PRESS RELEASE
February 5, 2008

Majority Concerned About Exclusion From State Meeting

Democrats Go Back on Pledge for Bi-Partisan Lobbying of Governor

Rensselaer County Legislature Majority Leader Robert Mirch and other majority legislators said they were concerned they were unfairly excluded by legislative Democrats from a meeting with Governor’s Spitzer staff on state mandates and state aid.

Republican majority legislators said the closed-door meeting was obviously political because legislators had agreed to jointly lobby the state for more state aid for the county jail project. Majority legislators said the meeting was obviously ineffective, because the Democrat governor’s budget reduces aid or shifts millions in expenses to county taxpayers. County budget officials said the cost shifts in the Spitzer budget would raise taxes

Still, majority legislators said they would like Democrats to disclose the items of discussion at the meeting with top Spitzer aide Tony Giardina and discuss what progress is being made on securing more state aid for the jail and to reform mandates. The meeting is believed to have taken place in late December or early January at the State Capitol.

“We are very disappointed we were excluded by legislative Democrats from this meeting. Even more disappointing is the lack of progress they apparently made in protecting Rensselaer County taxpayers,” said Mirch.

“Based on my review of the state budget, I would have to characterize their secret lobbying efforts as an utter failure. If anything, they made the situation worse,” added Mirch.

Mirch sent a letter this afternoon asking Democrats to formally disclose the topics discussed at the meeting and what, if any, agreements were reached with the governor’s office. Mirch said he would Democrats to provide details of the meeting prior to the February 12 legislative meeting.

Majority legislators said they believe other county officials and members of the public should have been included in the meeting.

“This was an opportunity for us to present a united voice on the issues affecting county taxpayers, but unfortunately, Democrats chose to play politics. Instead of bi-partisanship and cooperation, they chose to meet with in secret,” said Legislator Martin Reid.

“It would have been even more beneficial if Democrats had conducted this meeting in public, and allowed the County Executive and residents to speak directly to the governor’s office. What about openness?” asked Reid.

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