Monday, March 23, 2009

1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE 2 3 4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD 5 6 7 8 9 ALBANY, NEW YORK 10 March 23, 2009 11 3:18 p.m. 12 13 14 REGULAR SESSION 15 16 17 18 SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, Acting President 19 ANGELO J. APONTE, Secretary 20 21 22 23 24

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(518) 371-8910 1 P R O C E E D I N G S 2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 3 The Senate will please come to order. 4 I ask everyone present to rise and 5 recite with me the Pledge of Allegiance to our 6 Flag. 7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited 8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.) 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 In the absence of clergy, may we all bow our 11 heads for a moment of silence. 12 (Whereupon, the assemblage 13 respected a moment of silence.) 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Thank you. 16 The reading of the Journal. 17 The Secretary will read. 18 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, 19 Friday, March 20, the Senate met pursuant to 20 adjournment. The Journal of Thursday, 21 March 19, was read and approved. On motion, 22 Senate adjourned. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 24 Without objection, the Journal stands approved

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(518) 371-8910 1 as read. 2 Presentation of petitions. 3 Messages from the Assembly. 4 Messages from the Governor. 5 Reports of standing committees. 6 Reports of select committees. 7 Communications and reports from 8 state officers. 9 Motions and resolutions. 10 Senator Klein. 11 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 12 we have a motion to amend a bill on the Third 13 Reading Calendar. On page number 8, I offer 14 the following amendments to Calendar Number 15 80, Print Number 1904, at the request of 16 myself. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 So ordered. 19 SENATOR KLEIN: We also have a 20 motion to discharge the following bill from 21 its committee and recommit, striking the 22 enacting clause: Senate Bill 2875, at the 23 request of Senator Espada. 24 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:

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(518) 371-8910 1 So ordered. 2 SENATOR KLEIN: Are there any 3 substitutions at the desk, Madam President? 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Yes, there are, Senator Klein. 6 The Secretary will read. 7 THE SECRETARY: On page 10, 8 Senator Sampson moves to discharge, from the 9 Committee on Judiciary, Assembly Bill Number 10 4393 and substitute it for the identical 11 Senate Bill Number 2353, Third Reading 12 Calendar 111. 13 On page 10, Senator Dilan moves to 14 discharge, from the Committee on 15 Transportation, Assembly Bill Number 669 and 16 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill 17 Number 2250, Third Reading Calendar 112. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 19 Substitutions ordered. 20 Senator Klein. 21 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 22 I believe Senator Foley has a privileged 23 resolution at the desk. I ask that the title 24 be read and move for its immediate adoption

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(518) 371-8910 1 and give Senator Foley the opportunity to 2 speak on the said resolution. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 4 The Secretary will read. 5 THE SECRETARY: By Senator Foley, 6 Legislative Resolution Number 914, recognizing 7 the many contributions of the Pakistani- 8 American community residing throughout the 9 State of New York. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 11 Senator Foley. 12 SENATOR FOLEY: Yes, Madam 13 President, I rise on the resolution. 14 Today I'm very proud to sponsor a 15 resolution honoring the vibrant Pakistani- 16 American communities throughout our great 17 State of New York, and specifically the 18 growing Pakistani-American population within 19 the Third Senatorial District. 20 Pakistani immigrants came to this 21 great country in pursuit of the same goals as 22 all immigrant groups have done over time, to 23 seek work, education, and a better life for 24 their children and families.

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(518) 371-8910 1 Today the Pakistani-American 2 community is made up of citizens from all 3 walks of life. Whether they are doctors, 4 teachers, or small business owners, 5 Pakistani-Americans contribute to New York's 6 great diversity, which is a great source of 7 pride and great strength for our state. 8 So on this day, March 23th, which 9 is a day of celebration for the Pakistani- 10 American community, I am proud to welcome a 11 delegation from the Pakistani-American 12 Association of North America to our chambers. 13 I want to thank them for their service and 14 look forward to working with them in many 15 years ahead so that their community also 16 realizes the Amercian dream that so many other 17 ethnic communities have enjoyed and realized 18 these past 200 years. 19 And I'd like to present our 20 community from the Pakistani-American 21 organizations that are here with us today. 22 Thank you very much, Madam 23 President. 24 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:

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(518) 371-8910 1 Thank you, Senator Foley. 2 Senator Parker. 3 SENATOR PARKER: Thank you, Madam 4 President. 5 I represent the 21st Senatorial 6 District in Brooklyn, which is Flatbush and 7 East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, 8 Kensington and Borough Park. And I rise to 9 add my voice and to thank Senator Foley for 10 his leadership on this resolution, but to 11 also, as a cosponsor of this resolution, to 12 talk about how important this community is. 13 I actually have the opportunity to 14 represent the largest Pakistani community 15 outside of Pakistan really in the world, and 16 have a chance in August every year of being 17 host to the Pakistani Independence Day parade, 18 which is quite a feat to see. 19 But let me just say in the time 20 that I've had an opportunity to serve this 21 community and work alongside the Pakistani 22 community that I have learned that this 23 community, like many other communities, have 24 come here and have been part of the American

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(518) 371-8910 1 dream, that their stories are stories very 2 similar to many immigrants, very similar to 3 many of us in this chamber. 4 Many of them left a country to come 5 here for a better opportunity and have found 6 opportunity in small business, in medicine, 7 and they've developed a rich cultural and 8 religious tradition that is part of the 9 Brooklyn milieu. 10 If you have not had an opportunity 11 to eat Pakistani food, I invite you to come 12 and sit with us and eat, because there are 13 lots of delicacies and a lot of sweets that 14 I've learned to eat with my friends in the 15 Pakistani community. 16 And so I want to remember this day 17 in honor of that community and want to 18 encourage us all to continue to lift our hands 19 open to our neighbors as we enjoy all of our 20 rich traditions. 21 Thank you. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Thank you, Senator Parker. 24 Are there any other Senators

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(518) 371-8910 1 wishing to be heard on the resolution? 2 Hearing none, the question is on 3 the resolution. All those in favor please 4 signify by saying aye. 5 (Response of "Aye.") 6 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 7 Opposed, nay. 8 (No response.) 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 The resolution is adopted. 11 (Applause.) 12 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 13 And of course, at the request of the sponsor, 14 the resolution is open for multisponsorship by 15 the entire house. Any member wishing not to 16 be a multisponsor of the resolution should so 17 inform the desk. Thank you. 18 Senator Klein. 19 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 20 at this time can we take up a reading of 21 Senate Calendar Number 24. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 The Secretary will read. 24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number

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(518) 371-8910 1 25, by Senator Schneiderman, Senate Print 2 1755A, an act to amend the Civil Practice Law 3 and Rules, in relation to restraint. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Read the last section. 6 THE SECRETARY: Section 11. This 7 act shall take effect immediately. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Call the roll. 10 (The Secretary called the roll.) 11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 62. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 13 The bill is passed. 14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 15 48, by Senator Stavisky -- 16 SENATOR STAVISKY: Would you lay 17 it aside for the day, for an amendment. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 19 The bill is laid aside for the day. 20 SENATOR STAVISKY: A couple of 21 days. 22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 23 103, by Senator Addabbo, Senate Print 2866, an 24 act to amend the Election Law, in relation to

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(518) 371-8910 1 watchers. 2 SENATOR LIBOUS: Lay it aside, 3 please. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 The bill is laid aside. 6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 7 108, by Senator C. Johnson, Senate Print 2269, 8 an act to amend the Town Law, in relation to 9 volunteer members. 10 SENATOR LIBOUS: Lay it aside, 11 please. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 13 The bill is laid aside. 14 Senator Klein, that completes the 15 noncontroversial reading of the calendar. 16 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 17 at this time can we go to a reading of the 18 controversial calendar. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 20 If the Secretary would please ring the bells, 21 members are all asked to come to the chamber 22 for the controversial reading of the calendar. 23 The Secretary will read. 24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number

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(518) 371-8910 1 103, by Senator Addabbo, Senate Print 2866, an 2 act to amend the Election Law. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 4 Senator Libous. 5 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President, 6 I believe there is an amendment at the desk 7 from Senator Flanagan. Could I ask that we 8 waive its reading, please, and recognize 9 Senator Flanagan, please. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 11 Senator Flanagan, thank you, your amendment is 12 here at the desk. And let me just complete my 13 review of it for a second. 14 Senator Flanagan, I've just 15 reviewed your amendment, and it is not germane 16 to the bill that is before us. 17 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 19 Senator Libous. 20 SENATOR LIBOUS: I object to the 21 ruling of the chair. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Senator Libous, the ruling is based on the 24 fact that Calendar 103 relates to the

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(518) 371-8910 1 qualifications of poll watchers, and the 2 amendment that Senator Flanagan is offering is 3 relating to the qualifications of voters in 4 general. 5 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President, 6 I believe Senator Flanagan will speak as far 7 as the germaneness is concerned, if he could 8 have the floor. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 Well, Senator Flanagan, thank you. At this 11 point, the germaneness is not going to be 12 debated. What can be discussed, however, is 13 whether or not the agreement is with the 14 ruling. 15 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Well, Madam 16 President -- 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 Yes, Senator Flanagan. 19 SENATOR FLANAGAN: -- in all due 20 respect, several other people have spoken; I 21 haven't even had a chance to offer the 22 amendment. You rejected it before I even 23 formally offered, Madam President. So at 24 least let me have the opportunity to offer it.

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 3 Senator Klein. 4 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 5 point of order. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 7 Yes, Senator Klein. 8 SENATOR KLEIN: I think Senator 9 Flanagan should have the opportunity to speak 10 on the germaneness of his amendment. 11 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 12 Thank you. 13 Senator Flanagan, please speak on 14 the germaneness of your bill. 15 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Well, Madam 16 President, I would like clarification. 17 Because as I just mentioned, I haven't even 18 had a chance to formally offer the amendment, 19 and you've already rejected it as being 20 nongermane. 21 I would like to be able to offer 22 the amendment, and much to my chagrin, you can 23 then, of course, rule it nongermane, and then 24 I would speak to the germaneness. Because I

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(518) 371-8910 1 don't want to set a precedent. 2 Senator Libous, understanding for 3 clarification, has offered the amendment. I 4 would like to speak on the amendment, Madam 5 President. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 7 Senator Flanagan, the amendment I've ruled out 8 of order. 9 However, the germaneness -- and 10 that, I believe, is what Senator Klein was 11 discussing -- the germaneness of your bill is 12 something that we will open the discussion 13 for. Would you like to speak on the appeal of 14 the ruling of the chair with regard to 15 germaneness? 16 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Yes, I would 17 like to be heard on that point, Madam 18 President. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 20 Please. 21 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Thank you. 22 I'm looking at the bill in chief, 23 and I know this bill had been before us last 24 week and then was laid aside. And it's

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(518) 371-8910 1 actually relatively straightforward. It's a 2 very short bill, Calendar 103, and it talks to 3 the qualifications of poll watchers. My 4 amendments talks to the qualifications of 5 voters. And they are both part of the 6 Election Law. 7 I believe they are remarkably 8 consistent, and I believe that it is germane 9 to the debate before us or the debate that may 10 ensue, because if you look at what we are 11 talking about, whether it's a poll inspector 12 or a poll watcher or a qualified voter, what 13 we're trying to ensure is that there is one 14 person, one vote, and some basic integrity to 15 our electoral process here in the State of 16 New York. 17 I believe my amendment is 18 incredibly germane to what we will be 19 discussing as part of this bill offered by 20 Senator Addabbo, because it speaks to the very 21 core of whether or not you can even become a 22 poll watcher. In order for someone to become 23 a poll watcher, they have to be a qualified 24 voter in the State of New York. I am trying

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(518) 371-8910 1 to ensure that that process will include basic 2 points like citizenship. 3 This bill will allow the State 4 Board of Elections to promulgate rules and 5 regulations as to providing forms and proofs 6 of citizenship. I can't think of anything 7 more basic. Before you become the poll 8 watcher, you have to become a qualified voter. 9 And in order to become a qualified 10 voter, if you look at relevant sections of the 11 New York State Constitution -- Article 2, 12 Section 1, and Article 2, Section 5, they 13 speak to the qualifications and the 14 registrations of voters, and they both 15 reference the fact that you have to be a 16 citizen. 17 My amendment simply provides an 18 opportunity for the Board of Elections to get 19 that extra layer of integrity and proof to the 20 process to make sure that someone's a 21 qualified voter so that they can in turn be a 22 qualified poll watcher. 23 Madam President, I appeal the 24 ruling of the chair.

