Regular Session - January 6, 1993

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         9                       ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                       January 6, 1993

        11                         12:21 p.m.

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        14                       REGULAR SESSION

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        18       LT. GOVERNOR STAN LUNDINE, President

        19       STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary

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         1                       P R O C E E D I N G S

         2                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

         3       come to order.  Senate will come to order.

         4                      I'd like to ask everyone present

         5       to rise and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance with

         6       me.

         7                      (The assemblage repeated the

         8       Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. )

         9                      THE PRESIDENT:  Please be

        10       seated.

        11                      The invocation today will be

        12       given by the Reverend Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop

        13       of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.  Father

        14       Hubbard.

        15                      MOST REV. HOWARD J. HUBBARD: Let

        16       us pray.

        17                      O God of us all and Lord of

        18       history, You promised in Your mighty love for

        19       the human family, you shall be My people and I

        20       will be your God.  We pray in a spirit of hope

        21       and expectation for Your blessing upon all who

        22       are gathered here for this 1993 opening session

        23       of the New York State Senate.  In Your mighty











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         1       providence, O God of us all, You have endowed

         2       those who serve and represent the people of New

         3       York State in government with diverse gifts of

         4       wisdom, imagination, resourcefulness, awareness

         5       of our human frailty and a concern for the

         6       common good.

         7                      The year 1992 witnessed unimagin

         8       able suffering and radical dislocation for

         9       millions of our brothers and sisters around the

        10       world as well as the heroic efforts on the part

        11       of many to support the human dignity and needs

        12       of the homeless, the starving, the oppressed and

        13       the voiceless as in the present mission of mercy

        14       that our Marines are exercising in Somalia.

        15                      O caring God, bless, we pray, the

        16       gifts that our governor and each legislator

        17       bring to this year of opportunity to serve the

        18       people of New York State.  Embolden our public

        19       servants to channel their efforts and energies

        20       to address courageously the issues and critical

        21       concerns that so many of our people have

        22       directly experienced through unemployment, drug

        23       and substance abuse, homelessness, as well as











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         1       victims of violence in many forms, be such

         2       racially, ethnically or gender motivated.

         3                      Enable, O God, our leaders and

         4       enable us, the people of New York State, to make

         5       1992 the year of going the extra mile for one

         6       another, especially for children, the most

         7       vulnerable members of our human family, many of

         8       whom are experiencing material and/or spiritual

         9       poverty.

        10                      In Your compassion, O God of us

        11       all, strengthen our resolve and enable us

        12       together to pursue with cooperation and courage

        13       the goals these critical times mandate.  Through

        14       it all, help us not to take ourselves too

        15       seriously so that we can be free to listen to

        16       and to learn from one another and to stretch our

        17       imagination as well as our ingenuity to confront

        18       the difficult tasks ahead.

        19                      For all this we pray, O God, in

        20       Your sacred name, You who live and reign both

        21       now and forever and ever.  Amen.

        22                      THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Bishop

        23       Hubbard.











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         1                      The Chair now hands down a

         2       message from the state Board of Elections being

         3       the official certification of the duly elected

         4       members of the Senate, and directs that the same

         5       be filed.  So ordered.

         6                      I'd like to ask if there are any

         7       Senators who -- present who have not taken their

         8       oath of office.  If so, if they would please

         9       come to the front.

        10                      Please raise your right hands and

        11       repeat after me: I do solemnly swear that I will

        12       support the Constitution of the United States,

        13       the Constitution of the state of New York and

        14       that I will faithfully discharge the duties of

        15       the office of Senator according to the best of

        16       my ability.

        17                      Congratulations.

        18                      (Applause)

        19                      The Secretary will call the

        20       roll.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Babbush.

        22                      (There was no response. )

        23                      Senator Bruno.











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         1                      SENATOR BRUNO:  Here.

         2                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Connor.

         3                      (There was no response. )

         4                      Senator Cook.

         5                      SENATOR COOK:  Here.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Daly.

         7                      SENATOR DALY:  Here.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

         9       DeFrancisco.

        10                      SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:  Here.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        12       Dollinger.

        13                      SENATOR DOLLINGER:  Here.

        14                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Espada.

        15                      SENATOR ESPADA:  Present.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Farley.

        17                      SENATOR FARLEY:  Here.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Galiber.

        19                      SENATOR GALIBER:  Here.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Gold.

        21                      (There was no audible response.

        22       Senator Gold was present. )

        23                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator











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         1       Gonzalez.

         2                      (There was no response. )

         3                      Senator Goodman.

         4                      SENATOR GOODMAN:  Here.

         5                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

         6       Halperin.

         7                      SENATOR HALPERIN:  Here.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Hannon.

         9                      (There was no response. )

        10                      Senator Hoffmann.

        11                      SENATOR HOFFMANN:  Here.

        12                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Holland.

