INCOMPLETE IN ALBANY

The state Legislature's session seems to have spluttered to a close,
although it could be revived if the Big Three (Messrs. Pataki, Bruno and
Silver) come up with anything for the legislators to do. As usual, the
bosses and their decorative retainers (i.e. your elected representatives)
have left much undone, which does not seem to trouble them unduly.

The reason for this inaction varies from issue to issue. Thus it seems Gov.
Pataki is blocking an increase in the state's minimum wage, even though the
Assembly wants it and the Senate is willing to go along. Maybe the governor
feels he's given the labor unions enough lately, and needs to do something
to keep the business community happy.

It is doubtful, however, that a minimum-wage increase would do much to hurt
business or dry up jobs in New York, while it would boost the earnings of
some hard-working people who need the money. It would also encourage the
movement of people from welfare to work, and make that transition easier
for them and their families.

On two other important issues, however, the Assembly seems to be the prime
obstacle. It is blocking reasonable reforms of a brownfields law that could
expedite the cleanup and reuse of old industrial sites. Absent such reform,
too many sites will stay empty, blighting the environment and depressing
the tax base of, especially, upstate cities and villages, and driving out
new development to suburban and rural areas.

The Assembly also is holding out for more sweeping reforms of the
Rockefeller drug laws than the governor and the Senate are prepared to
agree to, even though the state District Attorneys Association says its
proposal would remove key weapons in the fight against crime. The
Senate-passed bill would ease the drug laws significantly, freeing some
prisoners who have long sentences. Better the Assembly accepts and passes
it, settling for half a loaf, than lose out on any reform for one more year.

On other issues, too, including the seemingly urgent one of requiring
religious leaders to report instances of child sexual abuse, the two houses
of the Legislature have failed to resolve their differences and seem
resigned to inaction. They have accomplished a few things this session -
notably a cut in rail taxes that will make possible construction of a
much-needed second track between Albany and Schenectady - but not enough.

Maybe when they all come looking for votes this election year, people
should ask them why they get so little done.