Joseph Bruno
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sen. Joseph L. Bruno | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph J. Marino |
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Member of the New York State Senate
from the 43rd district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1976 |
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| Born | April 8, 1929 Glens Falls, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Barbara Frasier (deceased) |
| Children | Joseph, Susan, Kenneth, and Catherine |
| Residence | Brunswick, New York |
| Alma mater | Skidmore College |
| Website | senatorbruno.com |
Joseph L. Bruno (born April 8, 1929) is an American businessman and Republican politician, the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader. Under the New York State Constitution, the "temporary president of the senate" performs the duties of the lieutenant governor when that office is vacant, or its office-holder is out of state. On March 17, 2008 Lieutenant Governor David Paterson became governor, vacating the lieutenant governor's office. Bruno continues to hold the office of "temporary president of the senate" and majority leader while performing lieutenant governor duties.[1][2] He represents the 43rd New York State Senate District.
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[edit] Personal life
Bruno was born in Glens Falls, New York, and graduated from of St. Mary's Academy. He has a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Skidmore College and served in the Korean War as an infantry Sergeant. Bruno served as president of the New York State Jaycees and in 1964 was named by them as one of the five "Outstanding Young Men of the State."[3]
Bruno and his wife Barbara Frasier (deceased) are parents of four children: Joseph, Susan, Kenneth and Catherine. Senator Bruno lives in Brunswick in Rensselaer County, New York.
There is at least one building named for Bruno in each of the fourteen towns and two cities that comprise Rensselaer County, New York. In addition, the Houston Astros A short-season affiliate Tri-City ValleyCats play in Joseph L. Bruno Stadium situated on the Troy-North Greenbush border.
[edit] Political career
Bruno was first elected to the New York State Senate in 1976 from a district composed of the counties of Rensselaer and Saratoga. He was first elected Temporary President of the New York State Senate in January 1995 and re-elected to that position in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005.
In 1966, Bruno was on the campaign staff of Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and from 1969 to 1974 he served as Special Assistant to Speaker of the Assembly Perry B. Duryea. From 1968 to 1969, he was President of the New York State Association of Young Republicans. He also served as Chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee from 1974 to 1977.
Bruno, along with Governor George Pataki and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, was instrumental in bringing the return of the death penalty to New York State in 1995. The New York Court of Appeals (the highest state court) ruled the law they passed to be unconstitutional, because that law gave jurors deadlocked between life without parole and execution no choice but to give eligibility for parole after 25 years. When faced between this possibility, the Court of Appeals feared that execution would seem unfairly preferable. In the 10 years since the law was passed, New York's crime rate plummeted without ever seeing an execution, perhaps weakening the public support for the death penalty. Silver let the law die in 2005 without much debate. According to an editorial in The Buffalo News, Bruno forced a bill through the Senate on June 27, 1995 that would have forced girls under 16 to get consent from both parents for an abortion. It never passed the New York State Assembly.
In 2005, Bruno proposed research into high speed rail development in New York State as part of a plan to boost Upstate New York's economy.
As the Temporary President of the Senate, Bruno is Chairman of the Rules Committee and an ex officio member of all Senate standing committees and statutory commissions.
A minor league baseball stadium in Troy, New York, the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, is named after the Senator.
Bruno has dominated politics in the County, as well as the state, experiencing only two major defeats; when Democratic Judge Patrick McGrath won re-election as County Court Judge by 69 percent in 2003, and when East Greenbush Town Justice Bob Jacon defeated District Attorney Patricia DeAngelis for an additional County Judgeship that was created by the State Senate specifically for DeAngelis in 2005.
In February 2005, Bruno stated that America, instead of battling insurgents in Iraq, should declare victory and "get the troops out of there."[4]
[edit] 2007 legislative session
At the start of the 2007 session, it appeared the highly popular incoming Governor Eliot Spitzer would be able to enact an ambitious reform agenda over the opposition of a weakened Bruno. However, the 2007 state budget was deemed by many as similar to the budgets approved during the Pataki years, which some dubbed a victory for Bruno.