        13                      SENATOR HOLLAND:  Here.

        14                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Johnson.

        15                      SENATOR JOHNSON:  Here.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Jones.

        17                      SENATOR JONES:  Here.

        18                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Kuhl.

        19                      SENATOR KUHL:  Here.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Lack.

        21       Senator Lack excused.

        22                      Senator Larkin.

        23                      SENATOR LARKIN:  Here.











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         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator LaValle.

         2                      SENATOR LAVALLE:  Here.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

         4       Leichter.

         5                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Present.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Levy.

         7                      SENATOR LEVY:  Here.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Libous.

         9                      SENATOR LIBOUS:  Present.

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Maltese.

        11                      (There was no response. )

        12                      Senator Marchi.

        13                      SENATOR MARCHI:  Here.

        14                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Marino.

        15                      SENATOR MARINO:  Here.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        17       Markowitz.

        18                      SENATOR MARKOWITZ:  Here.

        19                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        20       Masiello.

        21                      SENATOR MASIELLO:  Oh, here.

        22                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Mega.

        23                      SENATOR MEGA:  Here.











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         1                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Mendez.

         2                      SENATOR MENDEZ:  Here.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

         4       Montgomery.

         5                      (There was no response. )

         6                      Senator Nolan.

         7                      (There was no response. )

         8                      Senator Nozzolio.

         9                      SENATOR NOZZOLIO:  Here.

        10                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        11       Ohrenstein.

        12                      SENATOR OHRENSTEIN:  Here.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Onorato.

        14                      SENATOR ONORATO:  Here.

        15                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator

        16       Oppenheimer.

        17                      (There was no response. )

        18                      Senator Padavan.

        19                      SENATOR PADAVAN:  Here.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Senator Pataki.

        21                      SENATOR PATAKI:  Here.

        22                      THE PRESIDENT:  A quorum is

        23       present.











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         1                      I'd like to see order because I

         2       only get to speak to you once every two years.

         3       Given that this, my opportunity, is rare, I

         4       really appreciate this order and attention.

         5                      I want to welcome -- take this

         6       opportunity to welcome all of you here, you and

         7       your families who contribute so much to your

         8       ability to serve, to the 1993 legislative

         9       session.

        10                      I especially want to welcome the

        11       new Senators, and offer a cordial welcome and

        12       offer, at least on the part of this officer, to

        13       work collegially with all of you.

        14                      I guess that makes the rest of

        15       you "old" Senators, although I think that's only

        16       in point of service, not necessarily in years.

        17       I know that all of you, though, whether you have

        18       served here in the Senate before or not, to some

        19       extent have a new challenge.  Because of redis

        20       tricting, many districts are quite different and

        21       you have new constituents.  Certainly we all

        22       face daunting challenges, but we're going to

        23       give it the commitment and the energy that this











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         1       state so richly deserves.

         2                      Serving in the Senate is a very

         3       great privilege, and I think each of you should

         4       consider it as such.  Serving in the 216th Sen

         5       ate will, I believe, be a particularly rewarding

         6       experience due to the distinguished leadership

         7       of the Temporary President, Ralph Marino.  The

         8       Governor and I look forward to working with

         9       Senator Marino and his very able staff and,

        10       indeed, we look forward to working with all of

        11       you as we face what is a challenging year, but

        12       we also think a year of opportunity.

        13                      I'd also like to welcome

        14       especially Senator Fred Ohrenstein, the Minority

        15       Leader, a gentleman and a strong advocate on so

        16       many critical issues that face us today.

        17                      Finally, I want to thank all of

        18       you for the courtesies that you've extended.  It

        19        -- I reminded myself today that this is the

        20       seventh time I've had the opportunity to begin a

        21       Senate session, and I guess the fourth time on

        22       this kind of an occasion where we're starting

        23       anew.  I look forward to this session ahead as











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         1       a -- with as much excitement and commitment as

         2       any before.

         3                      The Chair now hands down a

         4       communication from the Governor.  The Secretary

         5       will read.

         6                      THE SECRETARY:  January 5th,

         7       1993.  Dear Mr. President: I would appreciate

         8       the privilege of appearing before your honorable

         9       bodies in joint session on Wednesday, January

        10       the 6th, 1993 at 1:00 p.m., or as soon there

        11       after as may be convenient, to deliver personal

        12       ly my annual message to the Legislature.

        13                      Sincerely, Mario Cuomo.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  To be filed.

        15                      SENATOR LEVY:  Mr. President.

        16                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Levy.

