The 2008 Legislative Session came to a close in late June, gaining some progress on Smart Growth issues but drawing harsh assessments from many statewide environmental and good government groups.
A reported 811 bills were passed during the 2008 session out of 4,300 introduced, and according to the Times-Union in Albany, 117 have been signed into law so far by Governor Paterson. Reform was the mantra in Albany this year, and several measures accomplished varying degrees of change, but not enough to gain favor with may good government watchdogs.
Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group was inimpressed: "After promising to change the way Albany operated, the Governor allowed the process in Albany to return to it's bad old roots: secrecy and insider negotiation," was his quote in the TU.
The state's League of Women Voters was even more critical: "We are somewhat sympathetic of our Governor, who had to take over and finish a budget in two weeks, but the budget was done behind closed doors," said the League's Leglislative Director, Barbara Bartoletti. "We thought things would get better, but they didn't -- they got worse."
It was definitely a tumultous session, with the abrupt resignation of Governor Spitzer in March and the announcement one day before the close of session that Senator Joe Bruno would not run for re-election in the fall, and was stepping down as Senate Majority Leader. He was immediately replaced by Senator Dean Skelos of Long Island, the long-time Deputy Minority Leader.
Among the bills passed was legislation limiting the amount of tax breaks the state would give to developers who clean up "brownfields," polluted sites in need of environmental remediation. Provisions in a 2003 brownfields law would apparently have cost New York billions in years to come if left in force, according to lawmakers. There have been ongoing disputes regarding the law, with advocates saying it had the unintended consequence of promoting new suburban development over redevelopment in older cities.
Unfortunately many of the measures advocated by Smart Growth groups were left unaddressed by the 2008 session, and other bills were consigned to ongoing and future negotiations between the Executive and Legislative branches.
