Politics
Carl E. Heastie elected Speaker of New York State Assembly
Four other lawmakers initially sought the speakership but quickly backed out as Heastie locked up support.
Heastie was first elected in 2000 and has led the Assembly’s Labor Committee for the past 2 years. He is a former budget analyst in the New York City Comptroller’s Office. He also leads the Bronx Democratic County Committee, a post he has said he will leave now that he is speaker.
On Monday, Heastie outlined his reform proposal, calling for a new Office of Ethics and Compliance led by a non-legislator, new limits on how much outside income lawmakers can earn, and greater reporting of outside income and legislative stipends. Outside pay is a central issue in the case against Silver.
He also said he would look for ways to decentralize Assembly power so rank-and-file lawmakers have more input.
Heastie is the latest in a long line of speakers from New York City — a tradition that many city leaders had insisted must be continued. As Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement hailing Heastie’s election, “New York City needs a strong voice in Albany.”
He plans to visit upstate soon and listed several priorities for the Assembly including a higher minimum wage, extending financial aid to students in the country illegally and a legislative package known as the women’s equality agenda that contains measures to protect abortion rights and to combat sex trafficking, domestic violence and workplace discrimination.
Source: Associated Press