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(518) 371-8910 1 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 2 Thank you, Senator Flanagan. 3 So the question is, shall the 4 decision of the chair stand as the judgment of 5 the Senate? 6 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President, 7 I ask for a fast roll call on this, please. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 All those in favor of overruling the decision 10 of the chair please signify by saying aye. 11 (Response of "Aye.") 12 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President. 13 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 14 Senator Libous. 15 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you, Madam 16 President. I asked for a fast roll call and a 17 show of hands, please. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 19 Then we will have a fast roll call. 20 So again, those in favor of 21 overruling the decision of the chair please 22 signify by raising your hands. 23 The Secretary will read the 24 results.

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(518) 371-8910 1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 29. Nays, 2 30. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 4 The nays have it. The ruling of the chair is 5 sustained; the appeal is denied. 6 Returning to the bill in the main, 7 the Secretary will read the last section, 8 please. 9 SENATOR LIBOUS: Explanation on 10 the bill, please. 11 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Madam 12 President, I'd like to know if the sponsor 13 will stand for a few questions. Senator 14 Addabbo. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 16 Senator Johnson, I think Senator Libous had 17 asked for an explanation of the bill. 18 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Oh, okay. 19 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President, 20 could we please have on explanation on the 21 bill first. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Senator Addabbo. 24 SENATOR ADDABBO: Good afternoon,

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(518) 371-8910 1 Madam President. 2 Colleagues, this bill simply allows 3 us to find qualified voters to serve as poll 4 watchers throughout any county and throughout 5 the state. It addresses the issue of a 6 shortage of poll watchers by increasing the 7 pool of qualified poll watchers. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Thank you, Senator Addabbo. 10 Senator Johnson. 11 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Yes, this 12 bill changes a law which -- 13 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 14 Senator Johnson, did you wish to -- 15 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Would 16 Senator Addabbo stand for a question? 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 Senator Addabbo, will you yield? 19 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 20 President. 21 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: The 22 present bill -- I'm going to ask you a 23 question. The present law provides you have 24 to either live in the district or the county

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(518) 371-8910 1 where you serve as poll watcher. I think 2 there's nothing wrong with that law, and I'd 3 look like to know what the reason is that you 4 think you need this bill. 5 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 6 President, through you. You know, 7 traditionally there has been an issue of 8 finding poll watchers who basically help out 9 in campaigns throughout the state. This again 10 just allows us to rectify this issue for both 11 sides, both parties, by again finding an 12 increased amount of poll watchers by 13 increasing the pool. 14 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Now, if 15 this is a problem -- 16 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 17 Senator Johnson, would you wish for Senator 18 Addabbo to continue to yield? 19 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 20 President. 21 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: All right. 22 I get around to it. 23 My question to you, Senator, is has 24 a political organization or organizations

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(518) 371-8910 1 sought to get poll watchers? They have some 2 outreach to find enough poll watchers? Or 3 there's nobody taking an interest in it? 4 What's the reason why they don't exist? 5 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 6 President, this has been an issue throughout 7 many campaigns throughout the state. And 8 obviously we encourage people to get active in 9 campaigns. And poll watchers are simply there 10 to assist. 11 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: I'd like 12 to know if Senator Addabbo will take another 13 question. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Senator Addabbo, do you continue to yield? 16 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 17 President. 18 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Have you 19 thought of any other way to do it, like 20 contacting the Board of Elections or something 21 and ask them to get some kind of regulation, 22 ask for some legislation which would encourage 23 people to become poll watchers? 24 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam

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(518) 371-8910 1 President, we have found that this piece of 2 legislation addresses it in one way. There 3 may be alternative ways, but today we are 4 entertaining this bill. 5 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 6 Senator Johnson, would you like Senator 7 Addabbo to continue to yield? 8 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Yes, Madam 9 President. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 11 Senator Addabbo, do you continue to yield? 12 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 13 President. 14 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Well, you 15 know, we had a bill last week which weakened 16 the requirements for filing absentee ballots. 17 I argued against that because I thought it was 18 inappropriate to approve any voting which was 19 not in accord with the present law. 20 In this case, I think the same 21 thing is happening. You're allowing the 22 introduction of people who may not be known in 23 the district, may not have any relationship to 24 that district or even that campaign, and yet

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(518) 371-8910 1 you're going to bring them in and let them be 2 watchers. 3 We've had trouble with watchers in 4 the past, and I think you're going to create a 5 problem with watchers. What do you think 6 about that? 7 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 8 Senator Addabbo. 9 SENATOR ADDABBO: Through you, 10 Madam President. Simply, poll watchers where 11 are there to help. If they don't help and 12 they're disruptive, they're thrown out, as 13 traditionally has been done. 14 So we are not, obviously, changing 15 the face of a campaign here by asking for 16 additional poll watchers. Poll watchers are 17 simply there to assist. 18 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Well, 19 thank you for your response to my questions. 20 I still think it's a dangerous 21 thing to do -- 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Senator, is this on the bill? 24 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: I'm

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(518) 371-8910 1 talking on the bill now. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 3 Okay. Senator Johnson, on the bill. 4 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: -- how you 5 and I get along. Thank you, Senator. 6 Anyway, I think this weakens the 7 present system for voting in a dangerous way, 8 and we should not permit outsiders to come and 9 be poll watchers. We should make sure the 10 local officials or Board of Elections, 11 whatever, can certify them that they are 12 proper poll watchers for that district. 13 That's all. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Thank you. 16 Senator Flanagan. 17 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Thank you, 18 Madam President. Would Senator Addabbo yield 19 to some questions, please. 20 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 21 Senator Addabbo, do you yield? 22 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 23 President. 24 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Senator

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(518) 371-8910 1 Addabbo -- through you, Madam President -- I 2 was listening to your comments. Where is this 3 a problem? 4 SENATOR ADDABBO: Well, you know, 5 you'll find it even in my area, where the 6 Democrats may outweigh the Republicans in 7 terms of voter registration, and the 8 Republicans have had problems in the past. 9 And you may find it throughout the -- I'll 10 talk about my district, because I know it 11 best, but you may find it throughout the state 12 as well. 13 SENATOR FLANAGAN: But do you 14 have -- Madam President, through you, if 15 Senator Addabbo would continue to yield. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 17 Senator Addabbo, do you continue to yield? 18 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 19 President. 20 SENATOR FLANAGAN: This is a 21 fundamental shift, because this is the type of 22 thing that will lead to other potential 23 changes in the Election Law. 24 My basic point is that yours is

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(518) 371-8910 1 sort of anecdotal. Do you have anything from 2 the New York State Board of Elections, do you 3 have anything from the county board of 4 elections, do you have anything from the 5 New York State election commissioners, do you 6 have any studies, any background, any 7 statistical data that could actually verify 8 that there is a systemic problem? And if so, 9 where is it? 10 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 11 President, through you. Like I said, Madam 12 President, like I mentioned, in my own 13 district I've had issues. And simply what we 14 are doing here is just allowing a poll watcher 15 to work on a certain campaign. 16 Again, given the simplicity of the 17 poll watcher's role, I don't think it's a big 18 issue, but it has been an issue throughout the 19 state. 20 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Madam 21 President, through you, if Senator Addabbo 22 would continue to yield. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 24 Senator, do you continue to yield?

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 2 President. 3 SENATOR FLANAGAN: I would just 4 go back to the question that I had originally 5 asked. Do you have anything from the New York 6 State Board, do you have anything from the 7 election commissioners? Have your own 8 election commissioners in New York City come 9 to you with anything and said we really need 10 to do this? Is this part of any legislative 11 program that you should show us that would 12 justify that there's some need or there's some 13 actual problem? 14 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 15 President, through you, no. 16 But I do know of candidates, 17 firsthand, whose own family members can't work 18 on their campaign because that family member 19 works or lives in another county. So again, 20 how can you justify one family member not 21 helping out on a campaign of a family member 22 who's running? 23 And I think again, just for the 24 fact that that person to be a poll watcher is

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(518) 371-8910 1 not going to change the course of the 2 campaign. Let's face it. Let's hope that we 3 still believe that candidates mean something 4 and the issues that they campaign on mean 5 something, and that the poll watcher isn't 6 going to change the face of the outcome of a 7 campaign. 8 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Madam 9 President, on the bill. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 11 Senator Flanagan, on the bill. 12 SENATOR FLANAGAN: In looking at 13 the amendment that we had originally offered 14 and now looking at this bill, I'm troubled. 15 Because what Senator Addabbo just said was 16 that, you know, he has stories about family 17 members who couldn't work on somebody's 18 campaign because they don't live in the 19 county. The reality is somebody can work on 20 anybody's campaign; they just may not be able 21 to be a poll watcher. 22 So no, there's no prohibition 23 against someone who lives upstate coming down 24 to the City of New York, working on a

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(518) 371-8910 1 relative's campaign or working on any 2 campaign, for that matter. We do have a 3 distinction in the law as to what you need to 4 be or what qualifications you have to have in 5 order to be a poll watcher. 6 The fact that we have a bill before 7 us that is not part of any legislative program 8 from either the City of New York, from the 9 New York State election commissioners, from 10 any county boards of elections, from any 11 group, any organized group saying this is a 12 problem and we need a fundamental change in 13 election law policy in the State of New York, 14 is something frankly we should all be looking 15 at and paying attention to. 16 This, to me, is some type of 17 solution looking for a problem. And I just 18 don't think it's a good bill. It's a 19 precedent that will start us down a path 20 that's going to change the way we do 21 elections, and I think it's a bad precedent. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Senator Robach. 24 SENATOR ROBACH: Yes, Madam

