St. Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz:

First of all- what is wrong with gay marriage? I am not part of that community, but I can emphatically say gays are people, too. Separation of church and state can be found in the U.S. Constitution and the Bible. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. The church's precepts cannot dictate public policy- and keep its tax exempt status. Nor will the church be able to dictate if any other religion becomes a majority. And who are the "they" in "It may be that this happens because they want to see gay marriage become a reality?" El Diaria la Prensa? Governor Paterson? Malcolm Smith? Who are you clumsily trying to marginalize?

Maybe it was good that Spitzer named Paterson to run as his Lieutenant Governor, instead of you. Considering the subsequent turn of events, and based upon the above rantings, you wouldn't have a clue. Paterson has been warning of the severity of NYS's financial situation since he took office. The Wall St. meltdown has caused this budget mess, requiring Paterson's proposals for reduced expenditures.  Didn't you get the memo?

Albany's dissident "gang of three" reportedly has an agenda including getting a person of hispanic/ latino descent appointed to statewide office, a laudible goal. Coalition building is the best way to achieve that goal, not divisive binary analysis.

Senator,

As soon as I began to read your posting I had no doubt that you would find a way to make the issues of the state senate majority, driver's licences for illegal immigrants, and El Diario, all lead to gay marriage.

As a Democrat, as a New Yorker, and as an Hispanic, I don't agree with much of what you posted. You see, as Democrats:

"We believe in the essential American ideal that we are not constrained by the circumstances of birth but can make of our lives what we will.

Unfortunately, for too many, that ideal is not a reality. We have more work to do. Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability in every corner of our country, because that's the America we believe in."

That's taken right out of the Party's national agenda. See democrats.org for more, because with all due respect it seems you need to realign yourself with our Party's platform. It flies in the face of your position on gay marriage, and it was you, not the paper, that tied this issue to El Diario, and in such a clumsy manner to boot.

I can understand why you're confused about what the party stands for. Meetings with Skelos and the Repubilcans. And you and Senators Kruger and Espada Jr have thrown the Senate into deadlock not to be resolved potentially for weeks?

Which is why I think it is appalling that you have the nerve to criticize Governor Patterson for his efforts on trying to balance the budget. In your criticism above you give no alternatives to balancing the budget. As a member of the legislative body, you need to step up and take responsibility to help balance the budget, not just pass the buck and lay the blame at the governor's feet. You don't even mention a single time the current budget crisis going on in the state, you just take potshots at your former legislative colleague.

After making statements like you made above, who is the one taking Hispanics for granted? Did you honestly think you could make a bunch of unsubstantiated statements and not be questioned on them?

As a Democrat, as a New Yorker, and as an Hispanic, I'd rather you end the Senate leadership deadlock, work on addressing the budget deficit, then come back to open forums like this and detail specifically what you did, not just complain about what Governor Patterson wants to do.

Manny Burgos,
Brooklyn, New York
"Más vale morir luchando, que vivir muriendo."

Why are people attacking the Senator Diaz, a standup guy, who respects and cherishes families?  Senator Diaz is proudly pro family and I wish he were my state senator!  My child, incidentally, is half Hispanic!  So yes, I have a right to opine!  I feel sorry for Ms. Miller and for these other people who think they represent Hispanics, who are G-d fearing people.

Senator Diaz is the only one up there in Albany who calls it as he sees it - who else would dare to tell what really went on about the drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants ?

32BJ was all set to launch a campaign to support this proposal, and who knew why it was dropped ?

Since this proposed law would have made a huge impact on of the lives of lots of families in NYC's Hispanic community, why is Senator Diaz so wrong to ask how come El Diario didn't cover it?

Alice L. - you are so right.  Senator Diaz is a stand up guy - and I also feel sorry for the people from Brooklyn and outside his district for taking potshots at him on this blog because they just don't get it.

I can only laugh when I read Senator Diaz' disagreement with El Diario.  For a man of the cloth, he sure takes a lot of time to sit in judgment of others, even though the good book says he has not right to do so.

Blaming Hillary Clinton or the Democrats for the failure of Eliot Spitzer's driver's license policy change is wrongheaded.  That failed for one reason, because Eliot Spitzer had no political capital.  He didn't do his homework and he had few allies.  He played politics poorly. 

