NYS Select Senate Committee Directs NYS Senate to Expel or Censure Monserrate

ALBANY, NY (01/15/2010)(readMedia)-- National Organization for Women-NYS President Marcia Pappas announces that NOW-NYS is "pleased that several Special Senate Committee members are recommending that a vote for expulsion precede a "back-up" vote on censure for NY State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who was recently convicted of a misdemeanor assault for slashing his woman friend." The several Senators' recommendation is extremely appropriate in view of the fact that the Special Senate Committee, as a whole, recommended either censure or expulsion, as if the two treatments were equal. Pappas added "Indeed, we hope that the full NYS Senate will vote to expel Senator Monserrate, thereby sending a message to all women of New York State that assaulting a woman is a serious crime."

The committee has released full transcripts of the meetings of the Special Committee. Pappas "thanks Senator Eric Schneiderman for his leadership as Chair of these very important meetings and for attempting to bring fairness to the process for all New Yorkers." She explains that "this timely release of the transcripts is a clear indication that Senator Schneiderman and the Committee intend to bring full disclosure and transparency to this process."

The official report says: "Accordingly, the Select Committee recommends that Senator Monserrate be sanctioned by the full Senate, and that the Senate vote to impose one of two punishments: expulsion, or in the alternative, censure with revocation of privileges. The Select Committee recommends that the full Senate convene to consider, debate and vote on both resolutions as soon as reasonably possible. Some members of the Select Committee believe that it would be logical and efficient for the Senate to consider and vote on the resolution for expulsion first, and only consider the second resolution if the resolution to expel fails. However, the Select Committee failed to reach a consensus on whether or not to include such a specific procedural recommendation in this report."

In a recent development NY State Senator Brian Foley (D-Long Island) announced that he will introduce a resolution for expelling Monserrate from the Senate. And Senator Foley is calling upon his colleagues to join him in condemning Monserrate.

President Pappas concluded: "We hope all our Senators will heed the call of Senator Brian Foley. And NOW New York State urges all New Yorkers to call their NYS Senators to demand expulsion of Senator Monserrate. A vote for expulsion is a vote for justice."

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