A8 ■ Tuesday, May 25, 2010 *** Albany, New York ■ TIMES UNION

HALL OF SHAME JOHN DE ROSIER’S VIEW

Pain, sacrifice,
unless it hurts
A
s budget talks drag on, lawmakers are hardly at a loss for ideas.
The problem is, even as they publicly preach fiscal prudence,
most of them resist the tough choices.
It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle they’re on. Consider Assemblymen
Tony Jordan and Tim Gordon, our newest members of the Hall of Shame.
Mr. Jordan, a Republican whose
district spans Rensselaer, Saratoga
and Washington counties, has been a
case study of duality this year. There
he was in January, saying the gov-
ernor’s budget needed “deeper and
more equitable cuts by eliminating
waste and going further to right-size
government at all levels.”
But when Governor Paterson
proposed closing four prisons in a
system that has lost 14,000 inmates
over the last decade, lawmakers like
Mr. Jordan objected. In March, Mr.
Jordan and his Assembly GOP col-
leagues rallied against the closures,
arguing that prisons like Moriah
Shock Incarceration Correctional
Facility, located just north of his dis-
trict, are essential to public safety.
Mr. Gordon, an Independence
Party member from Bethlehem, also
embodies that having-it-both-ways
mentality. He supports the Assem-
bly Democrats’ financial plan that
tries to be all things to all people
— restoring cuts to school districts,
rejecting new taxes and fees, pre-
serving STAR exemptions — at the
cost of a balanced budget. Instead,
the plan relies on $2 billion in new
debt.
That, Mr. Gordon said, “reflects
economic realities.”
If legislators are to be more than
local lobbyists, they must look
beyond their political and parochial
interests and consider the state’s well
being, too. One would think that a
more than $9 billion deficit would
inspire them to lead, not just fol-
low the same old wasteful, shameful
ways.
▶ This is part of a series of editorials on
how lawmakers play a role in the stalled
state budget. We encourage readers to let
them know what they think. For more, go
to http://timesunion.com/hallofshame.
Tim Gordon
I-Bethlehem
■ Year elected: 2006
■ Salary: $79,500 (no
stipend)
■ Latest legislation: A
bill to give more funding
to a training program for
equipment operators
on safety procedures for underground
utilities.
■ Recent news from his press shop:
Mowed the lawn at Thacher Park; stood
with unions on eliminating consultants
before doing furloughs.
■ Why he isn’t making a difference:
Elected on the Independence line, he
has become just another member of the
Democratic majority, backing a borrow-
and-spend budget plan. SEE John de Rosier’s cartoon in color online and make a comment. Go to http://blogs.timesunion.com/derosier
■ Albany office phone: 455-5777
■ Fax: 455-5923
■ E-mail: gordont@assembly.state.ny.us
LETTERS
New York, an estimated 3,700 alone also deserve society’s
Tony Jordan Indoor tanning people will be diagnosed recognition and gratitude.
R-Jackson, ranking must be banned with it. Indoor tanning has
increased in popularity. Also,
They are often underpaid,
overworked and overlooked.
Republican on alcoholism
and drug abuse committee Evidence shows that use of the incidence of melanoma I agree wholeheart-
indoor tanning beds before has been steadily rising over edly with “taking care of the
■ Year elected: 2008
the age of 30 increases the the past 30 years, and more caregiver,” whether they are
■ Salary & stipend: recently, at a faster pace volunteers or professionals,
$88,500 risk of developing mela-
noma by 75 percent. That’s among young, white women. whether they work in private
■ Latest legislation: Exempting public why the American Cancer A combination of educa- homes or in nursing homes.
works projects of less than $5 million Society strongly supports tion and safety regulation is We should reward their criti-
from prevailing wage requirements. cal work, rather than hoping
the proposal to bar minors needed to help reverse these
the need for it will go away.
■ Recent news from his press shop: from indoor tanning salons trends. Enactment of this
Criticized road work stoppages, the late (“Bill: Ban indoor tanning for legislation is an important JENNIFER HIXON
part of that effort.
budget and closing prisons. teens,” May 13). East Greenbush
■ Why he isn’t making a difference: Tanning beds were el- PETER SLOCUM
He supports smarter fiscal policy until evated to the highest cancer Vice President of Advocacy creative ways to help people
it becomes politically uncomfortable for
him. Albany office phone: 455-5404
risk category last year by the American Cancer Society who are caring for their aging Isn’t point, blame
International Agency for of NY & NJ loved ones.
■ Fax: 455-3727 Research on Cancer. Asbes- Loudonville I know the stress of main- the Obama way?
tos, benzene, dioxin, mustard taining one ailing parent at
■ E-mail: jordant@assembly.state.ny.us I find it refreshingly ironic
gas and tobacco smoke are in home, and the heartbreak of that the Obama administra-
the same category, described
as “carcinogenic to humans.”
Reward caring confining the other to a nurs-
ing home. But I have learned
tion is telling BP to stop

Saving the parks

Government has a respon-
sibility to promote public
health and to protect minors
from cancer-causing agents,
of the caregivers
In her May 16 essay com-
mentary, “Aging is an issue
that family caregivers are
not the only ones who need
recognition and support.
The certified nursing as-
pointing fingers and blaming
others for the Gulf oil spill
when the foundation of this
administration is to point
fingers and blame others.

