178th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 178th January 1, 1969 December 31, 1970 Lt. Gov. Malcolm Wilson (R) Earl W. Brydges (R) Perry B. Duryea Jr. (R) 57 150 Republican (33–24) Republican 1969: (76–72–2) 1970: (77–71–2) 1st January 8 May 2, 1969 2nd January 7 April 20, 1970 177th 179th The 178th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 8, 1969, to April 20, 1970, during the eleventh and twelfth years of Nelson Rockefeller'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 1966 by order of the New York Court of Appeals, 57 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 without restrictions regarding county boundaries. At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, the Socialist Labor Party and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1968 New York state election was held on November 5. The only two statewide elective offices up for election were a seat on the New York Court of Appeals and a U.S. Senator from New York. The incumbent office-holders were re-elected: Judge Adrian P. Burke, a Democrat with Republican, Liberal and Conservative endorsement; and U.S. Senator Jacob K. Javits, a Republican with Liberal endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. Senator, was: Republicans/Liberals 3,270,000; Democrats 2,151,000; Conservatives 1,139,000; Peace and Freedom 9,000; Socialist Labor 8,000; and Socialist Workers 5,000. Two of the four women members of the previous legislature—Assemblywomen Constance E. Cook (Rep.), a lawyer of Ithaca; and Gail Hellenbrand (Dem.), of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Rosemary R. Gunning (Cons.), a lawyer of Ridgewood, Queens; and Mary Anne Krupsak (Dem.), a lawyer of Amsterdam, were also elected to the assembly. The 1969 New York state election was held on November 4. The only statewide elective office up for election was a seat on the New York Court of Appeals. Two vacancies in the Assembly were filled. Sessions The legislature met for the first regular session (the 192nd) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1969;Governor Proposes Curb on Spending; 3% Sales Tax; Trim of 5% is Goal in The New York Times on January 9, 1969 (subscription required) and recessed on March 30.Two-Week Recess Starts in Albany in The New York Times on March 31, 1969 (subscription required) The legislature met again on April 15;Legislature Reconvenes Today, Hoping to Adjourn by May 1 in The New York Times on April 15, 1969 (subscription required) and adjourned sine die on May 2.Legislature Ends; Pay Raises Passed in The New York Times on May 3, 1969 (subscription required) Perry B. Duryea Jr. (Rep.) was elected Speaker. Earl W. Brydges (Rep.) was re-elected temporary president of the state Senate. On March 28, the legislature increased the state sales tax by 1 percentage point. Democrats Charles F. Stockmeister and Albert J. Hausbeck voted with the RepublicansState Sales Tax Increased 1 Cent by G.O.P. in Albany in The New York Times on March 29, 1969 (subscription required) and subsequently were ostracised by their party.Steingut Bids Assembly Demote 2 Democrats for Sales Tax Vote in The New York Times on April 2, 1969 (subscription required) Stockmeister was appointed by Gov. Rockefeller to the Civil Service Commission on July 3, 1969. Hausbeck changed parties in 1970, and was re-elected to the Assembly on the Republican and Conservative tickets in November 1970. On December 3, 1969, the Court of Appeals did not allow a re-apportionment of the legislative districts which the Republican majorities in both Houses intended to enact in time to be used for the elections in November 1970.Court Bars G.O.P. From Redistricting Legislature in '70 in The New York Times on December 4, 1969 (subscription required) The legislature met for the second regular session (the 193rd) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1970;Rockefeller Offers Plan to Revamp State Agencies to Meet Problems of 70's in The New York Times on January 8, 1970 (subscription required) and adjourned sine die on April 20.Ballot Bill Stirs Furor as Session Closes in Albany in The New York Times on April 21, 1970 (subscription required) On April 9, 1970, the Assembly passed a bill allowing abortion without restrictions until 24 weeks of pregnancy.Abortion Reform is Voted by the Assembly, 76 to 73 in The New York Times on April 10, 1970 (subscription required) The Senate passed the bill on April 10, and Gov. Rockefeller signed it on April 11, thus becoming the law. State Senate Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Jess J. Present changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of the session. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Senator Party Notes1stLeon E. Giuffreda* Republican2ndBernard C. Smith* Republican3rdRalph J. Marino Republican4thEdward J. Speno* Republican5thJohn D. Caemmerer* Republican6thJohn R. Dunne* Republican7thNorman F. Lent* Republicanon November 3, 1970, elected to the 92nd U.S. Congress8thMurray Schwartz* Democrat9thJack E. Bronston* Democrat10thSeymour R. Thaler* Democrat11thJohn J. Santucci* Democrat12thMartin J. Knorr Republican13thNicholas Ferraro* Democrat14thEdward S. Lentol* Democrat15thA. Frederick Meyerson Democrat16thWilliam Rosenblatt* Democrat17thJeremiah B. Bloom* Democrat18thWaldaba Stewart Democrat19thSamuel L. Greenberg* Democrat20thAlbert B. Lewis* Democrat21stWilliam T. Conklin* Republican22ndWilliam J. Ferrall* Democratdied on December 13, 197023rdJohn J. Marchi* Republican24thPaul P. E. Bookson* Democrat25thManfred Ohrenstein* Democrat26thRoy M. Goodman Republican27thBasil A. Paterson* Democrat28thJoseph Zaretzki* DemocratMinority Leader29thRobert García* Democrat30thHarrison J. Goldin* Democrat31stJoseph L. Galiber Democrat32ndAbraham Bernstein* Democrat33rdJohn D. Calandra* Republican34thJohn E. Flynn* Republican35thAnthony B. Gioffre* Republican36thBernard G. Gordon* Republican37thD. Clinton Dominick III* Republican38thJay P. Rolison Jr.* Republican39thDouglas Hudson* Republican40thWalter B. Langley Republican41stDalwin J. Niles* Republican42ndRonald B. Stafford* Republican43rdHugh Douglas Barclay* Republican44thJames H. Donovan* Republican45thJohn H. Hughes* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary46thTarky Lombardi Jr.* Republican47thWarren M. Anderson* RepublicanChairman of Finance48thWilliam T. Smith* Republican49thTheodore D. Day* Republican50thThomas Laverne* Republican51stJames E. Powers* Democrat52ndEarl W. Brydges* Republicanre-elected Temporary President53rdWilliam E. Adams* Republicanon December 29, 1970, appointed Counsel to the NYS Board of Standards and Appeals54thThomas F. McGowan* Republican55thFrank J. Glinski* Democrat56thJames D. Griffin* Democrat57thJess J. Present* Republican Employees Secretary: Albert J. Abrams State Assembly Assembly members 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 (the)..." District Assembly member Party Notes1stPerry B. Duryea Jr.* Republicanelected Speaker2ndPeter J. Costigan* Republican3rdCharles A. Jerabek Cons./Rep.4thPrescott B. Huntington* Republican5thWilliam L. Burns* Republican6thJohn G. McCarthy* Republican7thJoseph M. Reilly* Republican8thMartin Ginsberg* Republican9thFrancis P. McCloskey* Republican10thMilton Jonas* Republican11thStanley Harwood* Democrat12thJoseph M. Margiotta* Republican13thJohn S. Thorp Jr.* Democrat14thArthur J. Kremer* Democrat15thEli Wager* Democrat16thGeorge J. Farrell Jr.* Republican17thJohn E. Kingston* RepublicanMajority Leader18thVincent R. Balletta Jr.* Republican19thHerbert A. Posner* Democrat20thJoseph J. Kunzeman* Republican21stMartin Rodell* Democrat22ndJohn T. Gallagher* Republican23rdLeonard P. Stavisky* Democrat24thArthur J. Cooperman Democrat 25thMoses M. Weinstein* Democraton November 4, 1969, elected to the New York Supreme CourtEmanuel R. Gold Democraton February 17, 1970, elected to fill vacancyDemocrats Win Elections in Bronx and Queens in The New York Times on February 18, 1970 (subscription required)26thGuy R. Brewer Democrat27thHerbert J. Miller* Democrat28thAlfred D. Lerner* Republican29thFrederick D. Schmidt* Democrat30thJohn T. Flack Republican31stJoseph F. Lisa Democrat32ndJules G. Sabbatino* Democrat33rdJoseph S. Calabretta* Democrat34thRosemary R. Gunning Cons./Rep.35thChester J. Straub* Democrat 36thRudolph F. DiBlasi* Democratresigned to run for the New York City CouncilPeter G. Mirto Democraton November 4, 1969, elected to fill vacancyElection results in The Daily Messenger, of Canandaigua, on November 5, 196937thSamuel D. Wright* Democrat38thVito P. Battista Republican39thStanley Fink Democrat40thAlfred A. Lama* Democrat41stStanley Steingut* DemocratMinority Leader42ndLawrence P. Murphy* Democrat43rdGeorge A. Cincotta* Democrat44thSidney A. Lichtman Democrat45thStephen J. Solarz Democrat46thLeonard M. Simon* Democrat47thSalvatore J. Grieco* Democrat48thLeonard Silverman Democrat49thDominick L. DiCarlo* Republican50thRobert F. Kelly* Republican51stVincent A. Riccio Republican52ndJoseph J. Dowd* Democrat53rdWilliam J. Giordano* Democrat54thGail Hellenbrand* Democrat55thThomas R. Fortune Democrat56thBertram L. Baker* Democrat57thHarvey L. Strelzin Democrat58thLucio F. Russo* Republican59thEdward J. Amann Jr.