Seward Comments On Legislative Session

Senator James L. Seward commented on the senate session upon its close:

"We had some successes this year with workers' compensation reform, ethics and budget reform, and adoption of a civil confinement law to keep sex predators committed. The legislature passed a budget very nearly on time that helps our schools, maintains health care, provides immediate help for the state's dairy farmers, and provides property tax relief in the form of the senate-initiated rebate program.

"The senate acted alone in passing term limits, a plan for parents to afford college for their kids, more affordable health insurance, our 'Upstate Now' job creation plan, and the death penalty for cop killers.

"I am disappointed that we were unable to win approval of the senate's plan to phase out school property taxes and create jobs for our upstate economy; expand the DNA databank; enact real Wicks Law changes, and fund a capital plan for SUNY and other important investments. Unfortunately, the governor refused to discuss any legislation, no matter how significant, until the legislature approved his campaign finance proposal, which is not more important to average people than tax relief, jobs for upstate, affordable health insurance, or college for young people."

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