        17                      SENATOR LEVY:  I hand up Senate

        18       Resolution Number 1 and ask that it be read.

        19                      THE PRESIDENT:  Secretary will

        20       read.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

        22       Number 1, by Senator Levy:

        23                      RESOLVED, that Senator Ralph J.











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         1       Marino be, and he hereby is elected Temporary

         2       President of the Senate for the years

         3       1993-1994.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the

         5       resolution, all those in favor say aye.

         6                      (Response of "Aye.")

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Levy,

         8       proceed.  Senator Levy is recognized.

         9                      SENATOR LEVY:  Mr. President,

        10       it's a genuine honor and privilege to rise to

        11       nominate Senator Ralph J. Marino to be the

        12       Senate Majority Leader and President Pro Tem for

        13       his third term as Senate Majority Leader.

        14                      I've known Ralph for more than 30

        15       years, and he's been a friend during that period

        16       of time; and throughout those years I've seen

        17       him carry out his governmental responsibilities

        18       as a town councilman in the town of Oyster Bay,

        19       as a member of a school board, and I had the

        20       privilege of sitting next to him right here for

        21       18 years when, during much of that period of

        22       time, he chaired the Corrections Committee and

        23       he quietly and resolutely built a nationwide











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         1       reputation for his expertise, his accomplish

         2       ments and his achievements; and I served with

         3       him and watched him in action as the chair of

         4       the Long Island Senate delegation at very, very

         5       difficult times, sometimes emotionally charged

         6       times.

         7                      He demonstrated time and time

         8       again his leadership qualities to all -- his

         9       leadership qualities to those who disagreed with

        10       him as well as to those who agreed with him; his

        11       perpetual open-minded willingness to listen; his

        12       warmth, his patience, and his calm regardless of

        13       provocation and regardless of circumstances.

        14                      His great ability to persuade and

        15       to influence catapulted him into being elected

        16       as the Majority Leader in 1988 and re-elected in

        17       1990.  These qualities are his hallmark and his

        18       tradition and, because of them, he was able to

        19       forge a consensus within our diverse Majority

        20       and with the Governor and the Assembly to

        21       jointly, as an equal partner, to lead our state

        22       through the drastic, the dire and the tumultuous

        23       economic times of the past four years.











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         1                      I say to you that a lesser man or

         2       a lesser woman could not and would not have

         3       succeeded.  A lesser man or woman could not and

         4       would not have overcome the unparalleled

         5       reelection campaign waged against him this year

         6        -- an election campaign from without which is

         7       part of our system; a reelection campaign waged

         8       against him from within, and a reelection

         9       campaign waged against him as an assault when

        10       "within" and when "without" combined in their

        11       assault upon him.  That Ralph Marino is here

        12       today is a testimonial to him personally, to the

        13       leader he is and the legislator that he has

        14       been.

        15                      So, Ralph, in nominating you for

        16       your third term as Majority Leader, I know that

        17       I speak for the 33 other members of our Majority

        18       when I say we like you, we respect you, we place

        19       our trust in you again, and we will follow you

        20       now and in the future as our leader.

        21                      Mr. President, it is my great

        22       honor and privilege to nominate Senator Marino.

        23                      SENATOR GOLD:  Mr. President.











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         1       Mr. President.

         2                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Saland.

         3                      SENATOR SALAND:  Mr. President,

         4       thank you.

         5                      It is a distinct privilege and

         6       honor to have the opportunity to second the

         7       nomination of Senator Ralph Marino.  Certainly,

         8       I am not going to dwell upon his numerous

         9       accomplishments, his 24 years of service, nor

        10       his -- his recent successes as the Majority

        11       Leader, and Temporary President over the course

        12       of his prior two terms.

        13                      I would prefer, Mr. President, to

        14       dwell on the subject of Ralph Marino -- Ralph

        15       Marino the man, his character and the leadership

        16       that he has afforded this chamber and not only

        17       this chamber but the people of the state of New

        18       York.

        19                      He serves not merely the people

        20       of Nassau and Suffolk County in the 5th Senator

        21       ial District.  He has a larger responsibility

        22       that the office to which we have nominated him

        23       requires him to bear.  Positions of authority











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         1       can be very heady, if not intoxicating, and, in

         2       fact, I'm sure we all know people who do not

         3       bear up to that authority as well as others.

         4       They can't handle it.  They seem, in time, to

         5       undergo a metamorphosis that makes it difficult

         6       to recognize the person whom we chose, the man

         7       or woman who we close to serve in that position

         8       of leadership, in that position of authority.

         9                      Senator Marino has served since

        10       January of 1989 and he was picked for that

        11       position by his colleagues, by the majority of

        12       the Republican -- Republican Majority at that

        13       time, because of the qualities that he lent -

        14       his personal qualities, his intellect, his

        15       distinguished record, but beyond that because of

        16       the respect that he had earned among his

        17       colleagues, and, interestingly, respect is

        18       something that we don't acquire by way of

        19       genetics.  You can't buy it; no way in the world

        20       it's marketable.  Not only can't you buy it, but

        21       you can't impose it on others.  There's only one

        22       way you get respect, and that's by earning it,

        23       and Ralph Marino has earned the respect and the











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         1       loyalty of not only his conference, but of

         2       people throughout this chamber, both sides of

         3       the aisle, and people throughout New York.

