State Senator Liz Krueger: We’ve Started To Turn The Corner -- Looks Forward To Productive ’06 Session
Defeat of Death Penalty Statute: Senator Krueger spoke out and voted against a bill to reinstate the death penalty when it came to the floor of the Senate this year (the bill passed 37-22), then commended the Assembly Codes Committee for voting against the companion bill. Senator Krueger, a life-time opponent of the death penalty, pointed out that the death penalty is a failed model for criminal justice on both the state and national level. “Numerous prisoners on death row have been exonerated, a disproportionate number of death row inmates are minorities and are low-income people without access to qualified attorneys. Life without parole is a more than adequate mechanism to protect the public from even the most heinous criminal,” stated Senator Krueger. In 2004, by a ruling of four to three, the New York State Court of Appeals placed a moratorium on the death penalty law because of a provision in the statute that was ruled unconstitutional. The death penalty was reinstated in New York in 1995 when Governor Pataki made it a campaign issue in his successful campaign for Governor.
Failure to Address Campaign for Fiscal Equity: A major issue that should have been addressed by the Legislature was the court ordered mandate to create a fair funding formula for public schools, a result of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) lawsuit. “CFE was a difficult judicial battle fought and won by dedicated New York City parents and advocates on behalf of our City’s public school students,” remarked Senator Krueger. While the State Legislature did pass an on-time budget, it did come at the expense of reaching a resolution on CFE money. Senator Krueger continued, “the timely resolution of the budget did nothing to modernize and create equity in the way the State distributes public money for education.” The budget fell far short of the $5.6 billion in operating funds and $9.2 billion in capital funds mandated by the highest court in New York State for New York City schools. Currently a bill penned by CFE called the Schools for New York’s Future Act has been introduced in the State Assembly. This bill extends the Court of Appeals’ decision beyond needy public schools in New York City and provides for $8.6 billion in operating and $10 billion in Capital funds for under-funded schools throughout the State, as well as comprehensive reform to the funding formula for education.
Disturbing vote to Eliminate Medicaid Funding for Abortions: The State Senate unfortunately passed a one-house bill to eliminate Medicaid funding for abortion. State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), a longtime champion of reproductive rights, expressed indignation at this politically motivated action. “The Senate Majority showed their true colors by displaying their devotion to the agenda of the radical right-wing by attempting to deny poor women equal access to healthcare,” said Krueger. Fortunately, the Assembly did not take up the measure.
Finally, Senator Krueger pointed to other important bills that were not addressed by the Legislature, and must go back on the top of the agenda for the 2006 Session Agenda:
Real Legislative Rules Reforms; Rockefeller Drug Law Reform; Timothy’s Law -- Mental Health Parity; Expansion of Returnable Container Act (Bigger, Better Bottle Bill); Environmental ‘Superbills”; Campaign Finance Reform; The Family Decision Act; Article X Power Plant Siting Act; Repeal of the Urstadt Law (Housing Policy Home Rule for NYC); Downed Animal Ban (to protect the public from Mad Cow and other diseases); Refund Anticipation Loan Act -- to protect low income people from being ripped off by tax-preparers.
Failure to Address Campaign for Fiscal Equity: A major issue that should have been addressed by the Legislature was the court ordered mandate to create a fair funding formula for public schools, a result of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) lawsuit. “CFE was a difficult judicial battle fought and won by dedicated New York City parents and advocates on behalf of our City’s public school students,” remarked Senator Krueger. While the State Legislature did pass an on-time budget, it did come at the expense of reaching a resolution on CFE money. Senator Krueger continued, “the timely resolution of the budget did nothing to modernize and create equity in the way the State distributes public money for education.” The budget fell far short of the $5.6 billion in operating funds and $9.2 billion in capital funds mandated by the highest court in New York State for New York City schools. Currently a bill penned by CFE called the Schools for New York’s Future Act has been introduced in the State Assembly. This bill extends the Court of Appeals’ decision beyond needy public schools in New York City and provides for $8.6 billion in operating and $10 billion in Capital funds for under-funded schools throughout the State, as well as comprehensive reform to the funding formula for education.
Disturbing vote to Eliminate Medicaid Funding for Abortions: The State Senate unfortunately passed a one-house bill to eliminate Medicaid funding for abortion. State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), a longtime champion of reproductive rights, expressed indignation at this politically motivated action. “The Senate Majority showed their true colors by displaying their devotion to the agenda of the radical right-wing by attempting to deny poor women equal access to healthcare,” said Krueger. Fortunately, the Assembly did not take up the measure.
Finally, Senator Krueger pointed to other important bills that were not addressed by the Legislature, and must go back on the top of the agenda for the 2006 Session Agenda:
Real Legislative Rules Reforms; Rockefeller Drug Law Reform; Timothy’s Law -- Mental Health Parity; Expansion of Returnable Container Act (Bigger, Better Bottle Bill); Environmental ‘Superbills”; Campaign Finance Reform; The Family Decision Act; Article X Power Plant Siting Act; Repeal of the Urstadt Law (Housing Policy Home Rule for NYC); Downed Animal Ban (to protect the public from Mad Cow and other diseases); Refund Anticipation Loan Act -- to protect low income people from being ripped off by tax-preparers.
