Deja vu in Albany.(Perspective)(Editorial)

For New Yorkers who were hoping things would change in Albany this year, Thursday came as a reality check. The Legislature left town with its reputation for dysfunction firmly intact. After six months of wrangling and posturing over a slew of major issues, state lawmakers have gone home with a mountain of unfinished business still on their desks. Not surprisingly, both parties are blaming one another for leaving so much undone. But New Yorkers know better. The 2007 session was, by and large, business as usual in Albany, long on posturing and short on achievement. That's a disgrace.

What makes it so disgraceful is that, early on, there were signs things might change this year. There was a new governor in charge and the spirit of reform seemed to be catching on. The early agreement on tougher lobbying and ethics rules raised hopes that, at last, the Legislature had finally gotten the message that the public wanted reform. Then came a long overdue agreement on workers compensation, a new state aid formula and large infusions of funds for public schools, an agreement to end the use of solitary confinement for seriously mentally ill prisoners (although Governor Spitzer may demand changes before signing the bill), and legislation banning human trafficking.

But these positive results proved to be the exceptions. In the last weeks of the session especially, New Yorkers saw a familiar sight of legislative leaders flexing their political muscle. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, stonewalled Governor Spitzer's attempt to pass campaign finance reform. Redistricting, another major reform measure that would make legislative elections more competitive, languished and died.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, stonewalled a promising effort to repeal the state's antiquated ban on cameras in the courts, which had easily passed in the Senate.

To be fair, the final day ended with welcome agreement on a $300 million package for Sematech computer chip research at University at Albany, as well as an agreement to increase the state Environmental Protection Fund to $300 million from $150 million. But the list of what didn't get done, ranging from reform of the Wicks Law - which governs bidding on public projects - to healthy school cafeteria foods, to paid family leave to judicial pay raises to a law on siting power plants speaks volumes about the Legislature's dysfunction.

There is talk the lawmakers might reconvene in a few weeks, but these catch-up sessions rarely produce much. The legislative leaders should have listened to Senate Democratic Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, when he asked, "Why quit now? Certainly I understand the need to impose deadlines. However, a deadline is an arbitrary restriction, a mere planning tool. In no way does it excuse us from completing our work - especially when the consequences of inaction can have a ripple effect on the life and livelihood of all New Yorkers."

Imagine that. At least there is one legislative leader who realizes that dysfunction has consequences.