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(518) 371-8910 1 President, would Senator -- you know what, 2 actually, skip the question. Let me just 3 speak on the bill directly. 4 You know, we all want to have 5 integrity and make sure elections are good. 6 But I do really think, while this isn't 7 earth-shattering, this is not the right way to 8 go. 9 As a matter of fact, the example 10 you used, we voted on a bill several years ago 11 that we said family members couldn't be 12 election inspectors of people running, and 13 play official roles, to try and put integrity 14 in the system. This seems to me to be some 15 convoluted way, ill-advised, almost going in 16 the opposite direction. 17 And I want to say my opposition to 18 this bill, I didn't really think about them as 19 campaign workers, but it's been my experience, 20 whether they've been Democrats or Republicans, 21 there's an adage that says all politics are 22 local. It's often used, and it's a good one. 23 They should be local. Most of the time when 24 there is disruption in campaigns or at polls,

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(518) 371-8910 1 99 percent of the time it's people from out of 2 town, who don't live there, who come in, who 3 are disruptive. 4 While we should encourage people to 5 be poll watchers, I think there's a much, much 6 better way. And while this may not be 7 earth-shattering, it is fundamentally 8 important. And I think once you open up that 9 door, it would not be good. 10 So I would encourage people to vote 11 no. There's got to be a better way, some way 12 we can incentivize poll watchers that may be 13 affiliated with the party but live in that 14 area. They're going to be a little bit more 15 official, nonpartisan, if you will, much like 16 an election inspector. I really, really do 17 think this is the way to go. 18 Many of us have been here for a 19 while. I can't remember what year it was when 20 we did those reforms. I know that because I 21 put my own mother out of business, who had 22 been an election inspector for 30 years, who 23 could no longer do that in the years I was 24 running. And while I didn't like that for

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(518) 371-8910 1 her, it made sense. 2 I think this is similar. We want 3 to have people involved, but we should make 4 sure there's all the integrity in the world. 5 I don't see how this goes to that. To 6 encourage people to come in who don't live 7 there to be influential in the process in any 8 way I just don't think is beneficial. 9 I'll be voting in the negative, and 10 I'd encourage all my colleagues to vote no as 11 well. 12 Thank you, Madam President. 13 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 14 Thank you. 15 Senator Foley. 16 SENATOR FOLEY: On the bill in 17 chief. 18 This particular proposal is going 19 to help the election process. I can say, 20 whether in my own campaign or in other 21 campaigns that I've been involved in and have 22 heard about, it's been very, very difficult to 23 find poll watchers to cover every election 24 district, much less every polling place.

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(518) 371-8910 1 This will enable the State of 2 New York to have, say, some symmetry between 3 the fact that you can be from anywhere in the 4 State of New York and carry petitions; now the 5 same can hold true of poll watchers. 6 The fact of the matter is if there 7 was more than enough local registered voters 8 to be poll watchers, this bill would not be 9 necessary. However, the reality of current 10 and future elections and campaigns are such 11 that there are not enough poll watchers in any 12 given campaign from the local level. 13 This will enable campaigns, whether 14 they be Democrat, Republican, or elsewhere, to 15 bring in enough poll watchers to ensure that 16 the process is legitimate. That's the role of 17 a poll watcher, to watch those particular 18 polls. Without this resolution, we're going 19 to have the current practice continue where 20 election districts and polling places will be 21 vacant of poll watchers. And that, to me, is 22 small-D antidemocratic. 23 So similar to a string of reforms 24 that have come from Senator Addabbo and the

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(518) 371-8910 1 Elections Committee, this is another 2 resolution that will in fact empower the 3 voting process in this state and help to bring 4 poll watchers where they need to come, which 5 is to those polling places that heretofore 6 have had no poll watchers. 7 That's why I'm going to vote in the 8 affirmative. Thank you, Madam President. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 Thank you, Senator Foley. 11 Senator Savino. 12 SENATOR SAVINO: Thank you, Madam 13 President. 14 First let me say thank you to 15 Senator Addabbo for bringing this issue 16 forward. And while I am sensitive to the 17 concerns that have been raised by people who 18 think that this particular piece of 19 legislation would set a precedent, in fact 20 what it is is it's continuing a precedent that 21 we began when we lifted the requirement that 22 petition gatherers had to be residents of the 23 county in which they collected petitions. 24 Now, there's been -- and I think

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(518) 371-8910 1 Senator Addabbo raised the issue about family 2 members, and I used that earlier today when I 3 spoke to someone. I have a brother who I 4 probably trust with my life, and certainly 5 nobody is more concerned about his sister than 6 my brother. But he doesn't live in my Senate 7 district. And it's a fact he could not even 8 stand there in a poll site just to make sure 9 that his sister's interests were protected or 10 anybody's interests were protected. 11 In addition, I represent a 12 bi-borough district, like many of the members 13 here do. And when we get to redistricting, 14 all of our districts are going to change 15 somewhat. And when I ran for office the first 16 time, I lived in Staten Island. The district 17 I represent is half Brooklyn, half Staten 18 Island. 19 I didn't have the relationships in 20 Brooklyn that I needed, that I had to build 21 during the campaign process, and all of my 22 volunteers came from Staten Island. Those 23 people were prohibited from going across the 24 bridge to Brooklyn to be poll watchers for me

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(518) 371-8910 1 on Election Day. It was a hindrance to my 2 campaign, and it's something I think we should 3 lift for other candidates as well as other 4 members in this room who could conceivably see 5 their districts change somewhat at the next 6 redistricting period. Like Senator Thompson 7 here. Like Senator Hassell-Thompson, who 8 represents two counties. Like several of you 9 who represent multiple counties. 10 So all we're doing, we're not 11 creating a new precedent, we're continuing a 12 precedent that was begun when we lifted the 13 requirement that petition gatherers had to be 14 residents of the county and expanded them to 15 be registered in the state. And that is all 16 this bill will do. 17 Thank you. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 19 Thank you, Senator. 20 Senator Padavan. 21 SENATOR PADAVAN: Would Senator 22 Addabbo yield to a question, please. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 24 Senator Addabbo, do you yield?

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes. 2 SENATOR PADAVAN: Is it not true, 3 Senator, that any person in the City of 4 New York can be a poll watcher in any county 5 in the City of New York? 6 SENATOR ADDABBO: I believe so. 7 SENATOR PADAVAN: Correct. So 8 therefore the argument presented by yourself 9 anecdotally in your district where you cited a 10 need, and the one we just heard from Senator 11 Savino, is totally irrelevant to the issue. 12 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 13 President -- 14 SENATOR PADAVAN: Is that 15 correct? 16 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 17 President, if somebody from another, say, 18 upstate area wants to work as a poll watcher 19 in my campaign, they cannot. 20 SENATOR PADAVAN: That's true. 21 So that's why -- 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Senator -- Senator -- 24 SENATOR PADAVAN: Will you yield

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(518) 371-8910 1 again, please? 2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 3 Senator Addabbo, do you continue to yield? 4 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, sure. 5 SENATOR PADAVAN: We have a city 6 of 8 million people. Senator Foley has a 7 county of 1.5 million, or roughly. And there 8 are 2 million people in Brooklyn. You trying 9 to tell me that you're going to find more 10 people from outside those regions with less 11 population to fill the void that you've 12 identified? 13 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 14 President, why would I want to deny someone 15 who wants to help out in my campaign but may 16 not come from within the five boroughs and 17 I've got to tell that person "no, you can't"? 18 All we're looking to do is have 19 people become involved in the campaign, and 20 their role, their mere role is to observe and 21 maybe inform and assist a campaign. So why 22 would I want to deny someone who may be a 23 close friend of mine or a family member who 24 does not live within the five boroughs, and

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(518) 371-8910 1 I've got to tell them, no, they can't be a 2 poll watcher? 3 Again, this is a bill that seeks to 4 just have an increased amount of opportunity 5 for those who want to be poll watchers, and 6 this bill does helps both sides of the aisle. 7 SENATOR PADAVAN: Madam 8 President, on the bill. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 Senator Padavan, on the bill. 11 SENATOR PADAVAN: Initially, in 12 response to Senator Flanagan's question when 13 he asked was there any request from anybody 14 relevant, any entity relevant to this issue as 15 a need -- and of course the answer was no, but 16 the answer also was anecdotally, in my 17 district. And I just pointed out to the good 18 Senator that his district is in the City of 19 New York, with a pool of 8 million people on 20 upon which he could draw. 21 And then Senator Savino talks to us 22 about a difference between Staten Island and 23 Brooklyn. And anybody from Staten Island can 24 come over to Brooklyn and vice versa, under

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(518) 371-8910 1 the current law. So therefore, that argument 2 doesn't hold any water. 3 But let's get to the fundamental 4 issue here and cut to the chase. What this is 5 all about is to have the ability to focus on 6 specific races, which may be one way or the 7 other in sway, and to bring people in from all 8 over to zero in on that seat. That's what 9 it's all about. It's not because there are 10 not enough people to deal with the issue of 11 poll watchers. It's a political manipulation. 12 And I don't think the Election Law 13 should be used for that purpose. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Senator Klein. 16 SENATOR KLEIN: Thank you, Madam 17 President. On the bill. 18 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 19 Senator Klein, on the bill. 20 SENATOR KLEIN: I want to commend 21 Senator Addabbo for this legislation because I 22 think it's a very practical piece of 23 legislation. I've heard some debate on both 24 sides of the aisle, and let's face it,

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(518) 371-8910 1 volunteers on Election Day are at a premium. 2 And it's much more difficult to get 3 volunteers. 4 But I think one of the things that 5 I think we have to get across is there's a 6 difference between a volunteer who we would 7 get to give out palm cards or literature in 8 front of a polling place and a poll watcher, 9 whose sole job is to make sure that voters 10 aren't disenfranchised and, quite frankly, 11 there's no illegality at the polling place. 12 Many of us in this conference have 13 traveled far and wide to make sure that 14 elections in other localities and other 15 countries take place fairly. As a matter of 16 fact, I know -- he's not in the chamber, but I 17 know Senator Schneiderman has been to the 18 Dominican Republic during their presidential 19 races to make sure, again, the voters got to 20 vote at the specific polling place and no 21 voters were disenfranchised. 22 So I think this is a practical 23 solution. I myself, who represents a district 24 which is in Bronx County and Westchester

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(518) 371-8910 1 County, let's say my next-door neighbor wanted 2 to be a poll watcher in the far end of my 3 district in Eastchester in another county, 4 outside of New York City. My next-door 5 neighbor couldn't be a poll watcher on 6 Election Day during my race. 7 So I think this is just going to 8 open up the number of people that we can send 9 to make sure that elections across our state 10 are aboveboard and honest. 11 I vote yes. And I think this is a 12 very good piece of legislation, Madam 13 President. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Senator Little. 16 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you, Madam 17 Speaker. Would the sponsor yield for a 18 question? 19 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 20 Senator Addabbo, do you yield? 21 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 22 President. 23 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you. Just 24 one question, if you would.