T
like tanning beds. for both the old and young,” sistants and nurses who pick
o hear Governor Paterson, his latest budget overture to the This year, 8,500 deaths are Diane Cameron emphasizes up the burdens that family JIM PITTZ
Legislature would reopen 55 state parks and historic sites expected from melanoma. In the need for meaningful and members can no longer carry Clifton Park
that had become casualties of a staggering deficit. The price,
though, is a considerable one, namely a $67 million raid on the state’s
Environmental Protection Fund. S TAT E L E G I S L AT U R E
That’s how much he wants to take ing is little more than a collection of John Sampson Most of our legisla-
from the fund — far more than the piecemeal allocations.
$6 million needed for the parks. He Yet at least one state legislator, Have a comment? and Assembly tors have no credibility left
to lose, I’m afraid. But I hope
Speaker Silver.
would turn what had been money Senate Democratic leader John Join the discussion on this they will try harder to do
issue at our Here’s what’s
largely restricted to land conserva- Sampson, is hailing the notion of remarkable: In- the right thing by us anyway
tion into easy cash for a state that has resolving one area of contention in blog, The before some of them go in
Observation come tax day is
such trouble balancing its budget. the state budget without coming any April 15. I know November.
That’s not saving the parks, really, closer to an agreement on the budget Deck, http://blog.
timesunion.com/opinion it, but I can’t PAUL LAMAR
so much as it’s turning a budget itself. Talk about an upside-down fis- seem to get the Albany
stalemate into an cal policy. forms out until
even more pro- Mr. Paterson the day before
tracted mess. THE ISSUE: is quick to note Tax politicians or the day itself. LETTERS
that keeping the
Yes, it’s en- The governor wants parks and parks open after to reduce deficit I have never
been late.
POLICY
couraging that historic sites open after all. all won’t add to not be tax deductible. Letters are subject to
the governor I have an idea for a new tax The state budget is due
THE STAKES: state spending. At last the public would April 1. How is it possible editing for clarity, length,
seems to recog- Technically, he’s that almost every New Yorker know that when we have to taste and accuracy.
nize what a bad The right decision raises uneasy probably right. would love to see — a tax on that it is nearly always late,
be interrupted by political Include a daytime phone
idea it was to fiscal questions all the while. our politicians. especially when people like
But that’s little ads, the tax may help keep number. Only letters
close 41 parks Every time they appear on Sampson and Silver have written exclusively to
justification for some parks open or lower our worked on many budgets
and 14 historic To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com, television to tell us why we tax burden. the Times Union will be
a raid that guts a before? May I respectfully re- used, and only if the
sites to save just or at http://blogs.timesunion.com/opinion should keep them in office, I’m sure we will never see
third of the EPF quest that no one leave town writer’s name can also
a fraction of the they pay a tax. Every political such a tax proposed by our
and constitutes until this budget is passed? be published. Letters of
money required ad on radio or TV is taxed leaders, but I would be willing
an abuse of his budget powers. every time it is played. Every May I urge you newer mem- 200 words or less are
to get New York out of its fiscal cri- If he can get away with reducing to bet the rest of the taxpayers bers of the Legislature to
political phone call we receive preferred. Contributors
sis. If the $6 million to reopen those the amount of the real estate transfer would support it. Let’s see if make the first move because should specify if they want
parks was all he needed from the is taxed. Every campaign sign they really do care about us.
tax money that goes into the EPF by put up in the fall or any other I don’t think this kind of gov- their e-mail addresses
EPF, it might make sense. some $67 million, what else might TOM HOODACK ernance is what you signed up published.
time of year is taxed. Every
What’s troubling, though, is how he try? time they send a mailing to Valley Falls for? You should stay at your BY MAIL
Mr. Paterson is inclined to go about Far from Albany, people might us, each piece is taxed. desks on the floor and have Letters to the Editor
this about-face. A plan hatched in a note that the governor has thought your meals brought in.
quest to get a budget passed is be- better of closing places where New
If they want to lead, maybe
it is time the people of the
Keep on working Call in the media. Be bold.
Times Union
Box 15000
ing abandoned without making the Yorkers can enjoy the state’s array of state get something back. At to pass budget Be original. Make proposals Albany, NY 12212
governor’s budget proposal any more natural beauty or its collective place the very least, it should help even if no one is around, and
appealing or any more responsible. in history. Back in the capital city, I dare say others will, out of BY FAX
reduce the deficit. Thanks for starting the
New York needs a comprehensive though, people need to ask why he’s 518-454-5628
The tax should be paid Hall of Shame on the edito- their own guilt or fear of not
budget strategy, not a seat of the so inclined to do the right thing the by each politician, not from rial page. I promptly e-mailed being re-elected, take their BY E-MAIL
pants approach in which state spend- wrong way. campaign money. It would Senate Democratic leader seats as well. tuletters@timesunion.com

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