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News
from
Senator
Stachowski
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June 2007 The 2007 Legislative Session: Wins and Misses By all accounts, the 2007 legislative session began with historic progress and closed in one of the most disappointing ends of session Albany has seen. Here's a scorecard on some of the issues: DONE Budget reform. This agreement required "member items" to be disclosed before they are put to a vote by the legislature. It also creates a way to agree on revenues quickly, ends the long delays of the past when the governor and legislative leaders were unable to agree and provides far more fiscal data to legislative leaders in November, as opposed to January. Ethics and lobbying reform. This agreement created a far-reaching agency to enforce rules governing lobbyists and employees in the executive branch. It also bans gifts to lawmakers and quadruples the penalties for violating ethics laws. Workers' Compensation reform. The long awaited reform will save employers $1 billion over several years by eliminating costly lifetime payments for "permanent partial disabilities." The reform will also save employers 10 to 15 percent or more in payments for workers' compensation insurance in a measure to make New York more inviting to companies. Civil confinement. Under the law, before a sex offender is released from prison, mental health experts will assess inmates to determine if they pose a risk of committing more sex offenses. A jury will then decide whether the convict is likely to commit future crimes and a judge will rule on confinement or intensive supervision after release. Budget. A budget agreement eventually was pegged at $123.6 billion with record increases in school spending, and a record $1.3 billion in property tax relief. UNDONE Campaign finance reform. Governor Spitzer's proposal would dramatically limit campaign contributions to reduce the influence of money in campaigns and on politics. Pay raises for judges, lawmakers and commissioners. State judges who haven't had a raise since 1999 would have gotten raises already covered in the state budget, and a commission would have been created that would lead to the first raises for lawmakers and state commissioners in nearly a decade. DNA database. The Governor, the Senate and Assembly had been in broad agreement that the state should start collecting and storing DNA from people convicted of all crimes; currently DNA is collected from people convicted of all felonies and a few misdemeanors. But the deal was scuttled because of provisions sought by the Assembly. St. Joseph's hospital. The State Legislature failed to act upon a bill that I co-sponsored along with Senator Dale Volker and Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak which would have "carved out" St. Joe's hospital from the closing list issued earlier in the year by the Berger Commission. Once Governor Spitzer expressed his intention to veto such a measure, legislative leaders instead pushed for discussions involving the Health Commissioner and hospital officials. At this point in time, the State Senate is subject to the Majority leader's call to return to Albany. I'm hopeful that we can address these issues - and others - when we travel to Albany later this summer. -
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For
Information:
Dennis Kozuch 826-3344 senstachowski@yahoo.com |