Michael Bloomberg and Ray Kelly testify in Congress today.

Sean Hannity disses Jerry Nadler and Bloomberg. Hannity's guest: "Bloomberg is becoming a disgrace."

Times Square terrorist confesses.

Daily News: "Officials believe the mixup in letting the terror suspect board the flight was the airline's fault."

More on the No Fly list loophole.

"White House officials confirmed the only thing that foiled Shahzad's getaway was a final check of the...

A reader sent along this invitation to a fundraiser later this month, focused on building support of Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice among members of the LGBT community.

The invite from fundraiser Mike Giaccio notes that Rice’s brother Paul is gay, and also lists among the special guests Michelle Clunie of “Queer as Folk.” That’s interesting, as Clunie was last year dating Sen. Eric Schneiderman, the Manhattan Democrat who is a chief rival of Rice in seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Also running are Eric Dinallo, Sean Coffey and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.

The event on May 20 seeks $250 per person, and will be held in Manhattan. Schneiderman has secured the endorsement of twoseveral openly-gay elected officials: Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell as well as City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilwoman Rosie Mendez.

Here’s the invite e-mail for Rice.

I’m writing to inform you about an upcoming event for a very exciting candidate: Kathleen Rice, who just yesterday announced her candidacy for New York State Attorney General. Kathleen is currently the District Attorney for Nassau County on Long Island, and has built a stellar reputation as a tough-minded and innovative reformer since defeating a 31-year Republican incumbent in 2005. She is also a steadfast champion of LGBT rights: she firmly supports marriage equality; the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) on the state level; and full federal equality for all LGBT Americans, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the immediate repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the protections for same-sex partners in the immigration-reform framework recently laid out by Senator Schumer. She has a deep and personal understanding of the fight for full and equal protection under the law—not merely because of her progressive ideals, but also because of her close relationship with her brother, Paul, and his partner, Ward Welch.

Kathleen is widely considered the front runner in this race, and she out-raised every other candidate in the last financial disclosure period. That said, the primary is only four months away and we are working hard to expand her base of support in our community. I’m very pleased to announce that Paul and Ward have joined with Michelle Clunie of “Queer as Folk,” Andy Cohen of Bravo, Tom Lane, Brayden McCarthy, and Charles Myers to host an LGBT reception for Kathleen on Thursday, May 20—further details are included below. This is an excellent opportunity to meet Kathleen and hear more about her record and her vision for the attorney general’s office, so I hope you’ll consider joining us and making a contribution in support of her campaign.

Good morning!

Flaws in the no-fly list almost allowed the Times Square car bomb suspect to slip away.

He was "just a normal dude" before he became a plotter.

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton tells the Daily News that New York did well in thwarting the plot, but still must be more vigilant.

President Obama may change his mind about offfshore drilling rigs after the Gulf of Mexico spill.

Channel 13's retrospective on former Mayor John Lindsay has great detail, but leaves a little something to be desired, says the DN's David Hinckley.

At least 32 African-Americans are running for Congress as Republicans this year, perhaps an unexpected effect of Obama's election.

Angry parents, scientists and officials criticized the EPA for not doing enough to protect schoolkids from dangerous toxins.

Some Assembly Democrats say they won't agree to raising the cap on charter schools without a ban on for-profit operations.

High-profile lobbyist Patricia Lynch has been hired to get on that case.

Gov. Paterson says he'll start state worker furloughs the week of May 17, and they'll go on until a budget agreement is reached.

A group of state Senators is pushing for new curbs on cyberbullying.

Former state Sen. Joe Bruno is to be sentenced tomorrow.

The New York League of Conservation Voters will back Paterson's plan to expand the sale of wine to grocery stores.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano's budget scraps the 4% annual property tax increases planned by his predecessor, Tom Suozzi.

Violent crime in NYC is down 39% over the past 10 years.

Republicans see lots of opportunities in this year's elections -- and a lot of problems.

The city's new homeless services chief wants savings accounts and work requirements for those in the system.

The Mount Vernon Taxicab Commission is looking at hiking fares.

The Erie County GOP chairman announced his candidacy for the seat being vacated by retiring state Sen. Dale Volker.

Buffalo voters retained all five incumbent Board of Education members who were backed by the teachers union.

And we New Yorkers thought we knew from wildlife.