In April Bruno also appeared to hold veto power over two other Spitzer initiatives: gay marriage[5] and campaign finance reform[6]. He challenged Spitzer to restore the state's death penalty law.[7] He also has criticized the Governor's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, claiming it was aimed at stuffing the ballot box with Democratic voters.[8]
[edit] Police surveillance controversy
On July 23, 2007, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo admonished Governor Eliot Spitzer's administration for ordering the State Police to track Bruno's travel records, particularly his use of a state helicopter. [9] At the direction of top officials of the Spitzer administration, the New York State Police created documents meant to cause political damage to Bruno.[10] The governor's staff had stated they were responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA or FOIL) request from The Times-Union of Albany in late June.[9][11] On May 23, Spitzer's Communications Director Darren Dopp wrote Rich Baum, a senior Spitzer adviser, that "records exist going way back"[12] about Bruno's use of state aircraft, and that "Also, I think there is a new and different way to proceed re media. Will explain tomorrow."[11] Dopp later wrote another e-mail to Baum after a story ran in the Times-Union about a federal grand jury investigation of Bruno's investments in thoroughbred racing horses, and wrote: "Think travel story would fit nicely in the mix."[12][11]
A 57-page report issued by the Attorney General's office concluded that Spitzer aides attempted to create negative media coverage concerning Bruno's travel before any FOIA request was made.[13] The investigation looked into both Bruno's travel and the senate leader's allegation that Spitzer used State Police to spy on him.[14] Cuomo concluded that "These e-mails show that persons in the governor's office did not merely produce records under a FOIL request, but were instead engaged in planning and producing media coverage concerning Senator Bruno's travel on state aircraft before any FOIL request was made."[12][15] It noted that the Times-Union's initial FOIL request didn't even ask for the records involving Bruno that the paper was later given by aides to Spitzer.[16] The Times-Union's requests sought documents on use of state aircraft by seven officials, including Spitzer, Bruno and Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, yet Spitzer’s office released only Bruno's itinerary.[17] The Spitzer administration and the State Police provided far more details about Bruno than about other officials to the Times-Union, including records to reply to a request under the state’s Freedom of Information laws, though no such request had even been made.[18] The report noted that the state acted outside the laws in what it released, such as documents that resembled official state travel records, “which they were not" according to Ellen Nachtigall Biben, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, who contributed to the report.[17] The report stated that the Times-Union request came after the story about Bruno’s travels was published, and was "not consistent" with Spitzer administration claims that all it did was respond to a FOIA request.[19] No other officials were subject to the same scrutiny as Bruno, and in some cases, the reports created by State Police were pieced together long after the trips, sometimes based on the memory of the police escorts involved.[20]
The report cleared Bruno of any legal violations in his use of the state's air fleet.[21][22][23][10] Spitzer also used the state aircraft during the first six months of his term as governor for political purposes, including a stop in Rochester to attend an event for the Monroe County Democratic Committee on a day in which he had a number of stops related to public business.[20] The report criticized Spitzer's office for using State Police resources to gather information about Bruno's travel and releasing the information to the media.[22]
Spitzer responded at a July 23 press conference that "As governor, I am accountable for what goes on in the executive branch and I accept responsibility for the actions of my office"[9] and that his administration had "grossly mishandled"[9] the situation.[23] Spitzer issued an apology to Bruno and stated that "I apologized to Senator Bruno and I did so personally this morning."[9]
However, Spitzer's apology did not end the dispute: as of March 2008, four probes by the state Attorney General's office, the State Senate Investigations Committee, the Albany County District Attorney's office, and the state ethics board, the New York Commission on Public Integrity, are ongoing.
On March 29, 2008, the The Buffalo News reported "former Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer lied to prosecutors" about his role in Troopergate, but "the Albany County district attorney said he will not pursue any criminal charges against the already disgraced ex-governor."[24]
[edit] Loss of Senate control?