You, Reverend sir, need to realize that you were elected Senator, not Bishop.  Even Jesus knew the difference between the secular world and the religious.  If you were going to try and promote religious doctrine, you should have ran for Bishop.  you were elected to uphold the Constitution.  The Constitution protects the civil rights of all men and women.  It is this simple - if two people are in a committed relationship, and commit to each other before God and country, what is your problem with that?  Let's make even more simple for you...Jesus never said that 2 people, any 2 people could not pledge their love and commitment to each other before God.  And, if any 2 people choose to do that, everyone should recognize that commitment, as long as the 2 people honor it.  Why does that frighten you so much?  It is definitely not condemned in scripture.  That said, as a State Senator, and not a Bishop, you have an obligation to protect everyone.

As a State Senator, you have a responsibilty to insure that all man-made laws are applied equally to all people.  You are obligated to to fight for equality and yet you want to deny people rights to something that is devinely ordered.  That is not your province.

Also Senator, it is appalling that you are holding up progress by denying Malcolm Smith, the man who led the delegation to victory.  Even worse, you team up with Sen. Carl Kruger, a man whom you've had a problem with in the past.  A man who denied Freddie Ferrer.  And now you seek Latino empowerment with those who coalesced against it.  You are a hypocrite in this instance.  Carl Kruger conducted the meeting that produced the Sharpton flyer against Fernando Ferrer.  Now, you stand with him.  Was that Latino empowerment?

Senator, get right with the people, get right with your people and stop grandstanding for personal gain.  The Democrats have a lot of work to do and you are standing in the way.  I believe that if you were truly a man of God, you would humble yourself to him and his will.

It was released that Kruger paid off Ruben Diaz, Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada.  Check their filings.  What does that say about the integrity of their exercise.

Rev. Diaz' entire stance is based around his religious beliefs about gay marriage.  Where have you been?  I am a Christian, which is why I explained Jesus' stance on gay marriage.  But, the question of legalizing gay marriage is not a religious question, it is a civil and legal question, because man has chosen to make marriage a civil exercise, instead of a legal one.  As Jesus himself said - Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.  Read it in Matthew.  What Diaz is saying, as with all conservatives, is the God's law should apply in a civil society.  That is not Christian doctrine.

The bottom line is - Rev. Diaz has done nothing to move a progressive Democratic agenda forward - NOTHING!

Paid off?

So you are saying that Senator Diaz has been paid off with $4,000? That would sound crazy to anyone with ears.

Maybe you should check the filings of all state candidates and see how many of them support each other's campaigns.  It's not unethical and it's not illegal.

Senatro Diaz's constituents voted him in with 99% of the vote so he must be doing something right for his community. 

Pleaae try not to be so intolerant and hateful toward Christian leaders.

Paid off, no.  Sponsored, yes. 

Senator Diaz does a lot of good for his community, and I do not hate him.  And I am far from intolerant.  I think you need to read what I wrote again. 

My point is, Rev. Diaz is being intolerant, which is against Christian doctrine.  I am challenging his interpretation of scripture.  That said, I am also challenging his use of scripture to justify a civil position.  I am saying that his use of scripture to dictate his position on gay marriage is out of place.  I also believe it to be not in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Senator Diaz is not meeting his obligation as a Senator.  That is my main point.  

Additionally, I challenge his knowledge of the teachings of Jesus Christ.  but that is for another day.

What does it mean to sponsor someone's campaign?

Campaign contributions are listed on the State's Board of Election site.  There is no category for sponsoring.  Lots of people make campaign contributions, and lots of elected officials do too.  It's because they support the candidate.  That's not sponsorship - it's called support.

According to you, Senator Diaz does a lot of good for his community, but he is not meeting his obligation as a Senator.  That seems to be a contradiction.

Your last sentence is beyond bold, and sounds a little like you want to start your own version of a Spanish inquisition... 

Crispus's resonse was articulate, focused on the issues, and made a clear case. His detractors try to split hairs, feigning ignorance like they don't know what a sponsorship is, and worse. It's pretty pathetic and a bit comical.

But the one thing it isn't is something of substance, especially regarding the subject of balancing the budget.

What specifically has Senator Diaz done to help the state balance the budget? I don't remember hearing a thing that he said or did. And remember, in his post, that started this all, he never even ACKNOWLEDGES that there is a serious budget shortfall. He only makes accusations that seek the vilify the governor. It's not only appalling that he did this, it's also very clumsy in the manner that he did this, like the readers of Room 8 would not know better (that is, the readers that are not mindless drones that engage in name calling while offering nothing of substance).

Senator, what did you do during the hearings in Albany last month? What balancing measures did you propose? How would you protect much-needed services while addressing the budget shortfall? Where specifically would you make cuts? How would these cuts affect the quality of life of New Yorkers?

