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ALBANY--- Assemblyman James Tedisco (R,C,I Schenectady-Saratoga) was unanimously elected the new Assembly Minority Leader Tuesday and pledged that he will be "more aggressive" than his predecessor, Charles Nesbitt of Orleans County.
The state Senate confirmed Nesbitt on Tuesday to a eight-year term as a commissioner on the Tax Appeals Tribunal despite him having no experience in tax law.
Nesbitt faced heavy criticism from other Republicans in the Assembly with the loss of eight seats held by Republicans in the Assembly.
Republicans hold only 45 seats in the 150-member Assembly.
Tedisco, 55, is in his 23rd year in the Assembly. He is due for reelection in 2006.
At a Capitol news conference, Tedisco said that Assembly Republicans are "going to be less wishy-washy. I'm going to encourage my guys to stand up and get it off their chests".
"When we walk out that door, you're going to see an assembly Republican conference that is on the same page moving in the same direction with one goal in mind -- to move forward the best possible agenda for the people we represent," said Tedisco.
Among the topics Tedisco outlined as his priorities as Republican Leader are civil confinement and other laws to protect our families from sexual predators, reducing the tax burden on New York families and passing an on-time budget for the second year in a row.
Tedisco said that he would be willing to work with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Democrats on ways to improve the economy, education, healthcare and public safety, but cautioned that "there will be times that we will play the role of the loyal opposition."
Assemblyman Tedisco becomes the first Assembly Republican Leader from Schenectady County since Assemblyman Oswald D. Heck served as Speaker from 1937 to 1951. 11-30-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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