Opinion > Letters
State has opportunity for meaningful reform
By Assemblyman Marcus J. Molinaro
By Assemblyman Marcus J. Molinaro
These unprecedented times present us with unprecedented challenges. New York State continues to face its worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, leaving many families to worry about how to make ends meet. Then, a constitutional quandary consumes our state Senate for five weeks leaving unfinished business lingering in the void of a 31-31 stalemate. The people of New York remain frustrated and disappointed and understandably so. However, from these challenges we can overhaul our state government, restore public confidence and build a stronger, better New York State.
The members of the state Senate may have reached a temporary consensus, but we need a new set of rules that dictate how business is conducted in the state Legislature. We can use this situation to enact sweeping reforms that will make our government more accessible, accountable and transparent. This sad chapter in New York’s political history must come to a close and the power brokering and cronyism that has become the mainstay of New York’s dysfunctional government must be discarded to the ash heap of history.
Rules reforms in both houses of the state Legislature are long overdue. Now is the time to renew representative democracy in New York State by empowering the rank-and-file lawmakers and embrace a spirit of post-partisan cooperation that will create a more open and fair process. We can and must start by:
n Expanding public access to government information and decisions with broader freedom of information laws, posting on respective websites the minutes of all standing committee meetings, and holding state government to at least the same open meetings and public information standards we apply to other levels of government.
n Reducing then equally distributing staff resources and allocations regardless of party affiliation or seniority, and imposing term limits on leadership positions;
n Limiting the number of bills an individual member can introduce and allowing every member to bring at least one bill of statewide implication to the floor for a proper debate and vote per session.
n Creating a more equitable, merit-based member-item process with strict oversight and criminal penalties for misuse so taxpayer funds are not misappropriated or used solely for political gain.
n Strictly enforcing violations of public trust and ethics with abolishment of salaries and pension benefits for an elected official who is convicted of a felony.
n Overhauling campaign finance laws to prevent the “pay to play” mentality that drives our state and end bundling as well as other questionable campaign donation tactics.
We are outraged and embarrassed, but I, for one, am not willing to give up. What our state needs now, more than ever, is leadership. Leaders who have the courage to enact meaningful reforms, such as those mentioned here, that will put us back on track, restore confidence in our government and build a better partnership between citizens and those elected to represent them. Together we can achieve our goals that will make this state great again!
President Harry S. Truman once said, “In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” In light of the state Senate impasse, we must seize this moment to reform the way Albany does business, return the power of government to you and renew the promise of New York.
To discuss this or any other state related matter, please feel free to call my district offices at 845-758-9790 or 518-828-1529. You can also e-mail me at molinarom@assembly.state.ny.us.
These unprecedented times present us with unprecedented challenges. New York State continues to face its worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, leaving many families to worry about how to make ends meet. Then, a constitutional quandary consumes our state Senate for five weeks leaving unfinished business lingering in the void of a 31-31 stalemate. The people of New York remain frustrated and disappointed and understandably so. However, from these challenges we can overhaul our state government, restore public confidence and build a stronger, better New York State.
The members of the state Senate may have reached a temporary consensus, but we need a new set of rules that dictate how business is conducted in the state Legislature. We can use this situation to enact sweeping reforms that will make our government more accessible, accountable and transparent. This sad chapter in New York’s political history must come to a close and the power brokering and cronyism that has become the mainstay of New York’s dysfunctional government must be discarded to the ash heap of history.
Rules reforms in both houses of the state Legislature are long overdue. Now is the time to renew representative democracy in New York State by empowering the rank-and-file lawmakers and embrace a spirit of post-partisan cooperation that will create a more open and fair process. We can and must start by:
n Expanding public access to government information and decisions with broader freedom of information laws, posting on respective websites the minutes of all standing committee meetings, and holding state government to at least the same open meetings and public information standards we apply to other levels of government.
n Reducing then equally distributing staff resources and allocations regardless of party affiliation or seniority, and imposing term limits on leadership positions;
n Limiting the number of bills an individual member can introduce and allowing every member to bring at least one bill of statewide implication to the floor for a proper debate and vote per session.
n Creating a more equitable, merit-based member-item process with strict oversight and criminal penalties for misuse so taxpayer funds are not misappropriated or used solely for political gain.
n Strictly enforcing violations of public trust and ethics with abolishment of salaries and pension benefits for an elected official who is convicted of a felony.
n Overhauling campaign finance laws to prevent the “pay to play” mentality that drives our state and end bundling as well as other questionable campaign donation tactics.
We are outraged and embarrassed, but I, for one, am not willing to give up. What our state needs now, more than ever, is leadership. Leaders who have the courage to enact meaningful reforms, such as those mentioned here, that will put us back on track, restore confidence in our government and build a better partnership between citizens and those elected to represent them. Together we can achieve our goals that will make this state great again!
President Harry S. Truman once said, “In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” In light of the state Senate impasse, we must seize this moment to reform the way Albany does business, return the power of government to you and renew the promise of New York.
To discuss this or any other state related matter, please feel free to call my district offices at 845-758-9790 or 518-828-1529. You can also e-mail me at molinarom@assembly.state.ny.us.
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