Entering 2007 Bruno's hold on Senate control appeared more tenuous than in prior years, as the Republicans lost the senate seat formerly held by Nicholas Spano, failed to regain a Republican leaning seat in Syracuse and with a caucus diminished to 33 members had to defend the open seat of Michael Balboni in Nassau County, which was lost to a Democrat in a February 6, 2007 special election.[25] Balboni had resigned to take a top post in the incoming Eliot Spitzer administration. The electoral reverses and the ongoing FBI investigation led some Republicans to suggest Bruno might step down as Majority Leader.[26] There were also rumors some Republican senators might cross the aisle to throw control of the Senate to the Democrats.[25]
Bruno's position became more tenuous in February 2008 after another special election loss, that of the heavily Republican 48th District in Watertown formerly held by James W. Wright. This loss diminished the Republican edge to a single seat and press speculation centered on whether the remaining GOP senate caucus would cause Bruno to step down.[27]
[edit] Performing Lieutenant Governor's duties
As the Senate's majority leader, Joseph Bruno is next in line to obtain the powers and duties, but not the office, of Governor of New York. Following Eliot Spitzer's resignation on March 17, 2008, Bruno, as "temporary president of the senate", commenced performing "all the duties of lieutenant-governor" in accordance with the New York State Constitution.[2][28] Bruno would become Acting Governor if the governor is incapacitated or out of state.[29]
If David Paterson should cease to be Governor before the term expires on January 1, 2011, "a governor and lieutenant-governor shall be elected for the remainder of the term at the next general election happening not less than three months after both offices shall have become vacant."[30] Bruno would serve as Acting Governor until a Governor and Lieutenant Governor were elected.[31]
Bruno is the first person to perform the Lieutenant Governor's duties without being the Lieutenant Governor since fellow Republican Senate Majority Leader and Temporary President Warren M. Anderson did so, from February 1985 to December 1986, after the resignation of Mario Cuomo's Lieutenant Governor Alfred DelBello.
[edit] Criticism
During the budget process in 1995, Bruno, new to the Majority Leader role at the time, made a comment about Blacks and Hispanics who "got their hands out" pressuring the legislature to avoid cuts to social services.[32] [33]
According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, "Bruno said he was referring to the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, which is a major force in the Democratic majority in the Assembly."[34] Bruno's defense was that he was referring to political caucuses, not all blacks and Hispanics; he offered a blanket apology for offending some people, but refused to take his words back.[35]
Fiscal conservative pundits originally were very supportive of Bruno's agenda in the State Senate[36] In recent years they have expressed concern over his willingness to cooperate with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on budgets they deem excessive, endorsements he has received from state employee labor unions, including health care union Local 1199, and recruiting former Democrats as Republicans to campaign for swing seats in the Senate, such as districts in Syracuse and the Bronx.[37][38]
In December 2006 Bruno disclosed the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been looking into business associates who had received state grants.[39] The FBI investigation appears to have led to Bruno ending one of his long-time consulting jobs in 2007.[40]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Joseph Bruno's Biography
- ^ a b Constitution of the State of New York, Article IV, Section 6, Paragraph 4. "In case of vacancy in the office of lieutenant-governor alone, or if the lieutenant-governor shall be impeached, absent from the state or otherwise unable to discharge the duties of office, the temporary president of the senate shall perform all the duties of lieutenant-governor during such vacancy or inability." Alternate link: Constitution of the State of New York.
- ^ Joesph Bruno's bio.
