Jeffrey Klein
Jeffrey David Klein (born July 10, 1960) is a New York State Senator representing parts of Bronx and Westchester Counties. He was elected to his first term in the Senate in 2004.
A lifelong resident of the northeast Bronx, he was educated in Bronx public schools. Klein received his undergraduate degree from Queens College, his Master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and a J.D. from CUNY's Law School, where he was a member of the law review.
A former chief of staff to Congressman James Scheuer, Klein served as a Democratic State Committeeman and District Leader before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1994. During his ten years representing the 80th Assembly District in the state legislature, Jeff Klein served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and the Elderly, the Committee on State-Federal Relations, and the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigations.
After former State Senator Guy Velella was convicted on corruption charges, Senator Klein declined to seek reelection to the Assembly in order to run for Velella's seat in the New York Senate. In the Democratic Senate Primary, Senator Klein defeated then Assemblyman Stephen B. Kaufman. Prior to running for the Senate, Senator Klein was reported to be considering a race for New York Attorney General in 2006, but did not do so because Andrew Cuomo and Jeanine Pirro were competing for that position. After two years in the Senate he abandoned plans to run for the Majority Leader position, instead opting for the Deputy Minority Leader spot.
After considering a race for NYS Attorney General, Klein opted to run for re-election. In 2010, he was easily re-elected, defeating Republican Frank Vernuccio, a community activist in the Bronx. On January 2011, Senator Klein announced that he would lead a newly formed Independent Democratic Conference, a group of breakaway New York State Senate Democrats formed as a response to the dysfunction of past governing bodies in the New York State Senate.
Following the 2010 census, New York redistricted the Senate, expanding it from 62 to 63 seats effective in January 2013. When all election night results were tabulated on November 6, 2012, it appeared that Democrats would hold 33 seats for a three-seat majority—just their third Senate majority since World War II.
On December 4, 2012, Senator Klein, the IDC, and the G.O.P. announced a power-sharing agreement in order to govern the Senate in a bipartisan coaltion. Under the agreement, Senators Skelos and Klein would alternate daily as temporary president of the Senate. Also as part of the change, former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith joined the Independent Democrats, but was expelled from the conference in April 2013 due to a scandal in which Smith attempted to bribe the Republican Party chairs for a Wilson Pakula to run in the upcoming New York City mayoral election.[1]
In the opening days of the 2013-2014 legislative session, the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan legislative package that enacted new comprehensive gun control measures statewide in the wake of the Newtown Connecticut shooting and in response to violent tradgedies involving the use of firearms nation wide. Passage of this legislation, known as the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (NY SAFE Act) marks the New York State Senate’s bipartisan Majority Coalition’s first major legislative success. Senator Klein was a prime sponsor the legislation, widely cited as an example of effective governance under the newly created bipartisan structure. [2]
In May 2013, Senator Klein announced the early passage of the 2013-14 New York State Budget. The Budget successfully passed both houses of the New York State Legislature prior to the April 1 deadline, making it he earliest budget since 1983. It included legislation to increase the Minimum Wage to $9, help returning veterans build careers, and send a $350 tax rebate check to middle class families. Additional funding of over $1 billion was added to education, and middle class taxes were retained at their lowest level in decades.
Klein is an active partner in the law firm of Klein Calderoni & Santucci, LLP.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Lovett, Kenneth (April 15, 2013). NYS Senate Independent Democratic Conference To Busted Malcolm Smith: Stay Away. New York Daily News. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ Hammond, Bill (January 15, 2013).[1]. New York Daily News.Retrieved January 15, 2013.
External links [edit]
| New York Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Friedman |
New York State Assembly, 80th District 1995–2004 |
Succeeded by Naomi Rivera |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by Guy Velella |
New York State Senate, 34th District 2005–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Thomas W. Libous |
Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Thomas W. Libous |
| Preceded by Committee dormant |
Chairman of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Committee 2011–present |
Incumbent |
