Assemblyman Tom Alfano came out in favor of the reforms cited by the New York State Election Reform Task Force in an interim report. Measures making sure that every vote gets counted and eliminating fraud were the main topics addressed by the panel appointed by Governor Pataki. Alfano viewed some of the new technological voting ballot booths on display and under consideration by the Task Force and took part in a mock vote demonstrated by an Election's Commissioner. Governor Pataki toured the site with Alfano and numerous state senators and assemblymembers during the demonstration. FULL STORY

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, together with his budget team, revealed, after an intensive 30-day analysis of the county's budget, a deficit for the 2002 fiscal year of over $20 million. A previous multi-year plan projected a $208 million deficit for the year 2005. An analysis done by the current administration shows the gap widening to $428 million, $220 more than originally anticipated. FULL STORY