Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751
"The Senate has introduced the various components of the 'Women's Equality Act' as separate bills, with each proposal deserving of its own debate and dialogue. That is exactly the approach that should take place in the Assembly Chamber. Failure to do so turns potentially significant legislation into nothing more than a political sideshow and the unnecessary creation of a Pro-Life/Pro-Choice scorecard. Instead of joining the Governor and introducing each bill individually, the Assembly Majority Conference has elected to combine all 10 bills in one omnibus package - effectively ensuring none of the women's agenda items will become law.
Without passing identical bills in each house of the Legislature, these measures cannot take effect. The 'Women's Equality Act' has been touted as a landmark initiative with 10 vital reform pieces. The Governor has said that, 'New Yorkers deserve to know where their elected representatives stand on all of them.' To make sure that happens, the Governor has separated the bills. The Senate will vote on separate bills. And the exact same thing should happen in the Assembly.
The Assembly Majority should take the political gamesmanship out of the equation and consider each of these bills individually and on their own merit."