wives&lovers& friends& sisters

Late Mother's Day after a wonderful time with the various moms and their families which are my extended family DD came across this somber site. It is called The Mothers Day Project and it is dedicated to all our military women killed in Iraq.
Click here.

Its over. Barack wins.

This is the first newspaper account that DD has found that has stated that noses have been absolutely hard-counted and Barack Obama has achieved critical mass or 2025 of them. Check it out.

HERE IS THE CRUEL--UNTRUE--AND FUNNY--SNL PORTRAYAL OF HILLARY LAST NIGHT

John McHugh voted against 'Mother's Day"

Yeah! He did. Check it out.

Maybe the House could hold a vote on support for Santa and the Easter Bunny next.

So who is the VP

Barack Obama is the presumptive nominee of our party. Who gets the VP nod?
Here are the top five that Will Thomas of Huff Po likes. Just so you can play the game too I put a new poll up.

Jim Webb
Webb is the closest thing to a frontrunner for Obama's VP these days. A former Republican, he served as Secretary of the Navy for Ronald Reagan. Webb defeated George "Macaca" Allen to become a junior senator in Virginia.

Pro: Webb is a good foil for Obama's post-partisan message, and he's got the military credentials to match up with John McCain. He's good at playing the attack dog, which will let Obama take the high road. And he's from trending-blue Virginia, which would be a great pickup in November for Democrats. He's also pro-guns.

Con: Webb can be a little out-of-control as attack dogs go.

---

Hillary Clinton
This ticket is either a dream or a nightmare. Some see it as the only way to reunite the Democrats in time for November. Other see it as the fastest way to destroy the Obama brand.

Pro: Strong appeal with working class voters and women.

Con: See Iraq War vote, 3AM phone call, Bill Clinton in South Carolina, and the month of March.

---

Bill Richardson
You know him, you love him; he's the New Mexico governor with a heart of gold, a kickin' mustache, and -- thanks to James Carville -- a new nickname.

Pro: You've heard them all before. A foreign policy resume a mile long, executive experience, and a lock with Hispanic voters. And he picked Obama, despite his Clinton ties.

Con: Did you watch any of the debates?

---

Joe Biden
He is Mr. Foreign Policy. He also claims the best line of the primary season thus far. Too bad no one told Iowans he was running for President.

Pro: He trumps any foreign policy claims that McCain brings to the table. He can hit McCain hard.

Con: He tends to hit everyone hard. And he's a Washington figure, which could hurt a campaign running against Washington.

---

Brian Schwietzer
Never heard of him? You should. Schweitzer has been Montana's governor since 2005, and is currently one of the most popular governors in the country.

Pro: In addition to his executive experience, Schweitzer has spent a good amount of time around the world (including the Middle East) in his former life as an irrigation developer. His popularity and his pro-gun stance could help Obama in the Mountain West area. He also refused PAC and special interest money during his 2004 campaign. He's also criticized the economic consequences of the Iraq War, an approach that Obama has recently adopted.

Con: Despite his travels, he has no official foreign policy experience. He also doesn't bring in any delegates from his own state (though that could be offset if he helps in places like North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado).

Ok now go vote in the DD poll

Phil folded--a personal viewpoint

This isn't going to be your typical DD super partisan rant. Here is my premise. Jeff Legislator Phil Reed dropping out of the republican primary for the 118th is not a good thing.

It is my pleasure to know Phil a little better than some of you. We live maybe five miles away from each other and we ran against each other for the Jefferson County Legislature when Jan Martuesewicz stepped down. He lives just outside Fishers Landing and I'm in LaFargeville. That campaign frankly was probably way too civil. We actually like and respect each other. I've enjoyed helping Phil promote his boat race events at Crystal Lake. I've talked for hours with Phil and his dad about national and local politics and philosophy. The Reeds are good, caring, thoughtful people. Granted they are more conservative than I but good people none the less. Phil is a lot younger than I but even our hairlines are looking similar. Every alternate year somebody or other asks me to run against Phil Reed again. Nope. I'll help others if they want to run because thats my job as dem Town Chair in Orleans and dem committeeman but I'm not going to be Phil's opponent. Phil would have brought with him to the Assembly race a spirit of lessening the bloodsport aspect of the game. There would have been more philosophy and a lot less trying to inflict bruises. Its typical of Phil to step down to avoid an internal republican party beat-em-up struggle. It would have been a general election campaign on a higher level if Phil had been the opposition candidate.

