Regular Session - January 11, 1999
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NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
January 11, 1999
3:05 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: The Senate will
come to order.
I ask everyone to please rise and
repeat with me the Pledge of Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
THE PRESIDENT: Let us all bow our
heads now in a moment of silence.
(Whereupon, the assemblage respected
a moment of silence.)
THE PRESIDENT: Reading of the
Journal.
THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Friday,
January 8th. The Senate met pursuant to
adjournment. The Journal of Thursday, January
7th, was read and approved. On motion, Senate
adjourned.
THE PRESIDENT: Without objection,
the Journal stands approved as read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
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Communications and reports from State
officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President, I
would like to offer up a privileged resolution
and that it be read in its entirety and moved
for its immediate passage.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Legislative Resolution 95 congratulating the
Troy High School Football Team and Coach Jack
Burger upon the occasion of capturing the 1998
New York State Class AA Championship.
WHEREAS, Excellence and success in
competitive sports can be achieved only through
strenuous practice, team play and team spirit
nurtured by dedicated coaching and strategic
planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition
enhances the moral and physical development of
the young people of this State, preparing them
for the future by instilling in them the value
of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy
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living, imparting a desire for success and
developing a sense of fair play and competition;
and
WHEREAS, The Troy High School
Football Team are the 1998 New York State Class
AA Champions; the Flying Horses decisively
downed the top ranked team in the State,
Fairport of Section V, by a score of 26 to 9 to
capture the State Class AA football title
before, before a crowd of better than 5,000 at
the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York on
Sunday, November 29, 1998;
In addition to the 1998 Championship
title, the Flying Horses captured the 1996
Championship, classifying them second to none;
no other team has won two state titles since
such championship games were established in
1993;
The athletic talent displayed by this
team is due in great part to the efforts of
Coach Jack Burger, a skilled and inspirational
tutor, respected for his ability to develop
potential into excellence;
The team's overall record, 12 and 1,
is outstanding, and the team members were
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loyally and enthusiastically supported by
family, fans, friends and the community at
large; and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the Troy
High School Football Team, from the opening game
of the season to participation in the
championship, were a brotherhood of athletic
ability, of good sportsmanship, of honor and of
scholarship, demonstrating that these team
players are second to none;
Athletically and academically, the
team members have proven themselves to be an
unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting
favorably on their school;
Coach Jack Burger has done a superb
job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team
members toward their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills
the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Coach Jack Burger and his 35
outstanding athletes have clearly made a
contribution to the spirit of excellence which
is a tradition of their school; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body
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pause in its deliberations to congratulate the
Troy High School Football Team; its members:
Derrick Senior, Shawn Miller, Bob Bocketti,
Anthony Gagliardi, Mike Rinaldi, Greg Kirkman,
Jaywan Scott, Joe Halse, Herb Kennedy, Greg
Osganian, Mike Hurteau, Anthony Canty, Bobby Joe
Fosmire, Kevin Carley, Rob Hicks, Mike
Harrington, Mike Gaunay, Nick Gross, Rich Pena,
Mark Gross, Chris Cardnuto, Pete Naimo, Adam
Lord, Dom Testo, Dave Nadeau, John Roe, Brad
Stevens, Brandan Mace, Justin Ned, Mousse Saiid,
Wayman Walker, Hector Gutierrez, Barton Jones,
Brian Bentley, and Rob Wells; Coach Jack Burger
and Assistant Coaches Jeff Sitterly, Jim
Canfield, Mark Galuski and Bill Mitchell on
their outstanding season and overall team
record; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this
Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted
to Donald Help -- Hepp, Superintendent; Armand
Reo, Principal; James Bongo, Athletic Director;
Jack Burger, Head Coach and to the members of
the Troy High School Football Team.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
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President.
Colleagues, let me just rise and
congratulate, having read of the outstanding
accomplishments of the Troy Flying Horses and
having distinguished themselves the way they
have, making everyone in this Region and in this
State as proud as we can be.
And when you hear the litany that is
recited in their distinguished career so far, we
can't help but think about what makes for
champions.
How do you become a champion? And
you're champions. It's hard work, dedication,
commitment, going above and beyond, not taking
the easy way, striving, persevering. And you
come out champions.
I'm not sure it was recited, but they
had a 12 and 1 record. And unless I'm mistaken,
their first game was a loss. Now, you think
about them recovering from that loss and going
on to beating one of the best teams. And, by
the way, the team that won the championship last
year. And they did win the State Championship
two out of three years. That is an
accomplishment.
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When you talk about overcoming
losses, that's what life is all about. You have
wins and you have losses. You have been able to
show, just as in life, that you weren't awfully
disappointed. While you always want to win, you
didn't accept the loss, you didn't lay down, you
didn't say, "This is going to be just a season."
You went on, thanks to your dedication, thanks
to your coach, Jack Burger, and all the support
you've had. I see Jim Canfield, the line coach
and good friend, here; Armand Reo, your
Principal; Don Hepp, your Superintendent; Jim
Bongo, your athletic director. Your parents,
your friends, your colleagues, your teammates,
your cheerleaders, all together, supported you
as you dedicated yourselves to become champions.
When you hear a resolution like this
in this chamber, you want to recognize that a
hundred years from now you can come back to this
chamber and this resolution will be part of the
history. And I know a lot of you a hundred
years from now will be here.
That's supposed to be funny. You can
laugh.
(Laughter.)
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SENATOR BRUNO: And -- but just as
we pass laws, we pass laws in this chamber,
there isn't a law of this State that doesn't get
deliberated and passed in this chamber, not one.
