Regular Session - April 20, 2023
2431
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 April 20, 2023
11 10:31 a.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
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21
22
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24
25
2432
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag).
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Imam
9 Ahmad Karkour, from the Masjid As-Salam Mosque,
10 in Albany, New York, will deliver today's
11 invocation.
12 IMAM AHMAD KARKOUR: Asalamu
13 Alaikum.
14 (Response of "W'Alaikum Asalam.")
15 IMAM AHMAD KARKOUR: {In Arabic.}
16 Peace be upon you all. How are you
17 all doing today? It's my pleasure to be with you
18 today, and I have the honor to be with you today.
19 Just let me recite some verses from
20 our Holy Book, that's the Quran.
21 {In Arabic.} These are two verses
22 from the Quran. The first verse says: All
23 mankind, worship your God that have created you
24 and that created all people before you, in order
25 to be aware, to be so aware of that, God's
2433
1 righteousness.
2 The second verse, our believers,
3 that it is necessary for you to purify yourselves
4 to be those who are aware.
5 It says that -- the main
6 significance of these two verses, in the first
7 verse, God addresses the whole of mankind, that
8 all we are created from one thing.
9 Just like, in another verse, Allah
10 the Almighty, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said {in
11 Arabic}. In this verse God says that all
12 mankind, I have created you from males and
13 females, and I make you different people and
14 different tribes, to know one another.
15 This is the main message of Quran,
16 that to -- to have peace to the whole of mankind.
17 The meaning of Islam, it means peace, Islam means
18 peace.
19 So our Prophet Muhammad, peace be
20 upon him, said {Arabic}: The one who thinks that
21 fasting and starving from only drinking and
22 eating, Allah, that's God, doesn't need him to
23 punish himself, to leave food or drink, if he
24 doesn't purify his heart.
25 So if the one purifies his heart and
2434
1 purifies himself and makes his heart clean to
2 love all, to live peacefully with all different
3 kinds of people, that's the one that God wants
4 him to do.
5 So our Prophet Muhammad {in Arabic}
6 told the whole of humanity that Allah {in Arabic}
7 gave him a message as a clear verse in Quran {in
8 Arabic} that says {in Arabic} I haven't sent you
9 our Muhammad except as a mercy for the whole
10 mankind. He didn't make it specific for specific
11 people, but for the whole mankind is mercy.
12 So the Most Merciful -- that's from
13 Allah's names, from God's names -- is the most
14 merciful. You know, believing in God, that he is
15 the most merciful, to live peacefully with one
16 another.
17 Thank you so much. I have the great
18 honor and great pleasure to be with you today.
19 Thank you so much. And Asalamu Alaikum.
20 Response of ("W'Alaikum Asalam.")
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 reading of the Journal.
23 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
24 Wednesday, April 19, 2023, the Senate met
25 pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Tuesday,
2435
1 April 18, 2023 was read and approved. On motion,
2 the Senate adjourned.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Without
4 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
5 Presentation of petitions.
6 Messages from the Assembly.
7 Messages from the Governor.
8 Reports of standing committees.
9 Reports of select committees.
10 Communications and reports from
11 state officers.
12 Motions and resolutions.
13 Senator Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Good morning,
15 Mr. President.
16 We're going to begin with previously
17 adopted Resolution 650, by Senator Thomas, read
18 its title and recognize Senator Thomas.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
20 Secretary will read.
21 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
22 650, by Senator Thomas, observing and celebrating
23 March 22-April 21, 2023, as Ramadan, the month of
24 fasting for the Muslim community, in the State of
25 New York.
2436
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2 Thomas on the resolution.
3 SENATOR THOMAS: Thank you,
4 Mr. President.
5 And Ramadan Mubarak to everyone.
6 Thank you to Imam Ahmad Karkour from
7 Masjid As-Salam Mosque here in Albany for gracing
8 this chamber with the opening prayer.