Good morning! The big news is the governor’s furlough proposal, which he will likely discuss today as he takes meetings at the Capitol. The governor will join some other elected officials — Andrew Cuomo’s plans unknown — at an event sponsored by good-government groups to hear plans for reform. I’ll be blogging from there for a while today. Meanwhile….

Gov. David Paterson is moving ahead with a plan to furlough state workers effective May 17, including language to do so in a budget extender he intends to submit to legislators later this week. The move was rebuked by union officials. (TU/WSJ/NYT/NYP/BN)

The case of Joe Bruno will wrap up tomorrow when the former Senate Majority Leader is sentenced. (TU)

Republicans in New York are dealing with their own demons in what should be a good year for them. (NYT)

Wayne Mahlke, Hiram Monserrate’s former chief of staff, was arrested for impersonating a government employee during an encounter with a police officer, who Mahlke called a b—–. (NYT/NYP/DN)

There are three people challenging Assemblyman Bob Reilly. (TU)

State lawmakers are hoping to bring a federal version of the honest services law to the books in New York. (TU)

The Court of Appeals affirmed some parental rights for nonbiologica, same-sex parents, including hospital visitations. (AP/NYT)

Charter school advocates have hired Patricia Lynch to try and push a cap-raising measure through the Assembly. (NYP)

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said his chamber will take a look at the bill, and pooh-poohed how quickly it was passed in the Senate. (NYP)

The WFP is urging the Yankees and Mets to boycott the All-Star game in Arizona, protesting a tight new immigration law that was signed there. (DN)

Jim Domagalski and former Sheriff Patrick Gallivan are battling for Republican support in the race to replace Sen. Dale Volker. (BN)

Republicans Sean Hanna and David Miller are seeking to replace Assemblyman Joe Errigo. (D&C)

The League of Conservation Voters has endorsed a plan to sell wine in grocery stores. (WSJ)

Ed Koch continued his push for redistricting reform. (Post-Standard)

Once upon a time, Rick Lazio and Andrew Cuomo co-hosted a radio show. (PNY)

In Watertown, Lazio called for an increase in energy production. (WDT)

Senate Republicans are hoping to end cyber-bullying. (TU)

Troy opened a fishing pier on Madison Street. (TU)

And here are some national headlines…..

An oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico might make Barack Obama re-think his support of off-shore drilling. (DN)

The spill and an attempted bombing in Times Square are forcing the Obama White House to walk a tight rope on messaging. (WP)

The investigation into the Times Square bombing attack is focusing in Pakistan. (WP)

A tough immigration law in Arizona might help Republicans in this year’s elections. (Politico)

Dan Coats will be the Republican senatorial candidate in Indiana. (WP)

Good morning! The big news is the governor’s furlough proposal, which he will likely discuss today as he takes meetings at the Capitol. The governor will join some other elected officials — Andrew Cuomo’s plans unknown — at an event sponsored by good-government groups to hear plans for reform. I’ll be blogging from there for a while today. Meanwhile….

Gov. David Paterson is moving ahead with a plan to furlough state workers effective May 17, including language to do so in a budget extender he intends to submit to legislators later this week. The move was rebuked by union officials. (TU/WSJ/NYT/NYP/BN)

The case of Joe Bruno will wrap up tomorrow when the former Senate Majority Leader is sentenced. (TU)

Republicans in New York are dealing with their own demons in what should be a good year for them. (NYT)

Wayne Mahlke, Hiram Monserrate’s former chief of staff, was arrested for impersonating a government employee during an encounter with a police officer, who Mahlke called a b—–. (NYT/NYP/DN)

There are three people challenging Assemblyman Bob Reilly. (TU)

State lawmakers are hoping to bring a federal version of the honest services law to the books in New York. (TU)

The Court of Appeals affirmed some parental rights for nonbiologica, same-sex parents, including hospital visitations. (AP/NYT)

Charter school advocates have hired Patricia Lynch to try and push a cap-raising measure through the Assembly. (NYP)

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said his chamber will take a look at the bill, and pooh-poohed how quickly it was passed in the Senate. (NYP)

The WFP is urging the Yankees and Mets to boycott the All-Star game in Arizona, protesting a tight new immigration law that was signed there. (DN)

Jim Domagalski and former Sheriff Patrick Gallivan are battling for Republican support in the race to replace Sen. Dale Volker. (BN)

Republicans Sean Hanna and David Miller are seeking to replace Assemblyman Joe Errigo. (D&C)

The League of Conservation Voters has endorsed a plan to sell wine in grocery stores. (WSJ)

Ed Koch continued his push for redistricting reform. (Post-Standard)

Once upon a time, Rick Lazio and Andrew Cuomo co-hosted a radio show. (PNY)

In Watertown, Lazio called for an increase in energy production. (WDT)

Senate Republicans are hoping to end cyber-bullying. (TU)

Troy opened a fishing pier on Madison Street. (TU)

And here are some national headlines…..

An oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico might make Barack Obama re-think his support of off-shore drilling. (DN)

The spill and an attempted bombing in Times Square are forcing the Obama White House to walk a tight rope on messaging. (WP)

The investigation into the Times Square bombing attack is focusing in Pakistan. (WP)

A tough immigration law in Arizona might help Republicans in this year’s elections. (Politico)

Dan Coats will be the Republican senatorial candidate in Indiana. (WP)

I had a pretty strong sense that the New York State Republican Party was as messed up as the Democrats, only without the voter registration advantage or the bench of candidate possibilities.

This article pretty much confirms it:

With the Republican State Convention approaching, the party is plagued by infighting, short of money and struggling to assemble a competitive slate of statewide candidates for the fall, leaving many party leaders worried that they are poorly positioned to exploit what might be the most favorable political climate for New York Republicans in years.

The national party is so concerned that Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, traveled to Manhattan recently for an emergency meeting with Mr. Cox.

When Michael Steele needs to have a meeting that isn't about Michael Steele's own fading prospects...

Young Reshma Saujani, pretender to the 14th Congressional District throne held for nearly 20 years by Carolyn Maloney, sat slouched and fidgety in the wilting heat at a small Lower East Side cafe last Sunday afternoon.

"The demographics of the district look more like me than they look like Carolyn," said Mr. Saujani, toying absent-mindedly with a discarded straw wrapper. "I can't tell you how many times people said, ‘Oh, I thought the 14th was...

Young Reshma Saujani, pretender to the 14th Congressional District throne held for nearly 20 years by Carolyn Maloney, sat slouched and fidgety in the wilting heat at a small Lower East Side cafe last Sunday afternoon.

"The demographics of the district look more like me than they look like Carolyn," said Mr. Saujani, toying absent-mindedly with a discarded straw wrapper. "I can't tell you how many times people said, ‘Oh, I thought the 14th was...

Here’s the memo that just went out from Budget Director Robert Megna detailing how the agencies should approach the furlough to be proposed by the governor in his next budget extender:

TO: ALL DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY HEADS

FROM: Robert L. Megna

Subject: Furlough (Reduction in Work Schedule)

In order to achieve savings during a period of historic fiscal difficulties, the State anticipates enactment of a mandatory furlough program which will continue until there is an enacted budget in place. This bulletin provides guidance for the administration of this program.

These guidelines apply to employees in Executive branch agencies. The work week for all employees (annual and non-annual salaried) who are not in positions that have been exempted from the furlough will be subject to a one-fifth reduction. In no case, however, will Management/Confidential employees or employees who are 100 percent federally funded be subject to this program.

Under this program, employees in positions subject to the furlough must be scheduled for a work week reduction of one-fifth, with a commensurate reduction in wages and salary, between May 17 and May 23, 2010 (subject to enactment, this furlough program will continue in subsequent emergency periods until a budget is enacted). That is, on one otherwise scheduled work day between May 17 and May 23, 2010, employees will not come to work and will not get paid. Note that a furlough day could occur on Saturday, May 22 or Sunday, May 23 if such day is a regularly scheduled work day for an employee and comparable savings will accrue. Paychecks will be reduced commensurate with the reduction in work week commencing in the paycheck covering the period in which the reduced work week occurred. Appointing authorities are expected to use discretion to determine appropriate scheduling to mitigate disruption to operations and services.

Agencies should work with their budget examiner to identify titles that may be exempt because they provide direct health care services or are engaged in certain security functions. Agencies are encouraged to extend the furlough program to positions in such titles if they can maximize savings and maintain public health and safety. The objective is to minimize the number of positions determined to be exempt and maximize savings.

Agencies must also ensure that no employee utilizes any accrued leave to offset this salary reduction (even if the employee’s furlough day falls during an approved vacation) and agencies may not authorize additional overtime to provide coverage for furlough days. No employee may be scheduled for more than a 20 percent reduction in any payroll period. Agencies must remain mindful that the intent of the furlough is to improve the State’s fiscal circumstances.

