New York billionaire engineers legislative “coup”

[Hannah Bell]

The New York State Legislature was thrown into chaos this past Monday when two of the State Senate’s Democratic members suddenly announced they were joining with the Republican minority to reestablish de facto Republican control, less than six months after the Republicans lost their majority for the first time in 40 years...

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the whole sordid business is the role of Tom Golisano, a billionaire businessman... who apparently orchestrated the so-called revolt. Golisano has used his money to buy influence in state government for some years...in last November’s election, he backed several Democrats in state races and then took credit for the Democrats’ success in winning a narrow majority...

According to the New York Times, when Golisano met with Senate Majority Leader Smith a few months ago to demand that the new majority drop its plans for modest tax increases for the wealthy, the billionaire was not treated with sufficient deference.

After the taxes were enacted, Golisano changed his primary residence to Florida to avoid paying them and began meeting secretly with Republicans and with the two dissident Democrats...

These corrupt political methods are ultimately an expression of a society wracked by economic crisis and dominated by an immense chasm between the ruling financial oligarchy and the vast majority of the population that works for a living. Working people are politically disenfranchised, forced to choose between two parties dominated by big business and the wealthy elite. Under these conditions, politics is inevitably determined not by the will of the people and open debate, but by conspiracies, provocations and scandals.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jun2009/nyss-j13.shtml

[aquart]

1. Florida really needs an income tax.

Golisano needs a guillotine.

[Hannah Bell]

2. kik

[Hannah Bell]

3. kick. here at home, we don't bother with elections, we just let rich people buy the electors.

and no one gives a damn, too busy "standing in solidarity" with iran's "change" from one asshole to a new asshole.