Regular Session - January 6, 1999
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NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
January 6, 1999
12:05 p.m.
REGULAR SESSION
LT. GOVERNOR MARY O. DONOHUE, President
STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary
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P R O C E E D I N G S
THE PRESIDENT: Senate will now
come to order.
I ask that everyone present please
rise and recite with me the Pledge of
Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
THE PRESIDENT: The invocation
today will be given by the Most Reverend
Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Albany.
BISHOP HUBBARD: Let us pray. O
gracious and eternal God, this new year of
1999 brings us ever closer to the year 2000
and challenges us to a vigorous renewal of our
efforts towards securing peace and justice for
all Your people, so many still torn by
violence, diversion and oppression.
Bless us, we pray, O faithful God,
who have gathered here for the opening day of
the 1999 session of the New York State Senate.
In Your caring providence, O God, of us all,
You have emboldened and enabled leaders in
every generation to respond to the people's
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needs, dreams and concerns through wise and
courageous leadership and in accordance with
the principles of just and compassionate
government. The unchanged purpose of this
gathering is the reaffirmation and renewal by
our elected representatives, first, of their
service of the dignitary needs and aspirations
of all of the people of New York State and,
secondly, of steadfast stewardship, both of
which are central to the responsibilities of
public servants.
You have endowed our leaders, O
God, with diverse gifts, such as those of
wisdom, foresight, imagination, compassion,
integrity, common sense and a saving sense of
humor. Thus we pray, the gifts that our
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, our Legislators
bring to the public service of our people.
Enable those in government to pool
their very gifts and to channel their efforts
and energies to address courageously the
issues and serious concerns of so many people,
including homelessness, hunger, unemployment,
substance abuse, violence and the ongoing
deterioration of the environment.
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Embolden, we pray, our governmental
leaders and representatives to strive together
for the common good and for a realistic
response to the special needs of those who
suffer deprivation in various forms.
We pray, O God, that You will bless
us all with increasing reverence for and
support of the integrity and the strength of
the diverse racial, ethnic, religious and
socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures of the
people of this, our great Empire State.
And for all this we pray, O caring
God of us all, in praise of Your loving
providence and in Your sacred name, You who
live and reign both now and forever and ever.
Amen.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank
you very much.
The Chair now hands down a message
from the State Board of Elections, being the
official certification of the duly elected
members of the Senate and directs that the
same be filed.
So ordered.
I'd like to ask if there are any
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Senators present who have not yet taken their
oaths of office.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will now call the roll to ascertain a quorum.
SECRETARY: Senator Alesi.
SENATOR ALESI: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Balboni.
SENATOR BALBONI: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Bonacic.
SENATOR BONACIC: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Breslin.
SENATOR BRESLIN: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Connor.
SENATOR CONNOR: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Dollinger.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Duane.
SENATOR DUANE: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY: Here.
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SECRETARY: Senator Fuschillo.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Gentile.
SENATOR GENTILE: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Gonzalez.
(No response heard.)
SECRETARY: Senator Goodman.
SENATOR GOODMAN: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Hannon.
SENATOR HANNON: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Hevesi.
SENATOR HEVESI: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Hoffmann.
SENATOR HOFFMANN: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Holland.
SENATOR HOLLAND: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Johnson.
SENATOR JOHNSON: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Kruger.
SENATOR KRUGER: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Kuhl.
SENATOR KUHL: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Lachman.
SENATOR LACHMAN: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Lack.
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SENATOR LACK: Here.
SECRETARY: Senator Larkin.
SENATOR LARKIN: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator LaValle.
SENATOR LAVALLE: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Liebell.
SENATOR LIEBELL: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Maltese.
SENATOR MALTESE: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Marchi.
(No response heard.)
SECRETARY: Senator Markowitz.
(No response heard.)
SECRETARY: Senator Maziarz.
SENATOR MAZIARZ: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator McGee.
SENATOR McGEE: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Meier.
SENATOR MEIER: Present.
SECRETARY: Senator Mendez.
SENATOR MENDEZ: Present.
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THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno, a
quorum is present.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
President.
THE PRESIDENT: Majority Leader
Bruno, Minority Leader Connor, members of the
New York State Senate and guests who have
joined us here today, I welcome you and wish
you all a happy and healthy new year as we
begin, we commence right now, the 222nd
session of the New York State Legislature.
As your new Lieutenant Governor,
I'm truly honored and enthusiastic about the
opportunity the people of the State of New
York have given me. I am also very pleased
and honored to be working with our Governor,
George Pataki, to continue to make New York
State the best that it could be.
