Regular Session - January 3, 2001
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NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
January 3, 2001
12:01 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 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: We are privileged
today to have with us to give the invocation
the Most Reverend Howard J. Hubbard, Bishop of
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.
BISHOP HUBBARD: Let us pray.
O faithful and eternal God, Lord of
all history and source of all of our authority
to direct and govern, we pray with the spirit
of hope and expectation for Your blessing upon
all gathered for this 2001 opening session of
the New York State Senate.
In that spirit of renewed hope, we
seek Your wisdom in the use of the talents and
diverse gifts with which You have blessed each
member of this body. In a world which is
wounded by political upheaval, disunity,
unrest, homelessness, violence, substance
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abuse, and afflictions in various forms, we
need the courage and compassion to remedy
these wrongs and to alleviate the sufferings
of those oppressed and burdened by these
indignities.
Aware of our human frailties and of
the potential for weakening of our
resourcefulness, we ask Your enduring guidance
in all the determinations of this august body
during this new year, so that its members may
channel their considerable political skills in
an unwavering concern for the common good.
For all this we pray, O caring God
of all people, in Your sacred name, You who
live and reign both now and forever and ever.
Amen.
THE PRESIDENT: 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 would like to ask if there are
any Senators present who have not yet taken
their oaths of office.
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(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will call the roll to ascertain a quorum.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Alesi.
SENATOR ALESI: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Balboni.
SENATOR BALBONI: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Bonacic.
SENATOR BONACIC: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Breslin.
(No response.)
THE SECRETARY: Senator Brown.
SENATOR BROWN: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Connor.
SENATOR CONNOR: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator
DeFrancisco.
SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator
Dollinger.
SENATOR DOLLINGER: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Duane.
(No response.)
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THE SECRETARY: Senator Espada.
SENATOR ESPADA: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator
Fuschillo.
SENATOR FUSCHILLO: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Gentile
excused.
Senator Gonzalez.
(No response.)
THE SECRETARY: Senator Goodman.
SENATOR GOODMAN: Here.
(Extended applause.)
THE SECRETARY: Senator Hannon.
SENATOR HANNON: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator
Hassell-Thompson.
SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Hevesi.
(No response.)
THE SECRETARY: Senator Hoffmann.
SENATOR HOFFMANN: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Johnson.
SENATOR JOHNSON: Here.
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THE SECRETARY: Senator Kruger.
SENATOR KRUGER: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Kuhl.
SENATOR KUHL: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Lachman.
SENATOR LACHMAN: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Lack.
SENATOR LACK: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Larkin.
SENATOR LARKIN: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator LaValle.
SENATOR LAVALLE: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Leibell.
SENATOR LEIBELL: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Libous.
SENATOR LIBOUS: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Maltese.
SENATOR MALTESE: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator
Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Marchi
excused.
Senator Markowitz.
SENATOR MARKOWITZ: Here.
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THE SECRETARY: Senator Maziarz.
SENATOR MAZIARZ: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator McGee.
SENATOR McGEE: Present.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Meier.
SENATOR MEIER: Here.
THE SECRETARY: Senator Mendez.
SENATOR MENDEZ: Here.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno, a
quorum is present.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
President. May we proceed?
THE PRESIDENT: We shall.
Majority Leader Bruno, Minority
Leader Connor, members of the New York State
Senate, welcome. And I wish all of you a
happy and a healthy new year as we commence
the 224th session of the New York State
Legislature.
I continue to be honored and
enthusiastic about my role, not only as
Lieutenant Governor but as your presiding
officer, working with all of you as well as
our Governor to ensure that the citizens of
New York State have the opportunities here to
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be their best and that we offer them each and
every one of those opportunities in the Empire
State.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: As elected
officials, this is our noble duty and
challenge.
Let us commit now to join together,
and in the final analysis above individual or
partisan considerations, to build upon our
existing partnership so that 2001 will be the
most positive, productive year it can possibly
be for the people of our state. That is our
most important consideration.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: The chair hands
down a communication from the Governor.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: "Dear Madam
President, I would appreciate the privilege of
appearing before your honorable bodies in
joint session on January 3, 2001, at 1:00 p.m.
or as soon thereafter as may be convenient, to
personally deliver my annual message to the
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Legislature.
"Sincerely, George E. Pataki."
THE PRESIDENT: To be filed in
the Journal.
