In a partisan display of arrogance, every Republican Dutchess County legislator in attendance at the Feb. 11 meeting of the county Legislature voted to repeal the electricians' licensing law — a law a number of these same legislators voted to pass less than two years ago. They repealed this law because they could and because County Executive Bill Steinhaus demanded its repeal.
In 2008, the Democratic-led Legislature passed a law requiring that electricians be licensed to practice in Dutchess County, just as manicurists, barbers, real estate agents and others must be. In a bipartisan display, the Legislature voted to override Steinhaus' veto, and the law was enacted. When the Republicans became the majority in the county Legislature in January, they made repealing this local law one of their top priorities, and now they have.
This Republican-dominated Legislature has made electricians' licensing a partisan issue. As candidates during this last election cycle, these Republicans misled the public on how the law would affect small contracting businesses. As legislators they are now trying to score political points instead of focusing on protecting the public from shoddy and potentially dangerous electrical work. Now there is no recourse for the public if work is not done correctly; there is no one overseeing the industry; there is no one ensuring that the contractor hired has appropriate insurance; there are no consequences for the worker who does inferior work.
The law was written to pay for itself; and for opponents of the law to say that it would cost taxpayers money is simply not true. It is not true in any of the adjacent counties where electricians' licensing laws have been in effect for years, and it would not be true in Dutchess County either.
Electrical work requires a high level of skill, and if done improperly, can be extremely dangerous. According to former Dutchess County legislator and sponsor of the 2008 Electricians' Licensing Law, Bill McCabe, state and national statistics show that nearly 11 percent of all fires are due to electrical problems and that nationwide, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 47 percent of residential electrical fires are caused by defects in the internal electrical wiring. Additionally, electrical fires are substantially more destructive to life and property.
It is simply common sense that electricians should have to be licensed, and to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the trade.
Yap, ignore what other counties in the state do (and the nation for that matter) in ignorant adherence to the GOP mantra No-Regulation. And forget about protecting there own constituents.
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