By Thomas Libous

Last Monday, I handed up a Resolution changing the Leadership in the Senate to Senator Pedro Espada as Temporary President and Senator Dean Skelos as Vice President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader.

We passed this Resolution with 32 votes because 30 Republican Senators and two Senators from the Democratic side were fed up. 

Fed up that after five months of talk from downstate Democrat leaders about reforms, openness and fairness, nothing had been done.

A budget that’s unfair to upstate New York was negotiated secretly and then passed under their leadership. It eliminates STAR Rebate Checks, creates Empire Zone Reform that hurts our businesses and gives unequal resources to upstate for our road and bridge repair.

Under downstate leadership, legislation is being considered that would substantially raise the cost of doing business for farmers. They’re even considering a bill that would require you to keep your vehicle free of snow if it’s accumulated more than an inch. Talk about unrealistic and out of touch with the needs of upstate New Yorkers like us.