Klein, Dinowitz welcome passage of some Women's Equality measures

The state Senate on Monday passed eight parts of the Women’s Equality Agenda, one of the most debated packages of legislation in last year’s elections.

The missing element? A bill to make abortion rights from the Roe v. Wade decision a part of New York State law.

The northwest Bronx’s state Sen. Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said they are pro-choice, but that Senate Republicans’ hold-up of the abortion measure should not keep Democrats in the Assembly from ratifying the bills that did pass. The measures range from strengthening equal pay laws to fighting human trafficking. Since Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed the Women’s Equality Agenda about two years ago, Assembly Democrats said they would only pass it in its entirety, although a version of one measure — increasing penalties for domestic violence — became law on its own last year.

“I think it’s a major victory to get pay equity for women,” Mr. Klein said before listing other measures that passed the Senate. “Let’s get done the things we can get done and redouble our efforts to elect more pro-choice state senators.”

Mr. Dinowitz said his thinking on the Women’s Equality Agenda has evolved. He said while he used to view the legislation as an all-or-nothing proposition, he thinks his Democratic colleagues in the Assembly should approve the eight bills and revisit the pro-choice measure later.

“My thoughts have kind of changed… not because I’m any less supportive of the reproductive rights piece, but I don’t think it makes sense to hold back the other parts,” he said. “I think what really will happen is within the Democratic conference, we’re going to have to hash this out.”

Bronx State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, whose district includes part of Kingsbridge, said he voted for the eight measures that went to the Senate floor on Monday. But he slammed the Republican leadership in a statement.