As elected officials, it is not
only our duty but our responsibility to
represent and empower each and every citizen
of New York State. Let's right now commit to
work together to make 1999 a grand finale, a
magnificent finale for this century as well as
a promising and inspiring entrance into the
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21st Century.
Thank you.
The Chair now hands down a
communication from the Governor. The
Secretary will read.
SECRETARY: "Dear Madam
President, I would appreciate the privilege of
appearing before your honorable bodies in
joint session on January 6, 1999 at one p.m.,
or as soon thereafter as may be convenient, to
personally deliver my annual message to the
Legislature. Sincerely, George E. Pataki."
THE PRESIDENT: To be filed in
the Journal.
Senator Stafford.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
President, I hand up -
(Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir.
So received, Senator.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
President, I am -
THE PRESIDENT: I see I'll be
right at home here, Senator.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
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President, I am honored to hand up the
following resolution and move its adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Stafford,
Senate Resolution providing for the election
of Joseph L. Bruno as Temporary President of
the Senate for the years 1999 through 2000.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson.
SENATOR PATERSON: Madam
President, my resolution is already at the
desk, showing the greater preparation and -
(Laughter.)
SENATOR PATERSON: -- and
responsibility that we would like to bring
upon the Senate as I nominate Senator Martin
Connor, the Minority Leader, to become
majority leader for these sessions, 1999 and
the year 2000.
Senator Connor has been an
outstanding legislator for 20 years, he has
served as a minority leader for four years and
I think it's time for a promotion.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson,
the Secretary will read the resolution at this
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time, sir.
SECRETARY: By Senator Paterson,
Senate Resolution providing for the election
of Martin Connor as Temporary President of the
Senate for the years 1999 through 2000.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson,
for remarks.
SENATOR PATERSON: On the
substitute resolution, Madam Chair, I was just
going to say that I thought it was time for
Senator Connor to get a promotion, and this is
without any disrespect to the current Majority
Leader, Senator Bruno, who served with
distinction. I think he deserves a promotion
as well. And I'm sure that -
(Laughter.)
SENATOR PATERSON: -- and I'm
sure that all of you will think of something,
but for the time being, I would like to offer
Senator Connor's name, most respectfully, in
nomination. I think he'd be a fine
administrator and leader for the Senate.
And just in case this resolution
fails, as have all of the resolutions I have
offered since I've ever been here, I'd just
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like to say that we look forward very much to
working with all of our colleagues this
session.
THE PRESIDENT: On the substitute
resolution offered by Senator Paterson, all
those in favor, signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed.
(Response of "Nay.")
THE PRESIDENT: The nays have it.
The resolution is defeated.
Senator Stafford.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
President, thank you. Your Excellency, my
colleagues, when I said, after I was asked to
do this, that I could just submit my remarks
that I made the last two times, both the
Leader and the good staff people said, "Do
that and sit down." So I'll do it very, very
quickly. But what I say, I'm very serious.
Four years ago, we saw this State,
we were all very, very concerned. Our Leader,
Joe Bruno, together with Joe Patak -- excuse
me -- George Pataki and the Legislature,
leading the Legislature, turned this State
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around. Before that, four years ago, we had
lost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Now we
have gained hundreds of thousands of jobs.
As one who understands welfare
personally, personally -- those of you who
know me, know what I'm talking about -- we had
to make some changes. They've been made.
Hundreds of thousands less on welfare.
Together with our Governor, our Leader, who
came here, who had established values when he
came here, he stood by them and he sat right
back there and he stood up and said what he
believed. Sometimes when it wasn't the most
popular thing to do. And that's why he's
where he is today and that's why he's going to
be our leader for 1999 and 2000.
Charles Evans Hughes was born in
Glens Falls. And our Leader was born in Glens
Falls. Charles Evans Hughes was Governor for
two terms, Secretary of State, Chief Judge of
the Supreme Court and he said the following:
"We do not expect that the activities of
government will merely be an organ to do all
for people. We hope it will secure a basis of
peace and order essential to individual
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liberty and opportunity and also we hope it
will maintain the collective rights which
cannot otherwise be safeguarded. But our
dependence for progress is not upon
governmental agencies but upon the virtues of
industry, thrift and moderation found among
our people."
A great man from Glens Falls said
that. A great man from Glens Falls also says
that, believes it. And, by the way Glens
Falls is in the 45th Senatorial District, just
in case anyone does not know that.
