Erie County
Republican minority cries foul in Legislature
by NICHOLAS J. PRIMERANO Ken-Ton Editor

The Republican Minority of the Erie County Legislature is saying the Erie County Democratic Caucus, led by Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli, D-Tonawanda, has denied the GOP legislators any central staff since the Democrats gained a 12-3 member majority control in January.

The Republicans allegedly have not had any central staff members since May 2005.

"This is not right," said Minority Leader Dr. Barry Weinstein, R-Amherst. "Nowhere in our American democracy form of government does one party control the other party's staff appointments.

"We live in very difficult times in Erie County," Weinstein added. "We are coming off the worst fiscal crisis in our history, and as the Republican minority, we need staff to help us analyze the budget and to be the loyal opposition in voicing our concerns over issues the Democrats may want to shove down the throats of taxpayers."

According to a report released by Weinstein, even in Albany, where the Democrats have an overwhelming majority in the State Assembly, Democratics don't deny the Republican members their staff.

Weinstein said that in the very first session of the Legislature in January, Democrats added a chief of staff position at a salary of more than $75,000, and they increased the pay of many of their staff members.

They currently have 10 full-time, paid central staff members. The Republicans have none. "This is not how you run a democracy. The Democrats have become dictators and are abusing their power," Weinstein said.

But Marinelli said these statements are just not true.

"A lot of this is inaccurate. The Legislature is doing more with less with the staffing that remains," she said. "The central staff is working for all the legislators."

The budget also allots for two minority staff positions, but according to Weinstein, those positions have been filled with individuals from the other side of the aisle.

But according to Marinelli, the minority legislators do have a staff.

She offered $45,000 to the minority for them to use for staff in the beginning of the year, as well as the use of Ron Bennett, a central staffer who is used by both sides of the aisle.

"All the funding is contained within the legislators' budget. We are doing more with less," she said.

Weinstein said he fears having to use volunteers to assist with work in the in district offices.

"I utilize volunteers in my office all the time," said Marinelli, citing some recent HEAP locations as examples.