This legislative
session got off to an unusual start. The Governor has apparently decided he
likes giving his State of the State and budget messages together. The State of
the State message was exactly a week later than usual; the interesting aspect
of this is that the legislative session actually had already started on Monday
the week before . What is significant about the delayed State of the State was
that one of our top priorities for opposition, the Education Investment Tax
Credit (ETC) came out of Rules Committee in the Senate without ever having gone
through a Tax or Education Committee. Within 20 minutes it was on the floor and
passed. So much for public input or thoughtful deliberation. The League was in
the gallery for the debate. Fifteen senate democrats who voted against it, up
from last year’s opposition. Similar to last session, it appears this will be a top priority for the senate
republicans going into budget negotiations with the Governor. For a full
breakdown of how our Senators voted can be found herehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/s1976a
Wednesday was the real
beginning of school in legislative lingo; it was when legislators and lobbyists
all gather for the day for the State of the State and the many receptions happening
that day. It’s like getting dressed up for the first day of school and it’s
always fun to see everyone after they’ve been away from Albany for 6 months.
The League’s day started early with a reception hosted by NOW New York and
attended by many female legislators. It was a perfect opportunity for Jennifer,
our new Policy Director, to meet many of the legislators we will work with this
session. We stopped by Assembly Speakers Heastie’s reception and spoke briefly
with our legislative friends on the Elections Committee. It was then onto the
State of the State in the Convention Center, but first we had to go through the
now normal screams and shouts from many protesters who now line the Concourse,
hoping to be heard by legislators on their way to the State of the State. The
Convention Center was crowded and not as cold as it was last year.
Governor Cuomo had just
been introduced and had begun his message when there was shouting from the
floor of the Convention Center where legislators are seated. I did not even
have to stand up to look to see who it was;
I knew it would be Assemblyman Charles Barron. Mr. Barron has had a lengthy
acrimonious relationship with the Governor and is very outspoken about children
in poverty and their inability to receive a sound basic education. Because he
is a legislator, the state police were reluctant to escort him out of the
Convention Center, so he and Mr. Cuomo
shouted at one another. Finally, Majority Leader Joe Morelle (Rochester) came
to the rescue and with some gentle nudging escorted Mr. Barron out of the
Convention Center. This was not before there were loud boos among the audience.
It would appear the Governor won that round.
As is quite normal with
the Governor, his package of ethics reforms was placed at the end of his
message. This year the Governor also finished his address with a
passionate and very genuine plea for a 12-week paid family leave. He used this
opportunity to talk about the death of his father in a way not often heard by
this Governor in major addresses. He then went on to talk about his longtime
companion, Sandra Lee, and her battle with breast cancer. On everyone’s seat
was a lapel pin with a pink ribbon signifying the battle against breast cancer.
It ignited a standing ovation for Sandra Lee and gave the Governor the
opportunity to ask for an expansion in breast cancer prevention measures.
The rest of the day was
spent enjoying one reception after the other, including Senate Democratic
Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousin’s reception, the Comptroller’s
reception, and the Republican Majority Leader’s reception. Dessert is always
served at the final reception at the Attorney General’s Office. Of course all
that fun now shifts quickly into hard
work as the budget testimony begins and the beat goes on.
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