Griffo: Don't expect a budget at special session
Story Created:
Jul 27, 2010 at 4:49 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 27, 2010 at 6:09 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - New York State Senator Joseph Griffo, (R) 47th District, says that not only does he not expect a budget at Wednesday's special session, but he expects there will be another special session again the following week.
Griffo says there has been no communication for the past several weeks from anyone in the Senate, including the senate Democrats in charge. Griffo said Republicans, who are in the minority, have their hands tied.
According to Griffo, Republican Senators have given budget suggestions in the past but that they were ignored, and most recently have been kept out of negotiations. Griffo admits nobody, Democrat or Republican, looks good when the budget is 17 weeks late.
"The whole system is stained by the individuals in charge," Griffo said. "The facts are what they are. They are from New York City and they are all Democrat leaders. They have been unable to get along and put a policy forward that will best suit the people we serve."
The Senate needs to pass just one more measure to complete the budget that has been piece-mealed together so far. The question now is if the Senate agree on that measure. Griffo says no.
Senator Griffo and every other state legislator, including the Assembly, have not been paid since April, when the budget was due. Being an election year, Griffo said he knows some won't be back in Albany next year. But what about him?
"You (the voters) have to actually look at all the individuals, determine where they stand and I hope people will make a judgment accordingly," Griffo said.
Senate leader John Sampson won't say if all 32 members of his Democratic majority will attend the extraordinary session. Sampson repeatedly refused to tell reporters on Tuesday whether all his members would attend Wednesday evening's session.
The Senate needs 32 votes to pass anything and the Republican minority has voted in a bloc against most budget measures.
Democrat New York State Senator David Valesky who represents parts of Oneida County, did not respond to several calls made on Tuesday about this story.
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