NYS Senate Committee's Clandestine Meetings are an Affront to New York State Women

ALBANY, NY (01/11/2010)(readMedia)-- Today, January 11, 2010 at 4:00 PM, the NYS Senate Special Committee will hold yet another meeting to deliberate or, as NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas puts it, "negotiate, the fate of NY State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who was recently convicted of misdemeanor assault for slashing his woman friend to such an extent that she needed forty stitches. Several previous meetings on the subject have been listed on the NYS Assembly web site as "public hearings." But these stealthy gatherings have been anything but open to the public."

According to the National Organization For Women-NYS President, "the Senate Committee's perpetual calls for 'executive sessions' have shut out both individuals and press interested in the safety of women and girls." Pappas remarked: "One has to wonder what they fear. This very public issue affects millions of New York's women and girls. And the 'top secret' treatment on these discussions is an affront to every female. Indeed it's the same-ole, same-ole of which all citizens are extremely tired." Pappas continued: "The legislature is very far from the transparent government citizens demand; and these closed-door meetings can only lead to more mistrust of our elected officials."

In closing Pappas reports that "the National Organization for Women-New York State is calling upon the Special Senate Committee to stop these mysterious meetings and to keep our legislative processes open to all those, both inside and outside of the walls of Government, who care about the well being of women."