I can't say the same for Patty Ritchie.

Standing with W?

House Republicans will hold a rally with President Bush on Wednesday morning, with all 199 members invited to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to show solidarity with the president, according to GOP sources.

First lets count how many actually do show up Wednesday and second lets see if our guy makes that symbolic show of solidarity with this failed president destined to be historically judged below the bottom of the barrel. Solidarity would be actually agreeing with W that the Iraq war is a noble, worthwhile effort. It would mean that those showing solidarity would agree with the premise of rewarding the wealthiest americans with the greatest tax breaks is a truly equitable good thing. Solidarity would have to mean agreeing that the administration's blatent power grabs over the last 7 and a half years has actually benefitted the citizenry. Of course, I could go on but you get the idea.

I don't think I would go John. Maybe just call in sick.

Put er up on the lift and we'll drop the pan

John McCain's bearings are ok. Joe Lieberman checked em personally.

Next week Joe is going to report on McCain's prostate.

To mislead, to lie, that is the question

My blogger opposite Mr. A. Nony Moose who puedonominously authors the
Political IV blog posted a belicose comment from a toadie at the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee in reaction to the DD post (below) issued yesterday by Assemblyman Ron Canistrari. Mr. Canistrari pointed a finger at Ms. Ritchie the apparent frontrunner for the republican 118th Assembly nod by indicating she put forth some less than truthful information the last time she ran.
The WDT today confirmed Canistrari's allegation. And I quote:
Assembly Majority Leader Ronald J. Canestrari, D-Cohoes, issued a statement slamming Mrs. Ritchie for a 2002 campaign mailer that accused Mr. Aubertine, then a Jefferson County legislator, for increasing the mortgage tax, which is set by the state. Mrs. Ritchie defended the ad at the time, but acknowledged that it could have been misleading.
Humm, misleading? That would be a synomyn for lying. Right?

John McHugh is among the missing

The new GI bill has now 26 of New York state's congresspeople cosponsoring it.
That leaves just three not cosponsoring it. Who is one of those three?
The congressman that represents Fort Drum and the military community surrounding it has made a decision not to cosponsor this bill that makes available
benefits to those men and women currently and recently serving. Why John McHugh have you not stepped up and supported the folks who have supported us?
Here is more about the bill.

Too funny not to steal

This photo was stolen from NNY blogger Watson in the Adirondacks. I hope you don't really mind my sharing Watson. The photoshop job is tremendous.
Watson has a mildly warped conservative perspective but his sense of humor is right on.

Munching with the Dems

The Jefferson Democrats celebrated the pre-petitioning season known to nonpolitical junkies as spring with a dinner tonight. Lots of good food, laughter and fellowship at the North Side League. I counted 14 well decorated tables of 8. Decorations courtesy of Jane Jenkins, Laurie Steyer and Theresa Gaffney.

For DD the absolute highlight was the celebration of Legislator Jim amd Janice St. Croix's 54th wedding anniversary tonight. And, of course, both Jim and Janice really enjoyed celebrating their anniversary by having fun at a political event. They are junkies just like us. Senator Darrel Aubertine told the wonderful story from the podium about the way back time when he and Jim and some other co-conspiritors sat around the St. Croix kitchen table and engineered the coup that gave Darrel the Chairmanship of the Jefferson County Legislature and made Jim the Vice-Chair. Darrel rightly said it all started for him right there in the St. Croix kitchen.

We also discovered that Andrew Cuomo will be in town on May 17th with his travelling Attorney General's outreach roadshow.

Lots of talk about a candidate in the 118th but nothing firm yet to report. There might just be a pretty big surprise in the very near future. If it happens we'll tell you here.

And we'll rehash the dinner over again at Political Pizza tomorrow at noon. We dems like 'eating' events. You are invited too. Noon at Democrat HQ (room 205) in the Lincoln Building downtown. Political IV you are invited too. Remember the bag?

Assemblyman Ron Canistrari on Patricia Ritchie

Wow. This is a 'cut and paste' from Assemblyman Canistrari in this morning's email.

