Dear Editor:
As the Minority leader of the Democratic caucus, I want to respond to a recent letter asking why Orange County leaders have been silent on the riot at our Nation’s capital.
Following the insurrection attempt, I submitted a resolution, following a strict protocol for having resolutions put on the Agenda of the Rules Committee, which read. “A Resolution of the Orange County legislature condemning the actions of the President of the United States and his enablers, for incitement of insurrection at our Nation’s Capital.”
It stated that President trump willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged-and resulted in lawless actions with his incitement of insurrection at our nation’s capital.
And whereas, the president’s actions gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government by threatening the integrity of the Democratic system including his encouragement to interfere with the peaceful transition of power has imperiled a coequal branch of government.
So be it resolved, that we the Democratic Legislators do hereby condemn the violence and actions of the president of the United States and call for him and all those who promoted it to resign.
The Republican chairman of the Rules committee denied putting it on the agenda for the January meeting.
Instead, A resolution was put on the agenda calling for peace and unity in an attempt to overlook the tragic events at the capitol. I reminded him that County executive Nehaus had publicly made a statement with Congressman Maloney demanding that the president resign. But that we had never made the same condemnation of the president and hence, have taken no stand.
I made it clear that “we should have finished addressing accountability and consequences before trying to move on to healing and unity,” which is the theme of our Democratic president and our Democratic party.
Let us not forget that this election season.
Michael Paduch
Minority leader, Orange County legislature
Middletown, NY
The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Mid Hudson News.
