Albany Tops in Staff Size
February 22, 2008
N.Y. Legislature’s Bureaucracy Dwarfs That of Other States.
In a New York state Senate long dominated by a Republican majority, the Democratic conference has traditionally wielded little power. But while they often complain about a lack of influence in legislation and the budget, Democratic lawmakers have equal access to at least one standby of political office: the camera.
The 29-member caucus, it turns out, has its very own staff photographer.
That position has been spotlighted by a lawsuit now being brought against the former Democratic leader of the state Senate — and the state’s current lieutenant governor — David Paterson, by a photographer who claims Mr. Paterson, who is African American, fired him because he is white.
Mr. Paterson denies the accusation, but the case underscores an element of the New York State Legislature that sets it apart from other bicameral governing branches around the country: the sheer scale of its bureaucracy.
The Empire State’s Legislature employs more people than any other state legislature in the nation.
The state Assembly and Senate totaled 3,428 staff members during its busiest period in 2003, the most recent year for which the National Conference of State Legislatures has employment data. That number is nearly 500 more than the second highest state, Pennsylvania, and it’s more than 45% more than either California or Texas, the two most populous states in the union.
Source: NY Sun Read the full story here
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