State Senate Democrats mount resistance agenda to fight Trump

February 15, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

State Sen. Kevin Parker (at podium) and Democratic senate colleagues reveal their plans at a press conference. Photo courtesy of Parker’s office

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In a concerted effort to show their opposition to Donald Trump, Democratic state senators are mounting what the lawmakers are calling a “Resistance Agenda” aimed at fighting the president’s policies.

Led by state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Scarsdale-White Plains), the Senate Democratic Conference is introducing a package of nine pieces of legislation to fight back against the President’s executive orders, including the controversial order placing a temporary ban on immigrants entering the U.S. from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

The Democrats’ “Resistance Agenda” also includes two bills sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Flatbush-Kensington-Midwood) that seek to ensure voting rights in the state.

Parker and members of the Democratic Conference unveiled the bills on Feb. 6.

The legislation is aimed at increasing the voting rights of New Yorkers in the era of “Trumpism” and the alt-right movement, according to Parker.

One of the bills would allow New York state to install an automated voter registration system at government agencies. Under Parker’s bill, voters would be able to register and vote on the same day. The bill would also permit New York state residents to register to vote online and modify their voter registration status online.

Parker is also sponsoring legislation to prohibit election districts from being split on and off a college campus. The legislation would also require poll sites for election districts serving the academic institution to be located on the college campus.

“It is imperative that we move towards improving the voting process for the residents of our state by passing legislation that modernizes our electoral process. The proposed legislation will protect voters and save taxpayers by making the process more efficient,” Parker said in a statement.