188th New York State Legislature


The 188th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4, 1989, to December 31, 1990, during the seventh and eighth years of Mario Cuomo's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938 and the U.S. Supreme Court decision to follow the One man, one vote rule, re-apportioned in 1982 by the Legislature, 61 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. Senate and Assembly districts consisted of approximately the same number of inhabitants, the area being apportioned contiguously without restrictions regarding county boundaries.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Right to Life Party, an "Independent Progressive Party", the Workers World Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1988, was held on November 8. The only statewide elective office up for election was a U.S. Senator from New York. Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan was re-elected with Liberal endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. Senator, was: Democrats/Liberals 4,049,000; Republicans/Conservatives 1,876,000; Right to Life 65,000; Independent Progressives 15,000; Workers World 13,500; Libertarians 12,000; and Socialist Workers 11,000.
All sitting 22 women members of the legislature—State Senators Mary B. Goodhue, a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, of Syracuse; Olga A. Méndez, of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery, of Brooklyn; and Suzi Oppenheimer, of Mamaroneck; and Assemblywomen Barbara M. Clark, of Queens; Elizabeth Connelly, of Staten Island; Pinny Cooke, of Rochester; Geraldine L. Daniels, of the Bronx; Gloria Davis, of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan, of Brooklyn; Aurelia Greene, of the Bronx; Earlene Hill Hooper, of Hempstead; Rhoda S. Jacobs, of Brooklyn; Cynthia Jenkins, a librarian of Queens; Helen M. Marshall, a teacher and librarian of Queens; Nettie Mayersohn, of Queens; Patricia McGee, of Franklinville; Mary M. McPhillips, of Middletown; Catherine Nolan, of Queens; Audrey Pheffer, of Queens; and Helene Weinstein, a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Ada L. Smith, of Queens, was also elected to the State Senate. Cecile D. Singer, of Yonkers, was also elected to the Assembly.
The New York state election, 1989, was held on November 7. Two vacancies in the State Senate were filled. Assemblywoman Mary M. McPhillips was elected as County Executive of Orange County.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the first regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1989; and recessed indefinitely on July 1.
Mel Miller was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly.
Ralph J. Marino was elected Temporary President of the Senate.
The Legislature met for the second regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1990; and recessed indefinitely on July 2.
The legislature met again from December 3 to 14, 1990. This session was called to consider state budget cuts, an increase in CUNY's tuition rates, and an anti-crime plan proposed by Mayor of New York City David Dinkins.

State Senate

Senators

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. John B. Sheffer II changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of the session. Assemblyman Kemp Hannon was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stKenneth LaValle*Rep./Cons.
2ndJames J. Lack*Rep./Cons.
3rdCaesar Trunzo*Republican
4thOwen H. Johnson*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Environmental Conservation
5thRalph J. Marino*Rep./Cons.elected Temporary President
6thJohn R. Dunne*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Judiciary; resigned in September 1989
6thKemp Hannon*Republicanon November 7, 1989, elected to fill vacancy
7thMichael J. Tully Jr.*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Health
8thNorman J. Levy*Rep./Cons.Chairman of Transportation
9thDean Skelos*Rep./Cons.
10thAndrew Jenkins*Dem./Lib.on May 7, 1990, convicted of two felonies
11thFrank Padavan*Rep./Cons.
12thLeonard P. Stavisky*Dem./Lib.
13thEmanuel R. Gold*Dem./Lib.
14thGeorge Onorato*Democrat
15thSerphin R. MalteseCons./Rep./RTL
16thJeremy S. Weinstein*Dem./Lib.
17thHoward E. Babbush*Dem./Lib.
18thDonald Halperin*Democrat
19thMartin M. Solomon*Democrat
20thAda L. SmithDemocrat
21stMarty Markowitz*Democrat
22ndVelmanette Montgomery*Dem./Lib.
23rdChristopher J. Mega*Rep./Cons.
24thJohn J. Marchi*Rep./Dem./Lib.Vice-President pro tempore
25thMartin Connor*Dem./Lib.
26thRoy M. Goodman*Rep./Lib.
27thManfred Ohrenstein*Dem./Lib.Minority Leader
28thFranz S. Leichter*Dem./Lib.
29thDavid Paterson*Dem./Lib.
30thOlga A. Méndez*Dem./Lib.
31stJoseph L. Galiber*Dem./Lib.
32ndIsrael Ruiz, Jr.*Dem./Lib.on February 3, 1989, convicted of a federal felony
32ndEfrain Gonzalez Jr.Democraton November 7, 1989, elected to fill vacancy
33rdAbraham Bernstein*Dem./Lib.died on March 4, 1990
33rdJeffrey R. KormanDemocraton May 1, 1990, elected to fill vacancy
34thGuy J. Velella*Rep./Cons.
35thNicholas A. Spano*Rep./Cons.
36thSuzi Oppenheimer*Dem./Lib.
37thMary B. Goodhue*Rep./Cons.
38thEugene Levy*Rep./Cons.died on July 12, 1990
39thE. Arthur GrayDemocrat
40thCharles D. Cook*Republican
41stJay P. Rolison Jr.*Republican
42ndHoward C. Nolan Jr.*Democrat
43rdJoseph Bruno*Republican
44thHugh T. Farley*RepublicanChairman of Banks
45thRonald B. Stafford*RepublicanDeputy Majority Leader
46thJohn M. McHugh*Republican
47thJames H. Donovan*RepublicanChairman of Education; died on August 31, 1990
48thNancy Larraine Hoffmann*Democrat
49thTarky Lombardi Jr.*RepublicanChairman of Finance
50thJames L. Seward*Republican
51stThomas W. LibousRepublican
52ndRandy Kuhl*Republican
53rdL. Paul Kehoe*Republican
54thJohn D. Perry*Democrat
55thRalph E. Quattrociocchi*Democrat
56thJess J. Present*Republican
57thWilliam Stachowski*Democrat
58thAnthony M. Masiello*Democrat
59thDale M. Volker*Republican
60thJohn B. Sheffer II*Republican
61stJohn B. Daly*Republican

