After three weeks of inactivity, high theater and political dueling, the state senate has finally resumed the people’s business.  By the time you read this, many important bills affecting local governments, businesses and residents of New York state should be in place.  While the drawn out battle to get to this point was at times unseemly and excessive, it was necessary.

 Last fall voters asked for change, and I was ready to deliver.  Important reforms were part of what I had hoped to advance during this year’s senate session.  I also arrived in Albany with an agenda focused on property tax relief, job creation and government spending cuts.  With our state facing an uncertain financial future my plan was to find ways to balance our books and start down the path to a brighter financial future.

 Unfortunately many of the newly elected senators and the political bosses on the other side of the aisle quickly forgot their campaign promises and had other ideas.  The priority became larger offices, parking spaces and high priced staff.  Political perks seemed to be the only thing the new leadership cared about.