And with that, it is a pleasure and
an honor for me to hand up the resolution
electing Joseph Bruno, President Pro Tem,
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
for 1999-2000.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
The question is on the resolution.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
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adopted and the Chair states for the record
that Senator Joseph L. Bruno has been elected
Temporary President of the Senate for the
years 1999 and 2000.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno,
would you please raise your right hand and be
sworn in as Temporary President of the Senate?
Please repeat after me.
I do solemnly swear -
SENATOR BRUNO: I do solemnly
swear -
THE PRESIDENT: -- that I will
support the Constitution of the United States
of America -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- that I will
support the Constitution of the United States
of America -
THE PRESIDENT: -- and the
Constitution of the State of New York -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- and the
Constitution of the State of New York -
THE PRESIDENT: -- and that I
will faithfully discharge the duties of -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- and that I
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will faithfully discharge the duties of -
THE PRESIDENT: -- the office of
Temporary President of the Senate of the State
of New York -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- the office of
Temporary President of the State of New
York -
THE PRESIDENT: -- to the best of
my ability -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- to the best of
my ability.
THE PRESIDENT: Ladies and
gentlemen, our Temporary President of the
Senate.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you.
Thanks very much.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you very
much, Madam President. Bishop Howard Hubbard,
thank you very much for joining us and for
that very appropriate and beautiful opening
prayer. And to my good friend of a lot of
years, Senator Ron Stafford, who represented
me in the Senate before I was here, I thank
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you for your friendship and for your very
gracious and kind remarks. And I certainly
thank my colleagues for their confidence and
for their support in these past several years
and going into this next century.
And I want to, before I move too
far along, welcome and congratulate very, very
dear and close friend, our Lieutenant
Governor, Mary Donohue. You can already see
that our new Lieutenant Governor has a keen
sense of hearing and she can hear when the
majority speaks, and she has an equal sense of
sight when hands go up. This Lieutenant
Governor knows that the majority represents
democracy.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR BRUNO: And so we look
forward, Governor, to this next year and two
with you as a partner in the things that we do
with our great Governor, George Pataki. And
we're proud that we do the things that we have
done together.
And I want to extend my very best
wishes to our new Minority Leader, Senator
Marty Connor, and I want to assure him that we
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will do everything that we can to support him
in his position as long as he's here.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR BRUNO: Senator Stafford,
you notice, was a little overwhelmed with
emotion when he first stood up and, actually,
I think for a second didn't recognize why he
was on his feet.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR BRUNO: But he rose to
the occasion. And, again, thank you.
But I want to thank our leadership
here in the Senate. You have been just so
great. And all of the things that we have
done we really have done together. There
isn't anything that happens in this State that
doesn't happen because we in this chamber take
a positive action. There isn't anything that
can happen.
We have some new members, and those
new members we welcome most hardily. You are
joining one of the greatest deliberative
bodies in the whole world. And we welcome you
here and we congratulate you here.
Senator McGee that's here, Senator
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Bonacic and, the newest addition to the right
side of the aisle, Senator Nancy Lorraine
Hoffmann, we welcome those new members.
I also want to bid a very hearty
welcome to Senator Tom Duane, a newly elected
member, and Senator Schneiderman, newly
elected, and welcome -- and there is one
other -- and Dan Hevesi, who follows in his
very accomplished father's footsteps. We
welcome you here.
They just keep getting better and
better looking.
Now, you will notice that I wasn't
as familiar with the last three names, but
that will change. But we welcome you all.
And there is one message that's
here. That we have differences of opinion in
this chamber, but it's healthy. When we do
things, we do them together. And when we go
forward, whether we have agreed or not, when
we go forward, and laws change and good things
happen for this State, we have done that
together. And we can elect as we see fit and
how we project out, but there isn't anything
that happens that we don't do together. And
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we can all be proud that we have worked
together, that we have in the last four years,
taken this State to the great heights that the
people in this State presently enjoy and that
we have built a platform with this great
Governor, that we will step forward into this
next century much better people, much better
off than we were five and six and eight years
ago.
So my thank you to all of you, to
my family, who have been supportive, as your
families are supportive. And for all of the
good things that have happened in my life, I
just thank the good Lord and I thank you.
And there are some good things that
we don't want to lose sight of that happened
just a few weeks ago that makes for a better
new year for all of us, and I'm speaking of,
of course, charter schools, budget reform,
dairy compact and there were some other
incidental things.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR BRUNO: And let me just
share with you that I don't want to treat that
lightly, because there isn't a person in the
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Legislature or in government that doesn't
deserve all of the recognition that they get
because, if anyone doesn't recognize, they
should start to recognize that we, you, are
elected to one of the highest offices in this
State and you are deserving of all of the
recognition, all of the praise, all of the
rewards that come from representing such a
large constituency, individually and
collectively.
