Four NYS lawmakers havent been to the Capitol in person once all year, damning records show

ALBANY – Four New York State lawmakers haven’t been to the Capitol once all year — with two ailing 89-year-old boys among those with the most spotty attendance records.Records show the 10 members of the Senate and Assembly with the most absences since January also include a Republican enrolled in the military who was deployed in the Middle East, a mom on maternity leave, and two entrenched New York City Democrats who offered no explanations for their chronic absences.Lawmakers can vote remotely but not participate in legislative sessions, but the 10 most absent lawmakers missed 442 combined with each missing more than 37% of the votes in Albany, according to to attendance records obtained by The Post through a public information request.Although they only make up 5% of the entire state legislature, their 442 absences were 39% of all absences from January, the records showed.Two of the four no-shows — Assembly members Vivian Cook (D-Queens) and David McDonough (R-Nassau County) — are each 89 years old, battling long-term illnesses and riding out the year as lame ducks after neither sought reelection.Assemblyman Brian Maher (R-Orange County), a Navy reservist who missed every day of the session because he was deployed in the Middle East from November 2025 through last month, said extended absences from elderly lawmakers are a good argument for term limits.“People will say elections are term limits.

We know they’re not.We know that incumbency brings a lack of an even playing field,” said Maher, who is running unopposed in this year’s election.McDonough hasn’t been to Albany in at least two years despite sailing to reelection with 65% of the vote in 2024, Newsday reported in February.The seven-term incumbent announced he would not seek reelection the following week, but remains in office with state Senate staffer Shannon Fredericks running to replace him.

He participated virtually eight times, records showed.Meanwhile Cook, first elected to the sta...