Hawley: Sheldon Silver must go

Seems pretty obvious to me.

Preserve what integrity? Uh oh, he got caught throw him under the bus quick.

I agree, he should go. I also agree with Alvin, Integrity left that office a long long time ago.

To add to this, we should have recall privileges in this state to oust Emperor Cuomo the Pius II when his federal investigation is over.

TERM LIMITS NOW!!!!!!!

Asst Minority Leader Assemblyman Hawley... could you please explain to all of us what this report says about your boss [Minority Leader Brian Kolb].
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A bold plan to launch a “coup’’ against embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver through a coalition of Democrats and Republicans has been rejected by Assembly GOP leader Brian Kolb — who many lawmakers insist is actually in league with Silver, The Post has learned.

The plan, which some in the Legislature contend could have enlisted the support of Gov. Cuomo, a Democrat, would have had the Assembly’s 44 Republicans vote as a bloc with a minimum of 32 of the Assembly’s 106 Democrats to cast the 76 votes needed to elect someone other than Silver, the Manhattan Democrat now being probed by US Attorney Preet Bharara.

Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R-Rensselaer), an increasingly outspoken critic of Kolb, has secretly pushed the plan to oust Silver for two years and accelerated it in recent weeks in the wake of new revelations involving Bharara’s investigation of Silver, who was just re-elected as speaker last week.

“What we should have done, and what I’ve been urging we do, is work with the Democrats in order to pull a coup against Silver,’’ McLaughlin told The Post.

“I would tell the Democrats, ‘Silver has a serious crisis, he’s under federal investigation, we have 44 [Republican] votes, there’s no sense in our voting for someone for speaker who is going to lose [Kolb] so let’s see if we can get [Democratic Majority Leader and Cuomo favorite] Joe Morelle or anyone else.”

Michel Fraser, a spokesman for Kolb, claimed he was unaware of McLaughlin’s plan, calling it “utter nonsense, rumor and innuendo.”

Kolb has repeatedly and conspicuously refused to criticize Silver since becoming the Assembly’s GOP leader in 2009 despite a series of scandals and allegations of ethical transgressions including the speaker’s highly controversial approval of a secret $100,000-plus settlement paid to female staff members of former Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez, whom they accused of sexual harassment.

Most recently, Kolb has been silent on the revelations now being examined by Bharara that Silver has apparently been receiving substantial income from a little-known Manhattan law firm, Goldberg & Iryami, but failed to disclose the information as legally required on his state financial-disclosure statement.

Kolb, after the Lopez scandal broke, bizarrely contended that Assembly Republicans shouldn’t criticize Silver because “none of the Republicans voted for him for speaker.’’

McLaughlin called that statement, “Quite possibly the stupidest excuse I ever heard. By Kolb’s logic, he’ll now continue saying nothing no matter what Silver may do.’’

Over several months, many Assembly members, including Republican James Tedisco of upstate Glenville, Kolb’s predecessor as minority leader, have told The Post that they’re convinced Silver has directly or indirectly blackmailed Kolb into silence because he possesses some evidence or allegation of improper conduct against him — a claim Kolb’s spokesman strongly denied.

http://nypost.com/2015/01/12/assembly-republican-blocks-coup-effort-aga…

To all who demand "OUST THE BUM NOW!!!", I have one question - what ever happened to the idea that someone is innocent until proven guilty, and that people deserve their day in court? This is not like the U.S. Rep who confessed to a felony - Silver is still accused.

If he is indeed found guilty of what he is accused of, "OUST THE BUM!!!" And, quite frankly, it wouldn't hurt if he were to voluntarily step down from his leadership position while the investigation continues.

I say the whole damn den of iniquity should resign. Eliminate the Senate completely. Start over afresh, unicameral they provide no check or balance any more. How much more screwed up could it really be?

Tim - Innocent until proven guilty applies to the justice system. If a political figure is implicated in a crime of this nature, I think it's perfectly acceptable to request his resignation.

It's hardly likely that he could fulfill his job requirements while he is fighting an indictment/on trial, not to mention the implication of corruption alone is enough for his constituents to lose confidence in him.

Come on folks....this guy is so crooked, when he dies they'll be able to screw him into the ground !!

My FB friend puts the hammer on the nail...
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My take on Shelly Silver will be quite different over the coming days.

I read in the morning paper that the GOP wants ethics reform.

What complete and utter progressive bullshit.

Notice they don't want to reduce the power and scope of state government, the actual source of the corruption they complain about BUT NEVER DEFINE. That's right, they are going to eliminate something they don't even bother to define!

By proposing procedural not substantive reforms, they implicitly affirm the PROGRESSIVE proposition that big government can be run in a non-corrupt manner.

Once again, I say, now screaming, BULLSHIT.

But that is all I expect from the GOP.

- Jim Ostrowski

Jason - I appreciate the difference between a court of law and a politician, but an accusation is still an accusation.

One thing I did find interesting - Mr. Hawley was quick to request a member of the opposing party resign upon an accusation, yet has failed to demand the resignation of Rep. Michael Grimm, who recently plead guilty to a felony and has yet to resign....

In this situation, could Mr. Hawley be playing the part of a political whore?

Michael Grimm officially resigns in disgrace

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/disgraced-staten-island-republican-…

Tim, I hope you admit you were wrong and I think you owe Hawley an apology.

And you might ask why neither of our two US senators have said Silver should resign. Now, you might say the US senators should not get involved in state assembly politics, but then you would have to explain why a WNY assemblyman would comment on a NYC congressman.

Nope - no apology....none at all. I will correct the erroneous "has failed" to a correct "had failed"...

Silver had the option of reigning, but for someone to (hypocritically) demand he resign was, well, hypocritical.

"Silver had the option of reigning" Great Freudian slip. Silver has never had the option of reigning but he and the others making up the "Three men in a Room" governance of New York don't seem to care.

I do seem to be having troubles with my "has" vs. "had"....

No Freud stuff involved, simply a matter of "S" and "D" being so close to each other on the keyboard.

...and Silver does have the option to resign, but until a conviction that should remain his option.

I wasn't referring to "has" vs. "had", I was referring to "reigning" vs. "resigning". He has been reigning...too long as with anyone of the Three Men in a Room Albany politics.