         4                      He's a man who earned that re

         5       spect not only from his colleagues and constitu

         6       ents, but far and wide beyond the borders of

         7       this state as well.  He served extraordinarily

         8       well as Temporary President but through some

         9       extremely difficult times.  He's responded to

        10       his weighty responsibilities in a fashion that

        11       not many could.

        12                      Make no mistake about it, he's a

        13       man of dignity, humility, decency and grace, and

        14       make no mistake about the fact that those

        15       qualities should not be confused with a lack of

        16       resolve, nor should they be confused with a lack

        17       of will.

        18                      Ralph Marino is a leader.  He's

        19       been tested by many, not only here in this state

        20       Capitol but, as alluded to earlier by Senator

        21       Levy, under an extraordinary test under fire in

        22       his district in his most recent reelection

        23       campaign, a reelection campaign that saw what I











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         1       would consider to be a bizarre amalgam of

         2       interests attempting to unseat him, and his

         3       people knew and knew well, the kind of leader he

         4       will be, the kind of representative he had been,

         5       and returned him with overwhelming numbers.

         6                      He has risen to and excelled in

         7       each of the challenges.  And let me just remind

         8       Leo Durocher, wherever he may be, that nice guys

         9       can finish first, and we have in our ranks

        10       amongst the nicest.  He's finished first, will

        11       continue to be first and he will lead us

        12       successfully through two more years and, again,

        13       Mr. President, my privilege to have the

        14       opportunity to second Senator Marino's

        15       nomination.

        16                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Gold.

        17                      SENATOR GOLD:  Thank you, Mr.

        18       President.

        19                      Mr. President, I offer up the

        20       following substitute resolution, and I say very

        21       respectfully to Senator Levy and Senator Saland

        22       that your resolution is not bad.  I just wanted

        23       to offer you something that's a little better.











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         1                      I was a little taken back by

         2       Senator Levy saying that he was speaking on

         3       behalf of himself and 33 others.  Right away

         4       politics!  We're here, Senator Levy, to elect an

         5       officer of the Senate.  If you want Senator

         6       Marino as a Republican leader, I think that's a

         7       great choice, but talking for the Senate as a

         8       whole -- by the way, as an aside, Senator

         9       Marino, in case we're not successful, I want you

        10       to know I always liked you.

        11                      I want to also point out that my

        12       resolution has significant support.  I think

        13       we're at 26 and a half if you count the little

        14       Santiago over there; so we're not that far off.

        15                      The new Democratic Senate members

        16       are here ready for business and, when the

        17       expression is used as it was a few minutes ago

        18       about having a consensus, I think consensus

        19       starts with a cross-section of the Conference

        20       and, if you look at our Conference as it's

        21       developed under the leadership of the gentleman

        22       sitting at my right, we are very proud.

        23                      There are seven women in the New











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         1       York State Senate.  You will find them on this

         2       side of the aisle.  There are four members of

         3       the Senate with Puerto Rican/Hispanic back

         4       grounds.  You will find them on this side of the

         5       aisle.  We have five members of the Afro

         6       American culture and background.  You will find

         7       them on this side of the aisle.  We're very

         8       proud of that, and that has developed over a

         9       period of time whereby a Senator from the West

        10       Side of New York, New York City, who's been here

        11       for some 31 years and spent 17 of those years as

        12       the Democratic leader, and things like I've just

        13       spoken about don't happen by accident.  They

        14       happen because you get a certain moral tone from

        15       the top.  You get a certain concern from the top

        16       and then you can effectuate those kind of

        17       things.

        18                      Fred Ohrenstein, by definition,

        19       is bright; he's articulate; he's energetic; he's

        20       dedicated.  He pays half my mortgage, but those

        21       of you who know him -- and that should be

        22       everybody in this chamber -- know that he is an

        23       outstanding spokesman for things which really











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         1       matter in this state -- individual rights,

         2       fiscal integrity of this Legislature, openness

         3       of this Legislature, safety of individuals

         4       regardless of their race, their religion, their

         5       biases of one sort or another with regard to

         6       their personal life, to the environment,

         7       transit, you-name-it issue, and there is no area

         8       where Fred Ohrenstein was has not been out

         9       spoken and indicated strong leadership.

        10                      As a matter of fact, if he had

        11       been the leader prior to this, we would already

        12       have major legislative reform.  We would already

        13       have a bias crime bill that meant something.  We

        14       would already have fairness throughout the

        15       systems greater than we've been able to develop

        16       over the years.