Additional payroll guidance will be provided at a later date. The Division of the Budget will develop weekly reports to monitor the effect of the program.

Questions concerning this bulletin should be directed to your budget examiner.

Hiram Monserrate's ex-chief of staff got himself into a little ok, a lot of trouble today.

The White House is in a P.R. "panic" over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele trashed Democrats for trying to raise money off the tragedy.

Mayor Bloomberg praised the teamwork that helped avert a Times Square disaster.

Rep. Pete King wants an FBI investigation into the leaking of information about the suspect in the car bomb plot.

Vendors vie for top billing in having alerting police to the malfeasance.

Former Gov. George Pataki sticks up for ex-Sen. Joe Bruno, saying he doesn't condone corruption, but Bruno's actions weren't in line with the character of the man he long worked with.

Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance and a group of state senators say it's time for stronger ethics laws.

The Republican Governors Association has clammed up after Steve Levy claimed the group would sink $10 million into his campaign.

And Team Lazio doesn't want to talk about an unearthed 1994 memo that says using misinformation about health care reform would be a "great" idea to scare targeted groups.

A bill to create an independent redistricting committee made progress in the state Senate.

Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver didn't seem overwhelmed by the charter school bill that passed the Senate yesterday.

If Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the U.S. should share nuclear technology, the White House and State Department say fine -- we'll start with your neighbors.

And, uh, seriously?

Joe who?

Gov. Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver each took a pass on questions about the upcoming sentencing of former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, reports DN Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett.

Paterson, who long said he and Bruno shared a friendship, gave a simple “no” when asked if he wanted to comment.

Silver went even further to distance himself from the man with whom he helped control state government for 14 years.

“I have no thought [on the sentencing],” Silver said. “It’s in the judicial process. He was a senator, I’m an assemblyman. He was a Republican, I am a Democrat, so he wasn’t my former colleague.”

On the heels of anti-bullying legislation that passed in Massachusetts last week, a group of New York state Senators introduced their own plan to curb aggressive harassment in schools and online.

The anti-bullying plan, introduced at a Tuesday afternoon press conference,  would consist of three separate bills that would:

• Clearly define what can be categorized as bullying or cyber-bullying, and establish them as acts that must be punishable by the school district’s code of conduct.
• Mandate that school districts formulate and execute plans to discourage bullying and cyber-bullying.
• Require all school employees to report all incidents of bullying and cyber-bullying.
• Create a state hotline for students to report instances of bullying, cyber-bullying and hazing.
• Create a crime of Aggravated Harassment of Teachers and School Personnel.
• Increase penalties for individuals convicted of crimes associated with hazing, particularly when an injury or death is involved.

Senators would not elaborate on exactly what the penalties for bullying would be, but said they were going to be placed within a school’s existing code of conduct and enforced administratively.  Those punishments would include lengthy suspensions and in extreme instances action more than that of at administrative level.

“I’m more concerned with trying to get a uniform adoption of awareness programs in each of the schools,” said Sen. Kemp Hannon, R-Nassau County, who sponsors of one of the bills.

New York is currently one of seven states without any anti-bullying legislation.

An estimated 5.7 million students are bullied in the United States, according to Safeyouth.org, a nonprofit that tracks the issue. Cyber-bullying has become as big a concern, if not more so, than physical harassment. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that 43 percent of teens says they have been the victim of online bullying.

“Bullying has moved from the schoolyard to virtually every nook and cranny in a young person’s life,” said Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, who is another sponsor of one of the bills. “It’s more evasive, it’s more reckless and it is far more difficult to stop and enforce some kind of accountability.”

Saland said that many schools are not enforcing any anti-bullying policies of their own, leaving the Legislature no choice but to create universal guidelines.

“There are some instances some schools have denied the importance of focusing on bullying,” said Saland. “In other instances they’ve just been remiss in not being proactive.”

In Massachusetts, civil rights advocates protested their state’s new laws, saying they went too far and violated First Amendment rights to free speech. Saland said that he has no concerns of any similar reaction taking place in New York if legislation is passed.

“There should be no protection afforded to any kinds of vile and slanderous and obscene attacks, that occur in most instances from an unnamed source.”

Money quote is about how the bank lobbyists are trying to take away the power of State Attorneys General and keep them from protecting consumers. They want no more Sheriffs on Wall Street.

Full disclosure: I am working with Eric Dinallo's campaign, but on this site, I speak for myself.