Regular Session - March 8, 2000
1192
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
March 8, 2000
11:08 a.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 present to please
rise and repeat with me the Pledge of
Allegiance.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
THE PRESIDENT: In the absence of
clergy, may we bow our heads in a moment of
silence, please.
(Whereupon, the assemblage
respected a moment of silence.)
THE PRESIDENT: Reading of the
Journal.
THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
Tuesday, March 7th, the Senate met pursuant to
adjournment. The Journal of Monday,
March 6th, 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.
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Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from
state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Schneiderman.
SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN: Thank you,
Madam President.
I move that the following bill be
discharged from its respective committee and
be recommitted with instructions to strike the
enacting clause: Senate 6772.
THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
there's a privilege resolution at the desk by
Senator Dollinger. May we please have the
title read and move for its immediate
adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator
Dollinger, Legislative Resolution 3304, urging
1195
the New York State Congressional Delegation to
grant the President's emergency supplemental
request to provide additional funds for the
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator
Dollinger.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Thank you,
Madam President. Just briefly, on this.
I'd like to commend Senator Wright,
as Chair of the Energy Committee in this
house, who has been a leader in pushing for
additional funds into the home heating
assistance program.
What this resolution simply asks is
that the Congressional delegation from New
York join as a group to secure the additional
$600 million in special federal assistance for
the home heating oil assistance program.
The President has announced this.
I think this is a wonderful thing for the
people that we represent that need home
heating oil.
And I commend Senator Wright and
the Energy Committee for their work, quick
work, in both laying out the difficulties with
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home heating oil prices and his work to make
sure that we have a handle on what is
happening in those prices and in that
marketplace.
The passage of this resolution I
think will send a clear message to everyone in
New York that the assistance for home heating
oil is critical to the people that we
represent.
And I also commend Governor Pataki,
who has by administrative regulation increased
the income level at which people will qualify
for the HEAP plan. I think it was a good move
on his part, and I think it broadens the
benefits of assistance to those who need home
heating oil assistance.
In this year, when the price of
home heating oil approaches $2 a gallon, it's
the right thing to do.
And I urge the adoption of this
resolution, Madam President. And I thank the
Majority for allowing it to come to the floor.
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.
Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
if we can have the reading of the
noncontroversial calendar.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
113, by Senator Hoffmann, Senate Print 4265,
an act to amend the Agriculture and Markets
Law, in relation to electronic filing.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
act shall take effect on the 30th day.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
1198
172, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 1016, an
act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to
increasing the penalties for custodial
interference.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
act shall take effect on the 50th day.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
176, by Senator Saland, Senate Print 1830, an
act to amend the Penal Law, in relation to
establishing a presumption.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the first day of
November.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
1199
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
212, by Senator Larkin, Senate Print 6257A, an
act in relation to establishing a library
district in the City of Kingston, Ulster
County.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 8. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
246, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 3775,
an act to amend the Executive Law, in relation
to personal interviews.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
SENATOR DUANE: Lay it aside,
please.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is laid
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aside.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
286, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 6483,
an act to amend the Environmental Conservation
Law, in relation to unlawful taking of
wildlife.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
297, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 6186, an
act to authorize the Holy Church of Christ in
the Town of Islip to file an application.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
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THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 45. Nays,
1. Senator Dollinger recorded in the
negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
298, by Senator DeFrancisco, Senate Print 709,
an act to amend the Surrogate's Court
Procedure Act, in relation to computation of
the commissions.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the first day of
January.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
317, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 6133A, an
act to amend the General Municipal Law, in
relation to designation of additional economic
development zones.
1202
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
319, by Senator McGee, Senate Print 6589, an
act to amend Chapter 540 of the Laws of 1992
amending the Real Property Tax Law.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 47.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
325, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 6270, an
act to amend the Public Authorities Law, in
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relation to terms of office of members.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the same date as
Chapter 605 of the Laws of 1999.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 47.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
327, by Senator Padavan, Senate Print 6427A,
an act to amend the Public Authorities Law, in
relation to half-fare rate program.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 47.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
1204
349, by Senator Leibell, Senate Print 6315, an
act to legalize, ratify and confirm the acts
and proceedings of the Board of Education of
the Putnam County Valley Central School
District.