        17                      I take nothing away from a good

        18       friend and certainly a dedicated public servant,

        19       Senator Marino, but I would urge that we -- we

        20       do what the -- what I would like to see the

        21       state do, get a little less political, a little

        22       more governmental in our thinking and accept the

        23       substitute resolution and make Senator Manfred











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         1       Ohrenstein our new President Pro Tem and

         2       Majority Leader.

         3                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the resolution

         4       nominating Senator Marino as the Temporary

         5       President of the Senate, all those in favor say

         6       aye.

         7                      (Response of "Aye.")

         8                      Opposed nay.

         9                      (There was no response. )

        10                      The ayes have it.  The Temporary

        11       President of the Senate, Senator Ralph Marino.

        12                      (Applause)

        13                      The Chair will acknowledge that

        14       we have received a communication that Senator

        15       Ohrenstein has been elected Minority Leader.

        16                      (Applause)

        17                      I apologize for being

        18       presumptuous in my earlier remarks in referring

        19       to you in your positions to which you've just

        20       been elected.

        21                      The swearing in of the Temporary

        22       President of the Senate: I do solemnly swear

        23       that I will support the Constitution of the











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         1       United States, the Constitution of the state of

         2       New York, and that I will faithfully discharge

         3       the duties of the office of Temporary President

         4       of the Senate according to the best of my

         5       ability.

         6                      Congratulations.

         7                      SENATOR MARINO:  Thank you very

         8       much.

         9                      (Applause)

        10                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Marino.

        11                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President,

        12       we have a committee here from the Assembly,

        13       Assemblyman Cochrane and Assemblyman Friedman.

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  Assemblyman

        15       Friedman.  Assemblyman Friedman?

        16                      SENATOR MARINO:  Would you

        17       welcome them, please, and I understand they have

        18       a message from the Assembly.

        19                      THE PRESIDENT:  Message from the

        20       Assembly.

        21                      ASSEMBLYMAN FRIEDMAN:  Oh, we've

        22       been instructed to invite this honorable body to

        23       join us in the Assembly chamber to receive a











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         1       message from the Governor.

         2                      THE PRESIDENT:  Thank the members

         3       of the Assembly.  The message is received and

         4       accepted.

         5                      Senator Marino.

         6                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President, I

         7       know the time is short, but I just wanted to

         8       thank Senator Levy, Senator Saland and even

         9       Senator Gold for the kind remarks which permit

        10       me to continue two more years as the Majority

        11       Leader here.

        12                      I look forward to service with

        13       Senator Ohrenstein who has always been most

        14       cooperative with me and as the leader of the

        15       Minority in getting the business of this chamber

        16       done year in and year out in a very competent

        17       manner.

        18                      We have tough times, we've had

        19       tough times, and I've enjoyed the cooperation of

        20       Senator Ohrenstein and the Democrats and that

        21       side of the aisle as well as the Republicans on

        22       our side.

        23                      With the faltering economy, it











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         1       has not been easy and we've had other problems,

         2       as you know.  We've got to address the problem

         3       of the capital infusion for the MTA, the Blue

         4       Cross-Blue Shield problem that confronts us

         5       right now, the problem of jobs and taxes and the

         6       economy and education and social services that

         7       we all are very sensitive to and we will, I'm

         8       sure, work together, Senator Ohrenstein and

         9       myself, the Governor and the Speaker in getting

        10        -- getting those problems resolved in a manner

        11       befitting the wonderful people of this state.

        12       We will do it, hopefully, in a manner which

        13       gives credit -- brings credit to all of us and

        14       in a manner in which we will be jointly

        15       compromising, cooperating and trying to work out

        16       the solutions to very pressing needs of our

        17       people.

        18                      So while we may disagree during

        19       the session, I know it will be in a spirit which

        20       will be dedicated to our best efforts on behalf

        21       of all of the people of New York State and, if

        22       we do that, then I'm content that we will have a

        23       very productive session and that we will leave











                                                              27

         1       here with a feeling of accomplishment.

         2                      So I thank you in anticipation of

         3       your cooperation, Senator Ohrenstein, and the

         4       members of your Conference, and I know that the

         5       members of my conference look forward to a very

         6       productive session.

         7                      I am very pleased to welcome the

         8       new Senators here today:  Senator Pataki, on my

         9       side, Senator Wright, Senators DeFrancisco and

        10       Nozzolio.  I'm sure you'll all be happy to vote

        11       for all of these tough measures, and jump in the

        12       pool with all the rest of us to ensure that a

        13       proper job is done this year.