Assemblyman Canestrari: Patty Ritchie Should Consider Running an Honest Campaign…For a Change

“I am very surprised to learn from the article in today’s Watertown Daily Times that Ms. Ritchie would even consider running for New York State Assembly again, or partnering with the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee after they both lied about Darrel Aubertine’s record in 2002.

“The fact that she is considering another run just demonstrates that she didn’t learn the lesson voters taught her in 2002—that they have no tolerance for negative campaigning and lying.

“If Ms. Ritchie does decide to run for the Assembly once more, I hope she will not again engage in the dishonest and disingenuous campaign tactics the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee is known for using in their campaigns across the state.”

Both Canestrari and DD clearly remember attending a court session in Albany on the occasion of Ms. Ritchie's knowingly obvious illegal attempt to hijack the IP party line from Darrel the last time she ran. That was a really sad chapter in how low can you go. And now we'll probably get an opportunity to repeat all the sordid details.
Luckily for her she decided to fold up in that case before the judge ruled against her.

TOAST?

In reading my regular coterie of blogs and press yesterday there was an almost universal and sometimes vaguely gleeful theme that Hillary was toast. I don't buy it.
The campaign goes on. The value of that ongoingness is that Barack Obama who will in all likelyhood be the candidate of our party has to endure another two or three weeks of vetting and tempering that will produce an incredibly strong national candidate.
Where will Hillary go? Aside from getting the true grit award she'll advance to the head of the class if Barack falters and
she has made herself the obvious heir apparent which would translate wonderfully to a vice presidential tandem role. She probably won't emerge as a presidential candidate in 08 but how about 12 or 16. Toast she isn't.

Here is a new Assembly name

Corey Fram and Jude Seymour of the WDT pooled their reportial talents and developed a piece today that sets the stage well for the upcoming internal petitioning wars in each party for the 118th Assembly race. If you missed it here it is.
This blog has another way outside the box name to add to the mix.
Last evening we volunteer mediators along with CASA and YOUTH COURT volunteers had a very nice recognition dinner that was cooked and served by a grateful staff at the Resolution Center. That was a neat concept and all of us enjoyed it. But I digress. One of the Resolution Center's Board Members and I had an involved discussion concerning local politics and the 118th Assembly District in particular. This man discussed the fact that he would really like to serve and thinks he has a lot to offer. I think he does too. He is an older, successful, business man who has stepped back and has the time now to devote himself completely to the job of being an Assemblyman. He has connections in both St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties. And even better he is a democrat. Here is another clue. His sister is the republican chair in St. Lawrence County and his brother is the guru in chief at the Ogdensburg Journal. Awww, you guessed it. Tim Kelly.
Tim told me he would make sure he would attend this Friday's noon political pizza at dem HQ and tonight he is locked in for the democrats spring dinner at the Northside Improvement League. He hasn't absolutely declared his candidacy yet. But it wouldn't take a whole lot to push him over the edge. And his heritage is Irish just like yours Mr. Hennessey and Ms. O'Neill.

I've got a good friend who still is a good friend even though we are on exactly opposite sides of the political spectrum. He sent me this graphic today.
I think we should photoshop it and take out liberals and insert rightwingers.

AND MY SON-IN-LAW OFFERED THIS:
There are less than eight months until the election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States . The person elected will be the president of all Americans. To show our solidarity as Democrats, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of our choice. It's time that we all came together!
If you support the policies and character of Hillary Clinton, please drive with your headlights on during the day.

If you support Barack Obama , please drive with your headlights off at night..............
Come on folks...its a joke...don't beat old DD up!

DANGER DEMOCRAT DEMANDS THAT THE REPUBLICANS OBEY ELECTION LAW

This blog is actually going to cite some law today and proceed with a formal complaint.

THE ISSUE
Today in a Watertown Daily Times story on page one of the B section the newspaper reported that Patricia A. Ritchie is considering a republican candidacy for the 118th assembly seat. The story goes on, "Mrs. Ritchie scored the highest in a winter telephone poll conducted by RACC sponsored to determine the most popular candidate."
RACC stands for the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee. The law is very clear that if part of a poll such as that is made public the entire poll is required to be publically released.

