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On last night’s “Inside City Hall”, the four members of our Consultants Corner offered their thoughts about the future of Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign.

Watch a clip of the segment above.

Tonight’s guests include: Our NY1 Wise Guys’ the Chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee, Harry Nespoli.

The New York Times

Thomas Kaplan reports: “Lawmakers and labor unions on Monday pointedly criticized a secret decision by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration to greatly expand the state inspector general’s access to tax returns filed by state employees. The State Department of Taxation and Finance signed an agreement last month with the inspector general’s office to allow dozens of people to look at the records, as part of investigations, without needing approval from the tax department or a court.”

John Eligon notes: “The State Senate passed a bill on Monday that would allow churches to continue holding worship services in public schools, but the future of the legislation remained in question as the Assembly speaker expressed skepticism about it.”

David Chen writes: “In a sign that Democrats are eager to reclaim a Congressional seat in New York City, Assemblyman Rory I. Lancman plans to announce on Tuesday that he intends to challenge Representative Bob Turner, a freshman Republican, in the November election.”

New York Post

Erik Kriss reports: “With two-thirds of voters supporting his cost-saving plan to cut pension benefits for future public employees, Gov. Cuomo yesterday said average New Yorkers ‘get it,’ even if Albany lawmakers don’t.”

Kriss also notes: “Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said yesterday the Ku Klux Klan could be allowed into city schools under a bill to open them for religious meetings. His comment came before the GOP-controlled Senate passed the measure allowing religious groups the use of public-school buildings.”

Jen Fermino writes: “A little-known U.S. House transportation bill stripping the MTA of much-needed revenue could lead to a fare hike for city straphangers, the agency’s chief warned yesterday. MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota — in an unusual foray into national politics — blasted the Republican-backed bill that would strip roughly $1 billion in guaranteed annual funding from the agency.”

Bruce Golding notes: “Efforts to roll back the latest Port Authority toll hikes have hit a roadblock. A judge yesterday refused to reverse the massive increases imposed last year on drivers crossing into New York from New Jersey via the PA’s bridges and tunnels.”

Josh Margolin reports: “State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli yesterday approved a $105 million MTA contract with electronics giant Alcatel-Lucent, despite the company’s past shady business activities, The Post has learned. The company will upgrade radio systems for transit cops working in the subways.”

Sally Goldenberg writes: “The Bloomberg administration is suing two more city smoke shops that city lawyers say are skirting taxes by letting customers roll their own.”

Carl Campanile notes: “Mayor Bloomberg opened his substantial checkbook and delivered $311.3 million to charitable causes last year — making him the fifth most generous philanthropist in the United States, according to a report released yesterday.”

New York Daily News

Reuven Blau writes: “The Mormon Church in Salt Lake City owns one of the most active and unregulated gun sale portals on the web, according to a new report. An undercover investigation released in December by Mayor Bloomberg’s office named KSL.com the third most active gun listings site on the Internet. The online hub came under scrutiny Monday when the news website Buzzfeed revealed Deseret Media Companies, the for-profit arm of the Mormon Church, operates it. The mayor’s report said the site — where 1,327 handguns and 1,003 rifles were listed for sale Monday — allows buyers and sellers to complete a gun sale without identifying themselves.”

Wall Street Journal

Jacob Gershman reports: “Gov. Andrew Cuomo has built closer relationships with so-called good government groups than perhaps any of his predecessors, folding into his tent a wide spectrum of potential critics on matters of transparency, ethics and campaign finance. Using his office's powerful tool of access—and in some cases, jobs and money—Mr. Cuomo has built a rapport with groups ranging from the New York Public Interest Group to Citizens Union.”

Until tomorrow.

Bob Hardt