        14                      I also want to acknowledge the

        15       election of some good Democrat candidates:

        16       Nellie Santiago, Mary Ellen Jones from my own

        17       home town, I understand, who is here; Pedro

        18       Espada, and Richard Dollinger.  And congratula

        19       tions on your elections.  I wish you well and,

        20       if you have any problems, see this guy over

        21       here.

        22                      So welcome to everybody.  I'm

        23       sure we'll work together very well.











                                                              28

         1                      Thank you.

         2                      (Applause)

         3                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator

         4       Ohrenstein.

         5                      SENATOR OHRENSTEIN:  Mr.

         6       President, very briefly, I too would like to,

         7       first of all, thank Senator Gold for those very

         8       warm remarks, and I very much appreciate what

         9       you have said, and I thank you for it.

        10                      I also want to thank the Demo

        11       cratic members of the Senate for their continued

        12       confidence in me and in my leadership.  I look

        13       forward to a very, very productive year.  I

        14       particularly look forward to working with a new

        15       Democratic administration in Washington to bring

        16       changes to this country both in the way

        17       government is administered and in the way we

        18       deal with our economy and the many, many issues

        19       that are plaguing our people.

        20                      So I think while it will be

        21       difficult, I think it will also be a very, very

        22       productive year and very, very exciting as we

        23       look for new and -- for new departures particu











                                                              29

         1       larly in Washington.  I also look forward to

         2       working with you, with the Governor and the

         3       Lieutenant Governor and, of course, the Speaker

         4       of the Assembly in -- in fashioning a Democratic

         5       program which will look forward to solving these

         6       many problems.

         7                      I certainly want to congratulate

         8       my colleague and friend, Senator Marino, who has

         9       had a tough year, and I do want to congratulate

        10       him for the several election victories that he

        11       has obtained this year, and I think he not only

        12       was victorious but he earned those victories in

        13       the way he's conducted himself, and I look

        14       forward to working with him and all of you in

        15       this very difficult time.

        16                      I simply want to say one thing: I

        17       had an earlier occasion to speak here when one

        18       of our new members was sworn in, Senator

        19       Santiago, and I at that time was -- explained or

        20       I tried to explain the Constitution of the state

        21       of New York to those assembled, and I called to

        22       their attention the fact that Senator Marino,

        23       while he may be the Majority Leader, is also











                                                              30

         1       elected as the Temporary President of the Senate

         2       and I want to emphasize that word that he is the

         3       "Temporary" President of the Senate, so don't

         4       let your head get too big on that subject.

         5                      And finally, I want to join

         6       Senator Marino in welcoming all of the new

         7       members on the Republican side and, of course,

         8       particularly the members -- the new members on

         9       our side:  Senator Santiago, Senator Dollinger,

        10       and Senator Espada, and Senator Mary -- Senator

        11       Jones, Mary Ellen Jones, from Rochester, and

        12       let's look forward to a good, productive and

        13       exciting year.

        14                      (Applause)

        15                      THE PRESIDENT:  Resolution.

        16       Senator Marino.

        17                      SENATOR MARINO:  Yes, may we have

        18       Resolution Number 3?

        19                      THE PRESIDENT:  Secretary will

        20       read.

        21                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

        22       Number 3, by Senator Marino:

        23                      RESOLVED, that Stephen F. Sloan











                                                              31

         1       of Guilderland be, and he hereby is elected

         2       Secretary of the Senate for the years

         3       1993-1994.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  All those in

         5       favor, say aye.

         6                      (Response of "Aye.")

         7                      Opposed nay.

         8                      (There was no response. )

         9                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        10       is adopted.

        11                      Please repeat after me -- raise

        12       your right hand and repeat after me: I do sol

        13       emnly swear that I will support the Constitution

        14       of the United States, the Constitution of the

        15       state of New York and that I will faithfully

        16       discharge the duties of the office of Secretary

        17       of the Senate according to the best of my

        18       ability.

        19                      Congratulations.

        20                      (Applause)

        21                      Senator Marino.

        22                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President,

        23       we have the two resolutions appointing











                                                              32

         1       committees to inform the Governor and the

         2       Assembly, and I would suggest that there's a

         3       little more business to be conducted and, after

         4       the speech of the Governor's, we should return

         5       here and quickly get rid of that business and

         6       then adjourn for the day.

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  So that after

         8       this resolution, the Senators will proceed

         9       immediately to the Assembly chamber and we will

        10       then return here after the conclusion of the

        11       Governor's message.

        12                      The Secretary will read.

        13                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

        14       Number 6, by Senator Marino:

        15                      RESOLVED, that the Senate and

        16       Assembly meet in joint assembly in the Assembly

        17       chamber at 1:00 p.m. today, for the purpose of

        18       receiving a message from the Governor.