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(518) 371-8910 1 You talk about rural areas and that 2 the reason to bring a carload or busload or 3 whatever, group of people in from downstate up 4 to the rural areas. And just by way of facts, 5 I represent six counties, 306,000 people who 6 occupy 7800 square miles. So I qualify as 7 rural, believe me. 8 These people coming into this area 9 would have no knowledge of the area or the 10 people or the voters or anyone coming in or 11 any of the things going on there. Why do you 12 in your memo believe that the justification 13 for this bill is that in a rural area people 14 have so far to go to the polling places? They 15 go there because they go there to vote as 16 well, and they have just as far to go in that 17 respect. 18 I have never had a problem with 19 poll watchers in the six counties, and I 20 daresay there are several hundred election 21 districts. 22 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 23 President. 24 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:

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(518) 371-8910 1 Senator Addabbo. 2 SENATOR ADDABBO: I think what 3 we're looking at here is how we can involve 4 people in campaigns. And I think we've all on 5 this floor, in one form or another or at some 6 point or another, have encouraged people to 7 get involved in either our own campaign or 8 somebody else's campaign. And that is exactly 9 what this bill is doing, asking people to get 10 involved in a campaign, legally. 11 And what we're doing here is 12 looking at the role of a poll watcher. A poll 13 watcher gets a certain amount of training, a 14 poll watcher gets a certain amount of 15 instruction, and they are there to observe and 16 possibly assist, but for the most part to 17 observe. I don't think they need to have an 18 institutional book knowledge of the district 19 as much, but to know the candidate. 20 And let me stress the candidate, 21 because I think that's sometimes what gets 22 lost around here, the fact that a candidate is 23 a good candidate regardless of how many poll 24 watchers they have, and they can really only

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(518) 371-8910 1 have a maximum of three, I understand, at a 2 certain polling place. Okay? So it's not 3 that we're flooding the polling site with poll 4 watchers; a maximum of three. 5 And that the candidate is a good 6 candidate, and the issues that the candidate 7 campaigned on is one of merit as well. So 8 let's not think that the poll watcher is going 9 to be so disruptive to a campaign and turn the 10 campaign on its heels and have an outcome 11 decision based on the amount of poll watchers. 12 But that the campaign, the issues, and the 13 poll watcher role has to be considered 14 strongly as well. 15 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you, Madam 16 Speaker. On the bill, please. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 Senator Little, on the bill. 19 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you. 20 When we talk about the issue of 21 poll watchers, I think the sponsor continues 22 to talk about campaigns and the campaign 23 workers. Certainly you can have a campaign 24 worker from anyplace -- this state, another

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(518) 371-8910 1 state, another country, whatever -- and those 2 people are involved in getting the vote out 3 and working for their candidate throughout the 4 campaign. 5 The fact that they cannot be a poll 6 watcher I think is immaterial, because there 7 are so many other things that are done on 8 Election Day, and usually those people are 9 pretty exhausted by Election Day. So the fact 10 that this is one thing they can't do does not 11 justify opening up the door and saying that 12 you could have poll watchers who did not live 13 in the area, did not know the area, just came 14 in from anywhere and are there, whether it 15 could even be thought of as intimidation to 16 some people in a rural area to have unknown 17 people standing around and watching them vote. 18 So for those reasons and for many 19 other reasons, I vote no on this bill. 20 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 21 Senator Hassell-Thompson. 22 SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON: Thank 23 you, Madam President. I rise just to make a 24 couple of comments on the bill.

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(518) 371-8910 1 In my election in 2000, I also ran 2 in two counties, and I happen to live in the 3 County of Westchester, which represents only 4 16 percent of the entire district. In going 5 to the Bronx, which even though I had 6 relationships, going there as a person seeking 7 election was a very different set of 8 circumstances. 9 It would have been extremely 10 helpful to me and it would have boosted my 11 confidence in the ability to ensure that in 12 every election district that I was going to 13 get a fair opportunity. 14 I see this bill as an opportunity 15 for those who really care about fairness and 16 to ensure that every person who's running for 17 election gets a fair opportunity and to make 18 sure, number one, that the machines are 19 properly operating. They do a variety of 20 things that are of assistance to the campaign. 21 And it's more than just to the candidate that 22 they may be there to support. 23 But also, we sat here for I think 24 three hours a couple of weeks ago debating

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(518) 371-8910 1 whether or not people were voting in the right 2 polls, the right pew -- right church, wrong 3 pew, and a variety of issues. And these are 4 things that poll watchers are able to do. 5 They're able to assist people with the address 6 sheets that many -- that many times no one 7 else has the opportunity to do. 8 I don't see this as a bill that 9 threatens anyone but, rather, gives an 10 opportunity for everyone to have good poll 11 watchers, people that are watching their back, 12 watching to make sure that the election 13 process is fair. This bill is about fairness 14 and nothing else. 15 Thank you, Madam President. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 17 Thank you, Senator. 18 Senator Larkin. 19 SENATOR LARKIN: Thank you, Madam 20 President. On the bill. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 Senator Larkin, on the bill. 23 SENATOR LARKIN: I've been in 24 politics 30 some years. I've ran in 20

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(518) 371-8910 1 campaigns as a candidate. I've run in two 2 counties, I've run in three counties, I've run 3 in four counties. I never had a problem with 4 poll watchers from my own district, and I 5 don't believe that there's a problem here. 6 You know, I think we're also 7 talking about campaigns and poll watchers as 8 if the poll watcher was there to make sure 9 that your party doesn't get in. I think if 10 you're a candidate and you've got a committee 11 and you don't get out and make sure that 12 there's enough poll watchers, shame on you. 13 This is a nice piece of PR if 14 you're in New York City, maybe. But those of 15 us who live upstate live in a multitude of 16 areas. And what we have to be responsible for 17 is to see that we get people who know the 18 community. Because when someone says they 19 live in Wallkill -- well, Wallkill, John 20 Bonacic, is that Wallkill yours or is it the 21 Wallkill that I have? 22 But somebody coming in from Oshkosh 23 isn't going to know -- well, you know what I'm 24 talking about, you Lebanese.

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(518) 371-8910 1 (Laughter.) 2 SENATOR LARKIN: I've got to be 3 careful; that could be a faux pas. 4 But what we really need to say is 5 are we making a mistake here? Are we opening 6 up a can of worms here? I mean, if -- you 7 know, and I understand what Senator Addabbo is 8 trying to do. He went through a tough 9 campaign, he said, and he thinks that this is 10 important that they do. But then it's your 11 responsibility, your committee's 12 responsibility to go out and get the poll 13 watchers. And if you can't get the poll 14 watchers, maybe you shouldn't be in the race. 15 I mean, you know, and we talk about 16 fairness here, we talk about -- you know what 17 this is? This is something that makes you 18 feel good. 19 I asked 10 town chairpeople over 20 this weekend, because of what we did with this 21 last week, and they said: No, no, no, no, no, 22 no, nobody is coming into this town and be a 23 poll watcher, we go and get our own. 24 That's the way it should be

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(518) 371-8910 1 handled. You come up to my area, I'll take 2 you into Newburgh, which is a highly Democrat 3 district, where -- you know First Street, 4 where Mabel's Diner was before? They won't 5 know that. But Craig Johnson's lived there 6 half his life. He wouldn't know where it's 7 at. 8 I think what you're really doing 9 here is putting a bill on the calendar, it 10 sounds nice, it's going to pass both houses 11 and the Governor is going to sign it. But I 12 think you're doing a distrust of your local 13 people. You're saying, you know, Senator, I 14 don't trust you, I'm going to get my own 15 from -- we're going to go call Dale Volker and 16 bring him in from Western New York, or we're 17 going to call Bill Stachowski and bring him in 18 there from there. 19 This bill is not needed. What's 20 needed is for candidates and committees to do 21 their homework. I vote no. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Senator Perkins. 24 SENATOR PERKINS: Thank you,

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(518) 371-8910 1 Madam President. 2 I want to commend first my 3 colleague, Councilmember turned Senator 4 Addabbo, for this legislation. 5 You know, the operative word in 6 poll watcher is "watcher." Which suggests 7 that it's a relatively passive thing. It's 8 not like an inspector that actually touches 9 the equipment and manipulates different 10 aspects of the equipment to make sure that 11 it's running properly. 12 They just watch and they, at worst, 13 contact their campaign and inform them of what 14 is or is not happening. And very often, if 15 it's something bad, it alerts the campaign to 16 come in and do due diligence about making sure 17 that things are right. 18 But really, it's a very passive 19 type of an operation. They don't get paid. 20 And the more poll watchers, the better. We 21 don't have too many poll watchers. And 22 they're really not necessarily under the 23 jurisdiction of the county leader or the 24 bosses. They're really opportunities for the

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(518) 371-8910 1 campaigns, the candidates to have someone at 2 the polling site to ensure that the equipment 3 or the process is going forward smoothly and 4 to report if there are any problems. 5 Sometimes, if there are, they'll 6 make a record of it, and the Department of 7 Justice may get involved. But more often than 8 not, they don't really do much more than that. 9 And so I don't see this as being 10 intrusive. I don't think any county leader or 11 boss would really have any problems in terms 12 of their leadership as far as that happening. 13 It just gives the candidate some folks at the 14 polling site that enables them to know what's 15 more or less going on. And it's essentially 16 about watching. 17 And from that point of view, I 18 think it's a fairly passive thing, and we need 19 more of them and we don't have enough as it 20 is. 21 Thank you. 22 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 23 Thank you. 24 Senator Stavisky.

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you, 2 Madam President. Would Senator Addabbo yield 3 for a question? 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Senator Addabbo, do you yield he for question? 6 SENATOR ADDABBO: Yes, Madam 7 President. 8 SENATOR STAVISKY: Will the 9 Senator explain why I can go anywhere in the 10 State of New York to obtain signatures for a 11 candidate -- first according to a court 12 ruling, and now I believe legislative action 13 guaranteed this right -- and yet I can't go 14 next door to Brooklyn to act as a poll 15 watcher? 16 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 17 Senator Addabbo. 18 SENATOR ADDABBO: Madam 19 President, I think Senator Stavisky is 20 correct. A person -- I'm in jeopardy of 21 comparing apples and oranges, but it is true, 22 a person can carry a petition to get a 23 candidate on the ballot and work weeks upon 24 weeks, days upon days, and long days at that.

