Sager For Change

Sager For Change
By Mike Harkavy

David Sager, Sullivan County Legislator from District 1 is the Democratic Party nominee for NY State Senate in the 42nd District. David is a chiropractor in private practice, living in Jeffersonville with his wife Michelle and young sons Owen and Dylan.

Cleaning Up Albany
It is no secret that the New York State Senate has been described as dysfunctional and has fallen far short in its service to the citizens and businesses of New York State. For months the Senate stood grid locked as incumbents battled to gain the majority. Not one incumbent, including our own, had the courage to step forward, cross the aisle, and end the impasse. In addition, leaders from both political parties have disgraced their offices and have been removed either by the voters or through legal action by the courts.

David Sager will provide the energy and courage to bring honor back to the Senate. He pledges to co-sponsor and vote to enact the Ethics in Government Act of 2006 that was proposed by The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s School of Law. Common Cause, the NY League of Women Voters and the New York Public Interest Research Group, all advocates for transparent, ethical government, have endorsed this act. You can get the particular reforms by going to http://sagerforsenate2010.com/.

Water, Water, Everywhere, But Not a Drop To Drink
High volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing (“Fracking”) is a drilling technique for natural gas. The safety of this procedure is currently under hot debate in New York State since gas companies are looking to secure drilling permits along the Marcellus Shale formation that extends into the southern tier of New York State. David has been a leader on this issue since 2008 since many of the farms surrounding his home may be venues for drilling. He fully recognizes the economic possibilities of gas drilling and the financial distress of landowners that makes leasing of their lands attractive. However he has stressed that careful solid science must be in place to insure that drilling is viable and safe for New Yorkers.
His approach to the issue of fracking stands in sharp contrast to his opponent Senator John Bonacic: Pre- election pressure by citizens pushed the New York State Senate to pass a yearlong moratorium on drilling. David applauds this vote, but notes that if signed into law the moratorium provides no assurances to our residents. It does not demand any comprehensive studies or scientific research. It is a first step, a time out, but not the end all. Sager would extend the moratorium for 120 days beyond any investigative reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

David supports the passage of the Frac Act in Congress. This act, sponsored by Congressman Maurice Hinchey, requires the energy industry to disclose the chemicals it pumps underground during the fracturing process, information that has largely been protected as a trade secret. This legislation would insure the protection of our water supplies. Without this law in place, it would be very difficult to legally prove that fracking caused the pollution of a well. Bonacic has not indicated his support for this legislation

David wants no drilling until the EPA signs off on the process rather then depending solely on the investigative work of the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC). It is estimated that the DEC will lose 83 positions this year on top of 411 staff lost over the past two years. The DEC has lost 700 positions over the past 20 years (http://www.eany.org/). The agency is in no position to monitor water pollution sufficiently with these staff reductions. A reminder, it is the EPA that has oversight responsibility for the removal of PCB’s from the Hudson. Bonacic does not favor oversight from the EPA.

David has proven that he will not cut corners that might endanger our precious water supply while we evaluate the process of fracking within New York State.

David Sager is not a “one issue candidate”. You can get information on his positions on property tax reform, education, flood mitigation, agriculture and equality for all of our citizens by going to http://www.sagerforsenate2010.com/.

The next meeting of the Saugerties Democratic Committee will be on Monday, October 4th, 7pm at the Senior Center, please join us.