ALBANY—Yesterday afternoon the State Assembly passed Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s government consolidation bill by a solid 117-26 margin, but not without registering a few objections.
“This legislation is well-intentioned,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, a Rockland County Democrat. “However, I disagree with the premise and I have great concern with the legislation as proposed.”
Most of the concerns had to do with the ability of smaller government entities to preserve themselves in the face of consolidation initiatives imposed by larger entities. This was the reason cited last week by Assemblyman Jack McEneny, an Albany Democrat, when he voted (in vain) against advancing the legislation out of committee.
