[NikkitaZ]

From TPMDC:
Republicans Take Control Of New York State Senate

By Eric Kleefeld - June 8, 2009, 5:02PM
The Republicans just got a big break in New York, with two Democratic state Senators now switching over and giving the GOP control of the state Senate.
The Dems only just won control of the heavily GOP-gerrymandered chamber in 2008, after four decades in the minority. (The gerrymander is noted here only to point out what an accomplishment this was, not to make any moralistic point -- it was after all made feasible because of cooperation with the permanent Democratic majority in the state Assembly, which also gerrymandered itself to greater and greater numbers over the years.)
The two defectors were Sens. Hiram Monserrate of Queens, and Pedro Espada of the Bronx.
After Election Day 2008, the chamber stood at 32 Democrats to 30 Republicans. But now that has been flipped around: 32 Republicans -- or at least 32 members who organize for Republican leadership -- to 30 Democrats.
As if Gov. David Paterson (D) didn't have enough problems...

[spamkillerf]

I want to throw them all out.

Listening to them on the news this morning, one guy had these scripted lines about how he was going to change and get things done etc etc, that he repeated no matter what the question actually was. It got really REALLY irritating to listen to him. It was as if he was giving a rally speech or something!


I have no problem with change, or trying to get things done, but these two guys really do not look like the cream of the crop when it comes to "honest" politics.

[Switiespils]

Governor Paterson is definitely no honest politician!

[fudelholf]

When did I say he was?

[Nurfzerne]

honest politician Isn't that an oxymoron?

[Skete]

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Depends on how smart the morons are.

Shouldn't this be Senate Lowjinx?

[r7rGOhvd]

Governor Paterson is definitely no honest politician!

Yes but he is such a cutie. I get all mushy with the pretty ones...

[Kayakeenemeds]

At least one smart guy in Albany:

Comptroller Will Withhold Senators’ Pay

[crycleascentyv]

You don't work, you don't get paid.


How did it take this long for someone to realize this?

[Anfester]

NY State Senator Tom Duane rocked the NY Senate chamber and made NYers proud this week ...

NY STATE SENATOR TOM DUANE GIVES GRIPPING, ANGRY SPEECH ON AIDS

At around 3 am last night, New York State Senator Tom Duane, who is gay and HIV-positive, delivered a mesmerizing, emotional 21-minute speech on the Senate floor at the end of a marathon session in favor of a bill preventing people living with HIV or AIDS and receiving public assistance from having to pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent.

The bill passed by a vote of 52 to 1. But not after Duane reminded people of the horrors of the early 80's:

"Visiting friends in hospitals. We'd go in. We'd go in one night, in the morning they'd be dead. I'd bring them food. My family, bring them food. My friends bring someone food. But whoever was in bed would be dead before they could eat it. We'd leave it - maybe the nurses would take it home. No! They wouldn't eat it! 'Cause it's contaminated. Contaminated! Wouldn't touch it. Wouldn't go into the room. Wearing masks. Gloves! Gowns! Someone gets sick in the afternoon. They'd be dead the next day. Dead! And that went on for months, and then years. Dead! Dead! You think if you got sick and your friends were dying that I would sit there and do nothing? No. But that's what happened. That's what happened. Every cold. Every virus. Every temperature. I thought I'd be dead, and so did so many people that I knew. Dead! You think you scare me? You think you can make be back off? Nothing scares me."
Peter Staley writes of those living with HIV and AIDS: "There's a Tom Duane lurking deep down in all of us, waiting to be heard.

Watch Duane's speech ...

Duane HIV

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[AlistDakisa]

So, was it a crummy bill, or a great bill?

[clorkergo]

There are 3 important related bills that passed in the NY State Senate this week ...

New York Senate overwhelmingly passes three bills that will assist people living with HIV

GMHC.org

Albany, New York — Three bills that will significantly help people living with HIV/AIDS and enhance HIV prevention efforts passed in the New York State Senate late Thursday and early Friday morning, July 16th and 17th. They are:

S2664, a bill that would cap monthly rent payments for New York City HIV/ AIDS Services Administration (HASA) clients at 30% of their monthly income.

S3164, the Family Healthcare Decision Act (FHCDA), which would enable family members and others close to the patient (a surrogate) to decide about treatment for incapacitated patients who have not signed a healthcare proxy or left specific oral or written treatment instructions. This is especially important for same-sex couples, whose relationships are not recognized under state law.

S3842, a bill which would mandate Department of Health review of policies and practices regarding HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis C virus at correctional facilities in New York State. This bill, sponsored by Assembly Member Dick Gottfried (D-Manhattan), already passed the Assembly.

The rent cap bill, sponsored by Senator Tom Duane (D-Manhattan), passed by 52-1, following an impassioned and eloquent speech by Senator Duane in the wee hours of Friday morning. Currently, people living with AIDS receiving benefits from HASA who also have other formsof income-including SSI, SSDI, veteran's benefits or work-are forced to pay all but $330 of their monthly income towards their rent. This leaves these clients with an unlivable budget of $11 a day.

FHCDA, also lead sponsored by Duane and, when the Republicans ruled the Senate, by Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City, LI), passed unanimously by 57-0.

For more background on these three bills, click here to read GMHC's 2009 state policy agenda (PDF).

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