So we go forward, I think with
great vision, empowered that we will help
improve the quality of life for all New
Yorkers.
Thank you, Madam President, and
thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank
you, Senator Bruno.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Chair will
acknowledge that we have also received a
communication from the Senate Democratic
Conference that Senator Martin Connor was
elected as the Minority Leader of the State
Senate.
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Senator Connor.
SENATOR CONNOR: Thank you, Madam
President. And let me, on behalf of my
colleagues on this side of the aisle, welcome
you as our presiding officer and we look
forward to serving with you in the coming
years.
Senator Bruno, congratulations. If
I couldn't beat you, well, there's only about
24 other members here who I would rather see
as Majority Leader than you. But other than
that, I think you're great.
You know, I know this from the
history books, Senator Stafford, and I know it
from -- I don't know how many of you were here
many years ago when my grandparents visited us
in this chamber and, as you know, my
grandmother passed away at 99, just three
years ago. And she was active in politics in
New Jersey and Woodrow Wilson was from her
home county and she knew Mr. Wilson, and as a
young woman worked in his campaign. And she
recounted to me how that gentleman from Glens
Falls, Hughes, went to bed being called, "Good
night" -- being told, "Good night, Mr.
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President." This was a true story. And woke
up the next morning and wondered where, where
were they all, I'm not Mr. President anymore
because the vote came in from California at
about eleven o'clock in the morning and beat
him. So as Senator Stafford was speaking, I
was thinking, "Gee, you know, are we going to
get an outcome like this?" As he compared you
to Hughes, I thought, am I going to wake up
tomorrow morning and find out I got the Wilson
result? And we'll see when tomorrow morning
comes.
But I am delighted, certainly, to
continue to serve as Minority Leader. I am
humbled by the faith my colleagues on this
side of the aisle have placed in me. I look
forward to a year where, certainly, in
preliminary stages, we are not hearing a lot
of the partisan rhetoric that we've all
suffered from and with in these past years,
not just in this Legislature but it seems to
have been the tenor across the country. There
are probably some, I suspect there's some city
south of here on the Potomac that hasn't yet
got the message. But I think we all got the
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message from our voters this year, that they
want mainstream, moderate politics, they want
people to talk about issues, not
personalities. And that's a good thing. It's
a good thing for all of us. It's a good thing
for the people we serve. So I look forward to
that.
I join in welcoming our new
senators, Senator Bonacic, Senator McGee and,
my own favorites, Senator Bruno, Senator Duane
and Senator Schneiderman and Senator Hevesi.
And you notice what I did is I gave him credit
for all of his father's seniority in the
Legislature, so he's sitting there in that
seat now.
But be that as it may, I look
forward to, hopefully, a productive year. The
things we did accomplish just a few weeks ago
I think will go a long way towards starting us
off on the right foot this year in a spirit of
cooperation. And, hopefully, we will be able
to restore what once prevailed in this House,
a greater spirit of bipartisan cooperation.
Thank you, Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
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Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
we are handing up a resolution, ask that the
title be read and moved for the immediate
passage.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution, that Steven M. Boggess of
Sand Lake, New York, be and he hereby is
elected Secretary of the Senate or the years
1999 through 2000.
THE PRESIDENT: All right. The
question is on the resolution. All those in
favor, signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted and the Chair states for the record
that Steven M. Boggess has been elected
Secretary of the New York State Senate for the
years 1999 and 2000.
Mr. Boggess, be sworn in.
Raise your right hand, please, and
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repeat after me.
I, Steven M. Boggess -
SECRETARY BOGGESS: I, Steven M.
Boggess -
THE PRESIDENT: -- do solemnly
swear -
SECRETARY BOGGESS: -- do
solemnly swear -
THE PRESIDENT: -- that I will
uphold the Constitution of the United
States -
SECRETARY BOGGESS: -- that I
will uphold the Constitution of the United
States -
THE PRESIDENT: -- and the
Constitution of the State of New York -
SECRETARY BOGGESS: -- and the
Constitution of the State of New York -
THE PRESIDENT: -- and that I
will faithfully discharge the duties of the
office of -
SECRETARY BOGGESS: -- and that I
will faithfully discharge the office of -
THE PRESIDENT: -- Secretary of
the New York State Senate -
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SECRETARY BOGGESS: -- Secretary
of the New York State Senate -
THE PRESIDENT: -- to the best of
my ability.
