by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto

The United States Congress is our legislative branch of government and exists in chief to pass laws and maintain the power of the purse in our country.  Unfortunately, as a substantial amount of Covid-19 financial aid to the people has ended, Congress remains deadlocked on passing any further measures to re-establish or continue that assistance.  As usual, the Democrats blame the Republicans and the Republicans blame the Democrats and the people are left to suffer.

But is Congress working hard for the people to bridge the gap of their political differences or are they hardly working?  The average American works approximately 240 days per year with an average salary of approximately $50,000.  The Senate works an average of 165 days per year and the House of Representatives works an average of 140 days per year.  However, in 2019 the House scheduled only 130 work days and a mere 113 work days for 2020.  In addition to a work schedule averaging 3.17 days per week in the Senate and 2.2 days per week in the House, members of Congress also receive a base salary of $174,000 per year, free airport parking, limited inside trading restrictions, subsidized health insurance, up to 80% of their salary in retirement as a pension, an allowance of approximately 1.2 million for members of the House and 3.3 million for members of the Senate and much more all at the taxpayers' expense.

Currently, while Americans struggle to pay for food, their rent, mortgage and other expenses, Congress has adjourned yet again for another vacation.  This time they will not return until after Labor Day, seemingly completely indifferent to the needs of the people.  If the average American decided that they were only going to work as little as 113 days per year and then decided to leave for an almost 3 week vacation in the middle of fulfilling a crucial and time sensitive deadline, they would not have a job to come back to.  Perhaps it is time that the people deliver the same fate for our esteemed members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, this November 3, 2020.  Election Day is coming, so choose wisely.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is perhaps the largest sanitation department in the world.  The DSNY collects over 10, 500 tons of garbage and over 1,760 tons of recyclables EACH DAY.  Clearly, the fulfillment of the City's legal obligation and duty to keep NYC streets clean is a daunting task that is primarily dependent on funding.  Notwithstanding, it is common knowledge that any failure of the DSNY to properly collect garbage and keep the City streets clean, could result in rat and vermin infestation, infection and disease, air pollution and more.

Despite that common knowledge, this past June the Mayor of NYC has cut 106 Million Dollars from the DSNY budget, reducing pickup for public litter baskets by an alarming 60%.  As a result just over one month later, garbage and refuse is piling up and increasing on the streets of NYC almost as fast as the national debt.  Rats, mice and horrendous odors are becoming commonplace on our city streets, as the Mayor seemingly turns a blind eye.

Many people believe that New Yorkers are getting what they voted for, but even those who voted for our head politicians did not vote for New York to become like a third world country.  New Yorkers also did not vote for rampant crime, political corruption, bail reform, dictatorial and contradicting policies, a puppet-like State Congress, loss of constitutionally guaranteed parental and religious rights, misappropriation of funds and tax dollars, sex education for Kindergarten children, catch and release of criminals onto our streets, unlimited terms for politicians, making name calling illegal, lawlessness and disorder and state politicians who are above the law.

Why should the good people of New York have to sell their homes and flee the state in order to escape what they never voted for or agreed to in the first place?  The answer is that they shouldn't, yet that is exactly what is happening.  Exercising the right to vote is the best weapon of the people and we cannot take that right and responsibility lightly, especially in New York.  If anyone should have to leave New York, it should be the incumbent titular head politicians of the state and not the good people who have invested and risked everything to live here.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
​www.liattorney.com