Andrew Cuomo takes notes from Joe Lieberman as he plots 2016 presidential bid.
Both Govs. Martin O'Malley of Maryland and Andrew Cuomo of New York are running for president in 2016 (and hoping Hillary Clinton doesn't clear the field). As it's never too early to start vetting them, let's look at how they're reacting to recent big news:
IMMIGRATION.
O'Malley:
I am pleased that Secretary [Janet] Napolitano has announced this very positive and important step for young people in our country who consider themselves Americans and deserve the opportunity to contribute to our country’s future without the fear of enforcement action. This is the only nation that many of these young people have known, and they’ve worked hard to succeed here. I wholeheartedly support President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for taking this important action, which is a step in the right direction towards comprehensive immigration reform."
Cuomo:
[Crickets]
REDISTRICTING
O'Malley:
He met one-on-one with every Member of his state’s Congressional delegation to discuss redistricting, something Cuomo didn’t do. O’Malley signed a map into law in October that may have angered some Members but helped Democratic prospects this year and beyond. Democrats are likely to pick up the seat held by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R) in November.
Cuomo:
Among Democrats hoping to take back the House in November and many New York Members, there is disappointment with the way Cuomo handled the Empire State’s federal redistricting process. And if Cuomo makes a bid for the presidency in 2016, they won’t forget that he didn’t use his considerable political capital to help push through a more favorable and partisan map for Democrats, but instead let a court draw the lines.
“There will be national electeds who remember that he, at the height of his power, had the ability to step in and get a map done [for Democrats] and didn’t,” one New York Democratic operative said with more than a touch of frustration.
TAXES ON THE RICH
Cuomo:
As the chart indicates, Cuomo’s plan lowers taxes across the board when compared with the system currently in place. But some of the steepest cuts benefit high earners. Individuals with annual incomes of $1 million will enjoy a $14,070 tax cut, while married couples with $1 million in income will save $13,340. And at a stratospheric $5 million in income per year, individuals will get a tax cut of $20,070 and married couples will save $39,040.
O'Malley:
O'Malley's tax package, which won final approval from the Democratic legislature on Wednesday, will give Maryland's top earners the seventh-highest income tax rate in the country.
(On two other hot-button issues, both of these governors are in agreement: They oppose medical marijuana, and support marriage equality.)
In a field that could also include the likes of NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (who is definitely acting like she's running) and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, I'm not about to start picking favorites.
But if we simply look at the Cuomo-O'Malley examples above, it's clear that only one of these probable candidates thinks that the Democratic nomination runs through progressives. The other one seems to be drawing from Joe Lieberman's playbook.
