ALBANY – It is a known fact in Albany and Washington that the majority political party decides what legislation is discussed and adopted.
Republicans Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark) and Anil Beephan (R, East Fishkill) have recently proposed legislation they believe to be sound, yet it will not make it to the floor for a vote.
Beephan has proposed exempting Hudson Valley residents “who serve critical roles in New York City’s functions” from the congestion pricing measure just adopted by the MTA board.
“It’s not their idea, which is the full reason they are killing this proposal,” he said. “I can tell you there are members of the majority that have similar proposals with regard to exemptions for congestion pricing, but the problem is that they don’t include all of our vital city employees,” he said.
Beephan said the Democratic proposal does not include first responders, physicians, and nurses as well as those coming into Manhattan for medical treatment.
Brabenec, meanwhile, is upset that the Assembly majority would not consider his bill to make fentanyl a felony offense.
“Many of us in the minority party have very viable and good solutions that really should be brought to the floor of the Assembly, be brought to the floor of the Senate and actually be debated on the merits of the bill,” he said.
There are occasions where a minority member convinces a majority member to sponsor his or her measure to bring it to the floor for debate.
