Businessman Bob Stefanowski, the insurgent gubernatorial candidate who has used a six-figure television ad buy to introduce himself to voters instead of traditional GOP platforms, will skip the party’s convention next month.In a letter Tuesday to state Republican Chairman J.R. Romano, the former UBS Investment Bank chief financial officer and Madison resident said he will make his case for the nomination directly to primary voters.Stefanowski will now try to petition his way onto the August primary ballot by collecting signatures from 2 percent of registered Republicans statewide — about 9,600 names.Absent from all four gubernatorial debates organized by the party, including Wednesday’s New Britain showcase, Stefanowski said the convention is tilted toward insiders.“The current convention process discourages just the type of candidates most voters want — a fresh, outside and real world perspective from a new candidate who has not been courting potential … [Read more...] about Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bob Stefanowski Will Bypass GOP Convention
Gop
Fact check: Does the GOP memo show the FBI spied on the Trump campaign?
Republicans have increasingly claimed that the memo written by GOP staff members of the House Intelligence Committee, which was declassified by President Donald Trump on Friday, shows how the FBI conspired with Democrats to interfere in the election and even spy on the Trump campaign."#FISAMemo shows real collusion between Dem operatives & key officials at the FBI & DOJ to spy on the #Trump campaign & interfere in the 2016 election. The politicization of our intelligence & law enforcement agencies should concern every American," tweeted Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, on Friday.Other Republicans have used the memo to suggest the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller began with tainted fruit, so it is no longer needed."Finally, there needs to be a discussion as to whether the Mueller investigation is truly needed, seeing that the main premise that launched the investigation turned out to not be credible and was both directed and funded by political opponents," Rep. Jeff … [Read more...] about Fact check: Does the GOP memo show the FBI spied on the Trump campaign?
The Latest: Trump to see 2 GOP Senate candidates in W.Va.
The Latest: Trump to see 2 GOP Senate candidates in W.Va. April 5, 2018 Updated: April 5, 2018 10:35am Photo: Susan Walsh, AP Image 1of/7 CaptionClose Image 1 of 7 In this April 3, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. In this April 3, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Photo: Susan Walsh, AP Image 2 of 7 . . Photo: AP Image 3 of 7 Increases standard deductionsThe standard deduction would be increased from $6,500 to $12,000 for single filers, from $9,550 to $18,000 for heads of household and from $13,000 to $24,000 for joint filers in 2018 less Increases standard deductions The standard deduction would be … [Read more...] about The Latest: Trump to see 2 GOP Senate candidates in W.Va.
State Senate Dems broker unity deal, looking to oust GOP from control
ALBANY – Long-feuding state Senate Democrats have brokered a framework deal to reunite, which Democrats claim will bolster the party’s prospects for taking control from Republicans of the 63-member chamber. And this time, they say it’s real. Following a Democratic “unity meeting" Tuesday in Manhattan, attended by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Democratic Senate leaders and top officials of unions that hold influence over the Democratic Party, the cohesion deal among Senate Democrats was announced Wednesday afternoon. “Today is a very exciting day," said Cuomo, who has been criticized over the years for not doing more to use his influence as Democratic Party leader to end the intraparty battles in the Senate. The deal comes just three weeks before two vacant Senate seats get filled in special elections that could give Democrats a numerical advantage – though it can’t yet count on where one breakaway Democrat from Brooklyn might call home at the Capitol. … [Read more...] about State Senate Dems broker unity deal, looking to oust GOP from control
New GOP candidate Molinaro gets personal against Cuomo
Marcus J. Molinaro knows all too well that his GOP has failed to elect a statewide candidate since back in 2002, that Democrats far outnumber Republicans in New York, and that “the path ahead is not simple or easy.” But just two days into his brand-new candidacy for governor against a powerful incumbent, the Dutchess County executive made it clear Wednesday in Buffalo that he intends to mount a personal campaign against Democrat Andrew M. Cuomo. Launching his local effort before a small group of supporters at Republican headquarters on Main Street, Molinaro at various times labeled the incumbent “corrupt,” “corrosive,” “loud,” “argumentative,” and committed to “putting the personal politics of ambition and greed above the people.” And he promised he is just getting started. “Today, our governor believes he is the government,” Molinaro said. “I’m sorry, he’s wrong. You, the people … [Read more...] about New GOP candidate Molinaro gets personal against Cuomo