We sent in the Tea Party clowns, and they’re giving us quite a show. Of course, they are ably assisted by their associates in Congress, the president and the rest of those we hired to run our government for us. It’s hard to decide who belongs in the center ring, with so many deserving participants. more

My last two columns, “As promised: keeping tabs” (June 30 – July 6) and “Is the bloom off the rose?” (July 21-27) provided information to evaluate the session-ending accomplishments of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Two fundamental questions were raised. Has there been a real transformation in addressing the way the “people’s business” is being managed in Albany? Do our political leaders really understand that the state of New York is still headed down a path of fiscal instability and requires levels of real reform hardly evident to date? more

Whether it’s Washington, D.C., or Albany, taxpayers are sending a message loud and clear. They want the cost of government reduced, and they want their taxes to go down. more

The U.S. government faces a historic choice over the next very few years: get our fiscal house in order or see our status as a world economic power permanently lost in an avalanche of debt. Fiscal responsibility knows no party or ideological bounds. It is neither Democratic nor Republican, liberal or conservative. If our economy falters, the consequences will be dire for us all. Our children and grandchildren will face the very real prospect of living less well off than previous generations. The American Dream of ever-growing prosperity will evaporate. Our future will look more like that of bankrupt Greece. more

West Hempstead residents Gary Port and Owen Rumelt are taking on town government... more

West Hempstead resident Gary Port is challenging Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray for her seat this year... more

As part of his effort to crack down on corruption and restore the public’s trust in government, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the appointments of public integrity officers … more

With just four months on the job, New York State Assemblyman Ed Ra has spent much time traveling his district. On April 26, he visited the James A. Dever School to talk to students about state government. more

Under a law passed in 2009, The New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act, it became easier for residents to dissolve special taxing districts in their neighborhoods, including … more

Trash, junk and recycling pick-up: most people don’t think twice about these services, let alone about who takes care of picking up large items that are disposed of, such as furniture or refrigerators. However, some of the Town of Hempstead’s five special sanitation districts have recently raised taxes for their services, which differ widely. more