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(518) 371-8910 1 And that same person, if they live outside of 2 the five boroughs of the city, currently they 3 cannot be a poll watcher on the particular 4 campaign that they were a petition carrier 5 for. 6 So we have here, with this bill, a 7 side benefit of having continuity between a 8 petition carrier and a poll watcher. 9 SENATOR STAVISKY: Thank you, 10 Madam President. Senator Addabbo has answered 11 my question, and I appreciate his response. 12 I vote aye. 13 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 14 Thank you, Senator Stavisky. 15 Senator LaValle. 16 SENATOR LaVALLE: Thank you, 17 Madam President. 18 I was not going to speak on this 19 bill until Senator Padavan spoke. And in his 20 inimitable fashion, he cuts right to the 21 chase. 22 I have learned, being in this 23 chamber for a while, whenever certain words 24 are used like "empowerment" and "fairness,"

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(518) 371-8910 1 that means that someone's going to win in the 2 fairness argument and someone is going to 3 lose, someone's going to be more empowered and 4 someone's going to be less empowered. 5 This is the second bill in two 6 weeks that, in my humble judgment, weakens the 7 Election Law. 8 I have also learned in my tenure 9 here that if there is one committee in this 10 Legislature that is the most political 11 committee, it's the Elections Committee. 12 Because nothing comes out unless it's going to 13 benefit your point of view or your political 14 party. 15 So I think we need to call it what 16 it is. We are lessening the requirements, we 17 are making it easier for the Democrat Party to 18 participate in certain races. And I say that 19 because out in Suffolk County over the last 20 couple of years, there have been busloads of 21 people coming from the west to the east, 22 participating in various forums. 23 If you, Senator Addabbo, had in 24 your bill that individuals could participate

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(518) 371-8910 1 as a poll watcher but not be paid, you know, 2 maybe I would feel a little better. Not a 3 lot, but a little better. I don't know 4 whether there will be, as poll watchers, 5 people from ACORN or people from another part 6 of the state that have no interest really in 7 the communities that we live in, whether it be 8 in Senator Little's district up in the 9 North Country or in eastern Long Island. 10 So this is a political bill. It 11 was a political bill a week ago. And I don't 12 know -- this is early on in the session -- 13 what other bills that we're going to have that 14 will reduce the standards for voting. 15 And we've all made speeches that 16 being enfranchised to vote is very, very 17 precious in being an American, and I think we 18 want to safeguard that. We want to have good 19 standards, not less standards. As someone 20 said but a week ago, what does it take to 21 write your whole name out, "Kenneth P. 22 LaValle"? What does it take, rather than just 23 putting "K.P. LaValle"? 24 So this is a bill that at some

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(518) 371-8910 1 point in time people are going to in our 2 respective districts, as this aggregates, bill 3 after bill, week after week, to say why are 4 you lessening the standards? Why are you 5 lessening the standards? 6 So when we have a roll call vote on 7 this, I'm going to vote in the negative on 8 this, Madam President. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 Thank you, Senator. 11 Senator Liz Krueger. 12 SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER: Thank you, 13 Madam President. 14 Egads, democracy has broken out in 15 the New York State Senate. I appreciate my 16 colleagues' comments. Why would Senator 17 Addabbo as the chair of the Election Committee 18 week after week bring bills to the floor to 19 ensure that people have the right to vote? 20 Thank you, Senator Addabbo. We 21 want people to have the right to vote. We 22 want to have elections where everyone can 23 watch each other and make sure that the law is 24 followed and that every voter, regardless of

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(518) 371-8910 1 party, is protected in their fundamental right 2 to vote. 3 Why would Senator Addabbo want to 4 increase opportunities for participation and 5 democracy? Because he believes in the 6 democratic process. And both parties believe 7 in the democratic process. 8 So I'm delighted you have brought 9 this bill to the floor, Senator Addabbo, and I 10 was delighted that you brought other bills so 11 far. And I expect that you will continue to 12 bring bills to the floor of the Senate to make 13 sure that we protect every single American's 14 right to the vote. 15 Because we know that the turnout 16 rate is too low. We know that the voter 17 registration rate is too low. We know that 18 the future of democracy -- small D -- is 19 fundamentally in our hands to make sure that 20 every person knows they have the right to 21 vote, every person gets assistance if they 22 need it to vote, and every American is 23 confident that every election is run such that 24 your vote counts.

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(518) 371-8910 1 So thank you very much, Senator 2 Addabbo. I'll vote yes. 3 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 4 Senator Oppenheimer. 5 SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Thank you. 6 I also want to thank Senator 7 Addabbo. Because, you know, this is America, 8 and we should try and encourage people to get 9 involved in the process, in the election 10 process, in voting. 11 But my question was answered. I 12 was about to ask the question. I think it 13 passed almost unanimously about a year or two 14 ago that we permitted people to carry 15 petitions who were from all over the place. 16 It didn't have to be your county; far from it. 17 I know that in the case of my 18 opponent in the last election, we looked at 19 all the people who were carrying the petitions 20 and we only found one from Westchester and we 21 found about 80 from everywhere else in the 22 state. 23 So I was about to ask, well, then, 24 how come you all voted on the other side for

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(518) 371-8910 1 petition gatherers to be able to come from any 2 county in the State of New York? And I got my 3 answer, so I don't have to question. I was 4 going to question Senator LaValle, but I got 5 the answer, and it really had to do with the 6 federal court. 7 So that's the answer. You don't 8 have to give it to me. 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 Are there any other Senators wishing to be 11 heard on the bill? 12 Hearing none, the debate is closed. 13 Secretary, will you please ring the 14 bells. 15 SENATOR LIBOUS: Madam President. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 17 Senator Libous. 18 SENATOR LIBOUS: Could we have a 19 slow roll call on this, please. 20 Is it granted, Madam President? 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 Yes, Senator Libous. 23 SENATOR LIBOUS: Thank you. 24 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS:

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(518) 371-8910 1 Read the last section. 2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 3 act shall take effect immediately. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Call the roll slowly. 6 THE SECRETARY: Senator Adams. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 8 Senator Adams, to explain his vote. 9 SENATOR ADAMS: Thank you, Madam 10 President. 11 Of course I want to thank Senator 12 Addabbo for his bill. But I think something 13 else came out today that I find alarming to 14 hear, that anyone would believe that the party 15 in charge will use the Election Committee for 16 their own purpose. 17 That's a sad commentary, figuring 18 this is the first year we're in charge for 19 almost 60 years, to hear that our colleagues 20 was using the Election Committee for their own 21 purpose. I don't want to believe that. 22 I believe the Election Committee 23 and the chair of that committee understand the 24 importance of using that committee to ensure

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(518) 371-8910 1 inclusion in voting. I believe that's what 2 Senator Addabbo is doing. 3 And I think that if my colleagues 4 used it for the last 60 almost years for their 5 own purpose, then shame on them. We want to 6 do something else with that committee. We 7 want to use that committee to make sure -- 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Can we have order in the chamber, please. 10 SENATOR ADAMS: We want to use 11 that committee to make sure that we do not 12 deny access to vote. 13 And I've said it over and over 14 again from this floor, we have to stop 15 embracing the arrogance. Just because we're 16 not intimidated with the election process, 17 countless number of New Yorkers all across the 18 state are intimidated with the process. Poll 19 watchers, as Senator Perkins stated, is merely 20 there to watch. And the only time you're 21 afraid of someone watching is if you have your 22 hands in the cookie jar when you're not 23 supposed to have it in there. 24 I vote aye.

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(518) 371-8910 1 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 2 Senator Adams to be recorded in the 3 affirmative. 4 The Secretary will continue to call 5 the roll. 6 THE SECRETARY: Senator Addabbo. 7 SENATOR ADDABBO: Aye. 8 THE SECRETARY: Senator Alesi. 9 SENATOR ALESI: No. 10 THE SECRETARY: Senator 11 Aubertine. 12 SENATOR AUBERTINE: Aye. 13 THE SECRETARY: Senator Bonacic. 14 SENATOR BONACIC: No. 15 THE SECRETARY: Senator Breslin. 16 SENATOR BRESLIN: Aye. 17 THE SECRETARY: Senator 18 DeFrancisco. 19 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: To explain 20 my vote. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 Senator DeFrancisco, to explain his vote. 23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, 24 it's -- you know, I guess the art of politics

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(518) 371-8910 1 includes the ability to be able to make 2 anything sound good and to be in a position to 3 try to hide the real reason for a bill in the 4 interests of the voters of the State of 5 New York and the protection of those voters. 6 Well, I think the general public 7 clearly understands that at each polling booth 8 there are inspectors, both Republicans and 9 Democrats, to make sure that the process is 10 orderly. And in each district, individuals 11 can become poll watchers if they, under 12 current law, happen to live in that particular 13 district or in the county. And in the City of 14 New York, the 8 million voters can be poll 15 watchers anywhere within the City of New York. 16 To suggest that the current system 17 doesn't protect voters is nonsensical, to say 18 the least. 19 What this bill is really about is 20 that people can have all of their volunteers 21 campaign all over this state for any candidate 22 they want, but they're stuck 100 feet outside 23 of the polls unless they're a poll watcher. 24 So this basically gives campaign

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(518) 371-8910 1 workers the ability to come from New York City 2 or highly populated areas, to go to Senator 3 Little's district and to be there to interject 4 themselves in the elections of that particular 5 community. Not simply by campaigning a 6 hundred feet outside of the polling booth, but 7 being in the polling areas, right in the room 8 where the polling is taking place. That's 9 campaigning. 10 And if you want to protect somebody 11 and you think there's protection that's 12 needed, you simply get someone from your own 13 locality watching over their own people that 14 are making sure the elections are going to be 15 fair. 16 You know, people all over the world 17 emulate our system, and our system works. And 18 we shouldn't dilute it week after week in the 19 process that's appearing to happen right now. 20 And lastly, I just want -- 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 Senator DeFrancisco, how do you vote? 23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I vote no. 24 And I just want to again

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(518) 371-8910 1 congratulate the Majority, another banner day. 2 I think we've passed two bills today. Three, 3 I'm sorry. Three. And we're still waiting 4 for the budget bills to come forward. 5 Thank you. 6 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 7 Senator DeFrancisco to be recorded in the 8 negative. 9 Let me remind Senators that there 10 is a two-minute timeline to explain your vote. 11 The Secretary will continue to read 12 the roll, please. 13 THE SECRETARY: Senator Diaz. 14 SENATOR DIAZ: Aye. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 16 Senator Dilan. 17 (Response of "Aye.") 18 THE SECRETARY: Senator Duane. 19 SENATOR DUANE: Yes. 20 THE SECRETARY: Senator Espada. 21 SENATOR ESPADA: Aye. 22 THE SECRETARY: Senator Farley. 23 SENATOR FARLEY: No. 24 THE SECRETARY: Senator Flanagan.

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR FLANAGAN: No. 2 THE SECRETARY: Senator Foley. 3 SENATOR FOLEY: Aye. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Senator Fuschillo. 6 SENATOR FUSCHILLO: No. 7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Golden. 8 SENATOR GOLDEN: No. 9 THE SECRETARY: Senator Griffo. 10 SENATOR GRIFFO: No. 11 THE SECRETARY: Senator Hannon. 12 (No response.) 13 THE SECRETARY: Senator 14 Hassell-Thompson. 15 SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON: Aye. 16 THE SECRETARY: Senator Huntley. 17 SENATOR HUNTLEY: Yes. 18 THE SECRETARY: Senator C. 19 Johnson. 20 SENATOR CRAIG JOHNSON: Yes. 21 THE SECRETARY: Senator O. 22 Johnson. 23 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: To explain 24 my vote.

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(518) 371-8910 1 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 2 Senator O. Johnson, to explain his vote. 3 SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON: Our 4 democracy and the validity of our elections 5 are guaranteed by the present law which is now 6 on the books. This law should not be changed 7 or diminish in any way the protections of the 8 sacred secret ballot. 9 And therefore, I vote no. 10 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 11 Senator Johnson to be recorded in the 12 negative. 13 The Secretary will continue calling 14 the roll. 15 THE SECRETARY: Senator Klein. 16 SENATOR KLEIN: Yes. 17 THE SECRETARY: Senator 18 L. Krueger. 19 SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER: Aye. 20 THE SECRETARY: Senator C. 21 Kruger. 22 SENATOR CARL KRUGER: Yes. 23 THE SECRETARY: Senator Lanza. 24 SENATOR LANZA: No.