9 As you all know, we haven't passed a
10 budget yet, so all the help we can get, you know.
11 So thank you.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR THOMAS: Today is the last
14 day of Ramadan for millions of Muslims around the
15 world. This month has been an opportunity to
16 focus on spiritual growth, forgiveness, patience,
17 compassion, and unity across communities.
18 It is with great pride and honor
19 that I stand here to speak on this resolution.
20 Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the
21 Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad,
22 beginning with the simple word "Iqra," which
23 means "read."
24 During the entire month of Ramadan,
25 Muslims are obligated to fast every day from dawn
2437
1 to sunset. Fasting is a way to bring people
2 closer to God.
3 Here in New York we are blessed with
4 Muslim communities as diverse as our nation
5 itself. And what is unique about this community
6 during Ramadan is that at the same time every
7 night, they break their fast together.
8 There is a special significance this
9 year as the three Abrahamic faiths all celebrate
10 High Holy Days in same month. In fact, this
11 happens only once every 33 years -- my best
12 friend, who is Muslim, told me this -- Passover,
13 the end of Lent and Easter, and now the end of
14 Ramadan, with Eid following tomorrow.
15 The Quran, the Bible and the Torah
16 all call on believers to love one's neighbor and
17 to welcome strangers. The Quran tells us that we
18 are all people of the Book and that we share a
19 common humanity and dignity. No matter our
20 religious beliefs, we are tasked with advancing
21 justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity for
22 all human beings, like all of us do in this
23 chamber.
24 The Hebrew Torah tells us never to
25 turn aside a stranger, for it is like turning
2438
1 aside God.
2 And the Christian Bible says that
3 people should love their neighbor as themselves.
4 The Quran also teaches that we
5 should do unto others as we wish to have done to
6 us, and reject for others what we would reject
7 for ourselves.
8 I am reminded, with all of this,
9 that we are all one American family. As the
10 appearance of the New Moon begins and brings a
11 close to the Holy Month, I want to recognize this
12 beautiful and diverse Muslim community from all
13 over New York State as they celebrate
14 Eid al-Fitr. The festival of Eid al-Fitr brings
15 Muslims together once again to celebrate the end
16 of the month-long fasting.
17 And now, from my Senate family to
18 yours, I hope this Eid brings everyone who's
19 celebrating joy, health and prosperity. Eid
20 Mubarak, everyone.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Thomas.
23 Senator Chu on the resolution.
24 SENATOR CHU: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
2439
1 It is my great honor to be able to
2 speak here and support this resolution, and I
3 would like to take this moment to thank my
4 colleague Senator Thomas for introducing this
5 bill -- resolution.
6 Ramadan commemorates the holiest
7 months in the Islamic calendar. Muslims around
8 the world are fasting from sunrise to sunset for
9 30 full days, practicing and strengthening their
10 faith and core values.
11 For Muslims around the world,
12 Ramadan is a time of spiritual renewal, a time to
13 reaffirm duty to serve one another, especially
14 the least fortunate among us.
15 I'm very proud to represent a large
16 population of Muslim communities throughout
17 Bay Ridge, Kensington, Bensonhurst, and
18 Bath Beach in southern Brooklyn. These vibrant
19 communities come from many different countries
20 and speak many diverse languages and dialects.
21 It truly shows the beautiful diversity that makes
22 New York so special.
23 As today, Thursday, April 20th,
24 marks the last day of Ramadan, and the Muslim
25 community will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr
2440
1 tomorrow, many in the Muslim community have
2 dedicated much of this month to giving back
3 through food drives and community events. I have
4 great partners on the ground -- passionate
5 community organizations and groups that do so
6 much for those in my district and to serve the
7 community altogether.
8 And tomorrow, for Eid, communities
9 will gather for morning prayer, sharing meals,
10 visiting family members and loved ones, and
11 practicing their traditions. I wish the Muslim
12 community in southern Brooklyn, in New York
13 State, and all over the world: Ramadan Kareem,
14 and Eid Mubarak. May your fasts, good deeds and
15 prayers be accepted.
