Senator Eric T. Schneiderman represents New York’s 31st Senatorial District, which includes parts of the Upper West Side, West Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill in Manhattan, and part of Riverdale in the Bronx. Mr. Schneiderman was first elected to the State Senate in 1998, and since January of 2009, has served as the Chair of the Senate Codes Committee, which considers criminal and civil justice legislation in New York State. He also serves as the Senate Deputy Majority Leader for Policy.

From 2003-2006, Senator Schneiderman served as the Senate Deputy Democratic Leader. During that period, the Democratic Conference became the leading voice for reform of New York's state government, and successfully fought to pass legislation to raise the minimum wage, to provide mental health parity in health insurance coverage, and to make initial changes to the state’s draconian drug laws.

In 2007, He was appointed to the New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform. In his role as a Commissioner, he advocated for reforms to our criminal justice system, including an expansion of alternatives to incarceration programs, an improvement of our re-entry services, as well as reforms to the sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses.

Over the past ten years, Senator Schneiderman has been recognized by groups and organizations throughout the state for his leadership in efforts to pass anti-crime, pro-choice and environmental legislation, to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws, restore progressivity to our tax code and to provide universal health care for all New Yorkers.

Blog Entries by Eric T. Schneiderman

Reproductive Rights Are Not Negotiable

Posted November 17, 2009 | 11:46 AM (EST)


The passage of a health care reform bill with a public option in the House ought to be cause for celebration, but an amendment added at the last minute eviscerating the reproductive rights of women casts a dark cloud over this historic victory. The Stupak-Pitts amendment represents the biggest...

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Ian's Law: Protecting Patients From Insurance Industry Abuses

4 Comments | Posted November 6, 2009 | 01:59 PM (EST)


This week, I proudly introduced Ian's Law in the New York State Senate to protect patients from egregious insurance industry practices. Among other things, it makes it illegal for insurers to drop entire classes of insurance as a pretext to deny coverage to individual policyholders.

Here is a clip...

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Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms Go Into Effect

2 Comments | Posted October 7, 2009 | 02:42 PM (EST)


Today is an historic day for the state of New York as the Rockefeller drug law reforms finally go into effect. Now, the failed drug policies of the past are replaced with a smarter approach that will make our communities stronger and safer.

For 35 years, the Rockefeller Drug...

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The Senate Must Get Back To Work

4 Comments | Posted June 22, 2009 | 07:05 AM (EST)


In the aftermath of a failed coup attempt, the New York State Senate has become a national punch line. But the consequences of this ill-conceived power grab are anything but funny.

As you have probably heard by now, on June 8 -- as the Senate began a historic end-of-session...

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