THE PRESIDENT: There is a local
fiscal impact note on this bill.
Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 48.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
Senator Skelos, that completes the
reading of the noncontroversial calendar.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
there will be an immediate meeting of the
Energy Committee in the Majority Conference
Room, Room 332.
THE PRESIDENT: There will be an
immediate meeting of the Energy Committee in
the Majority Conference Room, Room 332.
Senator Skelos.
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SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
if we could now take up the controversial
calendar.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
246, by Senator Nozzolio, Senate Print 3775,
an act to amend the Executive Law, in relation
to personal interviews by the Board of Parole.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
SENATOR DUANE: Explanation,
please.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Nozzolio,
an explanation has been requested.
SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Thank you,
Madam President.
Madam President and my colleagues,
this measure before us was introduced at the
request of the State Division of Parole, and
it's a measure that I've been working and
members of our committee have been working on
with Parole for a number of months.
And that is to change the Executive
Law relating to a requirement that the Parole
1206
Board members, who must travel to each of the
prison facilities in our state to conduct
these parole hearings, that we engage in
utilizing the technology available today in
teleconferencing the parole hearing.
That we're adding the use of -
this measure adds the use of video
teleconferencing as a method of conducting
such interviews. It does not mandate that
these interviews be conducted using video
teleconferencing. It does not say that in all
cases we must use video teleconferencing.
What it does is provide a tool for the
Division of Parole.
Because if you have any idea of the
logistical travels that Parole must go
through, traveling to virtually all corners of
the state, in many cases four- or five-hour
drives to the remote areas of the state where
prison facilities are located, certainly it's
a time-consuming process, an energy-consuming
process, a costly process.
And what we're trying to do is
mitigate all those costs in establishing, at
least allowing in certain cases, the use of
1207
video teleconferencing.
There has been a study, a pilot
project between the State Board of Parole and
the State Department of Correctional Services
for the use of video teleconferencing for
parole release interviews, and that has been
effective. Now we're taking it one step
further to this process.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Duane.
SENATOR DUANE: Thank you. Would
the sponsor yield for a couple of questions?
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Nozzolio,
will you yield to a few questions?
SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Yes, Madam
President.
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead, Senator
Duane.
SENATOR DUANE: I'm wondering if
the report on the pilot program has been
circulated to all the members of the
committee.
SENATOR NOZZOLIO: I would be
glad to facilitate the report. I do not have
it with me today. But we'd glad to facilitate
that to anyone that -- of this house that
1208
wishes to see it.
SENATOR DUANE: Thank you.
SENATOR NOZZOLIO: And we'll make
sure that Senator Duane and the President has
a copy of this report.
SENATOR DUANE: And I'm just
wondering -- I just don't know offhand -- do
you know what the present salary for members
of the Parole Board is?
SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Is someone
asking me to yield?
SENATOR DUANE: Oh, this is
number two.
THE PRESIDENT: This is the
second question by Senator Duane.
SENATOR NOZZOLIO: It's the
second question. All right.
Madam President, certainly the
salaries of the parole commissioners are
readily accessible through looking at the
Executive Law. I do not know exactly the
salary, but I think it's in the high $90,000
range.
SENATOR DUANE: Thank you.
Madam President, on the bill.
1209
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead, Senator
Duane, on the bill.
SENATOR DUANE: I'm going to
continue to withhold my support for
teleconferencing of the Parole Board.
First, I'm very interested in
seeing the results, which I haven't yet seen,
on the pilot program.
And the other thing is that I think
that, first of all, my inclination is to
believe that there's no substitute for the
personal interaction that happens during a
Parole Board hearing, and that videotaping
can't substitute for it.
