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BATH –Steuben County legislators continued to urge state leaders to provide state funding for anticipated cost increases for independent public defense of income-eligible (indigent) criminal defendants. In addition to formal support for a bill in the state Assembly requiring the state to pay for independent public defense, legislators also raised the issue during an early morning meeting Monday with state Sen. Tom O'Mara, R-Big Flats, and state Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, R-Corning. O'Mara and Palmesano supported a similar measure last year, which was vetoed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Both men pledged their continued support of the bill, with O'Mara warning Steuben lawmakers the income standard for eligibility may be raised to allow more people to qualify. County legislators also requested the state increase the 12.7 percent share of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) fees now allocated to county DMVs. The local share has not increased since 1999 and fails to meet the increase in local services. Steuben lawmakers also asked the U.S. Congress to issue a commemorative coin honoring county native and aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss. Curtiss, of Hammondsport, was an important figure in early aviation and is known as the "Father of Naval Aviation."
