IDC 101: THE TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE IDC June 2017
#1: What’s The Deal with the IDC? • The Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) is a group of 8 Senators who ran as Democrats but are in a “majority coalition” with the Republicans and Simcha Felder (a Brooklyn Democratic Senator who caucuses with the GOP but is not in the IDC)
#2: Who Are the IDC 8? First: The Original Four org. 2010 The Head Honcho: Jeff Klein (Bronx) DAVID CARLUCCI DIANE SAVINO (Staten Is.) DAVE VALESKY (Onondaga) (Rockland)
The Rest of the IDC 8: the Newbies MARISOL ALCANTARA TONY AVELLA (Queens) (Northern Manhattan) Jo Joined IDC 2014 Jo Joined IDC 2016 JOSE PERALTA (Queens) jo joined IDC 2017 JESSE HAMILTON (Brooklyn) Jo Joined IDC 2016
#3 IDC Funny Math How Does the IDC Affect the Balance of Power in the Senate? 63 Senate Seats T otal= 32 Elected Democrats > 31 GOP BUT! 31 GOP + 1 Felder + 8 IDC = 40 “Majority Coalition” 63 total – 40 M.C.= 23 mainline Democrats 40 “Majority Coalition” > 23 mainline Democrats IN THE NEW YORK SENATE, THE MAJORITY IS IN THE MINORITY , AND THE MINORITY IS IN THE MAJORITY!
#4: The Simcha Question Q: Is Simcha Felder the reason for the GOP majority? A: NO! “Instead of sending letters to other Democrats and producing fancy videos to make us believe you are advocating for issues important to Democrats, I suggest you put aside any personal conflicts you may have with the Senate Democrats and unconditionally and publicly rejoin the Democrats…I would welcome unity if it effectuates my priority to have the greatest positive impact on The Thing About Simcha: my constituents and all New Yorkers.” He Never Puts All his -Letter to Jeff Klein from Simcha Felder, May 24, 2017 Eggs in One Basket
#5: If the IDC Senators are “Pragmatic Progressives,” What’s the Problem? • Myth: IDC claim to be “Pragmatic Progressives” who “reach across the aisle,” don’t have to “sit on the sidelines,” and this is how they can get things done • Reality: IDC empowers the GOP , who control Senate committees and the agenda. Thus, under Majority Leader John Flanagan’s stewardship, pr prog ogressive on DIES IN COMMITTEE (or, in the rare le legislation event it reaches a floor vote and passes, is significantly watered down)
#6: Bills Killed by IDC A few bills that died in Senate committee this year: ✔ NY Health Act ✔ Reproductive Health Act ✔ NY Liberty Act ✔ Child Victims Act ✔ Voting Rights Legislation ✔ Ethics Reform ✔ Climate & Community Protection Act ✔ GENDA ✔ DREAM Act ✔ & much more!
#7: The REAL Reasons for the IDC MONEY , PERKS, & POWER
$ MONEY $ Cash Rules Everything Around IDC – Major Funders: Hedge Funds, Charter Schools & Real Estate – SICC (Senate Independence Campaign Com.) is SICK – IDC & Klein have more $$ than Democrats or Republicans – More Pork to Hand Out to Constituents Jeff Klein Loves to Hand Out Oversized Checks All Over his District!
Perks & Power • Perks: Bigger Offices, Larger Staffs, Committee Chairs • Power: 3 MEN IN A ROOM BECOMES 4: Cuomo, Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Flanagan………& Jeff Klein?? KLEIN AND BFF FLANAGAN KLEIN AND BESTIE CUOMO
#8: IDC’s No Good, Very Bad 2017 Part A • More Money, More Problems: LULUGATE • Peralta, Savino and Valesky (along with 4 GOP Senators) revealed to receive lulus (stipends) for vice chair positions and to have falsely reported they were chairs to NY Comptroller • Currently Under Investigation by NY AG, EDNY , Comptroller
#8: IDC’s No Good, Very Bad 2017 Part B • “Nobody Likes Us, Everybody Hates Us” -IDC Which Prominent New York Democratic Leader is Missing from this Page?
#9: Andy, You My Only Friend “Look, we’ve had a unified Democratic Government in Albany …. It wasn’t extraordinarily successful.” - Andrew Cuomo on whether he’d like a Democratic Majority in the Senate, May 3, 2017 “The point is [the IDC is] growing. This is an institutionalization of their coalition, and I think they’re right.” –AC, September 16, 2016 “ The Governor was not a passive observer during the formation of [the IDC]. He was “deeply involved,” they say, and “absolutely” encouraged the marriage that allowed the Republicans to remain in leadership even after the election of a Democratic majority.” Politico, September 2, 2014
#10: You (yes, YOU) Can Fight the IDC! • Educate Your Neighbors (neighbor-to-neighbor campaign upcoming at makeNYtrueblue.org) • Call, Write, Visit, T weet at, leave FB comments for IDC Senators to remind them we want a Democratic Majority in the State Senate • Contribute $$ No IDC NY’s efforts (noidcny.org) • Sign Albany Solidarity Pledge • Volunteer for primary challengers the IDC • Join T rue Blue NY and NoIDCNY!
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