I have a request in with the Parole
Board to experience the technology. Sadly,
that hasn't happened yet. But I'm still very
interested in being able to experience what
the technology is.
And then the other point I think
which needs to be made is that no one forces
someone to be on the Parole Board. Actually,
the members of the Parole Board are well paid
to serve on it. And I think part of the
duties of the Parole Board members is to
1210
actually go to the meetings.
And so for those reasons, I'm going
to continue to oppose the use of video
conferencing until we see the data. Although
even at that, I still believe that there's no
substitute for the personal interaction that
would happen.
So I would urge my colleagues to
vote no until we have some clarification about
that.
Thank you, Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51. Nays,
1. Senator Duane recorded in the negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
passed.
Senator Smith, why do you rise?
SENATOR SMITH: Madam President,
I request unanimous consent to be recorded in
the negative on Calendar Number 176.
1211
THE PRESIDENT: Without
objection, Senator Smith, you will be so
recorded as voting in the negative on Calendar
176.
Senator Skelos, that completes the
reading of the controversial calendar.
SENATOR SKELOS: Is there any
housekeeping at the desk?
THE PRESIDENT: No, there isn't,
Senator.
SENATOR SKELOS: If we can go to
motions to discharge.
THE PRESIDENT: Motions to
discharge.
Senator Breslin.
SENATOR BRESLIN: Madam
President, I believe there's a -
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me. The
Secretary will read first.
THE SECRETARY: Senate Bill 801,
by Senator Breslin, an act to amend the
General Obligations Law, the Civil Practice
Law and Rules, and the Public Health Law.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Breslin.
SENATOR BRESLIN: Madam
1212
President, may I be heard on the motion?
THE PRESIDENT: Of course. On
the motion, Senator.
SENATOR BRESLIN: There's a bill
before this legislature, a motion dealing with
a bill to include HMO liability in New York
State.
Eleven other states have adopted
it, most recently California. We hold
accountants liable, we hold doctors liable, we
hold lawyers liable. But we have health
maintenance organizations that make critical
decisions dealing with not a patient but with
a bottom line.
When we have them making decisions
dealing with a bottom line, we affect our
constituents and their health. Now is the
time to adopt legislation that holds HMOs
liable.
There's an argument, will this cost
more money through lawsuits? I answer no. It
increases the responsibility of health
maintenance organizations and makes them more
efficient. It makes them more accountable to
us, the public, to allow us, if they make
1213
mistakes, to be held accountable in a court of
law. To do otherwise is ignoring what New
York State people want and deserve.
And I urge my fellow Democrats and
members from the other side to join with me to
make HMO liability a reality. We've passed a
Patient's Bill of Rights which takes a small
step, a small step to ensure proper medical
conduct. But we still don't have that law
that holds HMOs responsible for their conduct.
Thank you very much, Madam
President.
THE PRESIDENT: On the motion,
all in favor signify by saying aye.
Senator Schneiderman.
SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN: Thank you,
Madam President.
I join with Senator Breslin in
urging that we move this bill to the floor and
we vote on it.
We have something that is
completely out of sync with the rest of our
civil law in this state relating to health
maintenance organizations. They are immune
from liability. There is no other area of the
1214
law where something like this has as broad an
impact on the general public.
There's no reason for this, there's
no justification for this other than the fact
that this particular group of profit-making
organizations managed to sneak this through
and have hung onto it. We need to make HMOs
responsible the way every other organization
is responsible in this state.
People talk about trying to create
a market for health care. And we need to have
a good functioning market for health care.
But one of the keys to the markets in the
United States -- and the best example of this,
I think, is the securities industry -- is the
civil tort system. People are held
responsible, held accountable in court for
misconduct, for bad action.
And the system works magnificently.
Our securities markets are the envy of the
world. People criticize trial lawyers. I'll
tell you something. If you didn't have trial
lawyers, the securities markets would not be
as good as they are now. And I used to defend
cases in the securities industry. I was on
1215
the other side.
