Regular Session - March 29, 2004
1415
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
March 29, 2004
3:14 p.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR ELIZABETH O'C. LITTLE, Acting President
STEVEN M. BOGGESS, Secretary
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P R O C E E D I N G S
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: 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.)
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
invocation today will be given by Rabbi Shmuel
M. Butman of the Lubavitch Youth Organization,
Brooklyn, New York.
RABBI BUTMAN: [In Yiddish.] Our
heavenly Father, please bestow Your blessings
upon all the members of the New York State
Senate and their families. Bless them,
Almighty G-d, with health, with prosperity,
and with much happiness and fulfillment in all
their endeavors.
It is nice to start this prayer
after the prayer that you have offered: one
nation under G-d, indivisible. And that is
exactly the theme of our prayer, that we're
all under G-d and we are assembled here today
in the time of the birth date of the Rebbe and
1417
we are celebrating the 102nd birthday of the
Rebbe. And it was so nice of you to proclaim
102 Days of Education in honor of the Rebbe.
The Rebbe fought for education of
every child, regardless of race, of religion,
of color and creed. The Rebbe fought to tell
every child that there is an eye that sees and
an ear that hears and that the world is not a
jungle. And if we teach our children when
they are young, they are going to grow up to
be honorable and productive citizens of our
society.
You in the Senate of the great
State of New York, you are the ones who
legislate laws that govern society, laws of
justice, laws of honesty, laws of decency.
Through you, those laws have an effect over
the United States of America and, through the
United States of America as a superpower,
through the entire world.
So you in these chambers are
responsible in a very, very wonderful way, to
change the way we think, to change the way we
live so that our laws should be governed by
the laws of G-d -- laws of honesty, laws of
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decency, laws of appreciation and respect for
our fellow man.
The Rebbe teaches us that this is
the last generation of exile and the first
generation of redemption, and we can hasten
the coming of the great redemption by doing
more goodness and kindness. That is exactly
what you institute.
And as I'm standing here before
you, I remember in 1991 when I opened, with a
prayer, a smaller chamber than this, the
United States Senate in Washington. The Rebbe
told me to bring with me a pushkeh. A pushkeh
is a charity box. This charity box has the
form of Lubavitch World Headquarters on
Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.
The Rebbe said, "Take with you a
pushkeh. And when you are going to offer the
prayer, you should put in a dollar bill into
the pushkeh, and everybody should see what you
are doing and they should know what money
should go for."
The Rebbe wants us to do acts of
goodness and kindness. By putting anything
into a pushkeh, we are doing another act of
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goodness and kindness. And therefore, I would
like to continue and to fulfill what the Rebbe
asked me and give this bill on which it says
"In G-d We Trust" into this pushkeh.
Any one of you is welcome -- don't
get scared; this is not a fundraising
campaign -- but anyone is welcome to put in
anything into the pushkeh and to do an act of
goodness and kindness.
I also want to tell you that every
week on the Sabbath in our synagogues we offer
a special prayer for each and every single one
of you. And we say the [in Yiddish]: All
those who serve the public faithfully as you
do, Almighty G-d should give them their
reward.
This is our prayer then on the
Sabbath, and this is the prayer we're offering
today, that Almighty G-d should reward you for
all the good things and the wonderful things
that you do, with a lot of happiness and
fulfillment in your personal life as well as
in your communal life.
And before I end, I would like to
give you all a blessing that you should pass
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the budget successfully before April 1st.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Thank
you, Rabbi Butman, for your kind invocation
and good wishes.
Reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
Saturday, March 27, the Senate met pursuant to
adjournment. The Journal of Friday, March 26,
was read and approved. On motion, Senate
adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Without
objection, the Journal stands approved as
read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: On motion of
Senator Bruno, the rules were suspended and
said bill ordered to a third reading:
Calendar Number 594, by the Assembly Committee
on Rules, Assembly Print Number 10176, an act
to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, in
relation to making technical amendments.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Without
1421
objection, direct to third reading.
Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from
state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Meier.
SENATOR MEIER: Thank you, Madam
President.
On behalf of Senator Spano, I wish
to call up Calendar Number 317, Assembly Print
Number 8752.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
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317, by the Assembly Committee on Rules,
Assembly Print Number 8752, an act to amend
the Civil Rights Law.
SENATOR MEIER: I now move to
reconsider the vote by which this Assembly
bill was substituted for Senator Spano's bill,
Senate Print Number 5136, on March 9th.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will call the roll upon
reconsideration.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 46.
SENATOR MEIER: I now move that
Assembly Bill Number 8752 be recommitted to
the Committee on Investigations and Government
Operations and that the Senate bill be
restored to the order of Third Reading
Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: So
ordered.
