Some important political questions lacking simple answers

Ken Kruly

Oct 2

There have rarely been so many perplexing problems as exist today that are haunting government from the federal to the state and local levels in these United States. Most of the problems don't have simple answers that can lead to a consensus on how to resolve the issues. Some folks in government have no interest in consensus.

This post reports and speculates on such questions. In some cases the questions just suggest more questions. Answers are elusive.

Matt Gaetz has filed a motion to vacate in an attempt to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Will Democrats join in that action? On the one hand getting rid of McCarthy removes someone that the party cannot really trust. On the other hand what comes next and how long would it take? The new 45-day budget Continuing Resolution clock is running. And what about aid for Ukraine?
Will the House Ethics Committee actually suggest expelling Gaetz from the House and would there at least a two-thirds majority to do so? Again, it may come down to what the Democrats choose to do. Hmm, get rid of Gaetz or let him continue to drive McCarthy crazy?
Why can't the House meet its basic responsibility to approve an annual budget? You could make an argument that preparing the budget means that you are committed to having the government carry out the responsibilities required by the United States Constitution and the laws of the land. About 20 Republican members of the House, the ones really running the show, do not see it that way.
What does a TV network do when its ratings for a show drop more than 30 percent from the first to the second episode? They usually cancel. Yet even though that's what happened on Fox's new reality show, the Republican Presidential Debates, they've decided to try again in November.
What will Albany do about the very large budget deficits on the horizon over the next four years? State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office has prepared a report indicating a cumulative $36 billion state budget deficit over the next four years. Revenues are trailing expenditures. Extra federal funds are drying up. Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a spending freeze. Actual cutting? We are talking about Albany so we will see about that.
What are Crissy Casilio's plans to cut taxes nine percent and end "out-of-control" spending? Following the release of the proposed 2024 Erie County budget by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, which includes modest tax cuts and some additional spending on various county programs, his Republican/Conservative opponent in this year's election, Casilio, posted on Twitter/X that she "will commit to lowering property taxes by 9% by eliminating political pet projects, ending out-of-control spending, and giving the county surplus back to the people." The "pet political projects" are not identified, but she must think there are a lot of them since a 9 percent cut in property taxes would lead to about $29 million in spending cuts. A large portion of the county budget is state-mandated, which means that her cutting would need to fall most severely on non-mandated items such as libraries, cultural institutions, public health services, and roads. Her plan echoes the plans of county Republicans from the early 1980s and late 1990s which did not turn out too well and eventually led to cumulative increases of 1.75 percent in the county sales tax rate.
Have the Republican and Conservative parties in Erie County prepared Casilio to discuss what she wants to do as county executive? The party leadership certainly has access to the talent who understands and can explain county government. That doesn't seem to have happened or had any effect on Casilio's very limited commentary on what county government is all about.
Why are so few people running for public office in Erie County this year? Everything is great everywhere? No one cares? The other party controls everything. Perhaps some mixture of those explanations.
Why is voter turnout likely to be so low? Everything is great everywhere? No one cares? A recent report from the Pew Research Center indicates that "just 4% of U.S. adults say the political system is working extremely or very well; another 23% say it is working somewhat well. About six-in-ten (63%) express not too much or no confidence at all in the future of the U.S. political system."
If Congressman Brian Higgins is headed to becoming president of the Shea's Performing Arts Center, when would a special election be called and who are the potential candidates? The rumor mill continues to churn. Governor Hochul would call a special election if Higgins resigns in the next several months. Given all that is on the table in Washington there would be a great deal of pressure to act quickly, but a special election could be called for April 2, the date of the presidential primaries in New York. Potential candidates could include County Executive Mark Poloncarz, State Senator Tim Kennedy, Mayor Byron Brown, and maybe some others. Kennedy would need to choose between a race for Congress or holding on to his Senate seat if the election is in 2024. Kennedy's $2 million war chest could not be conveniently transferred to a congressional race since his treasury includes money received from corporations, a no-no for federal races.
If Mayor Brown is headed to becoming president of Buffalo State University, who will become mayor and who will next run for mayor? If the Mayor left office before the end of this year Council President Darius Pridgen would become mayor until a special election is held in 2024. If there turns out to be a vacancy in the office after January 1 then whoever is Common Council President at that time would be become mayor. That in turn would heighten interest in the selection of the new Council President by the Council members. South District Councilmember Chris Scanlan could be interested. So could Kennedy. His current campaign account could easily be transferred into an account in a mayoral race.