Mid-Morning Read: Meeting Kennedy, Calling Reisman, Probing Suffolk

Howard Wolfson, now spokesman for Michael Bloomberg, dismisses Anthony Weiner’s criticism as “finger-pointing.”

Here’s more on Bloomberg’s refusal to hear anything about Weiner's latest comments.

Weiner’s critique of municipal pensions may not hurt him, politically, since recipients are expected to vote for the incumbent anyway.

The Citizens Budget Commission president has more on the city’s “out of control labor costs.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger is facing a problem that Bloomberg once had.

On NY1 this morning, Eric Gioia said the M.T.A. runs its operation like one of the “Big Three automakers,” and it is running the transit system "into the ground.”

David Paterson said Caroline Kennedy’s remarks during their meeting were “quite understandable.”

Kennedy has also met with Adolfo Carrion and Eliot Engel.

Dick Morris says senators should ask Hillary Clinton about her husband’s financial ties to foreign governments.

The president of Georgia and the editor of Reason magazine are among those who have questions for Clinton.

Paterson wants to use federal money to offset new fees and taxes.

The remark came as he announced up to $6.4 billion in school aid with Chuck Schumer.

In Watertown, Paterson signed an agreement to sell cheap power to Alcoa.

The company just reported a $1 billion loss.

Malcolm Smith says sex education and choice are now legislative "priorities."

For Republicans, Jay Gallagher says, there's never been a better time to snipe from the sidelines.

The New York Times editorial board is not impressed with Senate Democrats’ “path to reform.”

Leon Panetta once liked the idea of New York City being it’s own state.

Politico looks at Shaun Donovan.

David Weprin is trying to make cab rides cheaper.

City Council candidate Saquana Jones invokes onto Obama’s message of “change” and asks people to give him a “chance.”

Eric Schneiderman speaks to his colleagues “in the late majority,” and recalls not being allowed paper clips.

In the comments section, a reader says Azi should have asked Bloomberg why he gave Marty Markowitz $10 million for a project in Brooklyn.

The Cayuga Nation is seeking a court order staying criminal prosecution for the selling cigarettes off reservation.

A former Assembly candidate was arrested for pointing a gun at an exotic masseuse.

Another reader holds out hope for reform in Albany.

Congress meets YouTube.

Indicted Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio made too many phone calls.

Here's video about health care policy that was posted on Christine Quinn’s blog.

Columnist Phil Reisman gets a call from a pollster asking about County Executive Andrew Spano.

The mayor of Port Jefferson gets reprimanded for his handling of the budget.

Suffolk County’s handling of a racially motivated murder is being probed by federal authorities.

I.B.M. lays off 135 employees in Poughkeepsie.

Tom Suozzi interviewed for the Senate slot.

Ashley Dupree is shopping her book to Harper Collins.

Eric Massa has a fund-raising breakfast on January 15.

Reform New York’s drug sentencing laws, writes the Poughkeepsie Journal News editorial board.

The head of the United Auto Workers union doesn’t like the idea of Steven Rattner as "car czar."

Roger Stone, fashion critic.

Former third-party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney will be on West 64th Street tonight at 7 p.m.

Yvette Clarke outlines her legislative priorities.

And here's radio host Anthony Vultaggio discussing Caroline Kennedy.