14 Short of Equality

All they needed was 14. The State Senate voted against enacting legislation that would grant equality in marriage to the gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual community once again. Eight Democrats and all 30 Republicans voted against the measure, leaving the bill 14 votes shy of being passed.

The eight Democrats were: Sens. Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx; Joseph Addabbo, Shirley Huntley, Hiram Monserrate and George Onorato of Queens; Carl Kruger of Brooklyn; Darrel Aubertine of the North Country; and William Stachowski of Buffalo. (I think it is safe to say that there is no shock that the Republican party, as a whole, voted against the action).

I have already weighed in on this topic in length (see the post Loose Ends and Gay Marriage). However, i would like to address the politicking that is going on in Albany. Most democrats, for the exception of Ruben Diaz, voted against granting equality because they are fearful of not being re-elected in November. This is unacceptable. You, as a representative, have the responsibility to uphold the constitution, of both the state and the country. Both state very clearly that everyone is equal in all aspects of the law. There is no need for argument on this matter any longer. Equality has a simple and easily understood definition: the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.

Once again i will suggest that we vote those who do not uphold this definition out of office. Equality is the basis of our democracy, to suggest that someone is not deserving of equality is to suggest they are less than someone else. All people are equal in this country, i suggest our legislators remember that next time they consider voting on this matter.

Off With Their Budgets!!

The logistics of the DRP, or Deficit Reduction Plan, for NYS has officially been released today and it is just in time for the holidays!

Seriously though, here are a few cuts that will be made in order to correct the nearly 3 billion dollar budget shortfall the Empire State is currently dealing with:

-The Governor’s $485 million in agency cuts;
-12.5 percent cut to remaining balances of local assistance grants;
-5 percent cut to operating aid for SUNY, CUNY and community colleges;
-5.4 percent cut to the Office of Mental Retardation and -Developmental Disabilities
-$107 million in health care actions.
-$200 million from the Battery Park City Authority,
-$90 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,
-$10 million from the Environmental Protection Fund and
-$26 million from the Dormitory Authority.

(all numbers and figures were taken from here)

Not all of these cuts are bad, and i would say cuts in general are a necessity. However, cuts to education, especially higher education, should never be made. And i know what you are all thinking, “how can you advocate one thing should not be cut over another when we are 3 billion in the hole?”

I make this argument because New York State’s saving grace is the Higher Education Business. We have more prestigous higher education institutions in New York than most foreign countries have altogether. Our upstate cities are all “college towns”. They thrive on the thousands of out of state and out of town students that return for each semester.

For you Math aficionados that means each student adds money to local economies. SUNY (State University of New York), alone, generates eight dollars in revenue for every dollar recieved. According to SUNY “the 2008-09 all-funds budget of $10.703 billion, which includes $3.695 billion in state support, equals an estimated $29.6 billion total economic impact”. Go here to check my source.

The state will be hard pressed to find anything else that has a 1:8 dollar return rate. So, to cut Higher Education, you are only cutting your own revenue source, one of the largest in the state.

So, go for it State Legislature, cut spending. But maybe think about your revenue sources before you go about cutting money from programs.

Paterson, The New Palpatine?

Governor David Paterson is being criticized for his attempts to alleviate the fiscal pressures New York is currently under. He would like to declare “a fiscal emergency” in the state of New York, which would allow him the ability to slash spending where he sees fit. Essentially, and the reason for the title of this post, is that Paterson would be granted “emergency powers” similar to Chancellor Palpatine in Star Wars who later became Emperor Palpatine. However, there is one major differance, Paterson is not asking for anything absurd or out of this world. He is asking for the legislature to do its job (although in New York that might as well be absurd).

Now, first of all i would like to say that Paterson has attempted to address the deficit issue several times since he has been in office, each time he has been shot down by the legislature. Now, Paterson has not always had the best ideas when it comes to alleviating the deficit, the fat tax for example, but to request the legislature spend some serious time on the issue is NOT crazy, or unresonable for that matter.

While Paterson may not have the best ideas for decreasing the deficit, the best ideas almost never come from one person. What i am hinting at is the fact that great, truly great, ideas come from open collaboration. If the legislature would stop being afraid of having to cut spending, which would risk their re-election, they might be able to solve a real problem every now and again.

If the legislature, and i mean both Assembly and Senate, do not consider taking a serious look at the deficit then i would encourage everyone to vote their representitive out of office. Show this state that the voters are serious about getting work done, not just having asses fill seats in government.

It Starts….

Hello World, My name is Garry and this is my first blog ever. Due to the intense amount of dysfunction involved in New York State Politics I have decided to start this Blog. This will focus on politics throughout the state ranging from State and Local issues to Federal Issues. Please feel free to comment and participate! All effective democracies are based on involvement. Enjoy!!