Crossing The Aisle

Last year, I was selected as a Nassau County Senior Citizen of the Year. When I was in in Albany receiving my award, I was told that Jack Martins, my state senator, wanted to meet me in the Senate chamber. He was very courteous, gave me a tour of the room, and told me the history of the chamber. In all fairness, Michelle Schimel did the same in the Assembly, but she already had my vote; Jack Martins didn’t. The extreme partisan politics in both Albany and Washington make it very difficult for any of us, voters as well as legislators, to cross party lines.
Lately, however, it seems that in New York State there is much being done across the aisles. The budget has been passed on time four straight years, and passed virtually unanimously this time around. It seems that I, and a lot of others, should judge our state representatives by the quality off their minds, rather than the color of their banner.
Back to Martins: Last week, there were two op-ed articles in this newspaper. Jack Martins had one, as did his opponent for state senator, Adam Haber. Martins made a strong case against representatives who want everything their way, with no compromise.
He said that the Women’s Equality Act has 10 points, and that there is universal agreement on nine of them. He wants them separated, and an up or down vote be taken on the nine, and an other vote on the tenth. Martins was pleading for votes to be taken.
Back to Haber: After reading what Martins wrote, I read what Haber wrote, “That is why I find it especially offensive that Senator Jack Martins and his Republican colleagues blocked the WEA from coming to a vote, killing any chance it had of passing.” Also, “Today, Jack Martins and his extremist GOP colleagues will not allow a simple measure establishing a woman’s basic right to choose to come to a vote.” I find it especially offensive that Adam Haber lumps Jack Martins with the group that Martins blasted six inches from Haber’s remark.
Jack, you have my vote.
Fred Harber