By Adam Kramer
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) continued to reward the Assembly members who stood by him in the failed coup attempt lead by then-Majority Leader Michael Bragman (D-North Syracuse) last May.
Last week Silver appointed Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) to the Assembly's Ways and Means Committee. The powerful committee is responsible for deciding the methods and resources for raising necessary revenues for the state. Members with the most seniority are usually appointed to the Ways and Means Committee and Carrozza is just beginning her third term.
“I'm very excited to become a part of the Ways and Means Committee and look forward to making sure programs important to all New Yorkers get the funding they deserve,” Carrozza said. “Rest assured, I'll make it the priority so that the New York City schools get the funding we need in order to build and repair schools as well as reduce class size.”
She said any bill that has a financial impact on the state has to pass through the Ways and Means Committee before it goes to the Assembly floor. She said as a member of the Ways and Means Committee she will have the opportunity to examine, approve or reject bills. The committee also holds hearings and prepares reports on the governor's budget, she said.
Silver has already awarded leadership positions to Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette (D-Jackson Heights), who was appointed as speaker pro temp Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Bayside), who was named secretary of the Majority Conference; and Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-South Ozone Park), who was given the chairmanship of the Majority Program Committee.
In other moves for the Queens delegation, Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing) was appointed as co-chairman of the Administrative Regulations Review Committee and Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) was made the chairman of the Legislative Commission on Skills Development and Vocational Education.
Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio (D-Richmond Hill), Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village) and Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn (D-Fresh Meadows) suffered the consequences of siding with Bragman after the rest of the Queens delegation decided to back Silver. Seminerio lost his post as assistant majority leader, while Clark and Mayersohn were removed from chairmanships of two committees.
In his effort to topple Silver, Bragman enlisted the aid of the Queens County Democratic Organization leader and former U.S. Rep. Tom Manton to help engineer the coup. Manton pledged at least 14 of the 16 Queens Assembly members would take up a position against Silver, with whom Manton has had a rocky relationship.
A last-minute backroom agreement between the two powerful Democrats ended the spat and Manton withdrew his support for the coup.
Carrozza and Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood) were the two Queens assembly members who stood behind Silver throughout the coup attempt.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