Senator Stafford.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
President, I hand up this privileged
resolution and ask that the title be read.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator
Stafford, Senate Resolution Number 1,
providing for the election of Joseph L. Bruno
as Temporary President of the Senate for the
years 2001-2002.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson.
SENATOR PATERSON: Madam
President, I hope at the desk you have an
alternative resolution nominating Senator
Martin Connor to act as the temporary
president of this body for the next two years,
2001-2002.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator
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Paterson, Senate Resolution Number 2,
providing for the election of Martin Connor as
Temporary President of the Senate for the
years 2001-2002.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson.
SENATOR PATERSON: Madam
President, on the resolution.
It is my privilege to nominate at
this time Senator Martin Connor to be the
Temporary President of the Senate. This is
Senator Connor's 24th year as a State Senator.
He has served for six years, very admirably,
as the Minority Leader of the Senate, and we
think it's time for a change.
We think that Senator Connor would
demonstrate the responsibility and the
dedication that he has dedicated the last 23
years to, to the awesome task as serving as
the Temporary President of the Senate.
We say this with no disrespect to
the current Majority Leader of the Senate,
Senator Joseph L. Bruno, who has done an
outstanding job. But there are probably other
things he might need to devote his time to
these days, so we thought that Senator Connor
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would be an admirable replacement.
Senator Connor's advocacy more than
anything else has been responsible for
legislation in the areas of gun control, in
the areas of campaign finance, in the areas of
housing advocacy, the rights of tenants, the
rights of the homeless.
We have considerable effort and
work on hate crimes legislation. We passed a
hate crimes bill in the past couple of years
with bipartisan support. But in the hours
when no one was talking about this issue, it
was Senator Connor, who as well as in health
care and education, has been the one to
spearhead a lot of the efforts.
Our economic policy of the state,
the family values that all of us in the state
champion -- the question sometimes is who
advocated those issues when others would not.
Or, as they say in Star Trek, who would go to
areas that others will not go.
And so as we start the official new
millennium in the last couple of days and we
ask ourselves the question who can take us to
the quality of life that we have not enjoyed
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previously for all people in the state -
Asian, black, Hispanic, or white, upper,
middle class or welfare recipients, tenants,
cooperators, landlords, or even the
homeless -- there's no one better, in my
opinion, than Senator Martin Connor to do
that.
And that's why I respectfully place
his name in nomination at this time.
THE PRESIDENT: On the substitute
resolution offered by Senator Paterson, all in
favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(Response of "Nay.")
THE PRESIDENT: The nays have it.
The resolution is defeated.
Senator Stafford.
SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
President.
Your Excellency Bishop Hubbard,
Madam President, colleagues, Happy New Year.
Sometimes change is good. In this case, it is
not.
(Laughter.)
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SENATOR STAFFORD: No disrespect
to anyone in the chamber or anyone anywhere.
But it is my privilege to speak on
this resolution electing Joseph Louis Bruno
Majority Leader -- and when you're as old as
we are, you say Majority Leader and President
Pro Tem; now we say Temporary President. But
we're talking about our leader who we're
electing here today, and he has been our
leader.
As I've said earlier, Joe Bruno
came to this chamber and he had had
experience, experience in government, he'd
been successful in the private sector. And
like Charles Evans Hughes, who was Governor,
Chief Justice -- Governor of this state, Chief
Justice of the United States -- he was born in
Glens Falls. Now, that alone would really
make him eligible to be our leader.
But also, Madam President, we have
to point out that we have in the past six
years had such successes. We could go on and
on about what has been done. We can talk
about reducing taxes, economic development,
criminal justice, turning our state around
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with Governor Pataki and our team. He's done
the job.
Think of it. Think of it. When
our Majority Leader took over and the Governor
took over, this state had a $5 billion
deficit. And it had had those deficits in the
'90s, other than in '94. With the leadership
of Senator Bruno, again calling for what had
to be done and staying right on target, he's
the one who led us and he's the one who should
continue to lead us.
About this chamber. Now, Senator
Bruno and I go way back, over four decades.
Now, of course in four decades we were only in
grade school. But I can say he had a lot to
do with me coming to this chamber 35 years
ago. And also, this chamber has never been
administered or run better. From setting the
time we're going to meet, and meeting, his
tireless efforts have made us do a better job.
