Cohen v. State of NY

Because I believe that chapter 635 of the Laws of 1998 violates the State constitutional guarantee that “[e]ach member of the legislature shall receive for his services a like annual salary, to be fixed by law” (NY Const, art III, § 6), I dissent and vote to affirm the order of the Supreme Court (180 Mise 2d 643).

On December 1, 1998, the New York State Assembly passed legislation (Assembly Bill A 11464) to amend Legislative Law *18§ 5 to raise the salaries of the members of the Legislature.1 The bill raised the annual legislative salary by 38% from $57,500 to $79,500. It passed the State Senate…