16 Thank you.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
18 you, Senator Chu.
19 Senator Fernandez on the resolution.
20 SENATOR FERNANDEZ: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 And thank you to our sponsor for
23 introducing this bill.
24 I want to take a quick moment as
25 well to celebrate with all of New York State,
2441
1 especially the 34th Senate District that has a
2 beautiful large population of those practicing in
3 this last month of Ramadan.
4 As my colleague said, our
5 communities are so beautifully diverse. And in
6 joining them this last month, breaking fast and
7 really reflecting on what is to be for the next
8 year and the next holiday, has been a true
9 pleasure and honor and a beautiful thing.
10 So Ramadan Mubarak. Happy Eid. And
11 thank you so much for bringing this to the floor.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
13 you, Senator Fernandez.
14 Senator Ramos on the resolution.
15 SENATOR RAMOS: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 You know, having grown up in my
18 district among the most diverse of populations in
19 the entire country, I have to say that having
20 been exposed to all sorts of different religions
21 has been a blessing in my life.
22 And growing up having Muslim
23 friends, I've been able to see the beauty of
24 Islam throughout the last almost 38 years of my
25 life.
2442
1 And this particular resolution is
2 one that I'm thankful for. Thank you,
3 Senator Thomas, for bringing it to the floor,
4 because it does allow us to fight Islamophobia,
5 to lift up the lives of our Muslim neighbors so
6 that everyone can know the beauty of a religion
7 that does truly bring peace to not only their
8 community but ours as a whole.
9 And, you know, as I've been hosting
10 my own iftar and celebrating iftars with
11 different sections of my district, I've been
12 traveling and asking my Muslim neighbors to make
13 very special dua for us, to make dua for the
14 Governor, to make dua for a budget that does
15 truly impact the lives of New Yorkers in the best
16 possible way.
17 I'm hoping that we raise the wage,
18 I'm hoping that we continue to fully fund our
19 public schools and hospitals and so much more
20 that our society truly needs for us to do.
21 So thank you, Mr. President, and I
22 will be voting in favor of this resolution.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
24 you, Senator Ramos.
25 Senator Stavisky on the resolution.
2443
1 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 Thank you to Senator Thomas for
4 bringing this resolution to the floor.
5 My new Senate district contains a
6 large Muslim community, and I'm proud to
7 represent them. I have been to quite a few
8 iftars during the past month. And the Eid
9 celebration I believe is Friday.
10 And I think it's important that we
11 celebrate not only the existence of Ramadan, but
12 the way the communities come together. That we
13 speak with one voice. As the resolution
14 described, we have so much in common, and that is
15 what's important -- not what divides us, but what
16 brings us together.
17 So I wish all of my Muslim friends a
18 very peaceful new year, and Mubarak Ramadan -- or
19 maybe I have it the other way.
20 Thank you.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
22 you, Senator Stavisky.
23 Senator Cleare on the resolution.
24 SENATOR CLEARE: I want to thank my
25 colleague Senator Thomas for this important
2444
1 resolution.
2 I represent Harlem, most people
3 know, which has a rich Muslim history to it. And
4 I'll be joining them because, you know, Islam has
5 contributed so much to our civil rights, and the
6 Islamic community has contributed so much to our
7 civil rights to fight for social justice. It
8 goes beyond the faith.
9 And they -- I'll be joining them
10 tomorrow because they are going to actually come
11 out and feed the community. I look forward to it
12 every year, where they embrace the entire
13 community and remind us all to reflect and remind
14 us all that we are brothers and sisters together,
15 trying to keep our communities together.
16 So I'm really thankful for this
17 resolution. I'm going to lift them up. I'll be
18 with Masjid Malcolm Shabazz tomorrow, and y'all
19 can all come if you want.