SENATOR MEIER: Madam President,
I now offer the following amendments.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
amendments are received.
SENATOR MEIER: Madam President,
1423
I move that the following bills be discharged
from their respective committees and be
recommitted with instructions to strike the
enacting clause: Senate Bills 160, 162, 163,
164, 208, 388, 389, 390, 393, 394.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: So
ordered.
Senator McGee.
SENATOR McGEE: Thank you, Madam
President.
I move to recommit Senate Print
Number 207, Calendar Number 146 on the order
of third reading to the Committee on Children
and Families, with instructions to the said
committee to strike out the enacting clause,
on behalf of Senator Morahan.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: So
ordered.
SENATOR McGEE: Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Senator
McGee.
SENATOR McGEE: Madam President,
I'd like to offer the following amendments to
the following Third Reading Calendar bills:
Sponsored by Senator Spano, page
1424
number 7, Calendar Number 122, Senate Print
5236;
By Senator Marcellino, page number
24, Calendar Number 431, Senate Print 761;
By Senator Marcellino, page number
29, Calendar Number 512, Senate Print 4524A;
By Senator Larkin, page number 31,
Calendar Number 535, Senate Print 1222A;
By Senator Skelos, page 35,
Calendar Number 582, Senate Print 6179;
By Senator Saland, page 28,
Calendar Number 485, Senate Print 5940;
By Senator Saland, page number 35,
Calendar Number 580, Senate Print 6144A.
Madam President, I now move that
these bills retain their place on the order of
Third Reading Calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
amendments are received, and the bills will
retain their place on the Third Reading
Calendar.
SENATOR McGEE: Thank you, Madam
President.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Thank
you.
1425
Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
is there a substitution at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Yes.
SENATOR SKELOS: If we could make
it at this time.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: On page 13,
Senator Balboni moves to discharge, from the
Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and
Military Affairs, Assembly Bill Number 8130A
and substitute it for the identical Senate
Bill Number 5159, Third Reading Calendar 281.
And on page 18, Senator Velella
moves to discharge, from the Committee on
Labor, Assembly Bill Number 8018 and
substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
Number 108, Third Reading Calendar 343.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE:
Substitutions ordered.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
I believe there's a privileged resolution at
the desk by Senator Stachowski. I ask that
the title be read and move for its immediate
1426
adoption.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator
Stachowski, Legislative Resolution Number
4100, honoring Loretta Kaminsky of Lou-retta's
Custom Chocolates upon the occasion of her
induction into the Small Business Hall of Fame
on March 30, 2004.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
question is on the resolution. All in favor
signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE:
Opposed, nay.
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
resolution is adopted.
Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
if we can go to the noncontroversial reading
of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
1427
210, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 769A,
an act to amend the Navigation Law, in
relation to providing an exemption.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 48.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
216, by Senator Balboni, Senate Print 514, an
act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules,
in relation to prohibiting civil actions
against victims of crime.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
SENATOR ADA SMITH: Lay it aside.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is laid aside.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
267, by Senator Skelos, Senate Print 5156B, an
1428
act to amend the Public Health Law, in
relation to prohibiting tongue-splitting
except by physicians and dentists.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect on the first of
November.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
281, substituted earlier today by the Assembly
Committee on Rules, Assembly Print Number
8130A, an act to amend the Executive Law, in
relation to disaster contingencies.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
1429
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
546, by Senator Padavan, Senate Print 1054, an
act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law and
the Administrative Code of the City of
New York, in relation to the conversion of
abandoned vehicles by local authorities.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
550, by Senator Hoffmann, Senate Print 3596,
an act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law,
in relation to authorizing the operation of
farm motor vehicles.
1430
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 50. Nays,
1. Senator Duane recorded in the negative.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
558, by Senator McGee, Senate Print 6136, an
act to amend the Highway Law, in relation to
designating a portion of the state highway
system.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
1431
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
563, by Senator Little, Senate Print 6336, an
act to amend the Highway Law, in relation to
designating a portion of the state highway
system in the city of Glens Falls.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
565, by Senator Morahan, Senate Print 3118A,
an act to amend the General Business Law, in
relation to the donation of articles of
clothing by certain dry-cleaning institutions.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the 120th day.
1432
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 51.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
578, by Senator Trunzo, Senate Print 6109A, an
act to authorize the Bayview Baptist Church,
Incorporated, hamlet of Mastic Beach.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 50. Nays,
1. Senator Bonacic recorded in the negative.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
579, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 6116,
an act to authorize the incorporated village
of Muttontown to discontinue the use of
1433
certain lands as parklands.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: There
is a home-rule message at the desk.
Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
583, by Senator McGee, Senate Print 6183, an
act to amend the General Municipal Law, in
relation to authorizing municipalities to
contract with the state.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect on the first of July.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
1434
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
584, by Senator Little, Senate Print 6258, an
act to change the name of the town of Altamont
in the county of Franklin.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Read
the last section.
THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Call
the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
585, by Senator Wright --
SENATOR SKELOS: Lay it aside for
the day, please.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is laid aside for the day.
Senator Skelos, that concludes the
noncontroversial reading of the calendar.
SENATOR SKELOS: If we could go
1435
to the controversial reading of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will read.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE:
THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
216, by Senator Balboni, Senate Print 514, an
act to amend the Civil Practice Law and Rules,
in relation to prohibiting civil actions.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Senator
Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Will you please
lay that aside for the day.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
bill is laid aside for the day.
Senator Skelos, that completes the
reading of the controversial calendar.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
would you please recognize Senator Lachman for
a short statement.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Thank
you.
Senator Lachman.
SENATOR LACHMAN: Usually after
the Rabbi gives his invocation, Senator Marchi
and I say a few words -- unfortunately, we
1436
were both late today -- regarding the
Lubavitcher movement, which began in Eastern
Europe over a hundred years ago and brought
joy to the lives of many Jews who had suffered
oppression. It then moved to the United
States in the 20th century and is now one of
the fastest-growing movements within Judaism.
Under the late Rebbe Menachem
Schneerson, of blessed memory, the movement
grew so large that it went into many
universities and colleges in America, offering
kosher food and prayer services to those who
would not have it in small-town American life.
This is one of their major achievements.
Another one of their major
achievements, which very few people realize,
is they have recently, over the last decade,
gone into Eastern Europe, once under the
dictatorship of communist countries, and have
reactivated Jewish living and Jewish learning
and scholarship. What they are doing in the
field of education, as well as a vibrant
living Judaism, is remarkable and should be
commended.
Thank you.
1437
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Thank
you.
Senator Marchi.
SENATOR MARCHI: Well, I don't
believe I've attended an official function
unless we had the presence today that we have.
It's all meaningless. I go back over the
years, and I agree with my distinguished
colleague of many years that this is the
binding that we were looking for, approvingly,
of our meeting here today, and he reflects, in
the activities that he pursues, over a
thousand years of -- it's even longer than
that, isn't it? -- of serving so loyally and
so well, spiritually, morally and in every way
that I can possibly think of.
So it's so good to have you here,
because otherwise we wouldn't be able to have
this function. It would be an empty gesture
without your presence. So we take heart by
the fact that you are here and with us and
celebrate this day for what it is. It has a
very rich spiritual significance, one that we
have to take to heart. And we do so with
enthusiasm, because I -- you know, it's almost
1438
60 years since I've been -- no, 50 years, I
should say, that I've been doing this. But I
do it with so much elation and so much joy.
And your presence really makes it so. It
wouldn't be the same without it.
So again, God bless you for being
with us, and we exult in the circumstances
that give us an opportunity to participate in
this event.
RABBI BUTMAN: Thank you very,
very much.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Senator
Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
is there any housekeeping at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: No,
Senator, there is no housekeeping at the desk.
SENATOR SKELOS: Please recognize
Senator Krueger.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Thank
you.
Senator Krueger.
SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER: Thank you,
Madam President.
I believe I have a motion at the
1439
desk. I'd like to have it called at this
time.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY: By Senator
Krueger, Senate Bill Number 384, an act to
amend the Environmental Conservation Law and
the State Finance Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Senator
Krueger.
SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER: Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President.
Well, today I am attempting to have
this house take up a bill that I think is
critical and timely and all of us, when
recognizing this issue, should be agreeing
that it is time to update and improve the
New York State Bottle Bill and redemption
system.
I have a bill, S384, that I hope my
colleagues will consider, and I will describe
it. But in fact it is one of several pieces
of legislation that have been proposed in both
houses that would work to expand and improve
the successful New York State Bottle Bill,
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which is now over twenty years old.
My legislation would expand the
Bottle Bill to include deposits on
noncarbonated beverages, including water, ice
teas and other fruit-type juices; it would
increase the deposit on each container from 5
to 10 cents; and, perhaps most importantly, it
would collect unclaimed deposits and dedicate
them to the state's Environmental Protection
Fund to fund municipal recycling and waste
prevention programs and other critical
environmental needs at the local level.
New York State's Returnable
Container Act, better known as the Bottle
Bill, requires a 5-cent refundable deposit on
all beer, soda, and wine cooler containers
sold in New York State. The measure was
enacted in 1982 to reduce litter and increase
recycling.
