Names surface as potential Nys Gop lieutenant governor candidates

The following is the fourth item that was cut for space from the print editions of my "Albany Insider" column: The list of potential Republican lieutenant governor candidates is almost as long as Democrats considering a run for attorney general. A source close to Republican presumptive gubernatorial nominee Marcus Molinaro said the panel he created to screen potential lieutenant governor candidates has 11 possibilities who could serve as his runningmate.

DeFranciso nomination for governor no slam dunk

The following is an expanded version of the second item from my "Albany Insider" column from Monday's print editions: When Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb surprisingly dropped out of the GOP race for governor Friday, the assumption was Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco was now the front-runner to take on Cuomo. But that's not a guarantee even as he has picked up a number of county chairmen endorsements since Kolb dropped out, numerous Republican leaders and operatives say.

Trump’s Choice of Scott Pruitt for EPA Draws Positive Reviews

President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA is drawing widespread praise from legislators and Republican environmental groups as someone who will draw back the agency's excessive regulations. "By standing up to unwarranted and unlawful policies, he has demonstrated rightful concern for Americans whose livelihoods and communities have suffered under intrusive, job-killing regulations."