Some of these statements are very disturbing and shows us just how political this Erie County Legislature is and by being so the people get hurt and do not benefit whatsoever.

Even Ranzenhofer said he could support Hochul’s statement. It was unlikely his would pass anyway, since it was Republican-authored and Republicans are outnumbered in the Legislature, 12-3.

How very sad, no matter what the Republican propose it is discarded and not even considered. Political? Very and it is no way to govern.

Weinstein later explained that Hochul, who is running for election against Amherst Republican William O’Loughlin, was posturing for the voters.
“I don’t think we should be endorsing someone,” he said. “I felt it should go to committee.”

And Weinstein is exactly right. When I post the resolution you will see exactly why. The wording is incredibly written with Hochul’s name in four parts of the resolution. So when it became official and would only apply to Hochul and no other…

When Weinstein objected to the Hochul resolution, Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte, D-Buffalo, responded by objecting to the Ranzenhofer resolution.

There it is right there… the majority consider NOTHING from the minority no matter what it is. God forbid anything get passed that a Republican proposes. It could be the best piece of legislation we have ever seen and still be thrown out because it is from the Republican side of the aisle.

“I guess cronyism and partisan politics in Amherst are more important than stopping illegal immigrants getting driver’s licenses,” Hochul said in a written statement. “I cannot fathom a rational justification for his unilateral sabotage of this important issue.”

What a hideously insane statement…. Unilateral sabotage, cronyism and partisan politics?

County set to oppose Spitzer’s license plan

Political wrangling delays formal action

Erie County’s Democratic-controlled Legislature seemed willing Thursday to join the chorus opposing Democratic Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer’s decision to let illegal aliens obtain a New York State driver’s license. But legislators got tangled in a procedural scrum, so the matter will have to wait.

Erie County would not be alone in calling Spitzer’s directive ill-advised. The Monroe County Legislature defied the governor this week and ordered its county clerk to ask anyone seeking a driver’s license for a Social Security number and not settle for a passport as a form of identification.

At least a half-dozen legislatures in Republican-dominated counties upstate have supported their county clerk’s refusal to follow the new policy despite state laws obligating them to do so.

Critics of Spitzer’s directive say his willingness to accept a passport as a means of identification will allow nearly anyone, whether in the United States legally or not, to receive a New York driver’s license.

Spitzer argues that his order, effective Dec. 1, will provide a new level of documentation for aliens and enhance security by identifying those in the country illegally. During a visit to Buffalo on Wednesday, he said county clerks must follow the directive.

“I hate to say it — the clerks have to enforce it,” Spitzer said. “The clerks who issue driver’s licenses are agents of the state. They do not make state law on this. State government does.”
If you hate to say it Gov, then don’t say it.

Erie County lawmakers Thursday were given two statements of opposition, one offered by Republican lawmaker Michael H. Ranzenhofer of Amherst, the other by County Clerk Kathleen C. Hochul, a Democrat whom Spitzer appointed to fill a vacancy earlier this year.

Hochul’s resolution went further than Ranzenhofer’s by urging the governor either to rescind his order or let county clerks refuse to follow it. She found four sponsors who reflect a range of philosophies within the Democratic caucus: Chairwoman Lynn M. Marinelli of the Town of Tonawanda, Kathy Konst of Lancaster, Thomas Mazur of Cheektowaga and Cynthia B. Locklear of West Seneca.

Even Ranzenhofer said he could support Hochul’s statement. It was unlikely his would pass anyway, since it was Republican-authored and Republicans are outnumbered in the Legislature, 12-3.

But both Ranzenhofer’s and Hochul’s statements had arrived for consideration after a deadline. The Legislature would have had to suspend its rules to let either come to a vote Thursday. But when any lawmaker objects, the rules remain in force and the matter goes to a committee.

Amherst Republican Barry A. Weinstein immediately objected Thursday, even though he said he opposes Spitzer’s directive. Weinstein later explained that Hochul, who is running for election against Amherst Republican William O’Loughlin, was posturing for the voters.

“I just thought it was excessively political,” he said of Hochul’s resolution. To him, approving it would have made the Legislature appear to favor a candidate in the race for county clerk. “I don’t think we should be endorsing someone,” he said. “I felt it should go to committee.”

When Weinstein objected to the Hochul resolution, Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte, D-Buffalo, responded by objecting to the Ranzenhofer resolution. Both landed in her Government Affairs Committee, which is to meet at 2:45 p.m. Thursday on the fourth floor of Old County Hall.

Hochul said she knew that Weinstein had objected for reasons that had more to do with this year’s campaign season than the merits of her resolution. She blamed him for the fact that lawmakers did not unanimously oppose Spitzer’s plan Thursday.

“I guess cronyism and partisan politics in Amherst are more important than stopping illegal immigrants getting driver’s licenses,” Hochul said in a written statement. “I cannot fathom a rational justification for his unilateral sabotage of this important issue.”

Soon after Spitzer announced his directive, Hochul said that as county clerk she did not have the right to pick and choose the state laws she will follow. But she also has written to Spitzer, telling him she disagrees with his decision and wonders if it violates federal laws against the harboring of illegal immigrants.

O’Loughlin has said that if elected he will refuse to issue licenses to illegal aliens, regardless of any policy dictated by the governor.