Lost your house? Blame Trunzo.

daily Gotham tears Caesar a new one with this post about the mortgage crisis.

In June, legislative leaders announced a deal on foreclosures, halfway between the preferred republican approach of doing nothing and the Democratic goal of a one-year foreclosure moratorium. Of course, the financial interests that own the republicans wouldn't have anything to do with a one-year moratorium; in consequence, one of their stooges, Caesar Trunzo, put his name on a bill that provided for a ninety-day warning period before you lose your home - a warning, not relief. The difference is clear: under the Democratic plan - Sheldon Silver has his occasional uses - you can't be evicted from your home for a year. Under the Trunzo plan, they have to send you a note and then kick you to the curb.

There are two very clear deductions from that, both of which point, again, to why we need a Democratic Senate. One, with Democrats in charge, you won't find legislation written by Wall Street, period. Two, with Democrats in charge, good Progressive legislation, like the one-year moratorium, will pass both houses and thus, actually become law.

So Democrats give you a one-year grace period, and Caesar gives you ninety days warning before you're kicked out of your home.

Pretty clear choices here, you'd think.

Trunzo rakes in big bucks from the health insurance companies

This is from politics64, who is a local, at TAP:

Trunzo's HMO Ties Making Voters Sick

A press release from the Brian Foley campaign reveals the financial ties of Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) to the healthcare industry.

While healthcare crisis worsens, Trunzo continues to take in big bucks from healthcare industry

As millions of New Yorkers continue to live without healthcare coverage and face an uncertain future, 36 year-incumbent Senator Caesar Trunzo is living large – off the money he collects from the healthcare industry. Financial records filed by Trunzo's own campaign indicate that he's been on the take from HMO's for years. Since 1999 alone, Trunzo has taken $66,000 from the healthcare industry.

While he's raking in big bucks from his friends in the health insurance field, Trunzo's failed leadership is resulting in millions of people lacking adequate health coverage. Trunzo, a member of the broken status quo that brought us the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, has a healthcare record an insurance company CEO can be proud of. Whenever there are legislative battles pitting insurance companies against every-day consumers struggling to pay their healthcare premiums, Trunzo's is a vote the insurance companies can and do count on.

For the first time in his 36 year career, Trunzo is being called out for his corporatist ties that has effectively worked against the best interests of the very same working class people he claimed to champion over the decades. This is the first time Trunzo has had an opponent with resources to get this inconvenient truth out to the people of the 3rd State Senate District.

Senator Trunzo voted against women and in favor of HMO's when he voted "No" on the Women's Health and Wellness Bill. The legislation sought to make insurance companies cover mammograms for women over 40. Despite the fact that Long Islanders face the highest rate of breast cancer in the United States, Senator Trunzo chose to side with insurance companies over prevention, the best defense against breast cancer. In addition to mammograms, the bill would have forced HMO's to cover cervical cancer screenings.

Senator Trunzo and his colleagues killed major legislation that would have held HMO's legally liable for the consequences of their decisions. Under the bill, patients who suffer pain, injuries, and even death because of the denial of care or delays in approving care would have the right to place the blame on the insurer, just as a patient would sue a physician for medical malpractice. Thanks to Trunzo's inaction, the bill died on the Senate Calendar.

"Senator Trunzo takes $66,000 from the healthcare industry; then protects the industry from having to care for sick New Yorkers," said Ibrahim Khan, Communications Director for the Foley for Senate campaign. "I think voters can connect the dots. Trunzo's failed policies of the past demonstrate that he's either unwilling or unable to stand up for us when it matters most."

Trunzo's voting pattern demonstrates his commitment to making sure his buddies in Big Business are always taken care of, even if it means his constituents can't go to the doctor's when they're sick. In a shocking vote, Trunzo voted against making Walmart and other large employers provide healthcare benefits to their employees. This, despite that fact that most of these corporations have multi-million dollar budgets and all of them employ at least 50 people.

The large campaign contributions received from healthcare industry lobbyists underscores the pro industry anti consumer voting record of Trunzo and strips the veneer of the jolly, likeable guy you would love as a next door neighbor appeal that Trunzo has played up his entire career.

"Brian X. Foley represents that change we need in Albany. He will reform healthcare, make sure all New Yorkers have quality, affordable health coverage, and hold HMO's accountable," said Khan.

Throughout his career in public service, Foley has stood strong for the health of Suffolk County residents. As County Legislator, Foley took on the tobacco industry – and won. As Brookhaven Town Supervisor, Foley outlawed smoking in public areas; protecting children from second-hand smoke and helping communities breathe cleaner air.

Foley will bring to Albany a proven record of changing government and a commitment to working families. In just two years as the Brookhaven Town Supervisor, he cut a $15 million deficit, got the town its highest bond rating ever, and saved taxpayers $10 million by ending years of no-bid contracts. Because of his hard work, Brookhaven now has the lowest town tax rate in Suffolk County.

Trunzo is NOT on our side. He's on the big money side where he has ALWAYS BEEN!