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR CLEARE: But they're very
22 close to me and the work that I do, and I
23 appreciate you lifting them up today.
24 Thank you.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
2445
1 you, Senator Cleare.
2 Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick on the
3 resolution.
4 SENATOR CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK:
5 Thank you, Mr. President.
6 Thank you to the sponsor today for
7 this resolution.
8 One of the beauties of being a new
9 Senator is learning about the other cultures and
10 religions that reside within my district. I
11 happen to have a very large Muslim population,
12 and I was honored to be part of their initial
13 ceremony at the start of Ramadan.
14 I admire their devotion and the
15 people that fast during this time. And I
16 absolutely think the beautiful sentiment of do
17 unto others as we would want done to us is a
18 beautiful message for all of us -- and what a
19 better world it would be if we could all stick to
20 that.
21 So thank you very much for the
22 resolution.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Thank
24 you, Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.
25 The resolution was previously
2446
1 adopted on April 10th.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
4 Senator Thomas would like to open that resolution
5 for cosponsorship.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
7 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
8 choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the
9 desk.
10 Senator Gianaris.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: There will be an
12 immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in
13 Room 332.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There
15 will be an immediate meeting of the Rules
16 Committee in Room 332.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: The Senate will
18 stand at ease.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
20 Senate will stand at ease.
21 (Whereupon, the Senate stood at ease
22 at 10:48 a.m.)
23 (Whereupon, the Senate reconvened at
24 10:53 a.m.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2447
1 Senate will return to order.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
4 there's a report of the Rules Committee at the
5 desk. Can we take that up, please.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Senator
9 Stewart-Cousins, from the Committee on Rules,
10 reports the following bill:
11 Senate Print 6440, by
12 Senator Krueger, an act making appropriations for
13 the support of government.
14 The bill is reported direct to third
15 reading.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
17 the report of the Rules Committee.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
19 in favor of accepting the report of the
20 Rules Committee please signify by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
23 nay.
24 (No response.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2448
1 report of the Rules Committee is accepted.
2 Senator Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please take up
4 the supplemental calendar.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 Secretary will read.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 625, Senate Print 6440, by Senator Krueger, an
9 act making appropriations for the support of
10 government.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there a
12 message of necessity and appropriation at the
13 desk?
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
15 a message of necessity and appropriation at the
16 desk.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Move to accept
18 the message.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
20 in favor of accepting the message please signify
21 by saying aye.
22 (Response of "Aye.")
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
24 nay.
25 (Response of "Nay.")
2449
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 message is accepted, and the bill is before the
3 house.
4 Senator Borrello --
5 SENATOR LANZA: Lay it aside.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Excuse
7 me, the bill is laid aside.
8 (Laughter.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
10 Gianaris.
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Please go to the
12 controversial calendar.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 Secretary will ring the bell.
15 The Secretary will read.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 625, Senate Print 6440, by Senator Krueger, an
18 act making appropriations for the support of
19 government.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
21 Borrello, why do you rise?
22 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
23 will the sponsor yield for a question.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Would the
25 sponsor yield?
2450
1 SENATOR KRUEGER: I'll respond to
2 one question, yes.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4 sponsor will respond to one question.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
6 through you. Has the sponsor seen the movie
7 Groundhogs Day?
8 (Laughter.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Could you
10 repeat the question?
11 SENATOR BORRELLO: Has the sponsor
12 seen the movie Groundhogs Day?
13 (Laughter.)
14 SENATOR KRUEGER: I believe I
15 answered that after the last extender. Yes, I
16 enjoyed the movie Groundhog Day.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 sponsor enjoys the movie.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
21 this would have been much funnier if
22 Senator Mayer was up there and I was wearing the
23 same tie as Monday. But that notwithstanding,
24 would the sponsor yield for another question.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
2451
1 sponsor yield?
