Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville, walks to a meeting with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Friday, March 25, 2011. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says he expects New York's budget to restore $250 million of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed $1.5 billion cut in school funding. The Nassau County Republican made the prediction after emerging from closed-door talks with Cuomo. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
Polls and pundits agree: This year’s New York state legislative session was successful.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, in an interview with me this week, agreed. He called the session “historic” and pointed to the on-time passage of the state budget as a major achievement.
But Skelos also discussed other issues, including other legislative achievements, his relationship with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, prison closures and what issues the Senate will tackle in the months ahead and the 2012 legislative session.
Skelos said passage of a property tax cap was an important step and something Senate Republicans have long supported. He also listed mandate relief and SUNY 2020 as achievements, to name a few.
It is safe to say many of those achievements would not have been possible were it not for Skelos having a solid relationship with Cuomo.
Both men listened to each other and that was important to understand “where we were both coming from,” Skelos said.
“When the Legislature respects the governor and the executive branch and in return they respect the functioning of the Legislature, you can get results that are very positive,” he said.
On the issue of prison closures, Skelos said it was important for Cuomo to acknowledge that many prisons are “major economic engines” for communities, including several in upstate New York.
“We had to respect that, understand that, and try to minimize the impact throughout the state,” Skelos said.
Cuomo announced at the end of June his plan to close seven prison facilities throughout the state. While facilities like Oneida Correctional Facility in Oneida County are on the list, there are a few prison facilities on the list from downstate New York.
Economic assistance will be available to help communities impacted by prison closures, according to the governor’s news release announcing the closures.
Looking ahead, more mandate relief is on the agenda, according to Skelos.
He also said the Senate would look at regulatory reform for businesses, especially small businesses. Job creation is a top priority, he said.
At the end of the interview, Skelos reflected on the session. With agreements reached on key legislation — all three of Cuomo’s top issues (ethics reform, marriage equality and property tax cap) passed the Legislature —and polls showing higher approval ratings for both legislative houses, Skelos believes this session showed that state government can work.
“The first year, we showed that our government can function,” he said.
“We have earned the respect of the citizens throughout the state.”
In other news:
• Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, is joining those who believe the Oneida Correctional Facility should remain open.
Hanna wrote a letter to Cuomo asking him to reconsider the decision to close Oneida Correctional Facility in Oneida County. The facility is one of seven prison facilities Cuomo announced at the end of June would close to eliminate unused beds and save the state money.
“While I certainly support your efforts to cut the cost of state government, I am deeply concerned that upstate is bearing a disproportionate burden considering its economic struggles.
“As such, I respectfully urge you to reconsider your decision to close the Oneida Correctional Facility,” Hanna wrote.
• Hanna and Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-Onondaga Hill, voted this week in support of the “Cut, Cap and Balance Act.”
The measure would cut spending and place a cap on future spending.
It also proposes a constitutional amendment to require the federal government to pass a balanced budget.
“The government has a spending problem and intervention is needed before any further credit can be extended. We have to begin to live within our means,” Buerkle said in a statement. “I supported this measure because it is the right thing to do for this country. I hope that the Senate will act responsibly and do likewise.”
• Both area state senators, Michael Nozzolio and David Valesky, announced their support for the “Protect Our Children Act” in the state Senate.
The legislation calls for the creation of a new crime — aggravated murder of a child. The bill would also make it a felony to conceal a child’s death and to fail to notify law enforcement if a child is missing for more than 24 hours. Similar bills have been proposed nationwide in the aftermath of the Casey Anthony trial, leading some of the bills to be named “Caylee’s Law” for Caylee Anthony, Casey’s deceased daughter.
Online producer Robert Harding's Eye on NY column appears Sundays in The Citizen. Head to auburnpub.com/eyeonny to read his blog. Harding can be reached at 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding
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