THE CITATION
Here is the applicable section of law. It is 6201.2 of the Election Law of New York State.
No candidate, political party or committee shall attempt to promote
the success or defeat of a candidate by, directly or indirectly, disclosing or
causing to be disclosed, the results of a poll relating to a candidate for such
office or position, unless within 48 hours after such disclosure, they provide
the following information concerning the poll to the board or officer with
whom statements or copies of statements of campaign receipts and
expenditures are required to be filed by the candidate to whom such poll
relates:
(a) The name of the person, party, or organization that contracted for
or who commissioned the poll and/or paid for it.
(b) The name and address of the organization that conducted the poll.
(c) The numerical size of the total poll sample, the geographic area
covered by the poll and any special characteristics of the population included
in the poll sample.
(d) The exact wording of the questions asked in the poll and the
sequence of such questions.
(e) The method of polling--whether by personal interview, telephone,
mail, or other.
(f) The time period during which the poll was conducted.
(g) The number of persons in the poll sample; the number contacted
who responded to each specific question; the number of persons contacted who
did not so respond.
(h) The results of the poll.

THEREFORE THIS BLOG IS DEMANDING THE FOLLOWING

Ezra (Ted) Ford as author of this blog demands that the NYS Republican Assembly Campaign Committee release the entire poll quoted in the Watertown Daily Times news article of 5/7/08 and deliver all of its contents and results to the New York State Board of Election. The Board of Elections will subsequently then make the information available to all interested observers as the law provides.
A formal certified letter with attachments proving the allegation has been sent to the New York State Board of Elections as well to RACC.

The Tuesday Edition of the Rumor Mill

A pretty reliable source (at least mostly reliable in the past) has confirmed for Danger Democrat that St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie will once again be a candidate for Assembly in the 118th District. All she has to do is dust off those old signs she has in storage after Darrel whompped her. This connected person also tells us that potential Ritchie challenger, Legislator Phil Reed, will probably fold his tent because he doesn't want a republican primary between the two counties. However, Sandra Corey the current Jeff Chair is a really big backer of Phillip and just may talk him into having a go at it.
This blogger feels a little like Dennis Miller doing one of those heavy handed powerful emotional rants that he used scream at us concluding with, "Thats just what I think. I could be wrong."

A Responsible Plan to Leave Iraq

Good morning to my fellow lefty NNY blogger North Country Liberal. You wrote an excellent post today about attending an anti Iraq war event and wanting some more information about how we can get out of that giant sink hole with a degree of honor. May I point you toward a plan that has been endorsed by 38 congressional candidates and 4 senatorial candidates and a plan that this blog endorses wholeheartedly.
Here it is A RESPONSIBLE PLAN TO LEAVE IRAQ.

INCONSISTENCY IS GETTING THE BEST OF ME
Right from a chache copy of Congressional candidate Danny Francis's website is his original position on the Iraq war.

There is no easy solution regarding Iraq — and I am not a huge fan of President Bush. President Bush may have taken us to war - but it is the nation’s duty to win. Losing is not an option in my mind. Pulling out of Iraq while engaged in combat is not an option. We need to leave Iraq when they can stand alone and upright as a nation like we have said all along. Voting to go to war was the wrong vote. Voting to sustain the war once it started as bad as that seems, was the correct vote because we do not abandon our troops while they are fighting and dying in combat. We do not abandon our troops in time of war. I recall a similar fierce debate during the Vietnam War. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. I don’t ever want to see another Vietnam. I hope you feel the same way. Labeling war as a winning or losing solution is a simple choice for me. Once we go, we win! I would prefer not to take the country to war, but sometimes we must, and when we do, we had better go all out and win. Today, there are some promising signs of improvement, but we must not become complacent. We have a long way to go and the public is slowly losing its patience. We Americans like quick solutions to all problems – but war is more complex than people want to accept. The key: get the Iraqis up and running quickly and effectively.

Danny took that down and recently told an
interviewer from Syracuse University this was his position.

Francis linked the war in Iraq to the nation’s economic woes. Leaving Iraq
would solve two problems, he said. “We’re spending billions of dollars
over there we should be spending here,” he said. “We’re wasting two
resources in Iraq: precious human lives and billions of dollars. The
military is stretched too thin.” Francis said he would support a phased
withdrawal of troops.

Dan, would you call the White House and try to get them on board too.

