Suffolk lawmakers trade barbs over job cuts

Bipartisanship in the Suffolk County Legislature is fraying badly as Democrats and Republicans escalate attacks on each other over looming county layoffs.

While tensions have simmered since the April vote that cemented 315 job cuts, a special hearing this week brought things to a boil. The Republican minority -- which opposed Democratic County Executive Steve Bellone's layoff revisions, even as he spared 149 positions from the list he inherited -- had asked affected employees to suggest alternatives.

More than 200 Association of Municipal Employees members appeared at the hearing Tuesday, urging lawmakers to raise property taxes, offer early retirement incentives and even impose furloughs. Majority Leader DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) listened to the pleas, but took offense when a Republican lawmaker blamed him and his party for not doing enough to save jobs.

"While they have been busy offering false hopes to employees slated to be laid off," Gregory said of the GOP, "the county's fiscal crisis is nowhere near being over."

Democrats have frequently noted that Suffolk's three-year deficit projection of $530 million already assumes the July 1 layoffs, and that saving the positions requires $35 million in alternate savings through 2013.

Gregory chided the Republicans for "pandering" to emotional union members by suggesting alternatives he called "totally unrealistic" to implement by summer. Republicans have said jobs could be saved had Bellone endorsed selling and leasing back county buildings, selling tax liens and offering the union early retirements.

Minority Leader John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset) fired back at Gregory Thursday by saying the entire savings to avert layoffs don't need to be realized by July 1, as long as they are in place by year's end. He said Bellone hasn't explained why nearly 50 of the 315 job cuts are grant-funded or paid outside the general fund.

"Our workers are entitled to a voice," Kennedy said. He called Gregory's criticism "inflammatory rhetoric designed to bash me and my caucus, and we're not going to sit idle."

Legis. Edward P. Romaine (R-Center Moriches) said that for Democrats, who with minor-party allies have a 12-6 advantage, it may become more difficult to attract support from Republican lawmakers.

"Good luck," Romaine said. "You may have the 12 votes, and if things go well, you can take the credit. But if the economy doesn't turn around, you're going to get all the blame."

Only last month, Bellone was touting a "bipartisan" first phase of deficit reduction measures. Now, despite the current political climate, he said everyone needs to focus on ensuring the largest portion of Suffolk's projected deficit isn't realized.

"I understand that people are frustrated, but we have an obligation to fix this fiscal mess and protect taxpayers," Bellone said. "I remain open to ideas from both parties to address the $300-million budget gap for 2013, but simply kicking the can down the road is not an option."