We need to apply the same
principles to the health care industry. This
indemnification, this magic shield that the
HMOs have is not helping, the system is not
working, and it's time for us to follow the
states that have gone before us. It's really
a shame that New York, that has been a leader
in many areas, has failed to take action on
this.
I urge a yes vote on this and that
we make this law this year.
THE PRESIDENT: On the motion,
all in favor signify by saying aye.
SENATOR STACHOWSKI: Party vote
in the affirmative.
SENATOR SKELOS: Party vote in
the negative.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the party vote.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 20. Nays,
34.
THE PRESIDENT: The motion is
defeated.
1216
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: Senate Print
6439, by Senator Breslin, an act to amend the
Insurance Law, in relation to a cap on rate
increases.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Breslin.
SENATOR BRESLIN: Madam
President, may I be heard on the motion?
THE PRESIDENT: On the motion,
Senator Breslin.
SENATOR BRESLIN: Madam
President, this is a motion to discharge a
bill that would require the Insurance
Department to conduct hearings when health
maintenance organizations intend to raise
premiums by more than 5 percent.
There has been a bill -- there had
been a statute in place, which expired in
January, which called for hearings if there
was more than a 10 percent increase. Recently
the Assembly has passed a bill with the
5 percent increase.
Why is this important? For each
percentage increase in a health insurance
premium, 60,000 more people are dislodged from
1217
having health insurance. They go on the rolls
of the uninsured.
We passed HCRA proclaiming that we
were going to take people off the rolls of the
uninsured. Yet here, 1 percent increase in
the premium, 60,000 people taken off.
Our citizens deserve hearings,
deserve hearings when increases are going to
be more than 5 percent. Not the Insurance
Department and the HMO -- privately, silently,
without public input -- making decisions that
affect the rates that we pay. And the rates
that we pay are increasing at an alarming
pace.
So I urge -- this isn't a Democrat
or a Republican issue. This is an issue
affecting each and every one of our
constituents. And I urge this house to move
to discharge a bill that would allow those
hearings to take place when there are
increases in excess of 5 percent.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: On the
motion, all those -- I'm sorry, I didn't see
you.
1218
Senator Lachman.
SENATOR LACHMAN: Mr. Chairman, I
would like to echo my colleague's remarks. I
think Senator Breslin has hit the nail
directly on the head.
This has an adverse impact upon
working families and middle-class families in
the city of New York and the state of New
York, and there is no reason why a hearing
should not take place for an increase of
5 percent or more. I strongly support this
motion to discharge.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
question is on the motion to discharge. All
in favor of accepting the motion to discharge
signify by saying aye.
SENATOR STACHOWSKI: Party vote
in the affirmative.
SENATOR SKELOS: Party vote in
the negative.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
Secretary will call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 20. Nays,
34.
1219
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
amendment is defeated.
Senator Dollinger.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Mr.
President, I believe there's a motion at the
desk.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: Senate Print
6595, by Senator Dollinger, an act to amend
the Public Health Law, in relation to health
care information.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Mr.
President, I'd like to waive the reading of
the motion and ask to be heard on it.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
reading of the motion is waived, and you're
now given the opportunity to explain.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Thank you
very much, Mr. President.
This is a football story, a
football story that starts in 1996, when the
State Legislature lined up and decided how to
take care of health care in the State of New
York under the Health Care Reform Act.
1220
And as part of that, we snapped the
ball of hospital report cards to the Governor
of this state. What we said is we believe
that consumers, in order to make intelligent
choices in a competitive health care
environment, should know the kinds of
facilities that they go to for health care.
So we created a hospital report card.
And that hospital report card is
very similar to what we've done in our
standards debate in education, where we issued
report cards about schools. We've issued
report cards about colleges that get federal
and state money.
And as part of the 1996 act, we
created a hospital report card. And we
snapped the ball to the Governor of this
state.
