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Lawmakers end legislative session; authorize millions in spending

Jun 21, 2018 7:00 am
David Lombardo is reporting at Capitol Confidential on the penultimate day of the legislative session, the state Senate passed four privileged resolutions authorizing millions of dollars in discretionary spending. The spending resolutions were approved by a voice vote late June 19, with at least one unidentified senator voicing opposition. The money, under the control of the Senate GOP, was used for military base retention, the implementation of recommendations from the Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick Borne Diseases, women's health services and public protection grants. Among the recipients of the Senate's largesse: the Columbia County District Attorney's Office ($10,000); the Columbia County Sheriff's Office ($10,250); the Durham Police Department ($4,000); the Village of Catskill Police Department ($26,000); and the Athens Fire Department ($16,500). The grants dealing with tick-borne illness included $100,000 for SUNY Adirondack, most likely for research purposes. The grants addressing women's health included $150,000 for the University at Albany. The state Assembly also introduced resolutions Tuesday night, authorizing grants for eduction, school-based health centers and human services organizations. Those funds are controlled by the Assembly Democrats. Read the full stories at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.