Teri Weaver at the Post-Standard asks, which was debated longer on the Senate floor: a bill making yogurt the official state snack or the SAFE Act?
The yogurt debate took 44 minutes. SAFE was done in less than 30.
Month: May 2014
GOP legislators lying about SAFE funding
From the NY Post, “GOP lawmakers mad over ‘hidden’ gun-control funding in state budget“:
“Pro-gun GOP lawmakers are smoking mad that they voted for millions of dollars in funding for the SAFE Act — the state’s strict gun-control law — claiming they didn’t know the spending was hidden in state budget bills. As part of the newly adopted state budget, legislators approved the reappropriation of $28 million to fund a gun database and another $3.2 million in new money for SAFE Act staff. Two GOP senators blasted the maneuver. “We were told there was no funding for it. If there was, I would have voted against it,” said one senator, who requested anonymity. Several Assembly GOP lawmakers said they knew only about the gun-law funding after a state Budget Division briefing.”
Bullshit.
The Assembly openly debated this funding on the chamber floor in public session. Everybody knew the money was there. Proof of this can be found in the April 11 edition of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, “Stec warns against state gun database“:
“Assemblyman Dan Stec is warning against a provision in the state budget which would fund a state database for gun records, required by last year’s Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act. Stec, a Republican from Queensbury, objects to a $3.2 million allocation in the budget to implement the database. That line item falls within a provision that gives state police $88.9 million for technical police service programs. The state gave $27.7 million for a SAFE Act database last year, according to news reports …”
SAFE lawsuit fundraiser shoot at DCPA
Legislative Report #16
Legislative Report #16 is now online.
Raising eyebrows and lowering the bar
Buffalo-area Assemblyman David DiPietro is holding a fundraiser raffle with guns as prizes.
Let the whining and teeth-gnashing begin:
“… DiPietro, a fierce critic of Gov. Cuomo’s gun control law that passed last year, said he knew “it’s red meat for a lot of people downstate.” “There is such a disconnect between the New York City people and the rest of the state,” he said.”The upper crust in Manhattan and on the Upper East Side, they have no clue.” …”
Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal then proves DiPietro right by responding:
“… “After learning about this event, I must admit that my upper West Side eyebrows were raised,” she said. “I would hope that elected officials would set the bar, not lower it.” …”
Really? Considering the sheer volume of disreputable and corrupt politicians this state has produced in recent memory, the overwhelming majority of which were her fellow NYC Democrats who she lacked the courage to speak out against, her statement perfectly demonstrates the point DiPietro is trying to make.