Tom Precious of the Buffalo News writes:

“State Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled what they hope will be a more politically friendly seat for freshman Sen. Mark Grisanti of Buffalo, whose new all-Erie County district will become less Democratic and have far fewer African-American voters.

The Senate GOP, hoping to retain control of that chamber, employed impressive mapmaking skills to stretch Grisanti’s newly proposed district from the north side of Buffalo to the suburbs south of the city, connected by a sliver of unpopulated land along Fuhrmann Boulevard narrow enough that a decent chip shot could make it from one side of the district to the other into Lake Erie.”

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Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union writes:

“New state legislative districts were unveiled Thursday amid a fusillade of criticism — including an unprecedented veto threat by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo’s verdict came in a terse statement a few hours after the lines, which must be redrawn every 10 years to conform to the new federal Census, arrived at 2 p.m.

‘At first glance, these lines are simply unacceptable and would be vetoed by the governor,’ said spokesman Josh Vlasto. ‘We need a better process and product.’

New lines have been drawn by LATFOR, which is jointly controlled by Democrats who dominate the Assembly and Republicans who hold a bare 32-seat majority in the Senate. By long tradition, the majority party draws lines in its own house.

The process has long been criticized by good-government groups. In 2010, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch asked lawmakers to pledge to reform the system, and most — including Cuomo and Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos — signed on.

‘Today, victory lies with the enemies of reform,’ Koch said in a statement.’”

To read more click here.

Click here to view LATFOR’s proposed 2012 district maps for the Senate and Assembly.

Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union writes:

“The Capital Region’s state Senate delegation would increase to four as Republicans carve out a 63rd district including Albany and Schenectady counties, according to an official briefed on draft maps set for release this week.

The new seat will include Montgomery County, Rotterdam and a sliver of the Electric City before stretching into Albany County and going south through Greene and Ulster counties to the city of Kingston, the official told the Times Union.

Earlier this month, Republicans that control the Senate released an analysis of the state’s population and a constitutional formula they say necessitates the creation of the new district. The official said lines for all Assembly and Senate districts could be released as early as Tuesday by LATFOR, a task force controlled by the majority Senate Republicans and Democrats who dominate the Assembly. Lines for congressional districts are expected in subsequent weeks.”

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George Basler of Gannett News writes:

“One of the Southern Tier’s leading politicians for the past two decades is calling it quits.

Ten-term Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey, of Ulster County, will retire at the end of the year, according to spokesman Mike Morosi.

Hinchey will make the official announcement Thursday in Kingston.

The 73-year-old congressman underwent a second round of surgery for colon cancer earlier this month at Albany Medical Center, following an initial procedure in July.

During his career, Hinchey, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, has funneled millions of dollars into the Southern Tier, a fact local politicians emphasized Wednesday when they learned of the decision.”

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Danny Hakim of the New York Times writes:

“Gay rights advocates from Wall Street to Hollywood poured donations into the coffers of four little-known Republican state senators after the lawmakers provided the decisive votes for same-sex marriage in New York last June, according to new campaign finance filings released on Tuesday.

The support for the four senators, whose votes broke ranks with their party, is seen by gay rights leaders as symbolically important for their movement nationally, because in many states same-sex marriage could become law only with support from Republicans, as well as conservative Democrats. Maryland, New Jersey and Washington State are expected to consider same-sex marriage legislation this year.”

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Sen. Mark Grisanti reported raising $246,687, most from same-sex marriage supporters, and another Republican who voted for same-sex marriage, Sen. Steve Saland, raised $425,202. Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight writes:

“Grisanti, who has voluntarily filed six financial reports with the state Board of Elections since September even though he didn’t run for re-election this year, started out with $72,642, spent $35,056 and now has $284,273 on hand.”

Nick Reisman of Capital Tonight writes:

“In addition to voting for the law, Saland was instrumental in crafting the religious protections amendment that ultimately was included to the measure. ”

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Senate Republicans announce $4.8 million on hand in their committee while the Senate Democrats announce having raised over $1 million this period, leaving them with $200,000 on hand.

The Democrats have been fighting their way out of $3 million in debt after the 2010 elections. These numbers are all preemptive to the NYS Board of Election periodic filings which were due yesterday.

To read more from Nick Reisman of Capital Tonight click here.

There is speculation that Senator Owen Johnson will not run for re-election this fall after his filing shows he raised only $1,400 this period and has $19,000 on hand. According to City & State:

“In recent months there have been persistent rumors in Suffolk County and Albany political circles that 82-year-old state Sen. Owen Johnson is set to retire after four decades in the Legislature. And his just-released January campaign finance filing will probably not do much to dampen those suspicions: over the past six months, Johnson raised only $1,400, with a mere $19,000 on hand. If Johnson does run, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee would likely be able to fund his race because of the substantial cash advantage they are expected to have over the Senate Democrats. Johnson has already attracted opposition: Ricardo Montano, a four-term Suffolk County legislator who chairs the body’s Ways & Means Committee. Montano says he believes the ultimate plan has always been for Assemblyman Phil Boyle to be named Johnson’s replacement after the 2012 elections via a special election. Others mentioned as possible replacements for Johnson include Suffolk County Legislator Lindsay Henry and Grant Hendricks, a Republican business owner. UPDATE: An astute reader points out that Henry is actually a Babylon town councilman, not a county legislator.”

To read more click here.

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries kicks off his campaign for Congress challenging longtime Congressman Ed Towns. NYS Councilman Charles Barron is also running. Colin Campbell of Politicker NY writes:

“Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries announced his campaign for Congress amid frigid temperatures and a large cheering crowd this afternoon, setting the stage for what will be one of the most high-profile Democratic primaries this election cycle. Standing on the steps of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall, Assemblyman Jeffries outlined his Congressional pitch in short punctual sentences, pausing before concluding ‘We deserve more!’ after each line of thought, a slogan also repeated on the campaign signs behind him.

‘Washington is broken. Congress is dysfunctional. People are suffering. We deserve more!’ he declared. ‘All throughout the neighborhoods of the 10th Congressional District, there are individuals in significant distress. There are children who are trapped in a failed public school system. There are families in desperate need of affordable housing. We have too many guns, and too few jobs. We deserve more!’

The Assemblyman’s announcement places him on a collision course against veteran Congressman Ed Towns and Councilman Charles Barron. Congressman Towns has successfully faced competitive primaries in the past, but Assemblyman Jeffries, who’s considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, could provide the most serious challenge yet to the 20-year incumbent.”

To read more click here.