With Majority in Sight, Smith Takes Democrats Back to School
Members being tutored in leadership, bill passage, interest groups
Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:31:00
SENATE MINORITY LEADER Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) has been prepping his conference for the possibility of taking over the majority.
That includes sending them to school.
Since becoming leader in late 2006, Smith has overseen leadership seminars for his conference members to help them bone up on the essentials of being in the majority-chairing committees, passing legislation and becoming familiar with all the players in and out of state government.
"It was for personal growth and the betterment of the state," Smith said. "Whether we take the majority or not, as legislators we need to be continually educated anyway."
Sen. Neil Breslin (D-Albany) said he attended his first seminar, which was focused on agri-business, a few months after Smith became minority leader.
Democrats have attended leadership seminars on transportation, insurance, economic development and finance, among other topics. There, they meet with representatives from interest groups to hear various positions on different topics.
For years, Democrats have watched their sponsored legislation languish in the Senate. The seminars have been a good way to prepare members for responsibility of actually passing legislation, Breslin said.
"Obviously when you're in the majority, the legislation you propose has a much greater likelihood becoming law," he said. "So it isn't just playing anymore or practicing."
Sen. William Stachowski (D-Buffalo), who is poised to become the chair of the Finance Committee, said the seminars show that Democrats are prepared to assume the majority, despite almost seven decades in the minority.
"Malcolm likes to go around saying, 'We'd really like the opportunity to be in charge. And if we don't get it right, we might not be in charge for long,'" Stachowski said. "I think we've prepared long enough that we're ready for that pressure."
Smith allowed a recess in the seminars as campaign season heated up, but said that the break will only be temporary-especially if enough elections go their way.
"They'll be in school again after November, getting them ready for January," he said.
That includes sending them to school.
Since becoming leader in late 2006, Smith has overseen leadership seminars for his conference members to help them bone up on the essentials of being in the majority-chairing committees, passing legislation and becoming familiar with all the players in and out of state government.
"It was for personal growth and the betterment of the state," Smith said. "Whether we take the majority or not, as legislators we need to be continually educated anyway."Sen. Neil Breslin (D-Albany) said he attended his first seminar, which was focused on agri-business, a few months after Smith became minority leader.
Democrats have attended leadership seminars on transportation, insurance, economic development and finance, among other topics. There, they meet with representatives from interest groups to hear various positions on different topics.
For years, Democrats have watched their sponsored legislation languish in the Senate. The seminars have been a good way to prepare members for responsibility of actually passing legislation, Breslin said.
"Obviously when you're in the majority, the legislation you propose has a much greater likelihood becoming law," he said. "So it isn't just playing anymore or practicing."
Sen. William Stachowski (D-Buffalo), who is poised to become the chair of the Finance Committee, said the seminars show that Democrats are prepared to assume the majority, despite almost seven decades in the minority.
"Malcolm likes to go around saying, 'We'd really like the opportunity to be in charge. And if we don't get it right, we might not be in charge for long,'" Stachowski said. "I think we've prepared long enough that we're ready for that pressure."
Smith allowed a recess in the seminars as campaign season heated up, but said that the break will only be temporary-especially if enough elections go their way.
"They'll be in school again after November, getting them ready for January," he said.