Since '82, the beverage market has
changed drastically, with noncarbonated
beverages such as bottled water, ice tea, and
sports drinks comprising an increasing market
share. Furthermore, curbside recycling is now
mandatory throughout most of the state.
1441
Recent polls done by environmental groups show
that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support
expansion of the Bottle Bill to include
noncarbonated beverages -- 70 percent in a
recent poll. In fact, 86 percent of those
polled urge unclaimed deposits be used for
environmental purposes.
Using unclaimed deposits now
retained by the beverage industry could be
used to benefit New York's environment, as has
been done in Massachusetts and Michigan. In
fact, several other states have moved forward
recently. Maine, California, and Hawaii
already have bottle laws that include water,
juice and other noncarbonated drink
containers. Massachusetts has proposed a
similar measure.
Maine, Michigan, and Massachusetts
have already amended their law so the states
can keep their unredeemed deposits for
environmental purposes. And according to
recent press reports, Michigan, which has a
10-cent deposit, now has a redemption rate of
90 percent. In states without a bottle law,
containers are recycled at an average rate of
1442
only 40 percent.
The unclaimed deposits that could
be transferred to the Environmental Protection
Fund could again be used for recycling, waste
reduction, other important programs.
This existing law has already saved
taxpayers and municipalities the cost of
collecting and recycling or disposing of
beverage containers to the tune of nearly
$300 million saved in landfill fees since
1983. Expanding our Bottle Bill to cover more
bottles and to retarget funds to the
Environmental Protection Fund would create new
jobs in the recycling and retail industries
and help New York's neediest citizens
supplement their income. It would, it is
estimated, reduce litter by up to 11 percent.
Providing an economic incentive to redeem
containers increases recycling rates, reduces
litter, and minimizes stress on our landfills.
The Bottle Bill already has
diverted more than 5.2 million tons from our
waste stream over the past 20 years.
Expanding the Bottle Bill to include the other
types of bottles I described would
1443
dramatically help us even further decrease our
waste stream problems. Boosting recycling
rates means fewer containers will be
landfilled or incinerated, more natural
resources will be conserved, energy will be
saved, and greenhouse gases reduced.
Recent surveys have shown that
nonredeemable containers make up nearly
two-thirds of the beverage containers piling
up on New York's shorelines, up to 11 percent
of all litter in some communities.
Helping to remove more bottles from
our waste stream will also reduce the amount
of broken glass on our playgrounds and in our
parks, resulting in fewer incidents of cuts
and lacerations, particularly among children.
Less litter and broken glass along our streets
and highways will mean less property damage to
farm equipment, livestock, and vehicles.
And bearing the cost of a product's
waste should be the responsibility, at least
partially, of the beverage producers and their
consumers, not taxpayers and communities. The
Bottle Bill is a model for this kind of
sustainability.
1444
The Bottle Bill to date has been an
environment success story for New York, but we
can make it even better. Proposals such as my
own would not only provide an additional
$170 million estimated new revenue each year
to go into local recycling and environmental
programs, but would reduce operating costs of
the localities that have curbside recycling
programs. So we bring additional money into
the Environmental Protection Fund, and we
decrease outgoing costs on local
municipalities that operate recycling programs
today.
Adding noncarbonated containers to
the deposit system will help relieve
financially strapped curbside programs of an
expensive burden. Just 7 percent of the
beverage market is noncarbonated beverages
sold in aluminum cans, the only curbside
material of real value. More than 90 percent
of these noncarbonated containers are glass
and plastic bottles that we should be bringing
into the recycling system.
Again, I see this as a win-win for
the State of New York. It's a win financially
1445
for our stressed budget; it puts money
directly into targeted programs at the local
level to help clean our environment; and it
decreases the environmental problems we're
already facing in the state.
I hope my colleagues will join me
in voting for my amendment today.
Thank you, Madam President.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: Thank
you.
Those Senators in agreement with
the petition please signify by raising your
hand.
THE SECRETARY: Those recorded in
agreement are Senators Andrews, Breslin, Diaz,
Dilán, Duane, González, Hassell-Thompson, L.
Krueger, Lachman, Montgomery, Onorato,
Oppenheimer, Parker, Paterson, Sabini,
Sampson, Schneiderman, A. Smith, Stachowski,
and Stavisky.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: The
petition is lost.
Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
there being no further business to come before
1446
the Senate, I move we stand adjourned until
Tuesday, March 30th, at 3:00 p.m. Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT LITTLE: On
motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
Tuesday, March 30th, at 3:00 p.m.
(Whereupon, at 3:45 p.m., the
Senate adjourned.)