Extraordinary Session - July 6, 2009
5693
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 July 6, 2009
11 3:06 p.m.
12
13
14 EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, Acting President
19 ANGELO J. APONTE, Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910
5694
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
3 The Senate will please come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to rise and
5 recite with me the Pledge of Allegiance to our
6 Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
10 In the absence of clergy, may we all bow our
11 heads for a moment of silence.
12 (Whereupon, the assemblage
13 respected a moment of silence.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
15 Thank you.
16 Senator Smith.
17 SENATOR SMITH: Yes, Madam
18 President. Is there a proclamation from the
19 Governor at the desk?
20 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
21 Yes, Senator Smith, there is a proclamation
22 here at the desk.
23 The Secretary will read.
24 THE SECRETARY: "Pursuant to the
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910
5695
1 power vested in me by Article IV, Section 3 of
2 the Constitution, I hereby convene the Senate
3 of the State of New York in Extraordinary
4 Session, at the Capitol, in the City of
5 Albany, on the sixth day of July, two thousand
6 nine, at three o'clock p.m., for the purpose
7 of considering legislation I will submit with
8 respect to various subjects, and considering
9 gubernatorial nominations.
10 "Given under my hand and the Privy
11 Seal of the State in the City of Albany this
12 first day of July in the year two thousand
13 nine, by the Governor, David A. Paterson."
14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
15 The proclamation having been read, the Senate
16 is in extraordinary session.
17 Senator Smith.
18 SENATOR SMITH: Yes, Madam
19 President, would you please recognize my
20 colleague Senator Dean Skelos.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
22 Senator Skelos.
23 SENATOR SKELOS: Thank you.
24 Good afternoon, Senator
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910
5696
1 Stewart-Cousins.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
3 Good afternoon.
4 SENATOR SKELOS: At the
5 Governor's request, and in keeping with the
6 decision of the court, we convene this
7 extraordinary session.
8 As I've stated before, the
9 designation of a presiding officer should be
10 made by Senator Espada or myself pursuant to
11 the votes which took place on June 8th.
12 Accordingly, we do not recognize that you are
13 the appropriately designated presiding
14 officer.
15 Therefore, I'd request that the
16 agenda be laid aside and move that the Senate
17 adjourn this special session sine die.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
19 Thank you, Senator Skelos.
20 Senator Smith.
21 SENATOR SMITH: Yes, thank you,
22 Madam President. So good to see you this
23 afternoon.
24 Before we move on this day, I would
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910
5697
1 like to at least acknowledge the fact that
2 today a lot of our Fellows, who have served
3 the Senate very well on both sides of the
4 aisle, are here today. Some of them have
5 moved on, some will be moving on, some are
6 still here at the Senate.
7 They have had obviously an
8 extraordinary experience this year. It is one
9 that provides them with the ability to learn
10 not only what state government is about, but
11 also to see how the inner workings of one of
12 the most distinguished bodies in this country
13 performs.
14 I do want to acknowledge some of
15 those who are here and who they've worked for.
16 We had Matthew Gass, who worked in our press
17 office. We had Sara Bangs, who worked in
18 Majority Counsel. We had Linda Cohen, who
19 worked for Senator Bill Perkins.
20 We had Katherine Milcarek-Burke,
21 who I believe might be still in her office.
22 Justin Giffuni, who worked for Senator
23 Marcellino. We had Dilay Watson, who worked
24 for Senator Sampson. Martin McGuinness, who I
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910
5698
1 don't think is here right now.
2 We also had Burton Phillips, who
3 worked for Senator Maziarz; Catherine Price,
4 who I believe is still in the office;
5 Elizabeth Navran; Jane Tsamardinos, who
6 actually worked for Senator Hannon -- I think
7 Senator Hannon is here also -- Gregory Myers
8 and Ryan Spelman.
9 We just want to say congratulations
10 to you for doing a great job. We're looking
11 forward to your continued service in
12 government. It is a great place to be; it's a
13 noble profession.
14 (Applause.)
15 SENATOR SMITH: Now, Madam
16 President, would you please recognize Senator
17 Hassell-Thompson for an announcement.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
19 Senator Hassell-Thompson.
20 SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON: Yes,
21 thank you, Madam President.
22 Immediately following session,
23 there will be a meeting of the Majority in the
24 Majority Conference Room, 332.
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910
5699
1 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
2 Thank you. There will be an immediate meeting
3 of the Majority in the Majority Conference
4 Room, Room 332.
5 Senator Smith.
6 SENATOR SMITH: Yes, Madam
7 President. That being the case, I ask that we
8 would move to adjourn sine die this special
9 extraordinary session.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:
11 Thank you.
12 On motion of Senator Smith, we
13 adjourn sine die this extraordinary session.
14 (Whereupon, at 3:10 p.m., the
15 Senate adjourned.)
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Candyco Transcription Service, Inc.
(518) 371-8910