“What the heck is going on in Albany?” is a phrase I hear often from constituents when I’m back at home from the capital; it’s presented not as much a question as an exclamation, though. While having these conversations, one thing has become abundantly clear: people have lost faith in their state government. It’s not hard to see why, with backroom budget negotiations and legislation passed late at night outside the public eye, Albany has become a beacon of dysfunction.

When one thinks of how the government operates, one thinks of elected officials voting on single-issue bills with the merits debated in earnest for all to see. That is not how we operate in Albany. For example, take the state budget, which should be a dollar-and-cents piece of legislation, but instead, the governor and the Majority party in the Legislature decide to place policy inside the bills. Usually, each bill will have at least one so-called “poison pill,” which forces me to vote no. I’d much rather explain my no vote than explain my yes vote. For example, a couple of years ago, billions in funding for schools was included in the same bill as billions in funding for illegal migrants in New York City. I could not vote to fund schools without also voting to give money to illegal migrants. This is shameful and is not how our government should work.

Oftentimes, legislation is crafted without any Republican input. Before major changes are made to the laws of our state, the Legislature may create task forces and committees to study any number of issues. These question-and-answer panels travel around the state to get feedback from a variety of residents. These hearings are held without any Republican appointments. Questions from an opposing viewpoint never get asked. It’s as if the Democrats think the New Yorkers my Republican colleagues and I represent are not as important as the ones they represent. I’ll remind readers that Republican legislators represent approximately 6 million of the 19 million residents of the Empire State.

Having a multitude of opinions and points of view on an issue will not hurt anyone; in

fact, it will most likely result in a better product, but in one-party-ruled Albany, dissenting

opinions are not allowed. Just a few weeks ago, I had a bill that would require cop killers not to be released on parole, a common-sense position, but it was rejected in committee simply because the Majority chose to play politics instead of standing up for public safety. This isn’t the only time either; many of my colleagues face the same difficulties in every committee.

It is not just the passing of bills either; the governor strategically signs controversial legislation into law during times when she thinks the public is not paying attention, usually around Christmas when folks are preoccupied and spending time with their families.

To restore faith in state government, we need to make sure all legislation is passed in the light of day with public input, we must also pass bills on their merits, not cobble together monstrosities that couple good ideas with terrible ones. Finally, we need to break one-party rule in Albany; we have seen the disastrous consequences of it, and New Yorkers deserve a government that works for all of them, not just those who live in a Democrat-represented district.

You sent me to Albany to represent you, and that’s exactly what I do. With every vote, I take into consideration all of the people I’ve met across the district, asking myself how would they vote if they were in my position. I will continue to be your voice in Albany, so please reach out and let me know what’s on your mind. Email works best, and don’t be surprised if you get a call back from me. (angelinoj@nyassembly.gov)

Assemblyman Angelino represents the 121st  Assembly District, which includes parts of Broome County, Delaware County, Madison County, Chenango County and Otsego County. Follow Assemblyman Angelino on Facebook.