April 23rd, 2010

By Mid-Hudson News Network

HUDSON — Some 100 people attended a state Assembly Republican session Wednesday about the possibility of calling a people’s convention to reform New York.

Most people in attendance supported the proposal.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, said the onus to make changes is on the people.

“It’s totally up to the voters to put pressure on their state assemblyperson and their state senators … to get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on the bills before the end of session, and I think if people are really fed up with Albany and are looking for a change,” Kolb said. “Outside the Legislature, I think this is our best hope to do that.”

Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, R-Red Hook, said lawmakers need to carry the public’s concerns back to the state Capitol.

“It’s our job to take that anger and focus it and hopefully convince members of the state Legislature to allow for the public simply to be given the right to consider whether or not a constitutional convention should be called this year,” Molinaro said.

As of now it is unclear whether the proposal would have enough support to pass in the Legislature.