The New York State Assembly is the lower chamber of the New York State Legislature. Alongside the New York State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the New York state government and works alongside the governor of New York to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the New York State Assembly include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.The New York State Assembly meets in the state capitol building in Albany, New York.Assembly District 110 includes Albany county.
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Experience and Qualifications
I am a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard (1981) and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (1984) where I was a member of the Law Review and Penn’s National Moot Court team. From 1987 to 1989, I served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York and Rensselaer Counties. I joined the law firm of Cooper, Erving and Savage LLP in 1990. My practice is concentrated in civil rights and employment law. I am a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association. In 1999, I was elected to the Albany County Legislature from the District centered in Menands. I was re-elected three times. In 2012, I won the Primary and General Election to become the representative of the 110th Assembly District.
Community Involvement
Prioir Chair of the Colonie Democratic Committee and Albany County Legislature
Education
Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Campaign Endorsements
NYS AFLCIO, NYSUT, NYSNA, Planned Parenthood Empire State Voters, LIUNA-NY, League of Conservation Voters, CDALF, Greater Capital Region Building Trades Council, Carpenters Local 291, Elect 236, Plumbers 7, CWA
Campaign Instagram
www.instagram.com/phil_steck_110/
My priority will be to end the subminimum wage for disabled workers (a1006b). This outdated policy undermines dignity and economic independence. If passed, New York would join 13 other states in ending the practice.
Utility prices are rising dramatically because our power grid is very old and our system of regulating utilities goes back to 1907. The Public Service Commission needs members who are consumer advocates. Further, the PSC allows utilities to charge consumers not only for the cost of the power they use but also for the cost of upgrading the power grid. Instead, the state needs to invest in the power grid as we do for roads and bridges.
As a state, we need to end corporate giveaways and repurpose that money for the benefit of the public. For example, in March, Governor Hochul gave a $5 million tax credit to Fanatics Sports Betting. Legalized bookmaking is not worthy of public subsidies. I sponsored legislation to prevent this from happening.
The most beneficial way to address climate change and its impacts is for the state to make direct investments in solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy. The cap-and-invest legislation was designed to do that, but the Governor did not implement it. Another method is to reinstate the 0.1% (one tenth of one percent) Stock Transfer Tax, which New York had from 1905 to 1981. This would raise $15 billion per year, which New York State could use to convert to more green energy sources without burdening consumers with increased costs (the Stock Transfer Tax is paid predominantly by people from other states and other nations). Around the world, countries like Australia, those in Northern Europe, and China are reducing energy costs by investing in clean energy. New York is falling behind due to outdated corporate ideology and the subsidization of fossil fuels.
I’ve been a civil rights attorney for 40 years, currently representing a woman fired for being active at a Black Lives Matter rally. As a result of my experience, I introduced legislation to create a New York State civil rights law so citizens can sue for violations of their state constitutional rights. Currently, it is only possible to sue for violations of Federal constitutional rights, where citizens face very restrictive precedent. My civil rights bill passed the Assembly twice, the second time with bipartisan support.
In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional portions of the Voting Rights Act, which was designed to prevent the dilution of African-American votes, even though the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law, gave Congress the power to enforce that principle through legislation of its choosing. While New York cannot set aside a decision of the Supreme Court, our state constitution requires that communities of interest is one of the criteria in the redistricting process. So, New York does not have to abandon the principles of the Voting Rights Act.
