New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

Press Releases | Speeches | Executive Orders | Proclamations

STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER REGARDING UNFINISHED LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS IN ALBANY

Six weeks of public leaders’ meetings at the State Capitol identified more than a dozen important bills where agreement was possible. Without acting on these bills, the Senate Majority Conference yesterday abruptly quit deliberations and went home.

Before leaving, however, senators found time to advance almost $500 million in requests for pork barrel spending. And earlier, they voted themselves a pay raise.

This record is totally unacceptable.

New Yorkers expect and deserve dedicated and aggressive action to revive the upstate economy and reform state government.

At a minimum, the Senate should have addressed the following bills: power plant siting legislation; Wicks Law reform; brownfields legislation; healthy schools legislation; paid family leave; violent video games; campaign finance reform; and public authorities reform.

In addition, the Senate should have confirmed appointees to lead major state agencies, boards and commissions, including: Empire State Development Corporation; the Public Service Commission and SUNY Board of Trustees.

The Senate’s failure to act in any of these areas was outrageous.

In the days and weeks ahead, I will be traveling the state to remind lawmakers of their obligation to address pressing issues. And I ask everyone who cares about good government to call their state senator and urge him or her to get back to work.