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(518) 371-8910 1 THE SECRETARY: Senator Larkin. 2 SENATOR LARKIN: No. 3 THE SECRETARY: Senator LaValle. 4 SENATOR LaVALLE: No. 5 THE SECRETARY: Senator Leibell. 6 SENATOR LEIBELL: No. 7 THE SECRETARY: Senator Libous. 8 SENATOR LIBOUS: No. 9 THE SECRETARY: Senator Little. 10 SENATOR LITTLE: No. 11 THE SECRETARY: Senator 12 Marcellino. 13 SENATOR MARCELLINO: No. 14 THE SECRETARY: Senator Maziarz. 15 SENATOR MAZIARZ: No. 16 THE SECRETARY: Senator McDonald. 17 SENATOR McDONALD: No. 18 THE SECRETARY: Senator 19 Monserrate. 20 SENATOR MONSERRATE: Aye. 21 THE SECRETARY: Senator 22 Montgomery. 23 SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Yes. 24 THE SECRETARY: Senator Morahan.

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR MORAHAN: No. 2 THE SECRETARY: Senator Nozzolio. 3 SENATOR NOZZOLIO: No. 4 THE SECRETARY: Senator Onorato. 5 SENATOR ONORATO: Yes. 6 THE SECRETARY: Senator 7 Oppenheimer. 8 SENATOR OPPENHEIMER: Aye. 9 THE SECRETARY: Senator Padavan. 10 SENATOR PADAVAN: No. 11 THE SECRETARY: Senator Parker. 12 SENATOR PARKER: Yes. 13 THE SECRETARY: Senator Perkins. 14 SENATOR PERKINS: To explain my 15 vote. 16 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 17 Senator Perkins, to explain his vote. 18 SENATOR PERKINS: Again, I want 19 to compliment my colleague on this very, very 20 important piece of legislation. 21 You know, this democracy's 22 greatness is the opportunities that it 23 provides for empowerment. You know, opening 24 up the opportunity for people to have a say

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(518) 371-8910 1 about their community, about their lives. 2 It's a great tribute. 3 This bill is not about empowerment 4 any more than this bill is about being paid 5 for being a poll watcher, because poll 6 watchers technically don't get paid. It's 7 inspectors that get paid. Poll watchers are 8 volunteers in campaigns that are basically 9 there to watch the operation and possibly 10 report to the respective candidates about what 11 is or is not going on. 12 And it is not intrusive, and it 13 doesn't matter where they come from, frankly, 14 because all they're doing is watching. And if 15 there is a need to bring them someplace by any 16 particular candidate, regardless of where they 17 come from, there's nothing wrong with that. 18 And I don't think our democracy, our efforts 19 towards fair elections is in any compromised 20 or inhibited by that. 21 I think quite the opposite, that 22 our democracy is enhanced by the opportunity 23 we provide candidates to provide watchers for 24 elections.

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(518) 371-8910 1 So I vote aye on this and again 2 want to compliment my colleague for putting it 3 forward. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Senator Perkins to be recorded in the 6 affirmative. 7 The Secretary will continue to call 8 the roll. 9 THE SECRETARY: Senator 10 Ranzenhofer. 11 SENATOR RANZENHOFER: No. 12 THE SECRETARY: Senator Robach. 13 SENATOR ROBACH: No. 14 THE SECRETARY: Senator Saland. 15 SENATOR SALAND: To explain my 16 vote, Madam President. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 Senator Saland, to explain his vote. 19 SENATOR SALAND: Thank you, Madam 20 President. 21 Madam President, I heard a number 22 of reasons why this was a good bill. I heard 23 reference to enabling friends to work on my 24 campaign. I heard reference to this being a

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(518) 371-8910 1 passive operation. 2 I heard Senator Stavisky ask 3 Senator Addabbo whether she would be able to 4 serve as a poll watcher in Brooklyn. I 5 believe she resides in Queens. I heard 6 Senator Addabbo earlier, in response to 7 another question, say that anybody in the city 8 can work at a polling place in any other of 9 the boroughs. So there's nothing that 10 prevents Senator Stavisky, under current law, 11 from serving as a poll watcher in Queens. 12 My concern is much like the concern 13 that I expressed during a debate we had on 14 another supposed empowerment bill within the 15 past week or two. What I see again is the 16 reach of the clubhouse. I see the reach of 17 organized groups. I see the reach of people 18 with little or no interest in a community in 19 effect trying to impose their will on a 20 community. 21 This is not a petitioning process, 22 which is in fact a far more passive process. 23 Someone -- you don't have to open your door, 24 you don't have to sign the petition when

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(518) 371-8910 1 you're walking in the street. You don't have 2 to be in the shop -- if you're in a shopping 3 center, you can just shrug them off. You can 4 look at the petition and say "No, I don't want 5 to do it." 6 Putting people from outside of a 7 community -- and incidentally, I'm not aware, 8 in my 29 years in both houses of this 9 Legislature, several years in local 10 government, of ever experiencing a problem 11 getting poll watchers. 12 This is a very aggressive act, as I 13 said, to extend the reach of clubhouse 14 politics and organize the groups that 15 contribute to parties by moving into districts 16 en masse, busloads, aggressively, pay workers 17 to do it. And the victims certainly will be 18 the areas that will be looked upon as fertile 19 ground, areas such as the areas that I 20 represent. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 Senator Saland, how do you vote? 23 SENATOR SALAND: Madam President, 24 once again, I find myself voting in opposition

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(518) 371-8910 1 to a bill that's intended not to enhance the 2 franchise but really to engage in chicanery 3 with respect to the franchise. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Senator Saland to be recorded in the negative. 6 SENATOR SALAND: Thank you, Madam 7 President. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Thank you. 10 The Secretary will continue calling 11 the roll. 12 THE SECRETARY: Senator Sampson. 13 SENATOR SAMPSON: Yes. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Senator Savino. 16 SENATOR SAVINO: Yes. 17 THE SECRETARY: Senator 18 Schneiderman. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 20 Senator Schneiderman, to explain his vote. 21 SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN: Yes, thank 22 you, Madam President. 23 I don't want to take more time, but 24 I must say I am amazed at the hyperbole we're

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(518) 371-8910 1 hearing here today. This is a very simple 2 bill that says if you're in a Senate district 3 and you happen to live on other side of one 4 county line, you can serve as a poll watcher. 5 There are places in the state, I 6 don't think there's any dispute, there are 7 places in my district where we have trouble 8 getting poll watchers. This is something that 9 just opens things up. I don't understand all 10 these references to chicanery. Maybe you live 11 in a much more sinister universe than the 12 voters and the people of the State of New York 13 live in. 14 I live in the universe with the 15 voters and the people of the State of 16 New York. We want more poll watchers. We 17 want more participation in our electoral 18 process. 19 And I have to say, I have a special 20 place in my heart for this bill. Because when 21 I did, on one campaign I volunteered for, 22 travel from New York City just across the 23 county line into Nassau County in a special 24 election -- where it's very hard to get poll

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(518) 371-8910 1 watchers -- because I wasn't from Nassau 2 County, I was greeted with actually quite a 3 bit of disdain by a member of the Republican 4 county organization in Nassau County who, when 5 discovering I was not from that county, 6 instead of providing me with the 7 information -- because I was there just 8 closing the poll, the campaign was over -- she 9 asked the police to escort me from the 10 premises. 11 Senator Johnson won that election 12 anyway, but I'm very proud that Senator 13 Addabbo is righting that wrong and passing 14 this bill today. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 16 Senator Schneiderman to be recorded in the 17 affirmative. 18 The Secretary will continue calling 19 the roll. 20 THE SECRETARY: Senator Serrano. 21 SENATOR SERRANO: Yes. 22 THE SECRETARY: Senator Seward. 23 SENATOR SEWARD: No. 24 THE SECRETARY: Senator Skelos.

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(518) 371-8910 1 (Senator Skelos was recorded as 2 voting in the negative.) 3 THE SECRETARY: Senator Smith. 4 SENATOR SMITH: Yes. 5 THE SECRETARY: Senator Squadron. 6 SENATOR SQUADRON: Yes. 7 THE SECRETARY: Senator 8 Stachowski. 9 SENATOR STACHOWSKI: Yes. 10 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stavisky. 11 SENATOR STAVISKY: Yes. 12 THE SECRETARY: Senator 13 Stewart-Cousins. 14 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Yes. 15 THE SECRETARY: Senator Thompson. 16 SENATOR THOMPSON: Yes. 17 THE SECRETARY: Senator Valesky. 18 SENATOR VALESKY: Aye. 19 THE SECRETARY: Senator Volker. 20 SENATOR VOLKER: No. 21 THE SECRETARY: Senator Winner. 22 SENATOR WINNER: No. 23 THE SECRETARY: Senator Young. 24 SENATOR YOUNG: No.

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(518) 371-8910 1 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 2 Secretary, would you please call the 3 absentees. 4 THE SECRETARY: Senator Hannon. 5 (No response.) 6 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 7 Announce the results. 8 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 32. Nays, 9 29. 10 Absent from voting: Senator 11 Hannon. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 13 The bill is passed. 14 SENATOR SMITH: Madam President. 15 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 16 Senator Smith. 17 SENATOR SMITH: Can we return to 18 motions and resolutions. 19 I believe I have a resolution at 20 the desk, and I ask that the title be read. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 The Secretary will read. 23 THE SECRETARY: By Senators Smith 24 and Montgomery, Legislative Resolution Number

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(518) 371-8910 1 942, honoring Susan L. Taylor upon the 2 occasion of her designation for special 3 recognition. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 Senator Smith. 6 SENATOR SMITH: Thank you, Madam 7 President. 8 As you know, this is Women's 9 History Month, and I am more than honored and 10 pleased to stand here and join my colleague 11 Senator Velmanette Montgomery to honor a 12 distinguished woman, a young lady that I know 13 has been escorted around with the Deputy 14 Speaker of the Assembly. I saw her here a 15 little while ago; she may have stepped out. 16 But as you know, Susan Taylor, she 17 is known to millions of people around the 18 world. She has been a creative force and the 19 heart and soul of Essence Magazine for nearly 20 four decades. In 2007, she made the choice to 21 devote the fullness of her energies to the 22 "National Cares Mentoring Movement," a 23 nonprofit group that was created to transform 24 young people's lives.

