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Dems' Leadership, Israel, DNA Databank, N.Y. Governor's Race Edward I. Koch Democrats Need Leadership
The Democrats strongly believe they can take control of Congress in November. But if they are to succeed, they had better stop counting their chickens and start getting some real leadership in both the House and Senate.
Recently the Republicans ran circles around the Democrats, securing a vote on a resolution that, according to The New York Times, "promises ‘completion of the mission' in Iraq and rejects any ‘arbitrary' deadline for an American troop withdrawal."
Democrats in the House fell into the trap. According to the Times, "Democratic leaders said they did not try to persuade members to vote a party line. More than half of the 42 Democrats who voted for the resolution were from the South; several of the others were from conservative districts elsewhere." The Republican-sponsored resolution passed by a vote of 256 to 153. Twenty-five percent of Democrats voted for it.
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The more intelligent course would have been for all Democrats to "abstain," with their leaders saying that the Democrats will not vote on non-binding issues intended solely for partisan political purposes and having no substantive effect.
In the Senate, Democrats are in disarray seeking to offer a counter resolution. Some Democrats want to set a date for withdrawal, while the majority of Democrats seek to fudge that issue. To win in November, Democrats need better leadership.
Tax-Reduction Plans in New York Governor's Race The race for governor is just getting under way, and the major issue discussed by the current contenders – Eliot Spitzer, Tom Suozzi, and John Faso – is tax reduction. I will leave to each of them to explain in detail the intricacies of their respective approaches. In my view, the best tax-reduction plan is the one I urged on former governor Hugh Carey more than 30 years ago, which regrettably was never adopted. The idea is not original to me. Forty-nine other states have implemented it, more or less, and did so before I recommended it to Governor Carey.
The plan involves the state picking up a greater share of the Medicaid burden than it currently does. The federal government pays the largest share of Medicaid – medical care for the poor. Forty-five states pick up the entire local share. A few states require localities – cities and counties – to participate in paying the local share. New York State requires the highest municipal participation – approximately 20 percent, representing a blended rate for different services – while no other state mandating any local participation requires more than 5.5 percent on the part of a city or county.
The local Medicaid burden paid this year by New York City is $4.5 billion, with $2.2 billion paid by the other counties in the state. The feds pay half of the total cost; the city and counties pay approximately 20 percent; and the state, approximately 30 percent, depending on the mix of services. Interestingly, according to the Citizens Budget Commission, "New York's cost per person enrolled in the program, $7,912 annually, is 75 percent higher than the national average of $4,484."
Were the state of New York to pay the full local share, the City of New York would save $4.5 billion and could reduce personal income taxes by that amount. The savings to the rest of the state, where the local counties' share is paid by local real estate taxes imposed by the counties, could likewise be passed on to homeowners through real estate tax reductions or could be used for education, the major expenditure for counties other than Medicaid.
Eliot Spitzer's position is "The best way to effectuate real and effective property tax relief is for the state to assume the entirety of the Medicaid obligation, which is something we intend to do over a period of 8 to 10 years." John Faso told me, "I'm open to that discussion tied to overall reform on Medicaid spending." Tom Suozzi said, "My priorities are to provide property tax relief and to invest in New York City's schools. This would provide the funds for those objectives."
Israel Gains European Support Israel's response to the rocket shelling of its towns by Hamas terrorists and their allies is paying off. The Hamas government now recognizes that it is suffering more than the Israelis. The Israelis have counter-fired nearly 6,000 artillery shells into Gaza, responding to the more than 600 rockets fired by the Palestinians.
The Palestinians have killed eight people, and the Israelis have killed 80. On June 16, The New York Times, quoting a Hamas leader, reported:
"'I spoke today with the Prime Minister and he said we definitely want quiet everywhere,' the spokesman, Ghazi Hamad, said Thursday on Israeli radio, referring to Ismail Haniya, the top Hamas leader. ‘We are interested in a cease-fire everywhere.' He later qualified that, saying Israel would have to stop all attacks against Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank. But he also said that in that case, Hamas would attempt the difficult task of restraining other Palestinian militants from firing Qassams on their own. In Gaza the launchings are generally regarded as legitimate resistance in the wider war against Israel. Israel responded with its own condition – that the rocket attacks end – but did not dismiss the offer. ‘If this terrorist activity ceases, of course we will be more than happy to cease our defensive measures,' said Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry."
Moral of the story: Israel is not a punching bag. You punch them, they will punch you back, and with 10 times the firepower. The Palestinians will not win these wars of attrition. They lost the two intifadas and are losing the current battle of rockets and artillery. Interestingly, even in countries in the European Union that have traditionally supported the Palestinians, public opinion is shifting. Guysen Israel News (www.guysen.com) reports:
"According to a poll carried out by the American research institute, Pew, Israel has a wide support base in Europe. In Germany, 37 percent of those interviewed were in favor of the Jewish State in the conflict with the Palestinians and 18 percent on the side of their enemies, whereas two years ago, 24 percent sided with Israel and a similar amount with the Palestinians. In France, 38 percent side with Israel against 38 percent who are pro-Palestinian. In 2002, only 19 percent were pro-Israel (and 36 percent pro-Palestinian). The poll was carried out with the participation of 17,000 people."
More and more people are coming to see that it is Israel, not the Palestinian leadership, that is truly working for peace.
All Crimes DNA Databank
Gov. Pataki has asked the state Legislature to pass an all crimes DNA databank. The legislation is supported by Democratic candidate for governor Eliot Spitzer, and, according to Chauncey Parker, commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Chairman Joe Lentol of the Codes Committee "personally supports an all crimes DNA databank."
Yet the legislation can't get passed in the Assembly. It has passed the New York Senate seven years in a row – according to Parker, "most recently in February by a vote of 60-1." The current law covers only 14 percent of criminals convicted in New York state, those who are required to provide a DNA fingerprint. According to Parker, "Forty-three states and the federal government require a DNA sample from at least all convicted felons."
Shouldn't we at least do the same? I believe we should cover all those convicted of felonies or misdemeanors. Generally speaking, when a defense attorney pleads "This is my client's first offense," it is more likely it is the first time he was caught. There are many criminals who commit dozens and even hundreds of crimes before being arrested. A DNA databank will change that and protect the public. If you agree, e-mail the speaker of the Assembly, Shelly Silver, at speaker@assembly.state.ny.us and urge his support. Edward I. Koch, author, lawyer and talk radio host, was a member of the U.S. Congress and, for 12 years, the 105th mayor of New York City.
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