Awaiting action by the New York State Senate, which is embroiled in a power struggle and at last report is still in a deadlock, are bills that would increase taxes on the purchase of cigarettes in Nassau and Suffolk counties; reauthorize a hotel-motel tax, allow Nassau County to borrow money to give termination payments to county employees who face layoffs, add a cell phone surcharge to fund the 9-1-1 service in Suffolk and a $50 surcharge on local traffictickets to fund police patrols on the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway.

All that stands in the way of the passage of these measures is the current power struggle between the Democrats and the Republicans in the Senate. While aggressive political and legal moves are underway to force the lawmakers back into session, we're wondering if that's a good idea. From the list of bills awaiting their return it looks as if it will cost Long Island taxpayers plenty to get government moving again. Maybe having

our state Senators return to the people's business­—

and

their wallets—isn't what we should be fighting for.