Those are the questions that should have been answered as part of your post, as long as you're taking pot shots at Governor Patterson.

Manny Burgos,
Brooklyn, New York
"Más vale morir luchando, que vivir muriendo."

The article below by Senator Diaz from the last legislative session was circulated WIDELY - published in The Capitol - and probably even on Room 8 - - - didn't you see it Manny?

Yes, please be specific about the progessive agenda.  What is it - exactly? Counter Culture, or just Culture of Death?  Are people of faith allowed to be a part of it, or only as Ciprus defines faith?  (I have no doubt that no matter what society we can create, the malcontents will still be there beating their drums and railing about everything.) 

*** 

A Rapid Infusion of Tax Dollars for the State Treasury by State Sen. Ruben Diaz
The Capitol
Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:33:00

In the 2008 State of the State Address, Gov. Eliot Spitzer offered several proposals to attempt to help close New York State’s budget deficit.  As part of this statewide initiative, I have re-introduced Senate Bill No. 774 to ensure that New York State promptly receives all of the sales tax revenues to which it is entitled. This bill could increase the state’s budget by up to $300 - $500 million dollars in revenue.

This modification of the New York State Tax Law will require credit card companies to remit the state’s portion of sales tax amounts from receipts of retail sale of taxable foods and services directly to the State Department of Taxation and Finance—and not keep them within the accounts of businesses and retail establishments pending remittal to the state.

This change will affect all sales tax vendors registered with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, and put our state tax dollars to use immediately and directly.

The anticipated increase in revenues to the state from my proposal are expected due to the following factors: reduced tax agency costs associated with reduced processing of these quarterly sales tax returns, the financial benefit the state will receive from the ability to use and manage sales tax funds immediately, the reduction of loss of sales tax revenue due to underreporting of taxable sales, and the ability of the state to avoid loss of collected sales tax revenue when businesses fail or file for bankruptcy protection.

Presently, businesses are required to file and submit sales and use tax returns, usually on a quarterly basis. Eliminating the need for calculating and filing quarterly sales tax returns would benefit business owners by reducing their own accounting costs.

Under the current system, businesses have the opportunity to invest already collected state sales tax in their own accounts and accrue interest for themselves and their businesses. These businesses get the benefit of the float. By allowing months to pass before receiving these already collected taxes, the state does not have use of that money until it is remitted with the tax. My bill would prevent the state from losing interest on this float by requiring that tax amounts be paid simultaneously at the time the purchase is made. Statewide, this should result in substantial revenues.

Unfortunately, either through error or otherwise, too many businesses operating in New York State underreport their taxable income. My proposed change would mean that payment will take place at the point of sale. The total price of the goods plus the tax will be charged to the consumer's debit or credit card, and simultaneous payments to the merchant and the state’s taxing authority will be made by the credit card company. This will reduce the problem of underreporting of taxable sales by businesses.  If the business gets paid for a sale, the state gets paid its sales tax.

With passage of this bill, there will be less possibility that New York State will be a creditor in the traditional case of a failed business. At present, a failing business might continue to bring in sales tax receipts that are deducted from a credit card holder’s account, but, due to financial strains within the company, retain those sales tax proceeds rather than pay them to the state. A failing business might choose to do whatever it needs to survive and divert from paying business obligations such as taxes, just in order to keep the business running for a couple of months longer.

All too often these businesses never catch up with their obligations. When it comes to their time to fold, or file for bankruptcy protection, too many of them never pay off the withheld sales taxes. My bill will allow the state to get ahead of the bankruptcy game, never be owed money, and always get paid on time—at least in this realm.

This expedient method of collecting sales tax revenues will reduce administrative expenses presently needed to process sales tax returns before the taxes actually become credited to the State Treasury. We will no longer have to wait until the end of the year to figure out how much money is coming into the state from these businesses, because it will be coming in daily.   

Ruben Diaz, a Democrat representing parts of the Bronx in the State Senate, is a member of the Banking Committee.
 

We are attacking him because he is a promoter of discrimination and prejudice.  As stated by so many other posts Senator Diaz needs to understand the difference between church and state.  The senator should not singly represent families but should represent everyone in his state.  Lets stop making the family the responsibility of the government and take individual responsibility for our own families. 

By the way, no one is half hispanic.  Ethnicity is a learned/taught behavior and not a genetic trait!

I am hispanic because I grew up in Puerto Rico and learned the customs/language of the Island and my parents, not because I was born hispanic.  You can not carry ethnicity in your genes!