Forum Archive

March 24, 2008
Senator Rules Introduces Congestion Pricing Bill
Mayor Bloomberg released a statement this morning praising Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and his GOP majority conference for “once again demonstrating their commitment to the people of this city and state” by introducing Gov. David Paterson’s congestion pricing program bill.

Bloomberg noted that an “overwhelming majority of New Yorkers” support the pay-to-drive plan when told the cash it will generate will be invested in mass transit improvements.

(He did not address the issue raised in this morning’s Q poll that about half of New Yorkers don’t buy elected officials’ pledges that the money will indeed be used for that purpose).

“Together with the Governor, we will continue to work to address the concerns of our partners in the State Legislature and the City Council – including concerns about the impact on lower income drivers and making sure we receive revenue from commuters who use Port Authority crossings,” Bloomberg added.

The timely passage of this bill will result in New York getting $354 million in federal funds, which will be used for immediate transit improvements. This is another step in the right direction.”

The mayor’s statement came out before the Senate even had a chance to annouce that it had introduced the bill, which Paterson said late last week he would be sending to the respective legislative houses.

The bill is being sponsored by the illustrious and mysterious Senator Rules – in other words, it’s in the Senate Rules Committee, which is controlled by Bruno, but has no formal sponsor.

This is a handy way of dealing with potentially controversial legislation as it wends its way through the legislative process.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/03/senator-rules-introduces-conge.html