ALBANY — Timothy Cardinal Dolan and the state’s Catholic bishops have come out strongly in favor of creating a state DREAM Act allowing state financial aid to go to the college kids of undocumented immigrants.
“It’s one of our top priorities this year,” state Catholic Conference spokesman Dennis Poust said.
The Catholic Conference, a strong advocate for national immigration reform, views the DREAM Act legislation sponsored by Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Queens) and Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Queens) as something the state can do in the interim.
“New York State, with its history of welcoming immigrants, should be at the forefront of these efforts to support immigrant populations who have contributed so much to the vitality of our state,” the conference said in a memo supporting the bill.
The state Assembly passed the measure last year and is expected to do so again soon. The Republicans who help control the Senate oppose the measure. And there are questions whether there is enough support in an election year for passage, even if the measure did make it to the Senate floor.
The state Conservative Party issued a memo Friday opposing the use of taxpayer money on those not in the country legally.
***
Publicity-loving Donald Trump‘s is set to meet on Wednesday with a increasing number of upstate county Republican Party chairs who indicate they are ready to back him if he actually defies expectations and runs for governor.
The meeting will occur before Trump gives the keynote address at a New York County Republican dinner Wednesday night. Trump has spoken with a host of GOP leaders in recent weeks. Those close to him said he already has 60% of the party committee’s weighted vote. It takes 25% to get on the ballot and 50% to be the party’s official designee.
Trump supporters say he’ll remain serious about running if the GOP can unify behind him without a primary or anyone else entering the race. But even those hoping he does are skeptical, noting he regularly flirts with runs for governor and president.
Some top GOP officials this weekend questioned if Trump is just trying to curry favor with Gov. Cuomo, the incumbent Democrat, by looking to keep Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino — who won re-election last year in his heavily Democratic county — from entering the race. That would leave the GOP scrambling for a last-minute candidate if Trump also didn’t run, the sources said.
Trump counsel Michael Cohen shot back: “It’s an absolutely ridiculous comment and it doesn’t merit a response.”
Astorino, interviewed on Buffalo radio Sunday, reiterated that he is leaning toward running and said he’d have no problem with a primary against Trump. Those close to him said he’s not interested in running as Trump’s lieutenant governor candidate, as some have suggested.
***
The continued fight to legalize mixed martial arts in New York this year is down if not yet out.
“I don’t see it as very likely this year,” one Assembly official said.
While the Senate supports legalizing MMA, opposition in the state Assembly remains strong among influential members close to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
New York is the only state that still bars the controversial but popular sport.
