Last week, my colleagues and I completed the annual marathon that is the end of session. We worked late into the evenings, passed the “few” bills that remained, said our goodbyes, and headed home for the rest of the year, or so we thought. On Monday, it was announced that we would have to return to Albany as deals that were left unaddressed needed to be brokered. While returning to Albany after the close of session is not unheard of, it hasn’t happened for a few years, and for good reason. On Wednesday, we completed a long and “Extraordinary” session.

While the term “Extraordinary Session” is one that’s used for these rare occasions, it does accurately describe the events that took place Wednesday evening into the early hours of Thursday. Originally slated for 1 p.m., it wasn’t till well into the evening that we actually convened and legislated. I am pleased that some of the outlying issues left unaddressed last week were completed, however, at what cost?

The extra day of session will cost taxpayers of this state hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this is something that makes me uneasy. While some may say that what we were able to accomplish warranted the extraordinary session costs, I can’t help but feel that if we had better managed the legislative agenda over the course of the entire session, this additional bill to the taxpayers could have been avoided.

Overall, the conclusion of Wednesday’s session was a success. Not only were we able to secure approximately $45 million in additional funds for those affected by the flooding around Lake Ontario, but the Assembly was also able to pass a relief package for Vernon Downs Casino. In the end, these two successes make the trip to Albany and use of taxpayer dollars seem less wasteful. I am hopeful that the residents affected by the Lake Ontario flooding will feel comfort in knowing help is on the way, and those who work at the Vernon Downs Casino can rest a bit easier knowing that a relief package has been approved by me and my colleagues.

While I view the week’s extraordinary session as a success, I can’t help but wonder why these issues weren’t addressed last week. Maybe it is an issue of “politics” within the top ranks of leaders in the state, but I don’t enjoy taking part in political games. I want to help people, and do so as quickly as possible.

Let me know your thoughts on this extraordinary session, and any other legislative matters that come to mind. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov or by calling my office at 315-493-3909.