The 188th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4, 1989, to December 31, 1990, during the seventh and eighth years of Mario Cuomo'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 1982 by the Legislature, 61 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 contiguously without restrictions regarding county boundaries.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Right to Life Party, an "Independent Progressive Party", the Workers World Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Socialist Workers Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1988 New York state election was held on November 8. The only statewide elective office up for election was a U.S. Senator from New York. Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan was re-elected with Liberal endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. Senator, was: Democrats/Liberals 4,049,000; Republicans/Conservatives 1,876,000; Right to Life 65,000; Independent Progressives 15,000; Workers World 13,500; Libertarians 12,000; and Socialist Workers 11,000.

All sitting 22 women members of the legislature—State Senators Mary B. Goodhue (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Kisco; Nancy Larraine Hoffmann (Dem.), of Syracuse; Olga A. Méndez (Dem.), of East Harlem; Velmanette Montgomery (Dem.), of Brooklyn; and Suzi Oppenheimer (Dem.), of Mamaroneck; and Assemblywomen Barbara M. Clark (Dem.), of Queens; Elizabeth Connelly (Dem.), of Staten Island; Pinny Cooke (Rep.), of Rochester; Geraldine L. Daniels (Dem.), of the Bronx; Gloria Davis (Dem.), of the Bronx; Eileen C. Dugan (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Aurelia Greene (Dem.), of the Bronx; Earlene Hill Hooper (Dem.), of Hempstead; Rhoda S. Jacobs (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Cynthia Jenkins (Dem.), a librarian of Queens; Helen M. Marshall (Dem.), a teacher and librarian of Queens; Nettie Mayersohn (Dem.), of Queens; Patricia McGee (Rep.), of Franklinville; Mary M. McPhillips (Dem.), of Middletown; Catherine Nolan (Dem.), of Queens; Audrey Pheffer (Dem.), of Queens; and Helene Weinstein (Dem.), a lawyer of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Ada L. Smith (Dem.), of Queens, was also elected to the State Senate. Cecile D. Singer (Rep.), of Yonkers, was also elected to the Assembly.

The 1989 New York state election was held on November 7. Two vacancies in the State Senate were filled. Assemblywoman Mary M. McPhillips was elected as County Executive of Orange County.

Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 212th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1989;Cuomo Plans A Major Effort To Fight Drugs by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on January 5, 1989 and recessed indefinitely on July 1.Legislators Count Successes As Albany Session Closes by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on July 2, 1989

Mel Miller (Dem.) was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly.

Ralph J. Marino (Rep.) was elected Temporary President of the Senate.

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 213th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1990;HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ALL CHILDREN IS URGED BY CUOMO by Elizabeth Kolbert, in The New York Times on January 4, 1990 and recessed indefinitely on July 2.3 Health-Care Bills Approved in Albany by Kevin Sack, in The New York Times on July 3, 1990

The legislature met again from December 3Quick Agreement Unlikely on Cuomo Budget Cuts by Sam Howe Verhovek, in The New York Times on December 3, 1990 to 14, 1990.Anti-Crime Plan Undecided As the Legislature Recesses by Kevin Sack, in The New York Times on December 15, 1990 This session was called to consider state budget cuts, an increase in CUNY's tuition rates, and an anti-crime plan proposed by Mayor of New York City David Dinkins.

State Senate

Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. John B. Sheffer II changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of the session. Assemblyman Kemp Hannon was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

District Senator Party Notes1stKenneth LaValle* Rep./Cons.2ndJames J. Lack* Rep./Cons.3rdCaesar Trunzo* Republican4thOwen H. Johnson* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Environmental Conservation5thRalph J. Marino* Rep./Cons.elected Temporary President 6thJohn R. Dunne* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Judiciary; resigned in September 1989Influential L.I. Senator Quits in The New York Times on August 10, 1989Kemp Hannon* Republicanon November 7, 1989, elected to fill vacancy7thMichael J. Tully Jr.* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Health8thNorman J. Levy* Rep./Cons.Chairman of Transportation9thDean Skelos* Rep./Cons.10thAndrew Jenkins* Dem./Lib.on May 7, 1990, convicted of two feloniesQueens Lawmaker Guilty in Bank Plot by James Barron, in The New York Times on May 8, 199011thFrank Padavan* Rep./Cons.12thLeonard P. Stavisky* Dem./Lib.13thEmanuel R. Gold* Dem./Lib.14thGeorge Onorato* Democrat15thSerphin R. Maltese Cons./Rep./RTL16thJeremy S. Weinstein* Dem./Lib.17thHoward E. Babbush* Dem./Lib.18thDonald Halperin* Democrat19thMartin M. Solomon* Democrat20thAda L. Smith Democrat21stMarty Markowitz* Democrat22ndVelmanette Montgomery* Dem./Lib.23rdChristopher J. Mega* Rep./Cons.24thJohn J. Marchi* Rep./Dem./Lib.Vice-President pro tempore25thMartin Connor* Dem./Lib.26thRoy M. Goodman* Rep./Lib.27thManfred Ohrenstein* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader28thFranz S. Leichter* Dem./Lib.29thDavid Paterson* Dem./Lib.30thOlga A. Méndez* Dem./Lib.31stJoseph L. Galiber* Dem./Lib. 32ndIsrael Ruiz Jr.* Dem./Lib.on February 3, 1989, convicted of a federal felonyA State Senator Is Found Guilty In a Loan Case in The New York Times on February 4, 1989Efrain Gonzalez Jr. Democraton November 7, 1989, elected to fill vacancy 33rdAbraham Bernstein* Dem./Lib.died on March 4, 1990Jeffrey R. Korman Democraton May 1, 1990, elected to fill vacancyLegislative Elections in Bronx Won by Korman and Rosado in The New York Times on May 2, 199034thGuy J. Velella* Rep./Cons.35thNicholas A. Spano* Rep./Cons.36thSuzi Oppenheimer* Dem./Lib.37thMary B. Goodhue* Rep./Cons.38thEugene Levy* Rep./Cons.died on July 12, 199039thE. Arthur Gray Democrat40thCharles D. Cook* Republican41stJay P. Rolison Jr.* Republican42ndHoward C. Nolan Jr.* Democrat43rdJoseph Bruno* Republican44thHugh T. Farley* RepublicanChairman of Banks45thRonald B. Stafford* RepublicanDeputy Majority Leader46thJohn M. McHugh* Republican47thJames H. Donovan* RepublicanChairman of Education; died on August 31, 199048thNancy Larraine Hoffmann* Democrat49thTarky Lombardi Jr.* RepublicanChairman of Finance50thJames L. Seward* Republican51stThomas W. Libous Republican52ndRandy Kuhl* Republican53rdL. Paul Kehoe* Republican54thJohn D. Perry* Democrat55thRalph E. Quattrociocchi* Democrat56thJess J. Present* Republican57thWilliam Stachowski* Democrat58thAnthony M. Masiello* Democrat59thDale M. Volker* Republican60thJohn B. Sheffer II* Republican61stJohn B. Daly* Republican

Employees Secretary: Stephen F. Sloan

State Assembly

Assemblymen 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)..."