And, Madam President, as Theodore
Roosevelt preached the doctrine of strenuous
life, the life of toil, effort and labor, Joe
Bruno has followed that doctrine. We are
better here in this chamber and our state is
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better.
And so it is an honor for me to
move the resolution electing Senator Joseph L.
Bruno Majority Leader and Temporary President
of our body. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
Senator.
The question is now 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 the chair states for the record
that Senator Joseph L. Bruno has been elected
Temporary President of the Senate for the
years 2001 and 2002.
(Standing ovation.)
THE PRESIDENT: Please raise your
right hand and repeat after me: I, Joseph L.
Bruno -
SENATOR BRUNO: I, Joseph L.
Bruno -
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THE PRESIDENT: -- do solemnly
swear -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- do solemnly
swear -
THE PRESIDENT: -- that I will
uphold the Constitution of the United
States -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- that I will
uphold the Constitution of the United
States -
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 -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- and that I
will faithfully discharge the duties -
THE PRESIDENT: -- of the office
of Temporary President of the Senate of the
State of New York -
SENATOR BRUNO: -- of the office
of Temporary President of the Senate of the
State of New York -
THE PRESIDENT: -- to the best of
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my ability, so help me God.
SENATOR BRUNO: -- to the best of
my ability, so help me God.
THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations.
(Extended applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: The chair now
acknowledges 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.
Senator Connor.
SENATOR CONNOR: Thank you, Madam
President. And Happy New Year to you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
SENATOR CONNOR: And my heartfelt
congratulations to my friend and colleague
Senator Bruno.
I guess I have the distinction now
of having lost the closest race in the Senate
this year. I heard -- it sounded louder than
six, but I think it was six votes.
May I first, if I may, introduce
three new colleagues to us. One who is not so
new, actually; one who we've known and many of
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us served with in the past who has now
returned to take his place in the State
Senate: Senator Pedro Espada, from the County
of the Bronx, who is, as we know, experienced
in community service, in government, and in
business, and is also a graduate of Fordham.
Which is a good thing, I'm told; right,
Senator Breslin?
And so again, Madam President, if
we could extend a welcome to Senator Pedro
Espada, Jr.
THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the
Senate.
(Applause.)
SENATOR CONNOR: Madam President,
moving to the other end of the state, we are
privileged to have join us as a colleague
someone who has served on the City Council of
the City of Buffalo, someone who has
experience in business and community service.
He has a Bachelor of Arts from
Buffalo State. He has a certificate for
senior governmental executives from the
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He
was one of 45 people selected to participate
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in the charter class of Buffalo. He has been
recognized nationally, actually, by Ebony
Magazine in 1989 as one of the 30 leaders of
the future in America.
And we are -- I'm happy to
introduce to you all the Honorable Senator
Byron Brown.
(Applause.)
SENATOR CONNOR: And, Madam
President, joining us today, again increasing
those all-important numbers of women among us,
representing the Bronx and Westchester County,
hailing from Mount Vernon, the city of Mount
Vernon, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, who served on
the City Council of Mount Vernon.
She has served as the Council
President and Acting Mayor of Mount Vernon.
She has a wide breadth of experience in
business and in community service, in
education, in health education.
And I think as we get to know her,
we will see why the voters placed their faith
in Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson.
Senator.
(Applause.)
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SENATOR CONNOR: Madam President,
if I may just briefly remark, I'm delighted to
be back here, as I'm sure all of you are who
are here among our colleagues.
And let me say the time -- the
election is over, thank God. Senator Goodman,
it doesn't seem like it was over that long, I
know. But the system worked, the voters
recognized Senator Goodman's long service.
And the fact is, it's time for government now.
And it's time -- and I think we
began last year, actually, in this chamber to
show the public that government can work, that
people can cooperate, that there can be
bipartisan sharing of ideas, bipartisan effort
to produce results for the voters. I think
that's very important. I think it's what the
public wants.
I think the public appreciates
vigorous elections. I think they appreciate
vigorous, cooperative government when that
time is over. It's now time to govern, as we
launch this session. I know under the
leadership of Senator Bruno, with the
cooperation of all of our colleagues, we I
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hope will have a productive year on that
basis.
Thank you, Madam President.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
Senator Connor.
Senator Bruno, for remarks.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
President.
And, Bishop Hubbard, thank you for
that very appropriate and needed opening
prayer. And Lieutenant Governor Donohue, for
your very appropriate remarks.