These Resolutions are just like a
law. They become part of the record in the
history of this State. You are part of that
record. You are now part of that history. What
you have accomplished is recorded for posterity,
forever, as an outstanding achievement.
I want to tell you, as constituents
of mine, I am as proud as I can be that you are
here, that you are champions. But I'm proud of
you as individuals.
Anthony Canty is up there, and I see
Anthony. And Anthony is 15 years old. Anthony
comes up and gives me a hand on occasion,
regular occasions on Saturdays on our farm. And
Anthony got an education this past weekend. He
mucked stalls with me. And Anthony is a city
guy. Okay? And when I said, "Anthony, we're
gonna muck stalls," you know what he said? "Is
that really what you call it, mucking stalls?"
And that is what you call it. And you know what
that is for those of you that aren't on a farm?
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(Laughter.)
SENATOR BRUNO: Okay. My colleague
here, Deputy Majority Leader said, "Yes, they
know, because we're in that business."
And, by the way, it's horses that are
in those stalls that necessitate mucking. Okay?
And we on this floor sometimes indulge ourselves
in a little of what the same thing the horses
do, but in different ways.
But I want to just conclude by saying
we're gonna have a party. We're glad that
you're here and we are going to have a little
reception right outside, and everyone in the
chamber, of course, is invited to attend that
reception. And we're doing that because we want
you to understand that we recognize that you are
outstanding individuals, that you are true
champs. And I don't say that in any glorified
way. I say it because sometimes you need to
hear that what you did was uncommon, it was
different, and you want to keep right on doing
that. And I am certain that you will throughout
your whole life. And sitting up there, my
colleagues here and others, will be the future
senators, the Assembly people, the governors,
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maybe a President, they're the people that will
be running this State and running our lives.
And based on what you've done so far, we will be
in good hands.
So thanks for joining us and thank
you, Madam President.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY: Thank you, Madam
President.
You know, as a Senator from the
Capital District, let me say that everybody, and
coming from Schenectady, I know that Senator
Breslin feels the same, we adopt you and we're
so proud of you and we offer you our sincere
congratulations.
You can see the tremendous attendance
on this side of the aisle. It has nothing to do
with the fact that this is the Majority Leader's
team that's up there.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR FARLEY: It's to honor you,
totally.
But my congratulations to you. It's
truly an honor to be the finest in the State.
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We're very, very proud of you. The entire
Capital District salutes you and we wish you
well. And it's onto next year.
And, Coach Burger, you should be very
proud of your team and all the administration
this year, because I know that we are.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Larkin.
SENATOR LARKIN: Thank you, Madam
President.
I look around this chamber here, and
I see Senator Farley from Schenectady, my dear
friend, Majority Leader from Glens Falls, and
Jack Burger, family from Newburgh. I'm the only
Senator sitting here who was born and raised in
Troy.
South Troy against the world. Right?
(Applause.)
SENATOR LARKIN: How about that?
Congratulations.
But when I was a youngster here a few
years ago, I played for that other team called
LaSalle.
(Laughter.)
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SENATOR LARKIN: Thank you all very
much.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: The question is 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.
And may I at this time congratulate
you as my hometown team. Go Troy.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Senator
Stafford.
SENATOR STAFFORD: I just want to
mention one point. Those of us who have been
here a few years, we want the team to know, on a
very serious note, we do have a rule here that
we aren't supposed to clap. And I haven't heard
people given a hand that many times. And if we
could, of course, it would blow out the ceiling.
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But we want the team to know that it was a bit
of an exception here today.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
just after that, our distinguished Senator
Stafford from Glens Falls, why doesn't the team
all stand up and the cheerleaders and let's just
again give them a round of ovation? All right?
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you very
much, Madam President.
I believe there's another resolution
at the desk, a privileged resolution sponsored
by Senator DeFrancisco. I would ask that the
title be read and that we recognize Senator
DeFrancisco and move for its immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator
DeFrancisco, Legislative Resolution Number 18
congratulating the Jordan-Elbridge High School
Boys' Cross Country Team and Coach Roger Roman
for their outstanding season, overall team
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record, and capture of the New York State Cross
Country Championship.
THE PRESIDENT: The question is 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.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President, at
this time, we are handing up committee
assignments, chairs and leadership positions. I
would ask that they be immediately filed.
THE PRESIDENT: Notice will be
filed in the Journal.
Recognize Senator Kruger.
SENATOR KRUGER: Thank you, Madam
Chairman.
I move that the following Bills be
discharged from their respective committees and
be recommitted with instructions to strike the
enacting clause: Senate Numbers 403, 410, 423,
427, 428, 453, 454, 500, 511, 519, 520 and 526.
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Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: So ordered,
Senator.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
after consultation with our distinguished
Minority Leader, Senator Connor, I believe there
are some temporary appointments that we are
handing up and ask that they be recorded.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator.
Notice will be filed in the Journal.
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Is there any other
business at the desk, Madam President, that we
should be attending this afternoon?
THE PRESIDENT: Not at this time,
Senator.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
President.
Then, at this time -
Is there any other business here?
At this time, there being no further
business to come before the Senate, I would move
that we stand adjourned until Tuesday, at -
coming at 3 p.m. -- backwards. We are
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adjourning until tomorrow -- I've skipped a
week -- at 11 a.m.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: All right. On
motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
Tuesday, January 12th at 11 a.m.
Have a good day.
(Whereupon, at 3:25 p.m., the Senate
adjourned.)