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(518) 371-8910 1 She holds a dozen honorary degrees 2 from a number of distinguished universities -- 3 Lincoln University, Spellman, Dillard 4 University, Bennett College, and, most 5 notably, from my alma mater, Fordham 6 University, one of the most distinguished 7 universities, Senator Breslin, that she holds 8 an honorary degree from. 9 She has been the heart and soul of 10 Essence Magazine. And I tell you, as a young 11 man growing up, I used to have the opportunity 12 to look at that magazine because my sisters 13 would all buy it. And never did I think I 14 would stand here on the floor of a Senate that 15 is one of the most distinguished bodies in 16 this country to honor someone that I would 17 read about in a magazine. I just remember 18 looking at her picture in the corner of the 19 magazine saying "Editor in Chief," and I used 20 to always say, "Well, who is this young lady?" 21 And here I am now, had the 22 opportunity to meet with her for about 15 or 23 20 minutes, talk to her about some of the 24 wonderful things she's doing for people with

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(518) 371-8910 1 housing and those who are in need of workforce 2 housing. 3 And, Madam President and my 4 distinguished colleagues, this is good day for 5 the State of New York when we can honor such a 6 distinguished woman who has made so many of us 7 proud. It just gives me great pleasure to 8 stand on the floor of the Senate to speak on 9 her behalf, and it gives me even a greater 10 honor to now turn it over to my colleague 11 Senator Velmanette Montgomery, who will 12 provide the remainder of the distinguished 13 comments about such a wonderful young lady. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Thank you, Majority Leader Senator Smith. 16 Senator Montgomery. 17 SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Thank you, 18 Madam President. 19 And thank you, Mr. Majority Leader, 20 for honoring such a distinguished woman. It's 21 always wonderful to have powerful men honoring 22 powerful women. 23 It's my pleasure to be part of 24 this, because Susan Taylor I've known up close

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(518) 371-8910 1 and far away. And I know her up close because 2 of the magazine that comes in with a special 3 note to women who receive that magazine, and 4 it's a message from Susan Taylor. And I want 5 to tell you, I've read it many, many times and 6 received from you a feeling that you were 7 talking to me personally. So I thank you for 8 that. 9 And the fact that this is the 10 magazine that helped to shape how 11 African-American women feel about themselves, 12 and also provide information to women in a 13 very unique and special way. And now, with 14 all of that, Susan Taylor has always found 15 time to go out in communities across the 16 country and speak to women everywhere, of all 17 walks of life. I've seen her at high-level 18 political meetings, but I've also seen her 19 speak to young college women and women in 20 churches and women everywhere. And it's 21 always to bring information that we can use, 22 and inspiration. And I certainly appreciate 23 her. 24 She has been designated one of the

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(518) 371-8910 1 most powerful African-American women. And 2 that's certainly true, because there is 3 nothing more powerful than when you can put 4 pen to paper and bring message to so many 5 millions of people, especially women. 6 And now I want to say a very 7 personal thank you to what you're doing for 8 mentoring in this country and bringing all of 9 those high-level organizations, men and women, 10 together to get them involved and to show all 11 of us how we can utilize ourselves in a 12 movement to open up opportunities for young 13 people across the nation. 14 So we have a lot to be thankful to 15 Susan Taylor for. But today it's just an 16 opportunity to honor her and thank her for all 17 that she's done. And in the name of Women's 18 History Month, we've honored lot of important 19 women, and so today you're at the top. So we 20 thank you, Susan. 21 And thank you, Madam President, for 22 recognizing Susan. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 24 Thank you, Senator Montgomery.

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(518) 371-8910 1 Senator Hassell-Thompson. 2 SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON: Thank 3 you, Madam President. 4 As someone who is so pleased and 5 honored to cosponsor this resolution along 6 with Senator Montgomery, let me say to you, 7 Susan Taylor, we can't say enough about the 8 imagery of African-Americans that you brought 9 through your magazine. You awakened -- we 10 talked about black power ten years before, but 11 you showed us what black power really was. 12 You helped us to shape our thoughts about 13 ourselves as people in this country. 14 And you went on to make sure that 15 young women of every color could look at 16 themselves and say, I am beautiful no matter 17 what the standard is. I am beautiful inside 18 of me. And that's an extremely -- just a 19 wonderful gift that you have. And through 20 your writings you have used it to create the 21 most positive image across this country. 22 And as Senator Montgomery says, 23 your work with at-risk youngsters, your 24 mentoring to ensure that we break the pipeline

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(518) 371-8910 1 from school to prison means so very much to us 2 when we know that our young people, by fourth 3 grade, are already being earmarked to go to 4 prison because they cannot read and they are 5 not developing as well as they need to be 6 doing. So your role in mentoring and using 7 your voice to help people to understand the 8 plight of our young children at risk will go a 9 long way. 10 But I also want to commend you 11 also, as someone who has done work in Africa, 12 for the work that you do there and for what 13 you do to enlighten the world about who Africa 14 is and the things that we must do to bring the 15 qualities of both countries together around 16 the issues facing poverty, facing miseducation 17 of children everywhere in the world. 18 And so I thank you personally, 19 Susan Taylor, and I thank you on behalf of 20 this Senate for single-handedly giving a 21 vision of people of African ancestry that no 22 one else has been as accomplished as you have 23 done. 24 And I just -- I can't personally

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(518) 371-8910 1 tell you what it's done for each of my 2 daughters, who are 40 and 42, and for the 3 years that they have read your magazine from 4 their girlhood through today. And they thank 5 you too for helping them to walk tall, be tall 6 and be beautiful as women with African 7 descent. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Thank you, Senator. 10 Senator Huntley. 11 SENATOR HUNTLEY: Yes, Madam 12 President. I rise to salute Susan Taylor. 13 And it's so great for me, because I actually 14 know her, which gives me a whole different 15 feeling. 16 I just called my daughter to tell 17 her that Susan Taylor was here in the chamber, 18 and she said: "Mommy, is she still 19 beautiful?" I said, "Yes, Pam, she's 20 gorgeous." 21 Susan Taylor is a person who has a 22 warm heart. People love her. People generate 23 to her because she's a true person. She means 24 what she says and she says what she does. And

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(518) 371-8910 1 to think, she was in my district, South Ozone 2 Park, 143rd Street. And that was before all 3 this other -- the travel and the whatever. 4 And people in that borough, in that community, 5 they knew that Susan Taylor cared about 6 everyone. 7 She was always involved with young 8 people, trying to find better ways, involved 9 with families. And she was just a very -- not 10 a motherly but a kind of person who was going 11 to do it no matter what. And people were so 12 fond of her because they knew they could go to 13 her for whatever. 14 And when I saw her today and I 15 looked at her, it's the same Susan Taylor, but 16 now -- Susan Taylor has always been Essence, 17 we know that. I used to purchase the magazine 18 and look at it and Susan Taylor, and sometimes 19 I wouldn't even fully read it, but it was 20 because of Susan Taylor that we did that. 21 And I just want to thank you, 22 Susan, for doing all the things that you have 23 done and continue to do them, I know you will. 24 And I wish you good health and all the love

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(518) 371-8910 1 that I have to give you. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 3 Thank you, Senator. 4 Senator Adams. 5 SENATOR ADAMS: Thank you, Madam 6 President. 7 I think that there's a mistake in 8 the chamber when the women believe that they 9 only read the magazine, because I got my 10 beauty tips from there as well -- 11 (Laughter.) 12 SENATOR ADAMS: -- and loved her. 13 But I remember one funny story in 14 Essence Magazine two years ago when there was 15 an interview being conducted of men that made 16 a difference in the community, and I was one 17 of the men that was selected. And it turned 18 out they changed the article. They made the 19 article to 50 eligible bachelors. And so the 20 number of emails that came through, it was 21 very fascinating. 22 (Laughter.) 23 SENATOR ADAMS: Let me say this. 24 You know, this is not a mere insignificant

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(518) 371-8910 1 moment taking place on the stage of our state 2 legislative environment. To some, it means 3 that we just have a woman who has adorned the 4 presence of our chamber and it's just another 5 day. But it means so much more for a 6 countless number of little girls who were 7 trying to find themselves, who were trying to 8 figure out where do they fit in, who are they. 9 And when they turned on the TVs or watched the 10 movies, they saw nowhere to identify 11 themselves. They didn't have someone to 12 duplicate or to believe they could be 13 greatness. 14 And somewhere, somewhere out of 15 your vision, your third eye, in the essence of 16 your being, you created an Essence Magazine. 17 And I know that many people may be 18 saying in their own way, well, you know, 19 what's the big deal? But it's a big deal to 20 the first African-American woman that is 21 standing in front as the president of the 22 Senate. It's important to her, because she 23 remembers that magazine. And to Senator 24 Huntley and Velmanette Montgomery and Ruth

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(518) 371-8910 1 Hassell-Thompson. 2 And not only those who are 3 Senators, but just everyday little girls. 4 They used to sleep with the magazine and they 5 used to imagine themselves to be models. They 6 actually believed that, you know, yes, they 7 can. And they knew that skin pigmentation did 8 not decide who and what you could become. 9 You redefined, single-handedly, the 10 term of beauty. And we can't ignore that and 11 what it meant for so many of us. And when you 12 turned the pages of the Essence Magazine, it 13 woke up your spirit. And then a countless 14 number of children were able to turn the pages 15 of their lives, from going from being the ugly 16 duckling to the beauty of what it means of 17 diversity. 18 And although people don't 19 understand that, I do, having two sisters and 20 stacks and stacks of Essence magazines. I 21 know what it meant to them, that all of a 22 sudden that their hair was not just nappy, it 23 was beautiful. That their skin was not dark, 24 it was precious. They all of a sudden stopped

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(518) 371-8910 1 calling themselves names and started walking 2 different and acting like queens. You gave 3 that to them. And we cannot thank you enough 4 for what you have done. 5 And we all understand that you have 6 turned the page in your life and started a new 7 chapter in this book of your existence, 8 constantly redefining yourself, showing that 9 no matter where you go or what you have done, 10 there is more to do. Because there is a whole 11 new leadership of young girls that are waiting 12 for you. They now are abused daily by their 13 boyfriends and their mates, believing being 14 called names and being attacked and abused is 15 a way of saying I love you. And that's why 16 Ruth Hassell-Thompson chairs the Domestic 17 Violence Task Force, because she knows the 18 importance. 19 Right now we all wish we could give 20 you some peaceful place where you could lay on 21 the beach and just relax, but we need you more 22 than ever now. There's a whole new generation 23 that have become physically, verbally abusive 24 to themselves. And we need the style of the

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(518) 371-8910 1 Susan Taylors. We need the style of what you 2 do and your grace and your presence. We need 3 for you to return back to the communities 4 throughout this state, the mere essence of 5 your existence. 6 We thank you, we thank you, Queen, 7 for what you are. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Thank you, Senator Adams. 10 Are there any other Senators that 11 wish to be heard on the resolution? 12 MS. TAYLOR: I'm overwhelmed. 13 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 14 Well, before you are overwhelmed, I will take 15 the privilege just to say how incredibly 16 impressed, heartened, and really honored we 17 are to have you here in our chambers. This is 18 a magnificent place to be, just as is the 19 Assembly. And I see that we have our Deputy 20 Speaker Earlene Hooper, who's standing next to 21 our Majority Leader. 22 But the reality is is that many 23 times here we speak of those people who have 24 already gone, who have made amazing

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(518) 371-8910 1 impressions, but they're no longer here. So 2 it is indeed an honor to be able to give you 3 your recognition and your flowers while you're 4 here, still an icon in this state and in this 5 nation and around the world. 6 So on behalf of me, certainly, 7 presiding, but me who grew up knowing who I 8 was because of the essence of Essence, I thank 9 you. 10 (Standing ovation.) 11 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 12 Now for the business. 13 The question is on the resolution. 14 All those in favor please signify by saying 15 aye. 16 (Response of "Aye.") 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 Opposed, nay. 19 (No response.) 20 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 21 The resolution is adopted. 22 At the request of the sponsors, the 23 resolution is open for multisponsorship by the 24 entire house. Any member wishing to not be a

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(518) 371-8910 1 multisponsor of the resolution should so 2 inform the desk. 3 Senator Klein. 4 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 5 can we return to the controversial calendar. 6 We have one more bill to take up. 7 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 8 The Secretary will read. 9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number 10 108, by Senator C. Johnson, Senate Print 2269, 11 an act to amend the Town Law. 12 SENATOR LIBOUS: Explanation, 13 please. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 Senator Johnson. 16 SENATOR C. JOHNSON: Thank you, 17 Madam President. 18 This bill is very simple bill, and 19 it addresses a situation that many of us who 20 represent the suburbs -- whether in Long 21 Island, Westchester, Rockland, or upstate 22 New York -- are facing with respect to their 23 volunteer fire companies, volunteer fire 24 districts, volunteer fire departments.

