More Reform Reversals Yippee!

State Sen. Darrel Aubertine, who got himself in a twist a year ago over whether or not he supported Client #9’s plan to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, cast the deciding vote last night on a plan that makes it easier for aliens to get taxpayer-funded benefits from the state.

Aubertine went along with his fellow Democrats’ plan to upend a key welfare reform that requires single parents to have a valid child support order in order to qualify for certain taxpayer-subsidized programs.

With such a narrow balance of power between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, a shift of just one vote would have sent the measure down to defeat, the measure past 32-30, with Aubertine voting aye and Senator Joe Griffo voting nay. 

It took a 2-1/2 hour debate over whether relieving deadbeat dads of their financial responsibility is a good idea. Much of that debate revolved around the issue of illegal immigrants, who Democrats contend won’t seek such support orders for fear they’ll be deported.

According to the sponsor’s memo filed with the bill, S.2091: “The process necessary to obtain a court order for child support can be stressful for families already struggling with issues including employment, housing, transportation and food security.

"Non-custodial immigrant parents with outstanding immigration status issues may also face a threat of deportation if they become involved in Family Court proceedings."

No one knows how much the change will cost taxpayers, but the bill is opposed by local governments, who feared their local taxpayers will get stuck with the bill, and even some welfare advocates, who don't like the idea of letting fathers abdicate responsibility for their kids.

Aubertine cast his vote in lockstep with the down state leaders of his party.

Read a memo of opposition - in additional post below

During last year’s special election, Aubertine sent at least four mailers to voters throughout the district to “clarify” his position, after originally saying he thought Spitzer’s plan to give licenses to illegal aliens was a good idea.

Updated: The is an email sent to PIV regarding this post.

Deadbeat Dads

I do not always agree with the Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos and his conference but I am 100% behind them on this issue. Yesterday, the Senate Republicans unanimously opposed a bill pushed through by the Senate Democrats that would protect deadbeat fathers.

The bill S2091 (you can look it up here!) protects deadbeat fathers from paying costs associated with their own children while requiring the state  and local taxpayers to automatically pick-up the additional costs. In lay terms, the bill is asking New York taxpayers to subsidize deadbeat parents.

Last year the Senate Republicans tried to communicate (poorly I might add) to New Yorkers what the Senate would do under Democratic control.  The NY Sun actually wrote an article about it. Ugly as it might be, they were right. So far the Senate Democrats have done very little in terms of governing. It seems lately they would rather smear Former Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno and slap the hands of Dean Skelos then actually do the people’s business.

Here is the first example of what can be a very long 2 years for New York’s taxpayers. In an economy as bad as the one we are experiencing right now, our elected officials should be looking at cutting costs and stimulate the economy to get us out of the recession.  They should not be passing legislation that piles more on the already overburdened taxpayer.

When will New Yorkers finally stand up and say enough is enough?