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'Extraordinary Session' fails to complete NY budget

By Billie Owens

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) issued the following statement today after the Assembly and Senate finished their two-day extraordinary session.

“The Legislature was called into extraordinary session this week to finish the 2010-2011 State Budget, which is now four months late.

"Sadly, instead of doing the job that voters elected them to do, the Legislative majorities instead decided to gavel in and gavel out of session, leaving the budget to wait another week, if not another month.

"This useless extraordinary session cost taxpayers more than $100,000, and, even worse, many members of the Legislature decided to not even show up for work. Incumbent members of the Legislature need to either show up and do the job New Yorkers entrusted them to do, or they need to get out of the way of those of us looking to be part of the solution.

"New York cannot afford this kind of incompetent leadership from the majorities anymore.”

Jeremiah Pedro

Chris,

Are you implying that Hawley, a member of the minority party, is at fault for members of the majority party not showing up to work?
Or for the Majority parties failure to demand that a budget pass before the extraordinary session was closed?

Just wondering, because even if in your opinion, Hawley is doing a lack luster job I think that it is hardly fair of you to imply that Hawley is some how remotely responsible for the legislatures failures.

Jul 31, 2010, 11:06am Permalink
Chris Charvella

I'm simply saying that I find Hawley's mention of 'incumbents' rather ironic.

We need a shakeup in the Assembly and there are more than a few ways to accomplish it.

Jul 31, 2010, 11:18am Permalink
John Roach

Chris,
No matter how you spin it, a Democrat called everyone back to Albany. Democrats then took themselves in and out of session in minutes. Democrats then let everyone go home after just two days and we still have no final budget.

And you are asking us to send another Democrat backed candidate to Albany, that's a hard sell.

Jul 31, 2010, 11:42am Permalink
Chris Charvella

John, I think you're assuming that I'm a fan of Assemblyman Silver's tactics. I am not. Like I said, there's more than one way to shake up the Assembly and the day Chris Barons is elected I intend to call him up and request that he not support Silver's re-election as Speaker. I also intend to call every other Democratic member of the WNY delegation and make the same request.

Jul 31, 2010, 11:45am Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Chris, Democrats control everything in Albany and the responsibility for not having a budget is theirs alone. If they don't have enough votes to pass a budget, they should learn to work among themselves and come to an agreement. If that doesn't work then they need to do the unthinkable and work with the Republicans. Anything that suggests otherwise is what Howard loves to say, spin.

Jul 31, 2010, 12:01pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Charlie, you and John are fond of reminding everyone of the 'three men in a room' method of governing in NYS. Sheldon Silver is one of those three men (which you guys are also fond of mentioning at every opportunity,) he is also responsible for the very actions Mr. Hawley is complaining about.

Maybe some new leadership in the Assembly would be beneficial to New York. A few more members of the majority from the area of New York that Silver tends to ignore may be the way to get that new leadership.

Jul 31, 2010, 12:25pm Permalink
John Roach

Chris,
I do see the irony of local Democrats running a member of the Green Party to vote against the leader of your party in the Assembly.

Any idea how many new WNY candidates, besides CM, the Democrats are running? There better be a lot to have a chance at removing Mr. Silver in January.

Jul 31, 2010, 12:50pm Permalink
Bob Price

ALL politicians are windbags-they will ALL talk a good talk to get elected,but fail to act on whatever they told you what they would do.The ONLY way things will ever change is if every single politician that was elected in this state was fired/removed from office and a new person took over for each one. We need 4 year term limits-the ones that have been in there for years and years need to go.

Jul 31, 2010, 12:56pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Charlie, I bear no allegiance to Sheldon Silver- not as a Democratic-endorsed candidate, not as a member of the Green Party and, moreover, not as a proud New Yorker absolutely disgusted with the partisanship that has reduced our state government to self-serving, finger-pointing and one-upsmanship- none of which serve the people or businesses in this state.

And Bob, if you think I'm ready for anyone's leash, you might want to check out my pedigree.

(comment edited- removed redundant article.)

Jul 31, 2010, 2:02pm Permalink

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