http:\/\/www.elections.ny.gov\/ProposedConsAmendments2.html<\/a>):<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\nProposal One: \u00a0Revising State\u2019s Redistricting Procedure<\/strong><\/p>\nThis question has been the most controversial of the three.\u00a0 Under the current<\/em> redistricting process, the legislature is responsible for drawing the lines and legislators constitute the majority of the commission that drafts new district lines.<\/p>\nUnder the proposed<\/em> amendment to the State Constitution a necommission is created.\u00a0 The amendment would prohibit certain individuals from serving on the commission, including: elected officials and their spouses, legislative staff, lobbyists, other public officials, and political party chairs. The plans developed by this new commission will be subject to approval by the legislature.\u00a0 However,if the legislature twice<\/em> rejects the Commission\u2019s proposal,the legislature drafts its own lines.<\/p>\nProponents<\/em> of the amendment argue that this will create a fairer redistricting process that bans political gerrymandering, has a clear timeline, creates new opportunities for public participation and that the legislature does not have a \u2018free hand\u2019 in amending the commission\u2019s plans. Proponents<\/em> further argue that composition of the proposed commission is a significant improvement because it prohibits those with conflicts of interest, including legislators, from serving on the commission.<\/p>\nOpponents<\/em> of the amendment object to the fact that eight of the ten commissioners are appointed by legislative leaders, and are critical of the legislature\u2019s power to amend the plans if they fail to achieve legislative approval after two votes. They argue that this is the equivalent of the legislature drawing its own lines since the Commission\u2019s plans are ultimately approved by the legislature. \u00a0\u00a0In addition, opponents<\/em> object to the proposal\u2019s requirement that future mapmakers must consider the core of existing districts when drafting new ones.
\n<\/p>\nProposal Two:\u00a0 Permitting Electronic Distribution of State Legislative Bills<\/strong><\/p>\nThis proposal has generated no controversy.\u00a0 Currently<\/em>, the State Constitution requires that all bills be printed and delivered to the desks of members in paper form. This proposal<\/em> would allow bills to be distributed to members in electronically written format. Legislators would have the option of continuing to receive paper bills if they so choose.<\/p>\nProponents<\/em> of the amendment argue that allowing bills to be distributed to the desks of members in electronic form will save taxpayer dollars and reduce paper waste. Proponents<\/em> suggest that this amendment offers an environmentally friendly alternative to paper bills and will help modernize the way state government operates.<\/p>\nProposal Three:\u00a0 The Smart Schools Bond Act Of 2014<\/strong><\/p>\nA bond act is a vote for citizens to decide if they want the state to take on debt to pay for (typically) public projects.\u00a0 If voters permit the state to borrow<\/em> the money under Proposal 3, the revenue generated would be used for purchasing educational technology including: interactive whiteboards, computer servers, desktop and laptop computers, tablets and high-speed broadband or wireless internet connectivity for schools and communities; facilities to accommodate pre-kindergarten programs; and installing high-tech security features in school buildings.<\/p>\nProponents<\/em> of the amendment argue that disparities of classroom technologies exist across school districts and the Act will increase students\u2019 access to classrooms that are equipped with advanced technologies.<\/p>\nSome opponents<\/em> of the amendment have argued that the technologies will be obsolete by the time the state is finished paying for them. \u00a0Others<\/em> have expressed concern that equipping classrooms with advanced technologies without ensuring the availability of personnel that know how to use and train others on the technology could result in underutilization. \u00a0Also, opponents<\/em> feel that public dollars should only be allocated to public schools, rather than parochial or private schools.<\/p>\nUltimately, the fate of these three questions is up to the voters.\u00a0 In order to express your views on these questions, you\u2019re a likely to have to flip over your paper ballot in order to vote.\u00a0 The decisions are up to you.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s all for now.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be keeping an eye on the Capitol and will talk to you again next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 is Election Day.\u00a0 On this year\u2019s ballot, in addition to the candidates who are running for office, New Yorkers have the opportunity to vote on two proposed changes to the New York State Constitution and a bond act. Here is a look at those three questions with arguments in support of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1167"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1458,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1167\/revisions\/1458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}