Post by hornet on Dec 16, 2011 15:31:07 GMT -5
Employees of the Nassau legislature will not be among the 435 county workers facing layoffs in the coming weeks following a jurisdictional battle between County Executive Edward Mangano and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, both Republicans.
On Nov. 22, Mangano introduced a bill thatcalled for more than 400 layoffs, including the elimination of 11 positions at the legislature, if union leaders did not come up with $75 million in concessions.
But Schmitt (R-Massapequa) complained that Mangano did not have the legal authority to reduce his staff and the legislative layoffs were removed from the final bill, which passed the Rules Committee Dec. 12.
“The county executive thought he understood the presiding officer to be participating in the layoff plan,” said Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin. “Although the original legislation stated that legislative reductions must be voted upon separately, the legislature raised a jurisdictional concern. Whether they are now reducing the number of legislative positions should be directed to the presiding officer's office."
"You can't legislate the legislature," responded Schmitt's spokeswoman, Cristina Brennan.
Schmitt plans to reduce the legislature’s budget next year, she said, and could independently call for some layoffs
On Nov. 22, Mangano introduced a bill thatcalled for more than 400 layoffs, including the elimination of 11 positions at the legislature, if union leaders did not come up with $75 million in concessions.
But Schmitt (R-Massapequa) complained that Mangano did not have the legal authority to reduce his staff and the legislative layoffs were removed from the final bill, which passed the Rules Committee Dec. 12.
“The county executive thought he understood the presiding officer to be participating in the layoff plan,” said Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin. “Although the original legislation stated that legislative reductions must be voted upon separately, the legislature raised a jurisdictional concern. Whether they are now reducing the number of legislative positions should be directed to the presiding officer's office."
"You can't legislate the legislature," responded Schmitt's spokeswoman, Cristina Brennan.
Schmitt plans to reduce the legislature’s budget next year, she said, and could independently call for some layoffs
