Bernardo Watch: Legislating is Soooo Haaaard

So the UC Legislature has decided not to sell the RRA. You remember, the agency they probably can't legally sell in the first place? So they've come up with this face-saving bit of fluff to try to make others do the heavy lifting they should be doing themselves:

Ulster County lawmakers have scrapped an 11th-hour plan to solicit proposals for the purchase of the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency’s assets.

Instead, county legislators are expected to consider today a resolution crafted last week to form a 13-member “non-partisan” commission to make recommendations to the county Legislature on the future of the beleaguered agency.

According to the resolution adopted by the Environmental, Energy and Technology Committee, the “non-partisan” commission will consist of three legislative members appointed by Majority Leader Kenneth Ronk, R-Wallkill, three legislative members appointed by Minority Leader David Donaldson, D-Kingston, the Resource Recovery Agency director and chairman of the agency’s board, two supervisors or mayors appointed by the head of the Supervisors and Mayors Association, the county comptroller or his designee and the Kingston mayor or his designee and the county executive or his designee.

So, sounds good on paper, right? But this is the same leadership that is currently thumbing its nose at Gerry Benjamin and the charter commission's months of hard work. Why should we trust this bunch to follow the recommendations of this commission? And we need another commission like we need a collective hole in the head. Maybe we could instead have elected officials who show some actual leadership?

Up steps Mike Hein, finally saying what the rest of us have known for months and kicking this turd of an idea right back to its incompetent progenitor:

Hein called the creation of the Commission “another embarrassing example of failure to lead by the legislative chairwoman,” and said the Legislature has once again shown itself “to be either unable or unwilling to address this tough issue.”

“It’s a policy issue for the Legislature that has so far gone unresolved,” said Hein.

Damn straight. But where the hell is Bernardo? Off on a trapeze somewhere, I'm guessing:

Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo, R-Accord, could not be reached for comment.

Of course she couldn't be reached for comment. She's in bunker mode. And to have something to say, you have to have actual ideas. We. Have. Heard. Nothing.

Bernardo is an empty pants suit, devoid of any substance whatsoever. I'm with you, Mike. I'm actually starting to feel vicarious embarrassment for her.