Canton, NY, Oct 15, 2009 — Underpinning a campaign's big (or little) media buys are the foot soldiers--people who make the phone calls, stuff the envelopes, distribute the campaign signs. Martha Foley met one of the rank-and-file on a rural road outside Canton this week, a young canvasser going door-to-door for the Democrats. He's today's Heard Up North.  Go to full article

Apr 30, 2007 — Governor Eliot Spitzer, as part of his campaign finance reform proposal, wants to ban contributions from LLC's, short for Limited Liability Companies. LLC's have become a major loophole in the rules that limit campaign donations. Karen DeWitt explains.  Go to full article

Nov 02, 2006 — Candidates in New York's 45th state senate district faced off in a debate yesterday in Plattsburgh. The encounter between incumbent Republican Betty Little and Democratic challenger Tim Merrick will be broadcast Friday on Mountain Lake PBS and repeated through the weekend. Here we offer their statements about the future of the North Country and their reasons for sweeking public office. These are the thoughts of Tim Merrick, a Democrat and a chiropractor from Plattsburgh.  Go to full article

Jul 20, 2006 — Democrats and their allies continue to pressure Congressman John Sweeney over a weekend ski event that he co-hosted in Lake Placid. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Citizen Action of New York say Sweeney should return more than $30,000 raised from lobbyists who attended the government-funded gathering. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Mar 10, 2006 — The government reform group Common Cause has found that political campaigns are more expensive than ever, and are funded by a small number of special interest groups and the rich. They say the system discourages participation from average New Yorkers. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Nov 30, 2005 — The New York State Senate returned for a one-day session to confirm some appointments made by Governor Pataki, but most of the talk of the day centered on politics, not government policy. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Dec 15, 2004 — Governor George Pataki says he might run for a fourth term in 2006. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Apr 22, 2003 — Government reform groups say the state's campaign finance reporting practices are flawed and need to be fixed, so that state laws can be enforced. They say a study of a small number of counties found 96 potential corporate violators. From Albany, Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Dec 24, 2002 — The 113th Assembly district - in the eastern Adirondacks - offered one of the few competitive races in this year's election. At one point, four strong Republicans were vying for the open seat. Now, the Warren County Republican Committee has moved to tighten rules that insure party loyalty. As Brian Mann reports, some critics say the new rules will reduce the number of candidates.  Go to full article

Oct 29, 2002 — Martha Foley talks with legislative correspondent Karen Dewitt about what's going on this election: the third party candidate may come in second, the incumbent gets a lukewarm endorsement from the state's biggest paper, and observers expect fewer voters at the polls than ever.  Go to full article