publications | about us | on campus | jobs | alumni | cmap | straphangers campaign | fuel buyers group |
|
REFORM NEW YORK: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY After a disastrous two-year session, the Governor and state legislators are rushing to position themselves as reformers. It is not surprising that they would want to do so: two state legislators and one top-ranking Pataki Administration official have been sent to prison and another lawmaker resigned in disgrace all for violating the public trust. Coupled with an inability to address even the most important issues facing the state, politicians are increasingly confronted by an angry electorate. As organizations committed to reforming state government, we welcome this new interest by the Governor and state lawmakers. However, without a clear roadmap to reform, politicians could end up further feeding public cynicism by appearing to be more interested in reform rhetoric than reform reality. This report offers ten important steps toward reform that, if implemented, would result in the most sweeping change in Albany’s government in nearly a century. Openness, accountability and democracy would finally be the hallmarks of New York State government. STEP 1: Redistricting. Support the creation of an independent redistricting commission based on the state of Iowa’s successful model. STEP 2: Campaign Finance. The Senate should support the Governor’s campaign finance legislation and go to conference committee with the Assembly. STEP 3: Public Authorities. The Governor should convene a “summit” on public authorities reform. STEP 4: Elections. The legislature should re-activate the HAVA conference committee and pass legislation to implement HAVA early in 2005 session. STEP 5: Freedom of Information. The Governor should issue an executive order to modernize the state’s Freedom of Information Law by requiring “FOIL-able” documents to be available via the Internet. STEP 6: Ethics. The Governor and legislators should agree to ban gifts from lobbyists and create an independent ethics commission. STEP 7: Budget. The Governor should approve budget reform legislation and work to strengthen it in 2005. STEP 8: Legislative rules. Publicly support legislative rules reforms. STEP 9 Lobbying. The Governor should drop his opposition to meaningful lobbying reforms and the Senate should begin a conference committee on the issue. STEP 10: Constitutional Convention. Support change to the selection process for constitutional convention delegates. Click here to read the report (PDF format) Click here to see the which state legislators support these reforms (PDF format) |
