Both of these companies have long histories of making large contributions to majority conference members of either party. (politico.com)
This is, of course, a big issue for the downstate Democrats who make up the bulk of the 99 - member majority conference in the Assembly. (nystateofpolitics.com)
Those close to Paterson countered that the new attack was meant to divert attention from the failure of Senate Majority Conference Leader John Sampson (D - Brooklyn) to muster the 32 votes needed to pass a final budget bill that has already cleared the Assembly. (nydailynews.com)