Peter Abbate

Peter Abbate
New York State Assembly District 49
Incumbent
In office
1987 - Present
Term ends
January 1, 2015
Years in position	26
Party	Democratic
Compensation
Base salary	$79,500/year
Per diem	$171/full day; $61/half day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	1986
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	N/A
Education
Bachelor's	Saint John's University, 1971
Personal
Birthday	03/22/1949
Place of birth	Brooklyn, NY
Websites
Office website

Peter Abbate (b. March 22, 1949) is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 49 since 1987. Abbate was the executive director of Kings County Democratic Committee.

Abbate's professional experiences include legislative assistant to Assemblyman Stephen Solarz; and district representative for United States Congressman Stephen Solarz.

Abbate earned a BA in political science from Saint John's University.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Abbate served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Abbate served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Abbate served on the following committees:

Issues

Pension sweeteners

On February 13, 2013, New York legislators introduced eight bills to "sweeten" government employee pensions. The nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission released a chart of these bills and their costs, totaling $1.311 billion for the state government and $46 million for local governments. Abbate sponsored seven of these eight, more than any other New York legislator. E.J. McMahon of the pro-market Empire State Center for New York Policy criticized the bills but placed major responsibility for them on Governor Andrew Cuomo, who in 2012 raised the possibility of better pension deals if the economy improved. The New York Daily News published an editorial against the bills on February 21, denouncing the proposals as examples of "incorrigible recklessness with the public’s money."

• Assembly Bill 4879, sponsored by Abbate, Eric Stevenson, William Colton, Vivian Cook, and Earlene Hill Hooper would allow employees in the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) to retire with full benefits after 35 years of employment without regard to their age. This bill would cost the state government an estimated $87 million.

• Assembly Bill 4890, sponsored by Abbate and Colton, would increase the credit state employees receive for each year above 30 which they have worked from 1.5 to 2.0 percent. This would cost the state government an estimated $1.1 billion.

• Assembly Bill 4910, sponsored by Abbate, would create a new retirement option for peace officers in the Department of Motor Vehicles that would allow them to retire after 25 years of service. This would cost the state government an estimated one-time payment of $708,000 and an additional $106,000 annually.

• Assembly Bill 4914, sponsored by Abbate, Colton, Jeffrion Aubry, William Boyland, Barbara Clark, Cook, Steven Cymbrowitz, Dennis Gabryszak, Hooper, Jose Rivera, Matthew Titone, and Harvey Weisenberg, would give all non-correction officers in the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision a performance of duty disability benefit worth 75% of their final average salary. This bill would cost the state $100,000 in increased annual contributions.

• Assembly Bill 4920, sponsored by Abbate, Colton, Cook, Michael Cusick, Steven Englebright, and Weisenberg, would allow Tier I and II employees of the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) and the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System (NYSLPFRS) to include up to 30 days of unused vacation time in the final average salary calculation for their pension benefits. This would cost the state government an estimated $110 million and local governments an estimated $45 million.

• Assembly Bill 4922, sponsored by Abbate in the Assembly and by Senator Joseph Addabbo in the New York State Senate as Senate Bill 4149, would add the presumption of on-the-job injury for peace officers' heart impairments and diseases in the Department of Corrections, qualifying those officers for a 75 percent disability pension. This bill would cost the state a $100,000 increase in annual pension contributions.

• Assembly Bill 4981, sponsored by Abbate, Addie Russell, and Phillip G. Steck, would give New York teachers who retired before 1980 a minimum annual payment of $550 for each year of full-time credited service. This would cost the local governments contributing to the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) $1 million annually.

Elections

2012

See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2012

Abbate ran in the 2012 election for New York State Assembly District 49. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. He also ran on the Working Families Party and Independence Party of New York State tickets. He defeated Vincent Katinas in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.

New York State Assembly, District 49, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Peter Abbate Incumbent	89.4%	12,108
	Conservative	Vincent Katinas	10.6%	1,429
Total Votes				13,537

Endorsements

• 32BJ/SEIU

2010

Abbate was unopposed in the September 14 Democratic primary. He defeated Peter Cipriano (R) in the November 2 general election.

New York State Assembly, District 49 2010
Candidates		Votes
Peter Abbate (D)		7,416
Peter Cipriano (R)		4,659

2008

On November 4, 2008 Abbate won re-election to the New York State Assembly, District 49, defeating opponent Lucretia Regina-Potter (R).

Abbate raised $324,281 for his campaign while Regina-Potter raised $12,951.

New York State Assembly, District 49 2008
Candidates		Votes
Peter Abbate (D)		14,034
Lucretia Regina-Potter (R)		5,487

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, Abbate received $282,684 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

New York State Assembly 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Peter Abbate's campaign in 2010
Amalgamated Transit Union New York	$4,000
Uniformed Fire Officers Association Local 854	$3,800
New York State United Teachers	$3,800
New York State Public Employees Federation	$3,800
New York State Troopers	$3,800
Total Raised in 2010	$282,684

2008

In 2008, a year in which Abbate was up for election, he collected $324,281 in donations.

The major contributors were:

Donor	Amount
Uniformed Fire Fighters Association	$6,100
Uniformed Fire Officers Association Local 854	$5,100
Nassau County Superior Officers Association	$5,000
New York City District Council of Carpenters	$4,550

Recent news

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External links

Suggest a link

• New York Assembly - Rep. Peter Abbate
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	New York Assembly District 49 1987–present	Succeeded by NA