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Two local legislative leaders talk about Albany politics, live on WXXI

Randy Gorbman
/
WXXI News

Two legislative leaders in the State Assembly squared off on Connections with Evan Dawson on Wednesday, although “squared off “ might not be the appropriate phrase.

Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle of Irondequoit, who is a Democrat, and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, a Republican from Canandaigua, say they actually work quite well together.

One frustration expressed by Kolb is the fact that the Assembly or Senate minority leaders don’t often get to sit in on the governor’s budget negotiations.

“You can be at a table with all the legislative leaders representing their conferences and if you’re out voted by the governor and the two majorities, well that’s fine, that’s democracy, but at least have both those people, whoever they are in the room to present their conferences reactions to the executive budget.”

But Morelle says the majority in the Assembly does listen to what the minority party is saying.

“We certainly consider what the minority is saying, how the press will report it…that’s the great thing about democracy, no one acts in a vacuum or without some accountability.”

The two legislators appeared in a special Connections with Evan Dawson broadcast live from The Little Theatre with WXXI Albany Correspondent Karen DeWitt.

She noted that Governor Cuomo hasn’t been spending much time in Albany lately and wondered whether he will be there much during the final days of this legislative session.

Morelle says in any case, Cuomo’s presence will be felt.

“Whether the governor is physically in Albany or not, he casts a long shadow. I describe Andrew as being a force of nature, I’m sure he’s already thinking of what he wants to do in the last couple of weeks; he’ll be in Albany because he frankly can’t help himself, and we want him to be there," Morelle said.

Kolb says he’s not that concerned whether Cuomo decides to show up in Albany or not for the remaining week of the session.

“Dealing with the rest of the session though, we don’t really have to worry about that in the legislature. We can pass a bill in both houses, negotiate a bill hopefully on whatever the topic is and then send it up to the governor, and if doesn’t like it let him veto it, send it back, and we’ll override the veto.”

And while both lawmakers talked about some moves toward ethics reform, it doesn’t appear there will be any quick action before this session wraps up.

You can listen to the  Connections hour with Kolb and Morelle here, and the first hour where Evan Dawson interviews Karen DeWitt about Albany politics, here.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.