An attaboy for our Congress critter

This blog rags on our Congressman frequently. Of course, that opposition is philosophical and not personal. When John does something right we deserve to report that as well. This is the correct thing to do as reported by Marshall Miller in the way, way super righty TalkGwinnett blog.
We are told to tighten our belts while several New York City area Democrats in Congress ride around in taxpayer-funded luxury. For example, Congressman Charles Rangel (D) drives a Cadillac DeVille leased at $777 per month, paid of course by U.S. taxpayers. Congressman Gregory Meeks (D) drives a Lexus LS160 leased at $998 per month. Taxpayers also pay for maintenance, gas, leases and registrations on these cars. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D) drives a taxpayer-leased Buick Lucerne at $808 per month. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D) drives a BMW 530i at $500 per month. Not all N.Y. city area Congressfolks are leeches, however. Republican Congressman John McHugh of New York drives his own car.
Marshall always goes out of his way to rag on every dem he can find but we'll let that go this time. We'll just point out to the geographically challenged Marshall that John really isn't from the New York CITY area.

A harmonious chirp at the IJC

DD has a whole lot better communication going with Senator Aubertine's office now that Drew Mangione is pointing some stuff at us. Today the Drewster made this blog aware that Darrel gave an opening statement at a presentation by the International Joint Commission to the NYS legislators concerned with the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence. Darrel's position mirrors John McHugh's statement. The Aubertine office also advanced the idea that lots of pressure on the IJC to bend them toward increasing water levels to help tourism and assist aquatic wildlife might help. In the last couple of years my sons-in-law and I have taken down three props. Thats my beef. You can get
some pointers on adding your beef to what Darrel hopes is a large chorus chirping at the IJC by clicking here.

A little extra cash to tide you over.

We all know that Assemblypeople and Senators receive a salary of $79,500. But they get extras too. Robert Harding of the TAP blog filed a FOIL request asking what each legislator was reimbursed for their per dieum claims and travel expenses.
Locally Dede Scozzafava got back $18,396.53 and Darrel Aubertine received $17,490.30.
In addition both these legislators got leadership role stipends too. Not a bad deal for a job that was thought of by the founders as part-time. You can check on everybody by clicking here.

Some call it pork

Here are the member items from Senator Aubertine's office as reported by NYPIRG.
Does anybody really see any problem with any of this?

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $5,000.00 Belleville Fire Department Belleville Jefferson Funds will be used to purchase a generator for the fire hall. State Scott Lennox Chief Belleville Fire Department P. O. Box 141 Belleville, NY 13611

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $35,000.00 Fowler Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. Fowler St. Lawrence Funds will be used to replace the roof and make improvements at the senior citizens' housing unit known as Kilkaney Court in the Town of Fowler. Details forthcoming. State Jeanice M. Totten President Fowler Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. 32 Island Branch Rd. Gouverneur, NY 13642

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $30,000.00 Fulton Public Library - Building Repairs and Improvements Fulton Oswego Exterior brick work is required to replace or repair disintegrating bricks and necessary to preserve this historic building's structural integrity. Additionally, funds may be used for window replacements, an access ramp or to enhance the library's interior or patron programming. State Penny Kerfien Library Director Fulton Public Library 160 South 1st St. Fulton, NY 13069

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $5,000.00 Gouverneur Central School District Gouverneur St. Lawrence Funds will be used to purchase sound equipment for the Middle/High school auditorium. State John Dixon Principal Gouverneur Central School District 133 East Barney St. Gouverneur, NY 13642

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $5,000.00 Lake Ontario Fisheries Coalition, Inc. Henderson Harbor Jefferson Funds will be used to dredge silt which has built up in the area known as "the cut" between Henderson Harbor and Lake Ontario. State Frank Cean President Lake Ontario Fisheries Coalition, Inc. c/o Jefferson County Job Development Corp. 800 Starbuck Ave., Suite 800 Watertown, NY 13601

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $50,000.00 Northern Oswego County Ambulance, Inc. (NOCA) Oswego Oswego Funds will be used toward the construction of an ambulance storage building and will serve seven towns in Oswego County. State Rich Duvall CEO N.O.C.A. P. O. Box 113 21 Delano St. Pulaski, NY 13142

