And, here's an account of the Spitzer verbal poke with a bit more detail -- as filed by our James T. Madore:
Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) got a huge round of applause when Gov. Eliot Spitzer mentioned his name at today’s meeting in Albany of the Family Planning Advocates.
When the clapping died down, Spitzer left little doubt in what he expects from Johnson in a future vote on the state budget.
“You don’t know how glad I am you are there, Craig,” Spitzer said, referring to Johnson’s victory in a special election last month, and the GOP’s slim hold on the Senate majority.
Spitzer added, “We will be counting the votes very shortly. I’m not putting you on the spot.”
Johnson has held to the Democratic line in most of his votes, with the notable exception of March 13 when he joined Long Island’s eight GOP senators in support of more school aid.
Johnson was one of two out of 29 Senate Democrats to side with Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's proposal that adds $358 million in education funding.
“I acted in the best interests of the residents of my district and acted in the best interests of Long Island,” he told Newsday at the time.
The other Democratic "yes" vote came from Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers, who, like Johnson, is a rookie lawmaker in a seat long held by Republicans.