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NY1,
April 21, 2005
With Budget
Submitted, Lawmakers Now Have Two Months To Draft Laws
Kristi Berner
Now that state lawmakers passed a budget by the April
deadline – a first in two decades – what will they do the remaining eight
weeks of the legislative session?
It's almost a luxury in Albany: lawmakers have a full two months to deal
with policy issues. But will they actually make good use of this time? Some
long-time observers are giving legislators the benefit of the doubt.
"They're going to finish their Passover recess and have a chance to
really work on legislation whether it affects health or education,"
said lobbyist Steve Weingarten.
Some lawmakers say they're doubtful, given that Albany already passed the
buck when it came time to revise school funding formulas to help districts
that have been shortchanged for decades. Still, even the cynical hold out
hope.
"What would be terrible about having substantive discussions about
what's wrong with the formulas outside the context of the budget?"
asked State Senate member Liz Krueger.
There's at least one issue they need to act quickly on: voting reform. The
head of the Assembly Election Committee is frustrated the issue is still
unresolved, because the state could lose nearly $$250 million in federal
funding.
"We are making are making slow – ever so slow – but steady progress
toward the completion of HAVA, the Help America Vote Act," said
Assembly member Keith Wright.
Meanwhile, there is a big push in the Senate for stricter laws for drunk
driving and for drivers who leave the scene of an accident.
"All the driving legislation, dangerous driving, that's a real
priority for us," said State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
Then there are those real priorities for individual lawmakers: taking care
of their districts. A Queens assemblyman is introducing a bill to create a
sports and entertainment zone in Flushing.
"We already have the USTA there, Shea Stadium, museums, a
marina," said Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry. "And we think that some
enhancements for private investment will complete that area and maximize
its benefits."
And a Staten Island member is working to ensure there's more community
input when power plants are built.
"In my district we've been burdened by a very unfortunate placement of
power plant that's just 30 some feet from a residential community,"
said Assemblyman Matthew Mirones.
Both houses say budget reform is on the agenda. They want to make sure an
on-time budget becomes the norm, rather than the exception. The challenge
will be to come up with a bill that Governor George Pataki will sign. He
vetoed last year's plan.
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