Ceasar Trunzo Debate Watch -Day...STOP THE PRESSES!

Well I'll be damned. A friend tells me that Ceasar Trunzo actually showed up for the News 12 debate this afternoon. I honestly can't wait to see what happened. This was a big risk for the Trunzo camp. We all know Caesar isn't in the best shape these days and is liable to say anything.

If this year is like all the other ones, Time Warner cable will run this debate about 20 times between now and the election. We'll all get to see just which Ceasar Trunzo showed up today.

Trunzo's in trouble. The Dems are coming

From Spin Cycle

More than 89,000 new Long Island voters — a 15 percent jump over four years ago — have enrolled to cast ballots in next month’s presidential contest and Democrats have garnered a huge edge among newcomers, according to local elections officials.

Suffolk had the largest gains, with 39,762 new voters since the beginning of the year, up 50 percent from four years ago. And Democrats gained the most with 20,642 new voters while Republicans drew one third that number — 6,905. The number of new Suffolk voters not aligned with any party jumped 13,301.

Ruh roh, Trunzo.

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch - Day 41

This is getting old.

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch - DEBATE CANCELLED

Last night was supposed to be the first debate between Caesar Trunzo and Brian Foley. It was supposed to happen at Briarcliffe College.

Guess what? Caesar ducked the debate (big surprise, I know) and they had to cancel it.

Will Caesar Duck all of them? Probably.

Caesar Trunzo has voted for 33.4 BILLION in Taxes

And the Foley campaign is going to give him the bill!

Suffolk Senate candidate Brian Foley, portrayed as a tax hiker in an ad from Caesar Trunzo, answered today with an ad asserting that Trunzo had voted for $33.4 billion in tax increases in Albany since 1989. Now, he's following it up with a stunt at 11:30 tomorrow morning:

"State Senate candidate Brian X. Foley will join Islip and Brookhaven taxpayers outside of 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo's government office to deliver an invoice for tens of billions of dollars. Since 1989, Senator Trunzo has voted in favor of 611 separate tax and fee increases totaling $33.4 billion."

Wow Foley has a NEW TV ad

This one is different too. It goes right after Caesar Trunzo!



It's about time people started pointing some fingers.

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch- Day 35

Where is Caesar? Does anyone know?

The first debate is this week right?

Labor walks with Foley

I was there I wish I had brought my camera.

This Saturday, September 27th, over 50 members from four unions amassed in Brookhaven to walk door to door with Brian X. Foley, talking to voters about Foley's record of changing government and fighting for the working families of Suffolk County. Members of CWA Locals 1104 and 1108, SEIU Local 32BJ, and RWDSU volunteered their Saturday afternoon to join together and walk in the Shirley and Mastic Beach neighborhoods.
"We're proud to walk with Brian X. Foley today, because working people in Brookhaven and Islip deserve more than they're getting thanks to Caesar Trunzo's 36 years of failed economic policies," said Anthony Eramo, CWA Local 1104 Shop Steward. "Trunzo has been in the pocket of special interests for far too long. He's in Albany working for the HMOs and lobbyists; not for the people of this District. We're dedicated to a strong future for middle-class families on Long Island - that's why we're for Brian."

The first labor walk follows on the heels of an exciting week for the Foley campaign. Foley was endorsed this week by seven labor unions. CWA District 1, CWA Local 1108, UFCW Local 1500, RWDSU, UAW Region 9A, SEIU 32BJ, and New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council all threw their support behind Brian X. Foley's campaign. This powerful show of support from labor unions illustrates the strength of Foley's appeal to working families and the momentum of his campaign in Islip and Brookhaven.

In addition a recent public poll by the Siena Research Institute showed that Foley and 36 year incumbent Caesar Trunzo are in a statistical dead heat going into the final 5 weeks of the campaign. This was just the first of three labor walks for Foley. Members will also join Foley to walk the District in October and on Election Day weekend.

"I am honored to be joined by our friends from labor as we go door to door talking to voters about the change we'll bring to Albany," said Foley. Our Coalition for Change is passionate about ending Senator Trunzo's failed policies as part of the Albany status quo. Together, we will win this election and bring the same integrity and common sense approach to government that we used to turn Brookhaven around."

I haven't had such a good time in ages. It felt great!

Brian Foley is on the air!

Finally! Here's Foley's new TV ad.



Here's some analysis

The ad unintentionally highlights one of the central dynamics of this entire election: people are sick and tired of things as they are. Locally, it's property taxes; at the state level, an un-democratic, dysfunctional legislature coupled with a culture of secrecy and legalized bribery of legislators, special-interest groups, and citizens themselves, all while the budget tanks and nobody has a clue what to do about any of this; nationally, with a war we didn't need to fight, with a financial sector in meltdown, with job losses that will top a million before Christmas and, of course, with millions of Americans losing their homes. Trunzo's decision to call for continuity - other republicans, notably New York Senate republicans, are trying to make the same argument - flies in the face of everything that we know about public opinion in this cycle.

