Editorial

New York lawmakers must put party lines aside to allow discussion

Partisanship within the New York State Senate has kept a bill that aims to extend the statute of limitations for child molestation from being discussed on the state Senate floor four times in the last six years.

Although the bill, the Child Victims Act, will be reintroduced to a Democrat-controlled state Senate this January and may finally be picked up for discussion, it does not eliminate the underlying issue. The party lines and identification of the lawmakers is preventing discussions about relevant and timely community issues.

Regardless of whether lawmakers think the bill should be passed and put into place, the politicians owe it to their constituents to listen to their concerns. If this bill has been brought forth four different times, it clearly means this is an issue that concerns constituents.

By bringing the bill to discussion on the state Senate floor, a discussion will start that could lead to a solution or compromise, whether the bill does or does not pass.

This also applies to all other acts and ideas brought forth to lawmakers. Lawmakers must give the ideas and concerns their time and respect before repeatedly shutting them down.



Republicans and Democrats need to come together to find a way to discuss the Child Victims Act and other issues that concern New York state residents.





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