Letters to the Editor
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“Spitzer Resisting Senate Inquiry”
Your page one story on the governor’s alleged misuse of the state police says Republicans in the New York state Senate “risk facing a public backlash by prolonging the controversy through hearings” [New York, “Spitzer Resisting Senate Inquiry,” July26,2007].
The real story would be if anyone in the state legislature, aside from the Senate and Assembly “leaders” actually did something.
As a former state senator, Seymour Lachman, has pointed out, our make-believe legislators dawdle their time in the legislative chambers reading newspapers, and at less meaningful tasks, as they await instructions on how to vote from their leaders.
Franz Leichter, who spent 30 years in the legislature, said that the poor record of the legislature suggests that until legislators feel ashamed or the public demands change, the state might save money by electing only governor, one assemblyman, and one senator.
Republican voters, who may think their party has almost ceased to exist in this state, would be enthused by any evidence that Republican office-holders actually have a pulse.
The 212 members of the legislature are each paid a minimum of $79,500 a year for doing practically nothing.
With “lulus” and other extra payments many make more than $100,000. Speaker Silver has been pushing for a 21% pay raise.
The real question to be asked of each and every legislator is: “What in the world am I paying you for?”
ROYCE ROWE
New York, N.Y.
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