[NYAPRS Enews] GN: Senate Session Ends; Member Items Released-Returning in September

[Matt Canuteson]

NYAPRS Note: On Friday the New York State Senate ended session with many indicating that they will be returning in September to take on controversial issues they were not able to finish after the month long standoff stalled a number of important pieces of legislation. Reports say that September may also be the time when the legislature will return to make additional mid-year cuts to the budget due to the states continuing financial difficulties.

Also of note last week was release of details on how $85 million in member-item money will be distributed:

$77 million will go to Democrats 

$8 million will go to Republicans

Earlier in the week the Senate had agreed to a reform package that will provide more equal distribution of resources and state grants in the future, a agreement in which the minority party will get one-third of the funds. 

 

Member Item Distribution by Senator:

1. Smith D $5,700,000.00
2. Klein D $5,000,000.00
3. Valesky D $4,500,000.00
4. Krueger D $4,000,000.00
4. Kruger D $4,000,000.00
6. Stachowski D $4,000,000.00
7.  Sampson D $3,040,000.00
8. Breslin D $3,000,000.00
8. Duane D $3,000,000.00
10. Montgomery D $3,000,000.00
10. Oppenheimer D $3,000,000.00
10. Schneiderman D $3,000,000.00
13. Onorato D $2,974,500.00
14. Espada D $2,050,000.00
15. Diaz D $2,000,000.00
15. Dilan D $2,000,000.00
15. Hassell-Thompson D $2,000,000.00
15. Parker D $2,000,000.00
15. Stavisky D $2,000,000.00
20. Thompson D $1,200,000.00
21. Savino D $1,100,000.00
22. Adams D $1,050,000.00
23. Aubertine D $1,000,000.00
23. Craig Johnson D $1,000,000.00
23. Huntley D $1,000,000.00
23. Perkins D $1,000,000.00
23. Serrano D $1,000,000.00
23. Stewart-Cousins D $1,000,000.00
29. Conference Black Senators D $1,000,000.00
29. Delegation Latin Senators D $1,000,000.00
29. Upstate Senate Delegation D $1,000,000.00
32. Suburban Delegation D $875,000.00
33. Monserrate D $650,000.00
34. Foley D $539,500.00
35. Squadron D $521,000.00
36. Padavan R $510,000.00
37. Addabbo D $500,000.00
38. Griffo R $410,000.00
39. Hannon R $400,000.00
39. Robach R $400,000.00
41. Morahan R $300,000.00
41. Nozzolio R $300,000.00
43. Saland R $250,600.00
44. Alesi R $250,000.00
44. Bonacic R $250,000.00
44. DeFrancisco R $250,000.00
44. Farley R $250,000.00
44. Flanagan R $250,000.00
44. Fuschillo R $250,000.00
44. Golden R $250,000.00
44. Lanza R $250,000.00
44. Larkin R $250,000.00
44. LaValle R $250,000.00
44. Leibell R $250,000.00
44. Libous R $250,000.00
44. Marcellino R $250,000.00
44. Maziarz R $250,000.00
44. McDonald R $250,000.00
44. Owen Johnson R $250,000.00
44. Ranzenhofer R $250,000.00
44. Seward R $250,000.00
44. Skelos R $250,000.00
44. Volker R $250,000.00
44. Winner R $250,000.00
44. Young R $250,000.00
44. Bronx Delegation D $250,000.00
44. Brooklyn Delegation D $250,000.00
44. Manhattan Delegation D $250,000.00
44. Queens Delegation D $250,000.00
70. Little R $183,000.00

 

 

State Senate Passes Reform Bills As Session Ends

Joseph Spector Gannett Albany July 19, 2009 

ALBANY — Senators sought to pass a month’s worth of legislation in two marathon sessions last week, mainly focusing on noncontroversial measures that passed with little debate.

But the Senate also passed reform measures that lawmakers said would increase accountability and more equally share resources among senators.

The legislative session wrapped up about 4 a.m. Friday, with senators signing off on bills to strengthen oversight of public authorities and fix a loophole in the state’s economic-development laws.

They left undone, however, ways to lower the state’s high property-tax burden and whether to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

Senators indicated they would be back in September to tackle another round of issues, particularly the more controversial pieces of legislation that languished in a monthlong leadership fight that paralyzed the chamber until last week.

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, Westchester County, said a deal to provide greater oversight of public authorities is the “biggest reform in 20 years.”

The bill, if signed by Gov. David Paterson, would create an independent Authorities Budget Office to review more than 700 state authorities. Among other changes, the state comptroller would sign off on authorities’ contracts that exceed $1 million, and whistleblower protections would be provided to workers. Authorities have been criticized for mismanaging public money and being governed by weak laws.

Senators also approved legislation that would help businesses receive tax breaks under the state’s Empire Zone program and create a task force to improve the much-maligned economic-development initiative. The measures have not passed in the Assembly.

The reform measures were passed about 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

“We have achieved real, historic reforms to make the state Senate more open, accountable and inclusive,” said a statement released by Senate leaders. “These changes will empower all 62 senators to serve the best interests of their constituents.”

Senators said the distribution of money for hometown projects and staff resources will be more equitable. The minority party will get at least one-third of funding for staff and projects in future years.

The Legislature has long been criticized for providing a pittance to lawmakers who belong to the minority party, while the majority gets most of the resources. Other reforms include term limits of eight years for Senate leaders and giving lawmakers greater ability to bring legislation to the floor.

Other Senate bills that also passed the Assembly and awaiting Paterson’s signature:

  Allowing families to keep 19- to 29-year-olds on their health insurance and extending health insurance benefits from 18 months to 36 months for those who lose their jobs or coverage. 

  Extending the time that 9/11 workers have to file claims for injuries suffered at Ground Zero. 

  Re-establishing an energy board to develop a statewide energy plan. 

While business leaders praised some of the bills passed, some said more needs to be done to lower the state’s tax bills, which are among the highest in the nation.

The state budget approved in April added about $8 billion in taxes and fees to close a massive budget gap.

“We saw no property-tax relief, we saw no lowering the cost of doing business in the state of New York to help create private-sector jobs, and families still struggle to make ends meet,” said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate, a Rochester-based business group.

“They have property-tax relief featured as the number one, two and three issues, but if you check the (Senate) calendar, it’s nowhere to be found,” said Robert McKeon, who heads the group, the Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess County.

Lawmakers said proposals to tie property taxes to household income and implement a property-tax cap may still be pursued, but could be difficult to enact because of the state’s ongoing fiscal woes.

Paterson has indicated he will need to call legislators back to Albany later this year to close a possible $1 billion budget gap in the current fiscal year, which runs until March 31.

The so-called circuit-breaker program would cost at least $1 billion to subsidize, linking household income to the amount a homeowner pays in taxes.

“We’ll probably have to cut the budget, so it’s difficult to put new programs in when you are cutting out a lot of programs and services,” said Assembly Real Property Tax Committee Chairwoman Sandy Galef, D-Ossining, Westchester County.

Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, Orange County, said the rules reform passed by the Senate this week will allow for senators to more easily bring measures, such as bills that would lower the tax burden, to the Senate floor for a vote.

http://rocnow.com/article/local-news/2009907190312

 

 

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