* Republican60thLouis DeSalvio* Democrat61stAnthony G. DiFalco Democrat62ndAndrew J. Stein Democrat63rdWilliam F. Passannante* Democrat64thPeter A. A. Berle Democrat65thJerome Kretchmer* Democrat66thStephen C. Hansen Republican67thAlbert H. Blumenthal* Democrat68thFrank G. Rossetti* Democrat69thFranz S. Leichter Democrat70thHulan E. Jack* Democrat71stStephen S. Gottlieb Democrat72ndCharles B. Rangel* Democraton November 3, 1970, elected to the 92nd U.S. Congress73rdJohn J. Walsh* Democrat74thMark T. Southall* Democrat75thHarry Kraf* Democrat76thSeymour Posner* Democrat77thArmando Montano Democrat78thEdward A. Stevenson, Sr.* Democrat79thManuel Ramos* Democrat80thFerdinand J. Mondello* Democrat 81stRobert Abrams* Democraton November 4, 1969, elected Borough President of the BronxAlan Hochberg Democraton February 17, 1970, elected to fill vacancy82ndAlexander Chananau* Democrat83rdBurton Hecht* Democrat 84thBenjamin Altman* Democraton January 6, 1970, appointed as NYC Commissioner of Rent and Housing MaintenanceNew Housing Chief Would Rebuild Slums to Draw Middle Class in The New York Times on January 7, 1970 (subscription required)G. Oliver Koppell Ind. Dem.on March 3, 1970, elected to fill vacancyKoppell ran as an Independent, and defeated the regular Democratic candidate Sidney Rosen; see Koppell Wins Assembly Seat in a Special Election in Bronx in The New York Times on March 4, 1970 (subscription required)85thAnthony J. Mercorella* Democrat86thAnthony J. Stella Democrat87thThomas J. McInerney* Democrat88thGeorge E. Van Cott* Republican89thAlvin M. Suchin* Republican90thGordon W. Burrows* Republican91stJoseph R. Pisani* Republican92ndRichard A. Cerosky* Republican93rdPeter R. Biondo* Republican94thEugene Levy Republican95thBenjamin A. Gilman* Republican96thDaniel Becker Republican97thWillis H. Stephens* RepublicanChairman of Ways and Means98thEmeel S. Betros Republican99thH. Clark Bell Republican100thClarence D. Lane* Republican101stNeil W. Kelleher* Republican102ndRaymond C. Skuse Republican103rdFred G. Field Jr. Republican104thMary Anne Krupsak Democrat105thClark C. Wemple* Republican106thFred W. Droms Jr.* Republican107thLawrence E. Corbett Jr.* Republican108thAndrew W. Ryan Jr. Republican109thGlenn H. Harris* Republican110thEdward J. Keenan* Republican111thDonald L. Taylor* Republican112thDonald J. Mitchell* Republican113thEdwyn E. Mason* Republican114thRichard A. Brown* Republican115thWilliam R. Sears* Republican116thJohn T. Buckley* Republican117thEdward F. Crawford* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary118thLeonard F. Bersani Republican119thKenneth G. Bartlett* Republican120thMortimer P. Gallivan* Democrat121stJohn H. Terry* Republicanon November 3, 1970, elected to the 92nd U.S. Congress122ndGeorge M. Michaels Democrat123rdKenneth S. Leasure* Republican124thFrancis J. Boland Jr.* Republican125thConstance E. Cook* Republican126thL. Richard Marshall* Republican127thCharles D. Henderson* Republican128thFrederick L. Warder* Republican129thJoseph C. Finley* Republican130thDonald C. Shoemaker* Republican131stRaymond J. Lill* Democrat132ndS. William Rosenberg* Republican133rdFrank A. Carroll* Republican 134thCharles F. Stockmeister* Democraton July 3, 1969, appointed to the New York State Civil Service CommissionRebel Democrat Gets State Post in The New York Times on July 4, 1969 (subscription required)William M. Steinfeldt Republicanon November 4, 1969, elected to fill vacancy135thDon W. Cook* Republican136thJames L. Emery* Republican137thV. Sumner Carroll* Republican138thGregory J. Pope* Democrat139thLloyd J. Long* Republican140thJames T. McFarland* Republican141stChester R. Hardt* Republican142ndStephen R. Greco* Democrat143rdArthur O. Eve* Democrat144thAlbert J. Hausbeck* Democrat145thJohn B. Lis* Democrat146thFrancis J. Griffin* Democrat147thRonald H. Tills Republican148thFrank Walkley* Republican149thLloyd A. Russell* Republican150thJohn W. Beckman Republican Employees Clerk: Donald A. Campbell Notes Sources Assembly winners and Senate leaders in The Geneva Times, of Geneva, on November 6, 1968 178 Category:1969 in New York (state) Category:1970 in New York (state) Category:1969 U.S. legislative sessions Category:1970 U.S. legislative sessions