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(518) 371-8910 1 In this specific instance the bill 2 simply requests that an exemption be provided 3 to the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department from the 4 restriction that is placed upon volunteer fire 5 companies which restricts nonresidents to 6 45 percent of membership. Roslyn, which is a 7 area within my community, is suffering a 8 crisis when it comes to young people -- and 9 "young" is a relative age -- but younger 10 people who can't afford to necessarily live in 11 an area where they may have grown up, yet want 12 to continue to serve their community because 13 their parents or their grandparents live 14 there. 15 And as a result, they may want to 16 join the fire department and serve as a 17 volunteer firefighter or as an EMS worker. 18 But right now, in Roslyn, there's a 19 restriction on allowing the number of 20 nonresidents -- residents being those who 21 cover the particular area -- and to limit the 22 number. 23 The Roslyn Rescue Fire Department 24 has reached out and said that they've hit

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(518) 371-8910 1 their mark and they want to have an exemption 2 to add nonresidents. Maybe a daughter who can 3 no longer afford to live in Roslyn or East 4 Hills or Roslyn Heights but yet come back and 5 serve the community where they grew up. Or 6 maybe a son who wants to be a volunteer 7 firefighter like his mother and yet can't do 8 so because he or she is restricted based on 9 the percentage. 10 And so this bill simply does 11 something that has been done in numerous 12 instances. In fact, in 2008, four times this 13 legislation was amended to allow volunteer 14 companies or districts to amend and extend the 15 nonresidency requirement. 16 So I believe it's a simple bill, 17 it's a bill that is urged by my district in 18 particular, the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department, 19 and it will help those residents who are 20 served by the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department so 21 they know they can go to sleep at night and 22 not have to worry about whether or not there 23 are enough men and women who can come and 24 battle fire or provide emergency services.

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(518) 371-8910 1 Thank you. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: 3 Senator Saland, why do you rise? 4 SENATOR SALAND: Would Senator 5 Johnson yield to a question? 6 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: 7 Senator Johnson, will you yield to a question 8 from Senator Saland? 9 SENATOR C. JOHNSON: I will, 10 Senator Breslin. But before you do, if we can 11 just have some order just so I can hear. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: Can we 13 just have a little quiet. 14 Thank you very much. 15 SENATOR C. JOHNSON: And of 16 course. 17 SENATOR SALAND: Thank you, 18 Senator Johnson. 19 Senator Johnson, I didn't request 20 an explanation; I know what your bill proposes 21 to do. And I'm also familiar with the fact 22 that we've done this on a number of prior 23 occasions. 24 The question which I have for you

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(518) 371-8910 1 is whether you have attempted to or whether 2 you have requested of the Roslyn Rescue Fire 3 Department to make any effort to check with 4 adjoining districts as to whether they too 5 agree with this proposal. And I ask that 6 because I've seen similar requests in my own 7 district, and that has been an issue. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: Yes, 9 through the chair, you may answer, Senator 10 Johnson. 11 SENATOR CRAIG JOHNSON: Of 12 course. Through you, Mr. President. 13 And Senator Saland, I know you 14 didn't request it, actually the request came 15 from your floor leader, and I felt that it was 16 important to accommodate the request. 17 This was a request that actually 18 came from the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department 19 themselves. And obviously, when the president 20 and the chief reach out and say that they have 21 a problem and they need to have it addressed, 22 I felt it was important to take that under 23 incredible importance and advisement. 24 But to answer your question, no, I

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(518) 371-8910 1 have not, because this was a request that came 2 from them. 3 And I think it's very important, 4 especially with this department, it's got a 5 long-standing history. It was founded in, I 6 believe, 1852, and it was granted its charter 7 in 1866, one of the older fire companies we 8 have in New York State. It's got a proud 9 tradition in New York State. 10 And I happened to really get to 11 know it when I attended, unfortunately -- and 12 I know many of us did this -- in 2001, when 13 they lost two members, brothers, Tom and Peter 14 Langone, who were killed in the 9/11 attacks, 15 and really getting to know the chief and the 16 president. 17 When they reached out, I trusted 18 their judgment, and I believe that this is an 19 important bill. 20 SENATOR SALAND: Thank you, 21 Senator Johnson. 22 On the bill, Mr. President. 23 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: 24 Senator Saland, on the bill.

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(518) 371-8910 1 SENATOR SALAND: Certainly the 2 problems that all of our volunteer fire 3 companies are having, virtually universally -- 4 I doubt if there are many if any that are not 5 in terms of recruitment and retention -- in 6 many instances threaten the fabric of the 7 communities they serve. So this legislation 8 is certainly laudably intended and will help 9 the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department. 10 My concern -- and as I mentioned, 11 I've had a similar situation in my own 12 district -- is what impact will it have on the 13 adjoining districts. And I don't know how 14 many districts may adjoin this district, but 15 in the case that came most recently in mine, I 16 have I believe either five or six districts 17 that adjoin or abut this district. 18 And what I requested of this 19 equally laudable fire company that I have 20 worked with on prior occasions was that they 21 obtain some waiver or some agreement from each 22 of the adjoining districts that in fact they 23 are okay with it. Simply because I didn't 24 want them raiding the adjoining districts that

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(518) 371-8910 1 might well be experiencing the same personnel 2 problem. 3 So there's certainly no 4 requirement, there's no protocol. But I would 5 hate like heck in the case of providing 6 support for fire companies to take from Peter 7 to pay Paul. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: 9 Senator Johnson. 10 SENATOR CRAIG JOHNSON: Mr. 11 President, maybe -- I'll speak on the bill, 12 but I think I'll bring clarity. Because one 13 of the great things about modern technology is 14 my office did receive contact from two 15 districts in proximity, Senator Saland, 16 Manhasset Lakeville District and the 17 Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company. And they 18 reached out to our office and said they had no 19 problem. 20 It's in proximity, maybe provides 21 some clarification. I was clarified. So 22 maybe that gives you a better answer to your 23 question. 24 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: Thank

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(518) 371-8910 1 you, Senator Johnson. 2 Senator Bonacic. 3 SENATOR BONACIC: On the bill. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: 5 Senator Bonacic, on the bill. 6 SENATOR BONACIC: First of all, I 7 think this is a very worthy bill. It should 8 be supported by all of us. 9 All of our volunteer firefighters 10 in the State of New York are suffering the 11 problem of retention and recruitment. All of 12 us have put sweeteners in -- legislation for 13 some of our high school kids to give them a 14 scholarship to college if they live within 15 certain miles of volunteer fire companies. 16 I had a similar situation to 17 Senator Johnson; it was the Mechanicstown Fire 18 Company. And it's a state law that if a 19 volunteer fire company does not meet a 20 threshold of 45 percent of their membership 21 that live in their district, they get 22 dissolved. They go away, they're gone. 23 And I appreciate the concerns of 24 Senator Saland making sure there's not raids

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(518) 371-8910 1 on other fire companies. But they are like 2 brothers. The fire companies all around the 3 one that has a membership problem, they want 4 that fire company to survive and not get 5 dissolved. 6 So this is a good bill. We have to 7 do everything we can to help our volunteer 8 firefighters, really the heart and soul of our 9 communities. And I support this bill a 10 hundred percent. 11 Thank you, Senator Johnson. 12 ACTING PRESIDENT BRESLIN: Thank 13 you, Senator Bonacic. 14 Are there any other Senators 15 wishing to be heard? 16 The Secretary will ring the bell. 17 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 18 Read the last section. 19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This 20 act shall take effect immediately. 21 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 22 Call the roll. 23 (The Secretary called the roll.) 24 SENATOR FUSCHILLO: To explain my

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(518) 371-8910 1 vote. 2 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 3 Senator Fuschillo, to explain his vote. 4 SENATOR FUSCHILLO: Madam 5 President, just to explain my vote. Let me 6 thank Senator Johnson for bringing this bill 7 to the floor. 8 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 9 Can we have some order in the chamber, please. 10 SENATOR FUSCHILLO: You know, the 11 volunteer firefighters in this state save our 12 state billions of dollars in economic costs 13 that it would cost if we had to pay them. 14 There is such a need for volunteer 15 firefighters throughout Nassau County and Long 16 Island and throughout this state. 17 And in this economy, when 18 individuals are working two, three jobs, all 19 fire districts and fire departments are facing 20 the same situation as in Senator Craig 21 Johnson's district. 22 As Senator Bonacic noted, they're a 23 band of brothers. They're not going to start 24 poaching from one district to the other.

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(518) 371-8910 1 There is so much respect for the individuals 2 that do volunteer in the district I represent, 3 and they're our everyday heroes. They're the 4 ones that go, without notice. They don't know 5 an individual, they don't know a family. They 6 jump on the truck when they get that call 7 anytime, 24 hours a day, and go to the house 8 to save a life. They should be commended for 9 their heroism. 10 I'll be voting aye. Thank you. 11 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 12 Senator Fuschillo to be recorded in the 13 affirmative. 14 There any other Senators wishing to 15 explain his or her vote? 16 Senator Johnson. 17 SENATOR C. JOHNSON: Thank you. 18 And first I want to thank my 19 colleagues on both sides of the aisle -- 20 Senator Bonacic, Senator Fuschillo, Senator 21 Saland, for raising an important question. 22 And I understand it. You know, we welcome you 23 to come down anytime to see the Roslyn Rescue 24 Fire Department.

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(518) 371-8910 1 And I want to thank my colleagues 2 on this side of the aisle, particularly 3 Senator Valesky, who has been working very 4 closely with me on this issue affecting our 5 two districts when it comes to volunteer 6 firefighters. 7 But it is an important issue. And, 8 Senator Fuschillo, you know, when we attend 9 those dinners together in Nassau County with 10 Senator Marcellino and others, Senator Hannon, 11 it is -- we need to give back more to our 12 volunteer firefighters and make it easier to 13 help them serve, especially in these difficult 14 economic times. 15 So I thank the support of the 16 Senate that will help the Roslyn Rescue Fire 17 Department expand its membership. Thank you 18 very much. 19 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 20 Thank you. 21 Any other Senator wishing to be 22 heard? 23 Announce the results. 24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61. Nays,

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(518) 371-8910 1 0. 2 Absent from voting: Senator 3 Hannon. 4 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 5 The bill is passed. 6 Senator Klein. 7 SENATOR KLEIN: Madam President, 8 is there any further business at the desk? 9 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 10 Senator Klein, the desk is clear. 11 SENATOR KLEIN: There being none, 12 Madam President, I move that we adjourn until 13 Tuesday, March 24th, at 3:00 p.m. 14 ACTING PRESIDENT STEWART-COUSINS: 15 There being no further business to come before 16 the Senate, on motion, the Senate stands 17 adjourned until Tuesday, March 24th, at 18 3:00 p.m. 19 (Whereupon, at 5:06 p.m., the 20 Senate adjourned.) 21 22 23 24

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