2 SENATOR KRUEGER: Okay.
3 (Laughter.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
5 Senator reluctantly yields.
6 SENATOR BORRELLO: Through you,
7 Mr. President.
8 So could you please tell us what the
9 value of this extender is.
10 SENATOR KRUEGER: I'm having a
11 little trouble hearing today. What the what of
12 the extender?
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: (Tapping mic.)
14 Is this thing on?
15 What is the value of this extender?
16 CHAIRWOMAN KRUEGER: Oh, the value.
17 Well, I think the big-picture value
18 is it ensures workers continue to get paid.
19 But the actual dollar amount of the
20 extender is $3.46 billion in appropriation
21 authority from now until next Monday.
22 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
23 will the sponsor continue to yield.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
25 sponsor yield?
2452
1 SENATOR KRUEGER: Yes.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 sponsor yields.
4 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you.
5 So is this a straight extender, or
6 is there any policy contained in this?
7 SENATOR KRUEGER: I don't really
8 believe there's any policy changes here.
9 There is an increase, primarily
10 because there was money due for SED purposes,
11 State Education Department.
12 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
13 will the sponsor continue to yield.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
15 sponsor yield?
16 SENATOR KRUEGER: Yes.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 sponsor yields.
19 SENATOR BORRELLO: So you mentioned
20 the SED. Thank you very much. That probably
21 explains the $3.6 billion price tag.
22 So this extender gets us through
23 just till Monday, the 24th. Do we expect to see
24 some budget bills introduced, maybe perhaps
25 tomorrow, so we can have the proper aging so we
2453
1 can vote on them next week?
2 SENATOR KRUEGER: I would love
3 that, sincerely. I think we're all getting tired
4 of this. Unfortunately, none of us in this room
5 seem to control that.
6 So I can say continuously I live in
7 hope of that storyline, but I sincerely don't
8 know.
9 What I do know is this extender will
10 get us through Monday at noon, so that Monday
11 morning, unless there are budget bills that could
12 be possibly passed by Monday at noon, which I
13 don't believe is possible, we'll be doing another
14 Groundhog Day scene with you and I on next
15 Monday.
16 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
17 will the sponsor continue to yield.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
19 sponsor yield?
20 SENATOR KRUEGER: Yes.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 sponsor yields.
23 SENATOR BORRELLO: Well, as much as
24 I love the movie I don't wish to have a sequel
25 made here on the floor of the Senate. But thank
2454
1 you.
2 But, you know, with the current
3 status of this -- we've all seen this in the
4 paper and so forth -- wouldn't it just be more
5 realistic to have an extender that reflects the
6 current status of the negotiations, or perhaps
7 lack of negotiations, rather than these four-day
8 extenders? I mean, we're really keeping, you
9 know, the thousands and thousands of employees
10 and others on the edge of their seat because of
11 these short-term extenders.
12 SENATOR KRUEGER: So I would urge
13 my colleagues to point that out to the only
14 person in the state who controls that, the
15 Governor.
16 And I do feel that negotiations
17 continue, Mr. President. So I don't know that
18 it's a correct statement to say that there is not
19 negotiating progress moving forward.
20 But we are not at budget bills yet.
21 So the recommendation of a longer extension can
22 certainly be made by my colleagues across the
23 aisle directly to the Governor's office.
24 We here in the Senate, neither the
25 Majority nor the Minority have any control
2455
1 whatsoever about the timelines of extenders, the
2 uses of the extender money, or the amounts. That
3 is exclusively the domain of the floor below us,
4 the second floor.
5 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
6 will the sponsor continue to yield.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
8 sponsor continue to yield?
9 SENATOR KRUEGER: Sure.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 sponsor yields.
12 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you again.
13 Through you, Mr. President.
14 So absent any budget bills on
15 Monday, has the Comptroller indicated, you know,
16 what day and time we will need to pass another
17 extender to ensure that the employees get paid?