        19                      Senate Resolution Number 7, by

        20       Senator Marino:

        21                      RESOLVED, that the President

        22       appoint a committee of two to inform the

        23       Governor of the election of Ralph J. Marino as











                                                              33

         1       Temporary President of the Senate for the years

         2       1993-1994, the Senate is organized and ready to

         3       proceed with business, and will meet with the

         4       Assembly in the Assembly chamber at 1:00 p.m.,

         5       to receive the Governor's message.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  All in favor -

         7       pardon?  All in favor say aye.

         8                      (Response of "Aye.")

         9                      Opposed nay.

        10                      (There was no response. )

        11                      The ayes have it.  The

        12       resolutions are adopted.  The Chair appoints

        13       Senator Padavan and Senator Espada to wait upon

        14       the Governor.

        15                      The Secretary will read.

        16                      THE SECRETARY:  Resolution Number

        17       8, by Senator Marino:

        18                      RESOLVED, that the President

        19       appoint a committee of two to wait upon the

        20       Assembly and inform that body of the election of

        21       Ralph J. Marino as Temporary President of the

        22       Senate for the years 1993-1994, that the Senate

        23       is organized and ready to proceed with business











                                                              34

         1       and will meet jointly with the Assembly in the

         2       Assembly chamber at 1:00 p.m. today to receive

         3       the Governor's message.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the

         5       resolution, all those in favor say aye.

         6                      (Response of "Aye.")

         7                      Opposed nay.

         8                      (There was no response. )

         9                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        10       is adopted.

        11                      The Chair appoints Senator Pataki

        12       and Senator Jones to wait upon the Assembly.

        13                      The Senate will now stand in

        14       recess.

        15                      (Whereupon at 12:58 p.m., the

        16       Senate recessed until 2:19 p.m.)

        17                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate will

        18       reconvene.

        19                      I understand that Senator

        20       Montgomery has not taken her oath.  If you would

        21       raise your right hand and repeat after me: I do

        22       solemnly swear that I will support the Constitu

        23       tion of the United States, the Constitution of











                                                              35

         1       the state of New York, and that I will faithful

         2       ly discharge the duties of the office of Senator

         3       according to the best of my ability.

         4                      Congratulations.

         5                      (Applause)

         6                      Senator Marino.

         7                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President,

         8       I'd like to hand up a resolution.

         9                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

        10       will read.

        11                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

        12       Number 4, by Senator Marino:

        13                      RESOLVED, that Pauline Williman

        14       be, and she hereby is elected the Official

        15       Stenographer of the Senate for the years

        16       1993-1994.

        17                      THE PRESIDENT:  All those in

        18       favor say aye.

        19                      (Response of "Aye.")

        20                      Opposed nay.

        21                      (There was no response. )

        22                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        23       is adopted.











                                                              36

         1                      Senator Marino.

         2                      SENATOR MARINO:  Thank you, Mr.

         3       President.

         4                      I hand up the following

         5       resolution, ask for its passage.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Secretary

         7       will read.

         8                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

         9       Number 5, by Senator Marino:

        10                      RESOLVED, that John P. Everhardt

        11       be, and he hereby is elected Sergeant-at-Arms of

        12       the Senate for the years 1993-1994.

        13                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the

        14       resolution, all those in favor say aye.

        15                      (Response of "Aye.")

        16                      Opposed nay.

        17                      (There was no response. )

        18                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        19       is adopted.

        20                      Senator Marino.

        21                      SENATOR MARINO:  I'd like to hand

        22       up the following resolution and ask for its

        23       adoption.











                                                              37

         1                      THE PRESIDENT:  Secretary will

         2       read.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

         4       Number 9, by Senator Marino:

         5                      RESOLVED, that the rules of the

         6       Senate for the year 1991 as last amended be

         7       adopted as the rules of the Senate for the years

         8       1993-1994.

         9                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Mr.

        10       President.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator

        12       Leichter.

        13                      There will be order in the

        14       chamber.

        15                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  Senator

        16       Marino, I haven't had a chance to check with the

        17       Minority Leader on that, but at least just

        18       speaking for myself, I think in the past we've

        19       always put that aside until we've had a chance

        20       to -- to look at it more carefully and then have

        21       an opportunity to make comment.

        22                      SENATOR MARINO:  I think we've

        23       passed it in the past.  My recollection,











                                                              38

         1       Senator, is that we have passed the resolution

         2       always on condition that the Minority can bring

         3       up the rules again at some future date.

         4                      SENATOR LEICHTER:  All right.

         5       And that is all right.  I have no problem with

         6       that.  Thank you.

         7                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the

         8       resolution, all those in favor say aye.

         9                      (Response of "Aye.")

        10                      Opposed nay.

        11                      (There was no response. )

        12                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        13       is adopted.

        14                      Senator Marino.

        15                      SENATOR MARINO:  I hand up the

        16       following resolution and ask for its adoption,

        17       please.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  Secretary will

        19       read.