SECRETARY BOGGESS: -- to the
best of my ability.
THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations,
Steve.
SECRETARY BOGGESS: Thank you,
Mary.
THE PRESIDENT: Ladies and
gentlemen, our Secretary.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
I believe there's another resolution at the
desk. I would ask that the title be read and
moved for its immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution, that Mary Louise Stasolla
be and she hereby is elected the official
stenographer of the Senate for the years 1999
through 2000.
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THE PRESIDENT: On the record.
On the resolution, all in favor, signify by
saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
Ladies and gentlemen, our
stenographer.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
we will hand up another resolution, ask that
the title be read and moved for its immediate
adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution, that William C. Martin be
and he hereby is elected Sergeant-At-Arms of
the Senate for the years 1999 through 2000.
THE PRESIDENT: On the
resolution, all in favor, signify by saying
aye.
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(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
Our Sergeant-At-Arms, ladies and
gentlemen.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
I believe there are several resolutions at the
desk and I would ask that their titles be read
and moved for their immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
concurrent resolution of the Senate and
Assembly providing for a joint assembly for
the purpose of receiving a message from the
Governor.
THE PRESIDENT: The question is
on the resolution. All in favor, signify by
saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
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(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The concurrent
resolution is adopted.
The Secretary will read.
SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
Number 7, by Senator Bruno, Senate Resolution,
resolved that the President appoint a
committee of two to inform the Governor of the
election of Joseph L. Bruno as Temporary
President of Senate for the years 1999 through
2000 and that the Senate is organized and
ready to proceed with business and will meet
with the Assembly in the Assembly Chamber at
one p.m. to receive the Governor's message.
THE PRESIDENT: The question is
on the resolution. All those in favor,
signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
The Chair appoints Senators McGee
and Schneiderman to wait upon the Governor
that the Senate is ready to proceed.
31
The Secretary will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 8, resolve that the
President appoint a committee of two to wait
upon the Assembly and inform the body of the
election of Joseph L. Bruno as Temporary
President of the Senate for the years 1999
through 2000 and that the Senate is organized
and ready to proceed with business and will
meet jointly with the Assembly in the Assembly
Chamber at one p.m. to receive the Governor's
message.
THE PRESIDENT: The question is
on the resolution. All those in favor,
signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
The Chair appoints Senators Bonacic
and Hevesi to wait upon the Assembly that the
Senate is ready to proceed.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
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we hand up another resolution, ask that the
title be read and moved for its immediate
adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 9, providing that the
rules for the Senate for the years 1999 -- '8,
as last amended, be adopted as the rules of
the Senate for the years 1999 through 2000.
THE PRESIDENT: The question is
again on the resolution. All those in favor,
signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
we hand up another resolution, ask that that
title be read and moved for its immediate
adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
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SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 10, providing for the
hours of meeting by the Senate for the years
1999 through 2000, resolve that unless
otherwise ordered, the hours of meeting of the
Senate shall be as follows: Mondays and
Tuesdays at 3 p.m., Wednesdays and all other
days 11 a.m.
THE PRESIDENT: The question is
on the resolution. All those in favor,
signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
can we, at this time, recognize Senator
Paterson?
SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you,
Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson.
SENATOR PATERSON: Thank you,
Madam President.
Pursuant to the passage of the
34
resolution just a couple moments ago relating
to the adoption of the rules of the Senate, I
would like to make record of the fact that,
pursuant to our agreement with the Majority,
that the Minority reserves the right to amend
the rules at the Senate, of the Senate, at a
later time.
Thank you.
SENATOR CONNOR: To move to
amend.
THE PRESIDENT: The record will
so indicate, Senator.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
at this time, we are awaiting the Assembly,
because the Senate has, as usual, finished its
work in a record time and we are waiting for
the Assembly to notify us that they are
similarly organized. So we will stand at
ease. And that's the bottom line. We are
organized.
THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
stand at ease.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
President.
35
(Whereupon, at this time, 12:35
p.m., the Senate stood at ease.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Upon business
being finished, I would ask that we all
assemble, that we move to the Assembly chamber
to hear the Governor's State-of-the-State
Message and our business be finished for the
day.
I move that we stand adjourned
until Monday at 3 p.m., intervening days to be
legislative days.
THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
now proceed to the Assembly chamber for the
Governor's message, after which the Senate
stands adjourned until Monday, January 11th at
3 p.m., intervening days being legislative
days.
(Whereupon, at 12:49 p.m., the
Senate adjourned.)