully them. "Everyone was stunned by" Cuomo's call, said Assemb. Philip Boyle (R-Bay Shore), who voted for the bill.

At a bill signing in Binghamton on Friday, Cuomo said characterizations of his call were inaccurate, adding, "I was explaining my position on the bill and what I believed were the merits."

"Then it's his word against the entire Assembly [GOP] conference," said Assemb. Steve McLaughlin (R-Schaghticoke). "And we didn't sit around making up some wild story."