NEWS AND ISSUES
Albany Update
April 22, 2010
As of this writing, the New York State Budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year has yet to be enacted.
On March 22, the State Senate passed its own one house budget resolution in preparation for negotiations with the Assembly and Executive Branch. Tough choices were made &ndash: yet the Senate Democratic Conference went to great lengths to protect our most vulnerable citizens from the effects of disproportionate and harsh budget cuts.
Regrettably, one month later negotiations have not led to a resolution. This past week, both the State Senate and Assembly passed a third emergency extender budget, which will maintain the operation of State government until April 25.
Without question this year's budget will have severe cuts across the board. There will be significant reductions in health, education, public protection, transportation, parks and recreation and much more. I believe it is imperative that we pass a sensible, fiscally responsible and kind budget as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the budget process, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Medical Marijuana
My legislation which would allow for the medical use of marijuana (S.4041-B) passed another milestone last month, when it was reported out of the Senate Codes Committee. The legislation was previously reported out of the Senate Health Committee and is now before the Senate Finance committee. Once the bill is reported out of the Finance Committee it will come to the floor for a full vote before the Senate.
Thousands of New Yorkers who have serious medical conditions may benefit from medical use of marijuana. The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine concluded in a 1999 report that "nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety...all can be mitigated by marijuana." Doctors and patients have documented that marijuana can be an effective treatment – where other medications have failed – for at least some patients who suffer from HIV/AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other life-threatening or debilitating conditions.
Open Government
Also last month, the New York State Senate took another step forward in opening the legislative process to the public by passing a package of 'Sunshine' policy bills. The package is designed to provide the public with greater access to information they were long denied in order to hold State government accountable – and to high standards. Bills in this package include:
- S4284, which requires open meetings to be held in a room of adequate size for citizens and officials to attend.
- S3195B, which allows any meeting of a public body to be recorded, broadcast, webcast and photographed as long as it is not disruptive to the proceedings of the meeting.
- S7109, which requires each agency and house of the legislature to proactively publish frequently requested records on its internet website.
- S7054, which clarifies the courtfs authority to invalidate an action taken when the public body acted in violation of the open meetings law.
New Yorkers want and deserve to know what their elected officials are fighting for on their behalf and to be able to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. My colleagues and I in the Democratic Senate Majority are committed to promoting such public access to government and its decision-making process.
Environmental Protections
I am pleased to report that on April 20, the State Senate passed a package of bills designed to strengthen environmental and citizen protections for a cleaner, greener and healthier New York. Bills in the package include:
- S3296-G, which prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of child care products such as pacifiers, bottles and sippy cups that contain Bisphenol.
- S6047A, which establishes a comprehensive State-wide electronic equipment reuse and recycling program.
- S5119, which reduces the Statefs waste by prohibiting the purchase and use of non-recyclable paper/mailing products.
- S4983C, which limits pesticide exposures for school and daycare aged children by prohibiting certain outdoor, non-essential applications on playgrounds, turf, and athletic or playing fields.
- S3593, which institutes a rechargeable battery producer and retailer sponsored take back program at no costs to consumers.