Employees

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictAssemblymenPartyNotes
1stJoseph Sawicki Jr.*Republican
2ndJohn L. Behan*Republican
3rdJohn PowellRep./Cons.on November 7, 1989, elected to the Town Council of Brookhaven
3rdIcilio W. Bianchi, Jr.Democraton February 20, 1990, elected to fill vacancy
4thRobert J. Gaffney*Republican
5thPaul E. Harenberg*Democrat
6thRobert C. Wertz*Republican
7thThomas F. Barraga*Republican
8thJohn C. Cochrane*Republican
9thJohn J. Flanagan*Republican
10thJames D. Conte*Republican
11thRobert K. Sweeney*Democrat
12thPhilip B. Healey*Republican
13thLewis J. Yevoli*Democrat
14thFrederick E. Parola*Republican
15thDaniel Frisa*Republican
16thThomas DiNapoli*Democrat
17thKemp Hannon*Republicanon November 7, 1989, elected to the State Senate
17thMichael BalboniRepublicanon February 20, 1990, elected to fill vacancy
18thEarlene Hill Hooper*Democrat
19thCharles J. O'Shea*Republican
20thvacantAssemblyman-elect Arthur J. Kremer resigned on December 14, 1988
20thHarvey WeisenbergDemocraton February 14, 1989, elected to fill vacancy
21stGregory R. Becker*Republican
22ndGeorge H. Madison*Republican
23rdAudrey Pheffer*Democrat
24thSaul Weprin*DemocratChairman of Ways and Means
25thDouglas Prescott*Republican
26thMorton C. Hillman*Democrat
27thNettie Mayersohn*Democrat
28thAlan G. Hevesi*Democrat
29thCynthia Jenkins*Democrat
30thJoseph Crowley*Democrat
31stAnthony S. Seminerio*Democrat
32ndEdward Abramson*Democrat
33rdBarbara M. Clark*Democrat
34thIvan C. Lafayette*Democrat
35thHelen M. Marshall*Democrat
36thDenis J. Butler*Democrat
37thCatherine Nolan*Democrat
38thFrederick D. Schmidt*Democrat
39thAnthony J. Genovesi*Democrat
40thEdward Griffith*Democrat
41stHelene Weinstein*Democrat
42ndRhoda S. Jacobs*Democrat
43rdClarence Norman Jr.*Democrat
44thMel Miller*Democratre-elected Speaker
45thDaniel L. Feldman*Democrat
46thHoward L. Lasher*Democrat
47thFrank J. Barbaro*Democrat
48thDov Hikind*Democrat
49thPeter J. Abbate Jr.*Democrat
50thJoseph R. Lentol*Democrat
51stJames F. Brennan*Democrat
52ndEileen C. Dugan*Democrat
53rdVito J. Lopez*Democrat
54thThomas F. Catapano*Democrat
55thWilliam F. Boyland*Democrat
56thAlbert Vann*Democrat
57thRoger L. Green*Democrat
58thElizabeth Connelly*Democrat
59thEric N. Vitaliano*Democrat
60thRobert A. Straniere*Republican
61stWilliam F. Passannante*Democrat
62ndSheldon Silver*Democrat
63rdSteven Sanders*Democrat
64thRichard N. Gottfried*Democrat
65thAlexander B. Grannis*Democrat
66thMark Alan Siegel*Democrat
67thJerrold Nadler*Democrat
68thAngelo Del Toro*Democrat
69thEdward C. Sullivan*Democrat
70thGeraldine L. Daniels*Democrat
71stHerman D. Farrell, Jr.*Democrat
72ndJohn Brian Murtaugh*Democrat
73rdJosé E. Serrano*Democraton March 20, 1990, elected to the 101st U.S. Congress