18 SENATOR KRUEGER: I don't know
19 whether he's made any public statement, but we
20 checked. And yes, we need to pass an extender by
21 noon on Monday. So frankly, all of us here,
22 we're used to starting sessions a little later on
23 Monday because it's the day you come to town. I
24 recommend starting from home early that day.
25 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
2456
1 will the sponsor continue to yield.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
3 sponsor continue to yield?
4 SENATOR KRUEGER: Yes.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 sponsor yields.
7 SENATOR BORRELLO: Senator, you've
8 been here a lot longer than I have. So can you
9 recall when the last time the budget was this
10 late?
11 SENATOR KRUEGER: We're thinking
12 2010, but I'm not sure. Maybe you actually know.
13 I've been here 20 years, so I've
14 been here as late as August for budgets.
15 SENATOR BORRELLO: Thank you,
16 Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for one
17 last question.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Will the
19 sponsor yield?
20 SENATOR KRUEGER: Yes.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 sponsor yields.
23 SENATOR BORRELLO: You know, I just
24 want to go back to the extender.
25 Couldn't this house, both houses,
2457
1 just negotiate an extender? I mean, we have that
2 power. We have the power of the purse. It would
3 certainly be up to the Governor then to veto it
4 if she wished.
5 SENATOR KRUEGER: No, I believe our
6 counsel's office has said that we do not have the
7 power to write or pass an extender bill. That is
8 exclusively the power of the Governor.
9 SENATOR BORRELLO: Mr. President,
10 on the bill.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
12 Borrello on the bill.
13 SENATOR BORRELLO: Senator Krueger,
14 thank you again. None of us I think relish being
15 here, and I think we all agree that we wish this
16 wasn't happening, but yet here we are.
17 You know, it's -- to look at this,
18 $3.6 billion is what this extender amounts to.
19 And that's just to get us through the weekend.
20 It's a billion dollars a day.
21 Now, I realize most of that has to
22 do with education funding. But imagine being,
23 you know, those schools that have to rely on
24 this, they have to rely on us standing here and
25 continuing to extend this budget. This is now
2458
1 the fourth extender that we have done.
2 You know, people in general distrust
3 government. They distrust this process because
4 they're not part of it, and quite frankly very
5 few people are. Even those of us that are
6 elected to represent millions of people are still
7 not part of this process.
8 But really what it all comes down to
9 is the fact that there should be no policy in
10 this budget. I spent 10 years in county
11 government. In county government, a budget is
12 about the numbers. It's about projections, it's
13 about what's needed to provide the services to
14 the people that you represent.
15 Instead, we use this as an
16 opportunity to bury controversial topics into a
17 bill that's supposed to be about funding --
18 funding for some very critical things that people
19 are hanging on the edge of their seat to know
20 when the next time they're going to get the money
21 that they so desperately need.
22 We need to stop this, reform this.
23 This should not be a partisan issue. We should
24 take policy out of the budget process. That way
25 we don't have to continue this Groundhogs Day
2459
1 game.
2 Thank you, Mr. President.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Are there
4 any other Senators wishing to be heard?
5 Seeing and hearing none, debate is
6 closed. The Secretary will ring the bell.
7 Read the last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 16. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 57.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
19 reading of the controversial calendar.
20 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 On behalf of Majority Leader
23 Stewart-Cousins, and in consultation with
24 Senator Ortt, I hand up the following committee
25 assignments of the Minority Conference and ask
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1 that it be filed in the Journal.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 hand-up is received and shall be filed in the
4 Journal.
5 Senator Gianaris.
6 SENATOR GIANARIS: Is there any
7 further business at the desk?
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
9 no further business at the desk.
10 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
11 adjourn until Monday, April 24th, at 11:00 a.m.,
12 intervening days being legislative days.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
14 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
15 April 24th, at 11:00 a.m., intervening days being
16 legislative.
17 (Whereupon, at 11:02 a.m., the
18 Senate adjourned.)
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