And a special word of thanks to my
friend and colleague Senator Stafford for his
friendship. And we go back an awful lot of
years. And I am reminded on a day like today
that the first time I ever entered the Senate
chamber, it was to visit Senator Stafford as
the Young Republicans president of Warren
County, which happens to be in the 45th
Senatorial District.
And that was my introduction to
Ron, when he was the youngest member in the
New York State Senate. He is still the most
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energetic and, in spirit, youngest. Thank
you, Ron, for your friendship and for your
remarks.
And to Senator Connor,
congratulations, and thank you for the way you
conduct yourself here in this chamber.
And a special word of thanks to my
colleagues who support me and allow me to
continue in a leadership role. And I can tell
you that when I think about what goes on in my
life, that it's sometimes almost difficult for
me to comprehend where we are and what we're
doing. But thanks to you, I am allowed to do
what I do and to continue in a leadership role
of what really is the greatest and finest
legislative body in the entire world.
And my daughter Susan and son Ken
are here, and they are always there and
extremely supportive, with my family, Joey and
Katie and my wife, Bobbie. And I thank them
certainly for their support, day and night and
weekends.
You know, last year was a tough
year. It was a very productive year. We in
this chamber -- and, Senator Connor, you're
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right, we did a lot of things. We did a lot
of things together.
When you talk about the effect that
we in this chamber, partnering with Governor
George Pataki, have had on the constituency of
this state, all of us can be proud, really
proud, to represent the constituency that
sends us here.
And I can't help but think that
when we worked hard and diligently last year,
we then left here in June, having done the
great things that we did on behalf of the
people of this state, we then entered another
season other than the legislative season. And
it's known as running for office.
And we all ran. And we ran hard.
And I can share with you that I don't believe
that we have ever had stiffer competition.
Sometimes what we felt was a little bit too
competitive, and almost too personal.
But having gone to the constituency
with our record, the constituency out there
individually and collectively made a decision
that this Majority is leading this state,
partnering with our great governor, George
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Pataki, to improve the quality of life,
partnering with a Minority to work together.
And this constituency, in their great wisdom,
saw fit to return each and every one of these
Majority members to office. And the
competition was tough, but we are here 36
strong.
(Applause.)
SENATOR BRUNO: And if you think
about the ramifications of what was out there
this past November, there was one individual
that liked that political climate and that
elective process so much that he continued it
for another 42 days after election: Senator
Goodman.
(Applause.)
SENATOR BRUNO: But his
constituency made a wise choice, and he will
build on all of the experiences that he brings
to this house.
And I seriously want to say that we
will debate, we will compete, and we
understand our respective roles and we do the
best that we can on behalf of our constituency
and the parties that we represent and the
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roles that we play.
And I am just so thankful to each
and every one of my members that they went out
and did the things that they did that allow me
to be here as the Majority Leader and allow
Senator Connor, who does an admirable job as
Minority Leader, to continue in that role. So
thank you to the Majority, and thank you.
We are going to continue to debate.
We're going to continue to close when it's
appropriate and do the work on behalf of the
people of this state. Party lines disappear
now that the election is over, and now we all
represent a constituency and we want to, each
and every one of us, do it to the best of our
ability.
And I can pledge with you, as the
leader here in the Senate, that I will be as
cooperative as I can be to help you fulfill
the promises that you made and to fulfill what
the people out there expect of you when they
cast a vote on your behalf to bring you here.
So we're going to have a great year
in 2001. We're going to partner with Governor
George Pataki. We're going to work with the
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Assembly. And we're going to work -- when
it's all said and done, when the debate is
over -- and debate is part of the elective
process -- we're going to close ranks and
we're going to go forward and continue in 2001
to do all of the things that we know are
important to the people in this state that all
of us represent individually and that we
represent collectively.
So thank you all, each and every
one of you, for your support, and God bless
each and every one of you. Thank you.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
I believe there's a resolution at the desk. I
would ask that its title be read and move for
its immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 3, that Steven M.
Boggess, of Sand Lake, New York, be, and he
hereby is elected Secretary of the Senate for
the years 2001-2002.
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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.
And the chair states for the record
that Steven M. Boggess has been elected
Secretary of the Senate for the years 2001 and
2002.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Please raise your
right hand and repeat after me: I, Steven M.
