Common Sense: The Conservative Party

The New York State Conservative Party will be holding its annual political action conference in Albany on Sunday, January 26 and Monday, January 27.

The conference includes numerous panel discussions and speakers on a variety of public policy and political topics. It concludes with the party releasing its 2014 legislative agenda at a dinner attended by the party’s conservative endorsed legislators which is roughly 31 state senators and 45 assemblymembers from around the state.

This being a statewide election year with the offices of governor, attorney general and comptroller up for election as well as the entire legislature, many candidates are expected to attend in order to interact with the party leadership and media who are heavily in attendance.

As in the past, a large contingent from the Brooklyn Conservative Party will make the trip. If anyone is interested in more information about the conference or details concerning the party’s legislative agenda, they can be found at www.CPNYS.ORG

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Governor Cuomo received high marks in his fourth State of the State address for a number of tax cut proposals that use some of the state’s $2 billion surplus as well as for support for a couple of items that locally State Senator Marty Golden and Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis have advocated for, such as the “three strikes you’re out” license forfeiture policy to get drunk drivers off the road.

At the same time, there was concern over the additional debt his $2 billion bond issue would place on future generations and the lack of any real specifics regarding his universal pre-K proposal. His failure even to mention the common core curriculum controversy was also criticized.

All in all, the State of the State was a relatively non-controversial opening speech for a re-election year. Some political commentators even called it a stump speech for his re-election because the first parts were a rehashing of the administration’s accomplishments.

The lack of big ideas and broad themes might also be an indication that the governor has put his presidential ambitions at least temporarily on hold.

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Speaking of presidential ambitions that might need to be placed on hold, it remains an open question if New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s press conference in which he accepted blame, fired senior staff and apologized will be enough to overcome the hot water caused by the George Washington Bridge closure order that can be traced back to his office.

Although not a Watergate or Travelgate in significance, it brings into question Christie’s character to lead, which certainly would be a concern for many Americans in choosing who they would support for president.

In a national Republican Party more conservative then Christie, his major appeal was his electability.Today the open, unanswered question revolves around the success of Christie’s efforts to get himself outfrom underneath the scandal.

It’s ironic that his brashness which was considered a selling point could now be working against him.