Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today commented on the Assembly’s decision to pass one plank of the 10-point omnibus Women’s Equality Act (WEA). Hawley was proud to see this legislation finally come before the entire Assembly for a vote and said that a measure of such great importance should not have taken this long to pass the house. The Assembly Majority has blocked separate WEA bills from moving out of committee in order to use the entire 10-bill package, which contains a controversial abortion provision, as a tool for political gain.
“Today we take a giant leap forward toward enacting true gender equality for New York’s women,” Hawley said. “It is unfortunate that a measure of this magnitude was held for so long in committee by members of the Majority. It is a disservice to New York’s women and an embarrassment to our government that we could not bring this legislation to the floor for a vote earlier. The Assembly Minority Conference has been at the forefront of passing this package as separate bills for years, and today we can finally claim victory.”
Hawley’s comments come after the Assembly passed A.506, which will enact the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act. Identical legislation, Assembly Bill 2704, was introduced by the Minority Conference several years ago but members of the Majority have refused to take action upon it.
This is interesting
This is interesting development for sure. The Women's Equality Act was originally a 10 point omnibus package Bill, that Cuomo wanted almost as badly as the SAFE Act. It included a controversial expansion of abortion in NYS. It easily passed in the Assembly, but thankfully the then Democrat controlled Senate had enough moderate Democrats who were afraid of the political fallout so they voted it down. Now with the NYS Senate in Republican control, suddenly the Democrat mega-majority in the Assembly is willing to address each item separately instead of insisting on the 10 item omnibus... because they realize that their demand will not fly in the new Senate.
What is the lesson here? The Republican controlled Senate has the power to get other things done. A prime example would be that if the unConstitutional NYSAFE Act is not rescinded, the Senate should block passage of the current pending Budget until it is.