State of New York Archives: on Civil Rights

Dave Webber: Government cannot regulate wages including gender pay equity

• A livable wage NOT minimum wage
• Wages determined by market forces & NOT lost opportunity cost--(Lower taxes)
• Equal pay for equal work with equal qualifications--Government cannot regulate wage & price controls.
• Internships for college students--Helps student earn money while getting college credits
• Prepares them to earn more upon graduation without government edict

John Katko: Same-sex marriage has been decided, so no opinion

A: Regardless of my personal views, this is ultimately a state issue that has already been decided.

Rob Astorino: People from the Bronx drive up costs in Westchester

The video was distributed by the "Astorino Truth Squad"--a group who have been serving as a rapid response team. For now, the Democrats on the local level are working as surrogates as Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stayed largely above the politically fray at least publicly.

Cuomo earlier teased Republicans for a potential primary: "It's unfortunate that Mr. Astorino has chosen to vilify the hard-working residents of the Bronx and speak of them as something less than their neighbors in Westchester. I have found that the best path to progress is by celebrating diversity, not insulting one another or pitting New Yorkers against one other."

Wendy Long: The Democrats cooked up this whole phony "war on women"

Wendy Long: Would never attend a same-sex marriage ceremony

Bob Turner: The ship has sailed on gay marriage; focus elsewhere

Maragos criticized Wendy Long for not publicly advocating the repeal of same-sex marriage in New York. Long said that was not her role, given that she was not a state lawmaker, but Maragos pressed further, saying it was her duty, since she had the backing of the State Conservative Party--a distinction that Long has eagerly publicized.

Turner was not eager to discuss the subject. "This ship has sailed in New York," he said. "I want to keep the focus on jobs and the economy. The Gillibrand record, the Obama record--that's what this is going to be about."

In a lightning round of questions, Long said she would refuse to attend a same-sex wedding on principle.

George Maragos: Publicly advocate the repeal of same-sex marriage

Maragos criticized Wendy Long for not publicly advocating the repeal of same-sex marriage in New York. Long said that was not her role, given that she was not a state lawmaker, but Maragos pressed further, saying it was her duty, since she had the backing of the State Conservative Party--a distinction that Long has eagerly publicized.

Turner was not eager to discuss the subject. "This ship has sailed in New York," he said. "I want to keep the focus on jobs and the economy. The Gillibrand record, the Obama record--that's what this is going to be about."

In a lightning round of questions, Long said she would refuse to attend a same-sex wedding on principle.

Andrew Cuomo: Supports same-sex marriage and same rights of marriage

David Paterson: Increased MWBE state contract participation from 4% to 24%

To be specific, women--who are 51% of the population and were 29% of the firms that were approved in advance--got 2.6% of the contracts. But it gets worse. Hispanic Americans--8.5% of the threshold vendors, meaning that they had capital, they had been certified, they passed all the tests--received 0.74%, 3/4 of 1%, of the contracts.

I knew to start a Task Force on Minority and Women Business in June 2008. Here are the results. We have quadrupled the MWBE participation. The minority firms that are investment banking and involve the issuance of debt went from 4.2% MWB in 2007 to where they stand now--23.9%. Since I have taken office, minority and women firms have yielded $162 million of profit over where they were at that particular time.

Hakeem Jeffries: Supports affirmative action in state hiring & college

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?

A: Yes.

Q: Should New York continue affirmative action programs?

A: Yes.

Howard Mills: Reduce regulations on private sector

Indicate which principles you support concerning employment and Affirmative Action Issues
• Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.

Howard Mills: Include sexual orientation in discrimination & hate crimes

A: Yes.

Q: Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes?

A: Yes.

Howard Mills: Restrict marriage to one man and one woman

A: Yes.