        20                      THE SECRETARY:  Senate Resolution

        21       Number 10, by Senator Marino:

        22                      RESOLVED, that unless otherwise

        23       ordered by the Senate, the hours of meeting











                                                              39

         1       shall be as follows: Mondays 2:30 p.m.;

         2       Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays at

         3       11:30 a.m., and Fridays at 10:00 a.m.

         4                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the

         5       resolution, all those in favor say aye.

         6                      (Response of "Aye.")

         7                      Opposed nay.

         8                      (There was no response. )

         9                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        10       is adopted.

        11                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President,

        12       we have Senator Volker has a -

        13                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Volker.

        14                      SENATOR MARINO:  Senator Volker

        15       has two privileged resolutions which are very

        16       important to the state of New York.

        17                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Volker.

        18                      SENATOR VOLKER:  Mr. President,

        19       would you read -- I don't have the numbers on

        20       here.  Would you read the first of these

        21       resolutions, whatever number they are -- I don't

        22       see a number on here -- as relating to

        23       recognizing the Buffalo Bills football team on











                                                              40

         1       the occasion of their record-setting come

         2       back.

         3                      THE SECRETARY:  Legislative Reso

         4       lution, by Senator Volker and others, recogniz

         5       ing the Buffalo Bills football team upon the

         6       occasion of their record-setting comeback

         7       against the Houston Oilers.

         8                      SENATOR ONORATO:  Would you give

         9       us the score?

        10                      SENATOR VOLKER:  Mr. President.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Volker.

        12                      SENATOR VOLKER:  The score is

        13       ever emblazoned on my mind: 41-38.

        14                      Mr. President, the resolution and

        15       the one that follows commending Frank Reich for

        16       the greatest comeback in professional football

        17       league history, were put together with the help

        18       of Senator Stachowski and others in western New

        19       York, and already on the resolution are the

        20       western New York legislators and Senator Marino

        21       and Senator Ohrenstein.  Anyone else who would

        22       like to go on -- matter of fact, we thought

        23       about putting the entire Senate on, but we











                                                              41

         1       thought we'd better first ask, so if anybody

         2       would like to go on -- maybe first I should ask

         3       if anybody would not like to go on.  Senator

         4       Padavan -- no.  But anyway, we would like

         5       everybody to go on this.

         6                      We commend the Bills, and the

         7       next resolution commends the quarterback, Frank

         8       Reich, and we are going to deliver these

         9       resolutions to the Buffalo Bills post haste.

        10                      Thank you.

        11                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President,

        12       since the Jets or Giants did not qualify this

        13       year -

        14                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Marino.

        15                      SENATOR MARINO:  Since the Jets

        16       or Giants did not qualify this year, I think

        17       this is an exceptional resolution, and I join

        18       with my colleague in passing it.

        19                      SENATOR STACHOWSKI:  On the

        20       resolution, Mr. President.

        21                      THE PRESIDENT:  On the resolution

        22        -- Senator Stachowski.  Excuse me.

        23                      SENATOR STACHOWSKI:  As far as I











                                                              42

         1       know, nobody on the Minority objects to being on

         2       this resolution and on behalf of the people,

         3       including myself, who stayed for the game, as

         4       Senator Volker did, we're happy to have them on

         5       this resolution.

         6                      THE PRESIDENT:  Are you

         7       suggesting that anybody who turned out for

         8       television but didn't stay for the whole game

         9       should be allowed to be on this?

        10                      SENATOR STACHOWSKI:  No.

        11                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Chair

        12       misunderstood.  The Chair misunderstood.

        13                      On the resolution, all those in

        14       favor say aye.

        15                      (Response of "Aye.")

        16                      Opposed nay.

        17                      (There was no response. )

        18                      The ayes have it.  The Buffalo

        19       Bills remain honored forever.

        20                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President.

        21                      THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Volker.

        22       I'm sorry.

        23                      SENATOR VOLKER:  Yeah, I'd like











                                                              43

         1       to second -- the second resolution on Frank

         2       Reich too.

         3                      THE PRESIDENT:  I thought I took

         4       care of them both together.

         5                      On the resolution regarding

         6       quarterback Frank Reich, all those in favor say

         7       aye.

         8                      (Response of "Aye.")

         9                      Opposed nay.

        10                      (There was no response.)

        11                      The ayes have it.  The resolution

        12       is adopted.

        13                      Senator Marino.

        14                      SENATOR MARINO:  Mr. President,

        15       there being no further business, I move we

        16       adjourn until Monday, January 11th, at 2:30,

        17       intervening days to be legislative days.

        18                      THE PRESIDENT:  The Senate stands

        19       adjourned.

        20                      (Whereupon at 2:25 p.m., the

        21       Senate adjourned. )

        22