- ^ Bruno: 'Get the Troops Out of There', The New York Sun, February 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Nicholas Confessore. "Bruno Opposes Bill to Legalize Gay Marriage", The New York Times, May 2, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Kenneth Lovett. "Bruno vs. Ri¢hie $ptiz", New York Post, April 25, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Azi Paybarah. "On Death Penalty, Bruno and Spitzer Versus Assembly", The New York Observer, April 25, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Kenneth Lovett. "Bruno Warns of Illegal Vote Drive", New York Post, September 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ a b c d e Danny Hakim. "Spitzer's Staff Misused Police, Report Finds", The New York Times, July 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b Cara Matthews. "Cuomo: Spitzer aides used state police to try to damage Bruno", The Ithaca Journal, July 23, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b c Michael Gormley. "Spitzer aides blamed for leak", Troy Record, July 24, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b c Michael Gormley. "Spitzer aides linked to Bruno leaks", Oneida Dispatch, July 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Tom Precious. "Cuomo criticizes Spitzer for using State Police to monitor Bruno", The Buffalo News, July 23, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ Michael Gormley. "Report: NY Governor's Office Leaked Data", Guardian Unlimited, July 23, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ Anthony Faiola. "N.Y. Governor Moves to Limit Ethics Scandal", The Washington Post, July 25, 2007, p. A06. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Fredric U. Dicker. "Spitzer Aides Dirty: Cuomo", New York Post, July 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b Tom Precious. "Spitzer aides faulted for smearing Bruno over use of state aircraft", The Buffalo News, July 24, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ Fred Lebrun. "Exhaustive effort to 'get Joe' boomerangs on Spitzer's aides", Times Union, July 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Sara Kugler. "Spitzer sanctions top aides over scandal", Jordan Falls News, July 24, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b James M. Odato. "Spitzer aides on the outs", Times Union, July 24, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ Melissa Mansfield. "Spitzer punishes aides after AG report", Newsday, July 23, 2007. Not available, 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b Jacob Gershman. "Spitzer Faces Probe in Senate", The New York Sun, July 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ a b Sally Goldenberg. "Report: Governor's office compiled, leaked data on Bruno", Staten Island Advance, July 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ The March 29, 2008 Buffalo News article.
- ^ a b Elizabeth Benjamin. "Spitzer's Senate choice wins", Times Union, February 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Danny Hakim and Mike McIntire. "More Records Subpoenaed in Bruno Case", The New York Times, December 22, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. "On the political front, Senator John Bonacic... became the first Republican to call openly for Mr. Bruno to step down as majority leader, a rare act of defiance among Senate Republicans."
- ^ Irene Jay Liu. "Senate loss slams state GOP", Times Union, February 27, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ "Paterson's move to governor elevates Bruno", Staten Island Live, Associated Press, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
- ^ Verena Dobnik and Michael Gormley. "Spitzer resigns in disgrace over scandal", Yahoo! News, Associated Press, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Constitution, Article IV, Section 6, Clause 2.
- ^ Constitution, Article IV, Section 6, Clause 3.
- ^ James Dao. "Governor Criticizes A Chief Ally", The New York Times, April 8, 1995. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Kevin Sack. "Budget Battle Heats Up in Albany as Legislative Leaders Trade Harsh Words", The New York Times, April 10, 1995. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ SyracusePostStandard-Bruno-Assailed
- ^ AlbanyTimesUnion-Sharpton-to-Bruno
- ^ Steven Malanga. "New York's Republican Crack-Up", City Journal, Manhattan Institute, Spring 2001. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Elizabeth Benjamin. "Mystery Candidate Revealed", Capitol Confidential, Times Union, November 22, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Jonathan P. Hicks. "Conservative Party Refuses To Endorse Senate Leader", July 17, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Michael Cooper and Danny Hakim. "Bruno Is Subject of Inquiry by F.B.I.", The New York Times, December 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ James M. Odato. "Bruno cuts ties to firm", Times Union, December 22, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
[edit] External links
- Official Web site New York State Senator Joseph L. Bruno
- Legislative Report Card
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Douglas Hudson |
New York State Senate, 41st District 1977–1982 |
Succeeded by Jay Rolison |
| Preceded by Ronald Stafford |
New York State Senate, 43rd District 1983 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Ralph J. Marino |
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate 1995 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by David Paterson |
Lieutenant Governor of New York acting 2008 – present |
Incumbent |
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