Erie County's own Keystone Politicos.

Boy, will the fun never cease? Apparently, King Joel (whose political days are numbered) demands (!) that the Erie County Leg "reaffirm" its vote of 2 weeks ago on the increased sales tax. DeBenedetti is rightfully fuming at the patent illegality that led to the passage of the budget and sales tax increase, and he's also pissed off that Giambra gets to keep every single solitary graft-trough patronage position, while Giambra accuses DeBenedetti of being a hypocrite. Can we get some politicians who know what the Christ they're doing? Please?

Joel A. Giambra insists the Erie County Legislature reaffirm its sales tax vote by 5 p.m. Monday or he'll have to force "an enormous increase in the property tax" to support spending for next year. The county executive delivered his demand in a letter Friday. Buffalo Democrat Albert DeBenedetti said Thursday he would withdraw his crucial vote if the Legislature tried to ram through fixes to the 2005 budget without waiting until Jan. 1, as the County Charter requires. DeBenedetti said he also told key state lawmakers he's rethinking his vote to raise the sales tax by a penny to 9.25 cents on the dollar. Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz, D-Cheektowaga, and Sen. Dale M. Volker, R-Depew, won't push Erie County's new penny through Albany without a request from 10 of the 15 legislators.