Boggess -
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
I, Steven M. Boggess -
THE PRESIDENT: -- do solemnly
swear -
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
-- do solemnly swear -
THE PRESIDENT: -- that I will
uphold the Constitution of the United
States -
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SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
-- that I will uphold the Constitution of the
United States -
THE PRESIDENT: -- and the
Constitution of the State of New York -
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
-- and the Constitution of the State of New
York -
THE PRESIDENT: -- and that I
will faithfully discharge the duties -
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
And that I will faithfully discharge the
duties -
THE PRESIDENT: -- of the office
of Secretary of the New York State Senate -
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
-- of the office of Secretary of the New York
State Senate -
THE PRESIDENT: -- to the best of
my ability.
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BOGGESS:
-- to the best of my ability.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Thank you, Madam
29
President.
My congratulations to the Secretary
of the Senate, Steve Boggess. Steve
distinguishes himself by having survived 25
years of a relationship with me as a friend
and as a constituent.
(Laughter.)
SENATOR BRUNO: I believe, Madam
President, there is another resolution at the
desk. I would ask that the title be read and
move for its immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 4, that Catherine
Kirkland be, and she hereby is elected the
Official Stenographer of the Senate for the
years 2001-2002.
THE PRESIDENT: On the
resolution, all 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.
Congratulations, Ms. Kirkland.
(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
move for its immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 5, that William C.
Martin be, and he hereby is elected
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate for the years
2001-2002.
THE PRESIDENT: 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.
Congratulations, Mr. Martin.
(Applause.)
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THE PRESIDENT: Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
I believe there are several resolutions at the
desk that I have sponsored. I would ask that
their titles be read and move for their
immediate adoption.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary
will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Concurrent Resolution Number 6, 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.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The concurrent
resolution is adopted.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 7: "Resolved, That
the President appoint a Committee of two to
32
inform the Governor of the election of Joseph
L. Bruno as Temporary President of the Senate
for the years 2001-2002, and that the Senate
is organized and ready to proceed with
business and will meet with the Assembly in
the Assembly Chamber at 1:00 p.m. to receive
the Governor's message."
THE PRESIDENT: The question
again 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 hereby appoints Senators
DeFrancisco and Hassell-Thompson to wait upon
the Governor that the Senate is ready to
proceed.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 8: "Resolved, That
the President appoint a Committee of two to
wait upon the Assembly and inform that body of
the election of Joseph L. Bruno as Temporary
33
President of the Senate for the years
2001-2002, and that the Senate is organized
and ready to proceed with business and will
meet jointly with the Assembly in the Assembly
Chamber at 1:00 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.
And the chair hereby appoints
Senators Wright and Brown to wait upon the
Assembly that the Senate is ready to proceed.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 9, providing that the
Rules for the Senate for the year 2000, as
last amended, be adopted as the Rules of the
Senate for the years 2001-2002.
THE PRESIDENT: Senator Paterson.
SENATOR PATERSON: Madam
34
President, on behalf of the Minority, we would
reserve the right to amend the rules to the
Senate for the years 2001 and 2002. They are
the focal point of our organization, and we do
have some suggestions and will inform the
Majority duly that we are ready to discuss
them.
THE PRESIDENT: The record will
so reflect, Senator Paterson.
The question is on the resolution
again. All those in favor signify by saying
aye.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
THE PRESIDENT: The resolution is
adopted.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator Bruno,
Senate Resolution Number 10, providing for the
hours of meeting by the Senate for the years
2001-2002: "Resolved, That unless otherwise
ordered, the hours of meeting of the Senate
shall be as follows: Mondays and Tuesdays at
3:00 p.m., Wednesdays and all other days at
35
11:00 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.
The Senate will come to order.
The chair recognizes Assemblymen
Farrell and Flanagan.
ASSEMBLYMAN FLANAGAN: Madam
President, the Speaker of the Assembly has
been elected, the Assembly is organized, and
we wait upon the Senate and the Governor for
the delivery of the State of the State.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
Assemblyman.
(Applause.)
Senator Bruno.
SENATOR BRUNO: Madam President,
at this time the Senate will proceed to the
Assembly chamber to hear the message of the
Governor, after which the Senate will stand
36
adjourned until Monday, January 8th, at
3:00 p.m., intervening days to be legislative
days.
Thank you.
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 8, at
3:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative
days.
The Senate is adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 12:45 p.m., the
Senate adjourned.)