Today Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R,C-Horseheads) expressed frustration with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for putting legislative pay raises ahead of finalizing civil confinement of sexual predators and consideration of the Berger Health Commission Report. 

            Governor Pataki called for yesterday’s special session after the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that the state was wrongfully keeping sexual predators locked up without prior court hearings.  The Senate passed the civil confinement bill unanimously during yesterday’s special session.

“New York needs civil confinement to keep the most dangerous sexual predators off our streets, and the purpose of the special session was to pass such a measure,” noted Assemblyman O’Mara.  “I was hopeful that the Assembly could put aside partisan politics and do something positive for the people of New York.  Unfortunately, Speaker Silver blocked any attempts to make that happen.”

“The Speaker and the downstate majority of the Assembly have stonewalled action on civil confinement in an attempt to achieve a legislative pay raise,” remarked O’Mara.  “Legislative and judicial pay raises have recently been the subject of closed door negotiations between the leadership of the Assembly, Senate and Governor Pataki.  Any talk of legislative pay raises had been squelched prior to November’s election.  Now, one month post-election and days before the next session when the raises would take effect the issue has been at the heart of negotiations.  This is very frustrating because it is an issue that should have been discussed openly in regular session and prior to the election.  Furthermore, I think the issues of legislative and judicial pay raises should be handled separately, on their own merits.” 

            Adding insult to injury, Assembly Speaker Silver prevented any debate of the Berger Commission report which recommended closing or consolidating hospitals and nursing homes across New York State. 

             “By failing to bring the Berger report to the floor for debate, Speaker Silver has assured that the report directives will take effect the first of the year,” said O’Mara. “This is not the democratic process as it is meant to work.  This is too important an issue.  New Yorker’s deserve a full, open and robust debate of the Berger report on the Assembly floor.”

            O’Mara noted that although several New York City hospitals would be impacted by the recommendations, none are in Silver’s lower Manhattan district despite one of New York City’s worst performing hospitals being located within his district.  Ten hospitals and nursing homes in Central New York would be impacted by the Commission’s recommendations.             

             “The only bright spot from yesterday’s session was the passage of Timothy’s Law,” said O’Mara.  Timothy’s Law requires insurance companies to provide mental illness coverage equal to the coverage given for other health conditions.

            “Timothy’s Law will give people who suffer from mental illness the proper coverage they need for their well-being,” said O’Mara.  

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