Spin Cycle

Despite earlier expectations that in the transition from a GOP to a Democratic majority he might get the Health Committee (that went to Tom Duane of Manhattan), Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) just expressed enthusiasm for his new role as chair of the Investigation and Government Operations Committee.

"I look forward to this...It's an important committee," he said. He added that he plans not only to conduct probes in the traditional sense but also push for consolidation of duplicative government entities beyond what Gov. David Paterson has called for so far. He said he expects the majority be less "top down" than the Republican leadership and allow for some key roles.

We have not yet reached Brian Foley, the other majority member from Long Island, whose assignment to the ethics panel, as suggested earlier by Mr. Riley, figures to put him in a lower-profile role.