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The Hundred Day Test
October 11, 2006

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The major party candidates for governor will go at it again this week. New Yorkers should expect to hear the same themes they’ve heard in the last debate – one’s pledge to cut taxes, the other’s commitment to “values” and economic development.

And both candidates will cast themselves as reformers.

With so much at stake, I hope we’ll hear more. The state is at a crossroads, after years of dysfunctional government, controversies and scandals, New Yorkers want change.

Whoever gets elected, the first 100 days of the new administration will be critical. It is during that time the new governor will begin to set the tone for his administration. And it is during this time that he will have to create momentum for change.

Experts have observed that New York’s executive branch is one of the most – some say the most – powerful in the nation. At the debate this week, New Yorkers should expect to hear from the gubernatorial candidates the specific steps they will take to create real momentum for change in Albany.

Here are some examples:

• The new governor could improve Albany’s ethical climate. He could use his existing powers to issue an executive order stating that any entity that wants a government contract must adhere to a new ethics code. This code could prohibit the use of campaign contributions that have helped fuel Albany’s “pay to play” culture. If a business wants access to government contracts, New Yorkers should demand in return more ethical behavior.

• The new governor could require greater oversight of state spending. There has been much criticism of legislative additions to the budget – the spending of “member items” for example. The governor could require his agencies to strictly monitor such spending and order his budget office to issue regular reports evaluating this spending to ensure that these legislative add-ons to the budget yield real public benefits.

• The new governor could add much needed “sunshine” to state government by issuing an executive order strengthening the state’s Freedom of Information Law. The new governor could order state agencies to adopt an “open door” policy when it comes to requests for information. He could tell the agencies to use the Internet in order to make it easier for New Yorkers to obtain information. He could use his power to establish a New York State “C-SPAN” as well.

The Pataki administration has long been criticized as too secretive. Its closed approach contributed to many of the controversies and scandals that have plagued the administration in recent years. An open government is a more honest government. A more open government is more accountable. The new governor can make this happen.

These are just a few examples of what a new governor could do to create real momentum for change. New Yorkers need to let the candidates know that, once elected, they will face a test – one that will be based on what occurs in the first 100 days. The test question will be this, “What have you accomplished in the first 100 days to change Albany.”

New Yorkers should hope to hear the answer to that question at the debate this week.

That’s all for now. I’ll be keeping an eye on the Capitol and will talk to you again next week.

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