The Bruno-Kruger Connection
So why would Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno appoint Democrat Carl Kruger to head the Social Service Committee? In one sense, it helps firm up Bruno's majority by maintaining friendly ties to a member of the growing Democratic minority.
But Liz sees more personal influences at play:
-- Azi PaybarahKruger, as you may recall, released a statement in support of Bruno after the majority leader revealed late last year that his outside business interests are the subject of an FBI probe. Kruger said questions about Bruno's integrity were "appalling and ironic," given his commitment to "openness and fairness." Kruger also has local ties to Bruno: Tom Connolly, vice chairman of the state Independence Party and chair of the Indy Party in Rensselaer County - Bruno's home base - is on Kruger's payroll. Connolly is a Bruno ally from way, way back.
Well Bruno's other choice was consoldating committees again.....how the Senate Social Services, Tourism, Recreation, Children, Families and Sports Committee soound?
actually, skelos and padavan don't have committees. they do, however, have leadership positions (and the associated lulus). so he could have given frank or dean a committee if he wanted to.
Does this mean Carl Kruger will actually have to leave his house and start traveling to Albany during session?
True...Padavan or Skelos could have picked up Social Services or another committee if someone else was moved to Social Services
Connolly, an Independence Party Vice-Chair, is on Kruger's payroll even though Kruger has never had the support of the Indpendence Party.
Watch for Kruger to introduce a law preventing seniors from chewing bubble gum and walking down the street at the same time.
Carl Kruger makes Joe Liebeman look like a left-wing Democrat.
Azi, I think you -- and Bill Hammond over at Daily Politics -- need to be much less cavalier throwing around the first-name-only moniker "Liz" in items that are largely about Senators named Kruger. Even though Senators Carl Kruger and Liz Krueger spell their last names differently, we are not all Albany insiders, and some of get whiplash inside our tiny little brains because Liz Benjamin of the Albany Times-Union, while she is an intrepid reporter, is not exactly a "Madonna" or "Hillary" like only-1-name-needed celebrity south of the Bear Mountain bend in the river.