Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jul 2002
Source: Daily Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The Gazette Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.dailygazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/105

INCOMPLETE IN ALBANY

The state Legislature's session seems to have spluttered to a close, 
although it could be revived if the Big Three (Messrs. Pataki, Bruno and 
Silver) come up with anything for the legislators to do. As usual, the 
bosses and their decorative retainers (i.e. your elected representatives) 
have left much undone, which does not seem to trouble them unduly.

The reason for this inaction varies from issue to issue. Thus it seems Gov. 
Pataki is blocking an increase in the state's minimum wage, even though the 
Assembly wants it and the Senate is willing to go along. Maybe the governor 
feels he's given the labor unions enough lately, and needs to do something 
to keep the business community happy.

It is doubtful, however, that a minimum-wage increase would do much to hurt 
business or dry up jobs in New York, while it would boost the earnings of 
some hard-working people who need the money. It would also encourage the 
movement of people from welfare to work, and make that transition easier 
for them and their families.

On two other important issues, however, the Assembly seems to be the prime 
obstacle. It is blocking reasonable reforms of a brownfields law that could 
expedite the cleanup and reuse of old industrial sites. Absent such reform, 
too many sites will stay empty, blighting the environment and depressing 
the tax base of, especially, upstate cities and villages, and driving out 
new development to suburban and rural areas.

The Assembly also is holding out for more sweeping reforms of the 
Rockefeller drug laws than the governor and the Senate are prepared to 
agree to, even though the state District Attorneys Association says its 
proposal would remove key weapons in the fight against crime. The 
Senate-passed bill would ease the drug laws significantly, freeing some 
prisoners who have long sentences. Better the Assembly accepts and passes 
it, settling for half a loaf, than lose out on any reform for one more year.

On other issues, too, including the seemingly urgent one of requiring 
religious leaders to report instances of child sexual abuse, the two houses 
of the Legislature have failed to resolve their differences and seem 
resigned to inaction. They have accomplished a few things this session - 
notably a cut in rail taxes that will make possible construction of a 
much-needed second track between Albany and Schenectady - but not enough.

Maybe when they all come looking for votes this election year, people 
should ask them why they get so little done.
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MAP posted-by: Beth