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St. Lawrence County Republican chair hammers Democratic Assemblywoman Russell for vote against reform package

Posted 3/17/15

St. Lawrence County Republican Chairman Tom Jenison is criticizing a North Country Democratic assemblywoman for voting against a set of reform proposals put forward by Republicans in the Assembly. …

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St. Lawrence County Republican chair hammers Democratic Assemblywoman Russell for vote against reform package

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St. Lawrence County Republican Chairman Tom Jenison is criticizing a North Country Democratic assemblywoman for voting against a set of reform proposals put forward by Republicans in the Assembly.

“Either Addie Russell caved to political pressure from powerful members of her party, or she is an elitist who believes that public doesn’t deserve to see how politicians like her conduct their business,” said Jenison.

According to an email press release distributed on Jenison's behalf by Director of Constituent Services for the New York State Assembly's Republican Conference Nicholas Wilock, who describes himself as "a volunteer for the Republican Party," Assemblywoman Russell (D-Theresa) “voted with New York City Democrats last week to block rules reforms that would have opened up the Assembly Chamber to greater public scrutiny and established a more transparent and inclusive parliamentary procedure,” the release said.

Russell represents the 116th “River District,” which includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.

Russell voted against a measure that would make committee votes public and require committee meetings to be broadcast online. “I wonder what Addie says in those hearings that she is so eager to hide from everyday citizens,” said Jenison.

Russell also voted against a provision that would impose term limits on legislative leaders, committee chairs and the Assembly Speaker.

The resolution was drafted in the wake of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s arraignment on corruption charges after 20 years in the speaker’s post. It is alleged Silver collected millions in illegal kick backs from special interest groups and curtailed laws to benefit real estate interests.

“I wish I was shocked by this, but this is the same individual who stood by Silver after his arrest and suggested that the U.S. Attorney’s investigation was somehow politically motivated,” Jenison said.

At the beginning of her tenure, Russell was an outspoken critic of precisely the sort of ethics infractions Silver was arrested for in January, the press release said.

Jenison thinks that Russell’s votes will prevent North Country residents from taking her rhetoric seriously in the future.

“The fact that Addie Russell passed on an opportunity to fix the system that has allowed these problems to spiral out of control shows that she’s just been in Albany for too long,” said Jenison. “It’s disappointing, but she’s an entrenched part of the power structure that is allergic to transparency, accountability and reform.”

In all, Russell rejected 13 resolutions that outlined 17 “common-sense” reform proposals, the release said.

“North County residents are hardworking people who conduct their business with honesty and integrity,” Jenison said. “Russell’s recent votes highlight a disturbing disconnect from those principles.”