The Senate republicans have made a number of bad choices this cycle, recruiting a weak field of candidates and spending millions of dollars to go on offense without moving the needle much, if at all, in their targeted races. Trunzo's stay-the-course messaging - and similar efforts by other members of his conference - may prove to be a similar mistake.

Way to go, Brian.

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch- Day 31

Am I beginning to detect a pattern here?

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch- Day 30

More crickets....

Dean Skelos says Sienna sucks

Those Siena polls must have hit a little too close to home for "Mean Dean" Skelos. Now he's trying to say they aren't any good.

Not surprisingly, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is questioning the methodology of yesterday's Siena poll that brought bad news for his Republicans, including tight races for two veteran incumbents, Serphin Maltese and Caesar Trunzo, and a double-digit lead for Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson in Seklos' backyard.
"I don't believe the Sienna poll is correct and we have our own internal polling that polls that have been done within all of these different district within the past 20 years that indicate a lot different," Skelos said.

"You know, they use the random digit dialing. Sienna has never done a poll in a senate districts and random digit dialing, for all you know, all the phone calls could've gone into Great Neck."

There's a problem with that malarkey though. It isn't true. Skelos just made the whole thing up:

UPDATE: Jerry Skurnik settles the matter, writing that his firm provided the information used by Siena for its polling:
"Siena College bought the random samples for their recent state Senate polls from Prime New York. The samples were registered voters, not random-digit dialing."

Nice try, Dean. Your boy is in trouble.

More on that poll

From Newsday:

Both candidates can find comfort in today's Siena College Poll of Senate District 3. The bottom line is that this contest is still very much up for grabs. Considering the margin of error, this race could very well be a statistical dead heat. That is good news for Brian Foley, who trails an incumbent by just six points. The fact that Caesar Trunzo has a six point lead is also encouraging for him. In fact, here are several encouraging signs for Trunzo:

Trunzo trails by just 2 points in Brookhaven and has a 12-point lead in Islip.

Trunzo's Republican base appears stronger than Foley's democrat base.

Trunzo has a significant lead among younger voters which is surprising.

But, there is also the good news for Foley:

Foley leads with women and minority voters, who are expected to turn out in disproportionately larger numbers in this presidential election year.

Foley enjoys a slight lead among independent voters.

The key to this race appears to be the undecided independent voters, especially in Brookhaven. Independent voters make up the largest block of undecided voters and very well may decide this contest.

Right now, McCain vs. Obama is a dead heat in this district. Foley needs Obama to do better. Trunzo needs McCain to continue to keep it close.

If this poll is to be believed, the SD 3 race at the present time is very tight and could well be headed for a photo finish on election night!!

Look for lots of money to be spent and appearances on behalf of the candidates by the big guns on both sides in the weeks to come. This is exciting!

First, there's nothing exciting about Caesar Trunzo. Second, if the GOP is going to bring in some big guns to campaign with Trunzo, it means that they will actually have to produce him and show him in public. The press will be there. They take pictures.

I don't see that happening.

Foley has got some work to do but he's in a good spot now. He can makeup ground in Brookhaven and no way Trunzo holds on to the youth vote. I also think that Trunzo is overperforming in Islip. That won't last.

There is so much work to do. Doors to knock, phonecalls to make. But this is a winnable race. There is no doubt about it.

New Poll shows 6 point race

I would have loved to see Brian Foley up by 6 points, but he's right on Caesar Trunzo's heels. The Siena College poll came out this morning and it's Trunzo up by 6. He's under 50% though and that's a very good thing. I bet he hasn't been under 50% since Nixon was still president.

Newsday has a statement from Brian Foley:

The Siena poll this morning showed Republican Cesar Trunzo leading Brian Foley in Suffolk, Dem Craig Johnson crushing Barbara Donno in Nassau, and the battle for the state Senate tight as a tick overall.

Here's a statement from the Foley campaign, which sees a 46-40 deficit as evidence that a majority doesn't want the incumbent:

"The voters of Islip and Brookhaven are tired of skyrocketing property taxes and the failed economic policies of the Albany status quo, and no amount of misleading and negative attack ads will change that. We are not surprised that a majority of voters do not want Caesar Trunzo to represent them in Albany any longer - after 36 years of dysfunction, voters are hungry for change."

Foley can win this thing. Trunzo is in trouble. I guess I'm going to have to knock on some more doors.

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch - Day 27

Hello? Is this thing on?

Fresh Troops

Some people from the Daily Gotham blog were in the District today.

On The Road With Brian X. Foley.

There are some really good pictures of Foley HQ, where I have been spending more and more time lately.

You should too.

Caesar Trunzo Debate Watch - Day 25

If a 82 year old state senator falls in the Long Island woods and no one is there to hear it...

Trunzo Taxis

Been seeing these everywhere. It's not as unheard of as the TAP people seem to think, but I don't know that I have ever seen so many of them before.