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The Race is On
While 2005 is not in the rear-view mirror yet, the 2006 gubernatorial race already has begun in earnest. With less than one year to go, the major parties’ contenders for Governor are developing themes to propel their candidacies. Based on the comments so far, one thing is clear – fixing Albany will be a hot topic. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer delivered a major address on his vision for reforming state government and how Albany works. In his speech, the Attorney General pledged to advance sweeping reforms that would free Albany from “the grip of special interests” and make government “more accountable, more efficient and more transparent.” The Democrats have not occupied the Governor’s mansion for more than a decade and as a result are freer to offer sweeping changes. Republicans, whose party has run the state and who are less willing to criticize the incumbent Governor, tend to emphasize different reforms, with a decided focus on fiscal concerns. Republican candidates’ reforms focus less on political changes and more on reducing the levels of taxation. Randy Daniels, former Secretary of State in the Pataki Administration, has argued for a need to “reduce taxes” and “reduce spending.” Former Assembly Minority Leader and lobbyist John Faso has also argued that the state “spends too much and borrows too much. Its never ending appetite for increasing taxes and spending is killing businesses and job creation.” Assemblyman Patrick Manning has stated that he’s running for Governor, “ to clean up the mess in Albany, to tame a state budget that spends too much, taxes too much.” Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld has called for an “Empire State Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights” to cap the amount of money raised and spent by the state. It’s heartening to hear that the candidates feel compelled to reach for the reform mantle. They know that New Yorkers are justifiably fed up with the way state government operates. Far too many important decisions are made in secret, special interests have far too much sway over policymaking, and consequently New Yorkers endure a seemingly unending series of political scandals and evidence of fiscal mismanagement. But rhetoric is not enough. Candidates must promise to deliver on specific reforms. New Yorkers should urge candidates for Governor to answer the following questions:
Of course those are not the only reform issues of importance. Others to be debated include: measures to end government secrecy, to enhance oversight of state authorities, to open up and make more accountable the state budget process, to reform the way judges are chosen, and to ensure that New Yorkers are getting their monies’ worth from state government. The good news is that the debate on how to fix Albany has begun. New York State could ultimately be the winner of the reform debate, but only if the public demands specific answers of the candidates. 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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