It's also the only session day this week. The Senate was due to start at 3 p.m., and when I strolled in at 3:09 were adjourning for the day and week. The Assembly went a bit longer, with Speaker Sheldon Silver in the chair while Majority Leader Ron Canestrari introduced new members -- most of them downstate Democrats. Their family members liked this but I wonder if Shelly was paying attention -- although maybe it's the ability to pay attention to such stuff that makes for a successful legislative leader. When Silver spoke he was so relaxed it was hard to understand him, though he perked up a bit introducing various guests (e.g. students with their professors), saying they were always welcome in the chamber.
I was glad to see Rich Azzopardi, who was chief of staff to narrowly defeated Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson, resurfacing in a new job as spokesman for the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference, which should add to the rich tapestry of the political scene. I also ran into Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, who said he remains confident that the Senate will continue to block gay marriage. Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters said she is expecting new ethics legislation from the governor and Assembly. Maybe no one is on board with William Wordsworth saying "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive," but the sun is shining and it's another year in Albany.
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