And unfortunately, the Governor
dropped back, and he looked around him and
realized that he was under pressure from
special interests. And sure enough, the
hospital interests and other interests sacked
the Governor, we never got the hospital report
card plan, and he dropped the ball about
1221
hospital report cards.
And I would just suggest to you
today that what we're doing is we're saying
that ball is now right in the middle of the
playing field. It's live in the middle of the
playing field. And if you vote in favor of
this motion, that ball is going to be sitting
right on the 50-yard line.
And I want to tell my Republican
colleagues on the other side of the aisle:
Pick up that ball. I've got 23 blockers right
here, 23 blockers, a convoy of blockers who
are ready. When you pick up the ball, we'll
run it to the end zone. In fact, I'm even
willing to pick it up right now in this
motion, and I'm willing to lateral it to
Senator Bruno.
Now, all of you from western New
York know that we're very sensitive about the
issue of laterals. And it's a backwards pass.
I'm throwing it right back to you. I'll throw
it to Senator Hannon, I'll throw it to Senator
Bruno, anybody who wants to catch it. It's
right there. It's a backwards lateral. It's
clearly legal.
1222
All you've got to do is catch the
ball. And we've got 23 blockers that will
convoy you down the field, and we can take
hospital report cards and jump over the goal
line and take this idea that was a good idea
in 1996, it was a good idea in 1999, it's a
good idea in the year 2000, we can just jump
over that goal line and do what we decided to
do in 1996: create hospital report cards so
that consumers of this state know the quality
of services they get from a particular
hospital in this competitive environment.
I'm willing to lateral the ball.
I'll throw it right across the aisle. I'll
throw it backwards. It's perfectly legal.
Please, pick up the ball. Join the 23
blockers in front of you. We'll transport you
right to the end zone. We'll get rid of the
opposition. We'll go over the goal line, and
we'll have hospital report cards.
The ball is there, it's lying on
the ground. I challenge you to pick it up and
do the right thing in the year 2000 that we
knew was the right thing in the year 1996.
It's an easy challenge. The blockers are
1223
ready, the game will be over and our goal will
be accomplished. Join us. Vote to discharge
this bill from committee, put it on the floor.
It passed -- when we passed HCRA,
it passed unanimously in 1996. I can't
understand how a unanimous idea in 1996 is
suddenly in such disfavor in the year 2000.
The ball is there. We're ready to go.
I move to discharge the motion,
Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Any
other Senator wish to torture that metaphor
further?
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Hearing
none -- hearing none, the question is on the
motion to discharge. All those in favor of
the motion to discharge -
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Party vote in
the affirmative.
SENATOR SKELOS: Party vote in
the negative.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
Secretary will call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
1224
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 20. Nays,
35.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: The
motion is defeated.
Senator Onorato.
SENATOR ONORATO: Mr. President,
I respectfully request that an instant replay
be given on that last count.
(Laughter.)
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Senator
Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
if we could return to reports of standing
committees. I believe there's a report of the
Energy Committee at the desk. I ask that it
be read.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Reports
of standing committees.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Wright,
from the Committee on Energy and
Telecommunications, reports:
Senate Print 2426, by Senator
Wright, an act to amend the Public Service
Law;
1225
2427, by Senator Wright, an act to
amend the Economic Development Law;
3901, by Senator Wright, an act to
amend the Public Service Law;
3994, by Senator Wright, an act to
amend the Public Service Law and the State
Administrative Procedure Act;
4917B, by Senator Marcellino, an
act to amend the Public Service Law;
And 6232, by Senator Alesi, an act
to amend the Public Service Law.
All bills ordered direct to third
reading.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: Without
objection, all bills directly to Third
Reading.
Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
there being no further business to come before
the Senate, I move we adjourn until Monday,
March 13th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days
being legislative days.
ACTING PRESIDENT MEIER: On
motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
Monday, March 13, at 3:00 p.m. Intervening
1226
days will be legislative days.
(Whereupon, at 11:40 a.m., the
Senate adjourned.)