73rdDavid RosadoDem./Lib.on May 1, 1990, elected to fill vacancy
74thHector L. Diaz*Democrat
75thJohn C. Dearie*Democrat
76thAurelia Greene*Democrat
77thIsrael Martinez*Democrat
78thGloria Davis*Democrat
79thGeorge Friedman*Democrat
80thG. Oliver Koppell*DemocratChairman of Judiciary
81stStephen B. KaufmanDemocrat
82ndLarry Seabrook*Democrat
83rdTerence M. Zaleski*Democrat
84thCecile D. SingerRepublican
85thRonald C. Tocci*Democrat
86thRichard L. Brodsky*Democrat
87thPeter M. Sullivan*Republican
88thGregory P. Young*Democrat
89thHenry William Barnett*Republican
90thVincent Leibell*Republican
91stGeorge E. Pataki*Republican
92ndJoseph R. HollandRepublican
93rdSamuel Colman*Democrat
94thMary M. McPhillips*Democraton November 7, 1989, elected as County Executive of Orange County
94thJohn BonacicRepublicanon February 20, 1990, elected to fill vacancy
95thWilliam J. Larkin, Jr.*Republican
96thLawrence E. Bennett*Democrat
97thStephen M. Saland*Republican
98thRichard I. Coombe*Republican
99thGlenn E. Warren*Republican
100thNeil W. Kelleher*Republican
101stMaurice D. Hinchey*Democrat
102ndJohn Faso*Republican
103rdArnold W. Proskin*Republican
104thRichard J. Conners*Democrat
105thPaul D. Tonko*Democrat
106thRonald CanestrariDemocrat
107thJames Tedisco*Republican
108thRobert A. D'Andrea*Republican
109thGlenn H. Harris*Republican
110thChris Ortloff*Republican
111thJohn W. McCann*Republican
112thJohn G. A. O'Neil*Republican
113thAnthony J. Casale*Republican
114thH. Robert Nortz*Republican
115thWilliam R. Sears*Republican
116thRalph J. Eannace Jr.*Republican
117thRay T. Chesbro*Republican
118thMichael J. Bragman*Democrat
119thWilliam E. Bush*Republican
120thMelvin N. Zimmer*Democrat
121stHarold C. Brown Jr.Republican
122ndClarence D. Rappleyea Jr.*RepublicanMinority Leader
123rdRichard H. Miller*Republican
124thJames R. Tallon Jr.*DemocratMajority Leader
125thMartin A. LusterDemocrat
126thGeorge H. Winner, Jr.*Republican
127thDonald R. Davidsen*Republican
128thMichael F. Nozzolio*Republican
129thFrank G. Talomie Sr.*Republican
130thRobert L. King*Republican
131stGary Proud*Democrat
132ndPinny Cooke*Republican
133rdDavid F. Gantt*Democrat
134thRoger J. Robach*DemocratDeputy Majority Leader
135thJames F. Nagle*Republican
136thJohn W. Hasper*Republican
137thR. Stephen Hawley*Republican
138thJoseph T. Pillittere*Democrat
139thMatthew J. Murphy, Jr.*Democrat
140thRobin L. Schimminger*Democrat
141stArthur O. Eve*Democrat
142ndRichard R. AndersonRepublican
143rdPaul Tokasz*Democrat
144thWilliam B. Hoyt*Democrat
145thRichard J. Keane*Democrat
146thFrancis J. Pordum*Democrat
147thThomas M. ReynoldsRepublican
148thVincent J. Graber Sr.*Democrat
149thPatricia McGee*Republican
150thWilliam L. Parment*Democrat

Employees