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $10,000.00 Onondaga-Oswego Chapter American Red Cross Oswego Oswego Funds will be used to improve office space in the American Red Cross' Branch office in Oswego, New York. State Margaret Henderson Executive Director Onondaga-Oswego Chapter American Red Cross 220 Herald Place Place Syracuse, NY 13126

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $30,000.00 Pulaski Day Care Center - Building Renovations and Program Improvements Pulaski Oswego Renovations, such as a new roof, HVAC system and energy efficient appliances, are immediately necessary and will help maintain the building and improve its energy efficiency. Program improvements include the replacement of deteriorating carpeting and tiling as well as playground and computer equipment to enhance the Learning Center. C&F Genny E. Pond President, Board of Dirs. Pulaski Day Care Center, Inc. 20 Castle Drive Pulaski, NY 13142

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $30,000.00 Reading Room Association of Gouverneur - Gouverneur Library Gouverneur St. Lawrence Funds will be used in connection with the ongoing "Library Loft" project. This project includes access and facility improvements to the Library's attic to provide much-needed additional reading and study space. State Charlotte Garofalo Library Manager Reading Association of Gouverneur 60 Church St. Gouverneur, NY 13642

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $20,000.00 Town of Oswego - Cemetery Building Improvements Oswego Oswego Funds will be used toward the improvement and expansion of the existing cemetery building / office. The project includes the expansion of the building to improve the office space by adding indoor bathroom facilities as well as the installation of a new roof. State Victoria M. Mullen Town Supervisor Town of Oswego 2320 County Route 7 Oswego, NY 13126

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $30,000.00 Town of Richland - New Building for Water Department Pulaski Oswego Funds will be used to build a 40 ft. x 40 ft. building to secure maintenance equipment and provide a heated office space for the Town of Richland's Water Department's use. State James Atkinson Town Supervisor Town of Richland P. O. Box 29 Pulaski, NY 13142

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $30,000.00 Village of Dexter - Flow Management Plan for Sewage System Dexter Jefferson Funds will be used to conduct a Flow Management Plan and remedial investigations required by NYS DEC compliance regulations. This work is necessary to enable the Village to proceed with a review of a proposed housing project and for the expansion of Hunter's Run Apartments (which provides homes for families with low-household incomes). State Richard M. Lawlee Mayor Village of Dexter P. O. Box 62 Dexter, NY 13634

2008-2009 SENATE INITIATIVE FORM Aubertine D $20,000.00 Village of Sandy Creek - Energy Conservation Project for Fire Hall Sandy Creek Oswego Funds will be used to implement NYSERDA's recommendations for the Sandy Creek Fire Hall. In addition to being used by volunteer firefighters and many community groups, the firehall is designated by County EMS as an emergency shelter. State Grant J. Rohrmoser Mayor Village of Sandy Creek P. O. Box 240 Sandy Creek, NY 13145-0240

Hey you 'maybe' candidates! Listen up!

Warning--warning--warning--
Its 4 weeks to petition time. FOUR WEEKS. Stop with being coy and laying back already.
Now is the time to step up and declare your candidacies. In case you didn't really believe me here is the official NYS political calendar.

General Brown has the lowest per pupil rate in NYS. How about that?

Much has been written and broadcast locally in both old and new media about public secondary school budgets. Discontent is rising even faster than budgets are growing. Some of those budgets are clearly going to be in trouble when the vote rolls around on May 20th.
The budgets are in trouble for lots of reasons but expenditures per pupil shouldn't be the main reason. Our schools seem pretty much in line with reasonable spending.
The Empire Center for New York State Policy has done an extensive report about school district spending. The average amount spent per kid in the state is $18,768. Some of the really rich Long Island Districts are truly outrageous. Amagansett spends $67,102 on each student, East Quoque $44,298 and Island Park $42,369. Which district is at the lowest of the per pupil expenditure list for all of the Empire State? Jefferson County's General Brown at $12,141.

Jefferson County
Alexandria 16,780
Belleville Henderson - - - - - - -
Carthage 15,273
General Brown 12,141
Indian River 13,989
La Fargeville 14,973
Lyme 17,584
Sackets Harbor 14,721
South Jefferson 13,260
Thousand Islands 16,610
Watertown 12,971

DD has no idea why Belleville Henderson's numbers aren't on the list.

LATER ADD:
Political IV also blogged about the report earlier.