An impetus

It would be nice to think that matters in the state legislature are handled based on their importance to the people of New York. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. For example, the matter’s importance to members of the legislature can be a determining factor as reported is this article by Marc Humbert of the Associated Press:

When Gov. George Pataki signed legislation in June 2004 to create comprehensive centers to deal with eating disorders, few on hand knew that for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno it was something more than just another bill-signing ceremony.

In fact, the recent disappearance and ultimate return of his 20-year-old granddaughter, and the disclosure that she suffers from anorexia nervosa, is just the latest event to demonstrate the nexus between personal experience and policy development.
. . .
Earlier this year, legislation to boost organ donation programs got a huge boost when Assemblyman Richard Brodsky revealed that his 14-year-old daughter Willie was in need of a second kidney transplant.

Perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that not every legislative action requires a personal crisis to spur our elected leaders to do the right thing.