* NY Daily News

The New York Post editorial page turned a tactic threatened by NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) on its head today.  For months, Silver has been trying to link the effort to cap property taxes in New York State — the highest in America —  to expanding, not just extending, New York’s arcane rent regulation laws. But now that those rent regulations have officially expired, The Post is calling for no extension unless a tax cap is passed.  Bravo. It’s about time Silver felt the heat, in this case from a million well-organized rent stabilized tenants in New York City who would tear him limb from from limb if he didn’t deliver at least an extender.

If Shelly Silver were on the other side, he would hold up everything in New York State until he got what he wanted.  He has done it every year since the early 1990’s when he became Speaker.  So with Silver over a barrel now, I wouldn’t stop at a tax cap. Give him a list of bills to pass. Or let him dangle.