Former longtime state Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who recently gave the Senate GOP campaign committee more than $1 million, addressed his former conference last Wednesday at the Capitol.
Bruno was invited by new Majority Leader John Flanagan, who sources say has been in regular contact with him since taking over as leader last May.
Bruno served as majority leader between 1995 and 2008, when he stepped down amid a federal corruption probe. He was acquitted on all charges after two trials.
Bruno’s private chat last week was described by senators in the room as a “pep talk.”
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He told his fellow Republicans they can get through the upcoming budget talks and legislative session without getting rolled, sources said.
With control of the Senate to be determined by the November elections, Bruno, the last majority leader to hail from upstate, urged them to work together if they are to keep control of the chamber. Tensions between upstate and downstate Republicans boiled over during a leadership fight last year.
“He said he believed in us as a team,” one senator said. “He spoke about the value of a team and the value of being together on things as a majority.”
Bruno promised to be a more regular presence, sources said.
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“That’s what an over $1 million illegal contribution will buy you in Albany,” one Democrat sniffed.
Senate Democrats recently filed a complaint with the state Board of Elections contending that Bruno’s $1.03 million contribution violated state law, something Republicans deny.
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Senate Deputy Democratic Leader Michael Gianaris in the past six months accepted tens of thousands of dollars from limited liability corporations — even as he renewed a call to close a loophole that allows such entities to skirt campaign donation restrictions.
By law, corporations are prohibited from giving more than $5,000 in campaign donations in a given year. But by creating limited liability corporations (LLCs), a company can give the much higher limits imposed on individuals.
Gianaris’ statewide campaign account since July received eight donations from LLCs totaling $70,500, which makes up 20% of the total donations the account received during the period.
While legal, two of the donations, one for $33,000 and another for $10,000, were well above the normal $5,000 corporate limit.
One Senate insider accused Gianaris of “hypocrisy” for seeking LLC money while at the same time calling to close the loophole. Gianaris last week sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee chairman demanding the panel hold hearings on proposed reforms that include closing the LLC loophole.
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A Gianaris spokesman said the donations “abide by all campaign finance rules.”
Those close to Gianaris note the LLCs that gave are easily identifiable. And they say that unlike others in Albany, he did not receive money from entities that created multiple LLCs.
Gianaris also is not the only one benefitting from LLCs while at the same time seeking to change how they are treated under campaign finance law. Gov. Cuomo, who is again proposing to close to the loophole, has received millions of dollars from the entities, more than any individual in state government.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie received 26 donations since July from LLCs totaling $32,681. None exceeded $5,000.
Senate Republicans also have greatly benefitted, though they oppose closing the loophole.
Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, wants the loophole closed but said it would be unfair to ask individual officials to voluntarily forego them before a law is passed.
