Senator Frank Padavan returned to North Shore Towers on Thursday, August 13 and spoke about a variety of topics, including the chaos in Albany over the summer and the state’s budget.
In introducing Padavan, Political Action Committee chair Murray Lewinter called him “one of the best state senators in the State of New York.”
Padavan began by discussing the budget that was passed in April, which he described as “one of the worst budget I’ve ever seen in my 37 years in the capitol.” He also said that this was the only time he ever voted against a budget.
The problems that Padavan had with the budget included it being increased by 13 percent, taxes and fees being raised by $8.5 billion, taxing businesses and that it included items that “didn’t belong in the budget.”
“The budget didn’t pass overwhelmingly in the Senate but it passed,” Padavan later said during the question and answer period. “It was not in your best interest.”
Additionally, Padavan said that New York State Governor David Paterson has identified a $2.1 billion deficit that will have to be dealt with once the senate is back in session.
Accomplishments that Padavan noted were the passing of mayoral control and getting the MTA to move the Access-a-Ride drop off line into Nassau County.
When the floor was opened up to questions from residents, an inquiry was made about getting the Q46 bus to come either into North Shore Towers or having it stop outside of the co-op along the service road. Padavan said that he had contacted the MTA.
“They said they would consider doing it but they’d have to come into North Shore Towers to do a turn around,” Padavan said, adding that the decision was made not to do so. “But it’s still a possibility. I don’t know why the turnaround is a problem.”
Padavan was also asked about what he would do to address the deficit problems and raise money. He said one way to raise money involved the Indian reservations, where, under federal law, members of the particular tribe that live on the reservation don’t pay taxes, although outsiders are supposed to.
Padavan said the tribes are not doing so, and that the state needs to enforce the law and collect the taxes. He also said that the state’s tax department has estimated these taxes to amount to more than a billion dollars.
In addition, Padavan said that doing more to eliminate fraud, inefficiency and abuse in Medicaid would help.
“We think that we have billions of dollars out there that we can save without hurting any body,” he said. He continued, “Those two things alone can save us a great deal of money.”
Also discussed was the summer chaos in Albany, where three Democratic senators went over to the Republicans only to later switch back again.
“It was disgraceful. There’s blame to go around, there’s no question about it,” Padavan said. “No one was totally free of any responsibility. Those, however, who engineered it, I think, have to bear the greatest responsibility.”
Padavan went on to say that the three “fled back to where they were [with the Democrats] because they were bought,” noting that one was made the majority leader while another was given a committee chairmanship.
Addressing statements that the senators should not have been paid during this period of time, Padavan explained that the only time they don’t get paid is if they fail to pass the budget on time. He also said that, even during the chaos, they were still working.
Other topics that were discussed included healthcare, a possible constitutional convention, the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor, real estate classifications of cooperatives, and commuter taxes, among others.
