Our N.Y. legislators worked only 65 days in 2006

The substance of the arguement for full-time legislators (4.00 / 1)

is much stronger than this post which is somewhat deceptive. Legislators work in their home districts and in Albany even when the chambers are not scheduled to meet. Your 65-day measure is, therefore, flawed and misleading. The chambers meet rarely because the work of the bodies and their members isn't, as we all know, done in them.

If legislators were expected to devote full time to their official positions, there might be diminished opportunities for using their positions as a lever for private advancement.

---

by: Daniel Millstone @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 06:19:34 AM CST

Agreed (4.00 / 1)

People make the mistake that only when the legislature is in session is when representatives work.  Most come home to their districts and spend the days, evenings and weekends when the legislature is not in session meeting with their constituents and attending to community needs. 

I am all for a full time legislature but it is unfair to only count days in session as the days when Assemblyman and State Senators work.  It is simply not true.

---

by: JMNYC @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 20:39:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Talk About Fraud (4.00 / 1)

Why do members of the NYC council make in excess of $100K in base salary? They are glorified county legislators and town legislators. Yes the city is HUGE, but I think it is strange that NYC legislators make more than state legislators. If you want to point fingers...start here.

---

by: axtimmons @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 21:16:26 PM CST