Legislature breaks after disappointing session
JAMES P. HAYES New York State Assembly
The old adage used to predict the weather in March certainly applied to the State Legislature last week when it adjourned for the summer in gridlock. Coming in "like a lion" at the start of the new Spitzer administration earlier this year, the State Legislature passed meaningful ethics and lobbying reform, strengthened and improved the workers' compensation system, enacted stricter laws for confining violent sex predators and reformed parts of the budget process. It was a good start.

Regrettably, the 2007 session adjourned last week, and legislators left Albany "like a lamb" without achieving consensus on major issues important to Western New York taxpayers.

Negotiations to expand the DNA database to include samples taken from criminals convicted of any crime, not just serious felonies, did not result in an agreed-upon bill to send to Gov. Spitzer. There also was no agreement on reinstating the death penalty for the murder of a police officer or corrections officer. On the economic front, no agreement - and no new law - to help facilitate the construction of new electric power facilities, and no consensus was reached on reforming the antiquated Wicks Law, which adds higher costs to public building projects. There was no agreement on campaign finance reform to encourage public trust in open government - and perhaps most astonishing, no new capital budget to invest state money in the rebuilding of local roads, bridges and important infrastructure to help increase the economic viability of the Erie-Niagara region.

The Assembly leadership did find time, however, to approve "one-house" social policies that will not become law anytime soon because of lack of support in the State Senate. By a vote of 85-61 (I voted no), the Assembly approved a gay marriage bill. The Assembly also approved a plan to allow terminally ill patients to legally smoke marijuana and advanced a proposal to create a new program for paid family leave time for all employees in the state, a measure strongly opposed by small businesses.

Amazingly, the Assembly even found time to pass one-house measures that would expand the benefits of our most-expensive-in-the-nation Medicaid program.

All in all, it was a great disappointment. Given the early promise of a session that also approved another round of property tax rebate checks for seniors and homeowners later this fall, too many important reforms were left undone. There is talk of a possible return to session on July 16 or a call to special session that could come from the governor at any time. But as of this writing, that schedule remains uncertain.

What is certain is that legislative leaders let political infighting get in the way of accomplishing many needed government reforms for businesses and taxpayers in our region. I'll continue the fight to push for these and other badly needed reforms in the weeks and months ahead.

In the meantime, I would appreciate hearing your views on any matters involving state government. Please feel free to contact my office in Williamsville at 634-1895 or via e-mail at hayesj@ assembly. state. ny. us.