In an unprecedented move, the Civil Service Employees Association announced that it would immediately suspend all state political endorsements and contributions following an agreement between lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on a new pension tier.
The new Tier VI pension system, which will apply to all state and local employees hired after April 1, increases the retirement age to 63 and changes the methods by which a worker”™s pension is calculated, saving the state and municipalities an estimated $80 million over the next 30 years.
However, the changes represent a watered-down version of what Cuomo initially proposed, and the 401(k)-style alternative he sought will only be made available to nonunion employees making more than $75,000.
The changes were roundly criticized by labor leaders nonetheless.
In a sharp blow from the state”™s largest public employee union, CSEA President Danny Donohue accused Cuomo and lawmakers of “trading the future retirement security of working New Yorkers for legislative redistricting lines” in a March 19 statement.
The pension changes were thought to be part of a deal between Cuomo and the Senate and Assembly majorities, in which Cuomo agreed to sign off on the Legislature”™s gerrymandered district maps in exchange for pension reforms and an amendment to guarantee future redistricting efforts would be led by an independent commission.
Also approved during a marathon 19-hour session of the Legislature were bills reforming the state”™s teacher evaluation system and expanding the DNA database, as well as an amendment to begin the process of expanding gambling to include table games at up to seven locations yet to be determined.
Former New York City Mayor and U.S. Representative Edward Koch, founder of the independent redistricting advocacy group New York Uprising, said he was disappointed Cuomo didn”™t veto the Legislature”™s new district maps but credited the governor for getting a lot in return.
“With respect to the governor, I had hoped he would veto and I”™m saddened that he did not,” Koch said in an interview with the Business Journal. “I don”™t believe that getting all of the things that he got ”“ and he got a lot ”“ would have been impaired by his veto … But you have to give him credit for having gotten a lot in exchange for his support.”
Both the Business Council of Westchester and the Westchester County Association released statements in support of the pension reforms.
While Cuomo acknowledged that he failed to meet his ambitious goals in an interview with the New York Times last week, several members of the Westchester delegation told the Business Journal they thought the bills that were ultimately passed ”“ while not ideal ”“ represented the best compromise.
“Politics is the art of compromise,” said Assemblyman Robert Castelli, a Republican from Goldens Bridge who represents the 89th Assembly District. “None of these things are black and white … it”™s not always what you want or completely what you want, but if it moves in the right direction you”™re compelled to advance the issue.”
Senator Jeffrey Klein, a Democrat representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester, agreed.
“Nobody likes to work up until 4 in the morning. At the same time, these are issues that were around for a long time. Everyone knew what was going into the plan. Everyone knew things needed to happen and things needed to change,” he said. “Overall, I think (Cuomo) was successful, I think we were successful.”
Castelli, Klein and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Scarsdale Democrat representing the 88th Assembly District, all said legislators thoroughly debated each measure before voting.
However, others have questioned the manner in which the bills were negotiated, debated and voted on.
In what has become a trend with the current administration, the bills were primarily shaped by Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Some legislators have complained that they didn”™t have a chance to read the bills before votes were called, and tensions peaked late March 14 when Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and 24 of her Democratic colleagues walked out of proceedings in protest.
Stewart-Cousins, who represents Westchester”™s 35th Senate District, said debate on the redistricting measure didn”™t begin until 9 p.m., and that the four hours of debate senators were promised were reduced to two and a half.
“To have a thorough process and an adequate discussion on the process, certainly once you”™ve been promised a certain amount of time, is not befitting of Sunshine Week, and the people of New York deserve better,” she said. The state designated the week of March 12 as Sunshine Week, promising to promote government transparency and action.
Koch pointed the finger squarely at Skelos and Silver for failing to involve their members to a greater extent in discussions.
“What I think people are talking about is that…within the two chambers, members have no impact. It”™s not an attack on the governor; it”™s an attack on the speaker and the majority leader for not allowing greater democracy to exist in their two chambers ”“ and that, of course, I object to,” he said.
