But lawmakers did not adopt an issue at the top of the list for some lawmakers: their first pay raise in eight years. Base pay is $79,500 a year.
"Our members expressed that they wouldn't be extorted," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, referring to the possibility that Pataki would OK a pay raise in return for approving an expansion in the number of charter schools, an early-retirement plan or other issues he wanted.
Bruno said the Senate won't return to the Capitol before the end of the year, meaning that a pay raise is off the table for at least two years. But Silver said lawmakers could be back before New Year's.
Shelly, Bruno is saving you from yourself here, dumbass. I really wish you were bright enough to see it.
And Senator Schneiderman just had to get one last dig at Pataki on his way out the door, one that seems to sum up his entire tenure in Albany all too well.
"We're closing the Pataki era in classic fashion," said Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan, referring to the governor's final days in office before his term expires. "There's a long list of matters we could attend to. But we gavel in and then there's no agreement on anything and there's poor communication."
Thank heavens for small favors. It looks as if we may have dodged the pay raise for now, which preserves it as a carrot with which to bang these folks over the head with as we try to steer them towards reform. It also looks as if we may avoid some pretty crappy legislation that Pataki seemed to want more for wooing republican presidential primary voters with (I know, I know. I'm laughing too.) than for any good it would do for the citizens of New York.
Thankfully, the "Unextraordinary Session" has lived up to its name.
Whew! |
Well, it appears that the 
