Madmallard
.223 Rem
In New York, state Senate Republicans have maintained a majority for all but a few of the past 50 years, despite registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans 2-1.
One advantage has been the frequent cross-endorsement of Republicans by the Independence Party — a minor political party whose ballot line is seen as more likely to make conservative-leaning Democrats comfortable voting for GOP candidates. Those votes can often tilt close state Senate races, as Republicans seek to maintain their razor-thin majority.
A review of Senate payroll records, however, shows the frequent cross-endorsement by the Independence Party of Senate Republican candidates has provided other less visible benefits. Though there are not that many active Independence Party officials across the state — only about half of the state's 62 counties have a local chair — a number of those who are working in swing Senate districts have landed state government jobs with the chamber's Republican majority.
A number of these are part-time jobs. Working as little as 17.5 hours a week, state employees can get access to government-subsidized health care while they still retain more lucrative private sector jobs.
In 2015, the Senate and Assembly's 213 elected members employed 2,865 staffers, according to a survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures. That legislative workforce is the largest in the nation — 750 more than California, which has twice the population of New York.
It not only gives incumbents an advantage, but has given the longtime majority parties in Albany — Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the Assembly — an edge over the much more modestly staffed minority conferences. The majority parties control both their staff budgets and those of the minority parties.
And the Senate Republicans have used that hiring power to give jobs to their Independence Party allies. While Democratic senators have hired Democratic party officials, and Republicans have hired local Republican officials, the Independence Party — which touts a reform-minded agenda — is a ballot line up for grabs, though its endorsements in recent years have largely gone to Republicans in battleground districts.
"It's no secret that Senate Republicans have a very strong working relationship with the Independence Party," said Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif. "There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on here other than our shared commitment to making New York a better and more prosperous state. Anyone who says anything to the contrary is looking to create a story where none exists."
Senate GOP gets key Independence Party endorsement, hires many of its officials
One advantage has been the frequent cross-endorsement of Republicans by the Independence Party — a minor political party whose ballot line is seen as more likely to make conservative-leaning Democrats comfortable voting for GOP candidates. Those votes can often tilt close state Senate races, as Republicans seek to maintain their razor-thin majority.
A review of Senate payroll records, however, shows the frequent cross-endorsement by the Independence Party of Senate Republican candidates has provided other less visible benefits. Though there are not that many active Independence Party officials across the state — only about half of the state's 62 counties have a local chair — a number of those who are working in swing Senate districts have landed state government jobs with the chamber's Republican majority.
A number of these are part-time jobs. Working as little as 17.5 hours a week, state employees can get access to government-subsidized health care while they still retain more lucrative private sector jobs.
In 2015, the Senate and Assembly's 213 elected members employed 2,865 staffers, according to a survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures. That legislative workforce is the largest in the nation — 750 more than California, which has twice the population of New York.
It not only gives incumbents an advantage, but has given the longtime majority parties in Albany — Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the Assembly — an edge over the much more modestly staffed minority conferences. The majority parties control both their staff budgets and those of the minority parties.
And the Senate Republicans have used that hiring power to give jobs to their Independence Party allies. While Democratic senators have hired Democratic party officials, and Republicans have hired local Republican officials, the Independence Party — which touts a reform-minded agenda — is a ballot line up for grabs, though its endorsements in recent years have largely gone to Republicans in battleground districts.
"It's no secret that Senate Republicans have a very strong working relationship with the Independence Party," said Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif. "There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on here other than our shared commitment to making New York a better and more prosperous state. Anyone who says anything to the contrary is looking to create a story where none exists."
Senate GOP gets key Independence Party endorsement, hires many of its officials
