April 22nd, 2010
HUDSON – Some 100 people attended a State Assembly Republican Minority session in Hudson to gain feedback on the possibility of calling a people’s convention to reform New York.
Most supported the proposal.
Assembly Republican Minority Leader Brian Kolb said the onus to make change is up to the people.
April 20th, 2010
Originally printed at http://www.wbng.com/news/local/91055584.html
Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Local leaders look to fix problems in New York’s government, by changing the constitution.
The U.S. constitution states that every 20 years the people can propose revisions.
Friday, Assemblymen Clifford Crouch and Minority Leader Brian Kolb led a discussion at the Binghamton Club pushing for 2017′s constitution convention.
April 20th, 2010
There is a reform effort underway to give citizens more of a say in state government.
Republican
Assembly Leader Brian Kolb was in town today talking with some members of the Greater Binghamton Chamber. Kolb wants legislators to give an up or down vote on whether to let voters decide this November if a People’s Convention should be held. The goal would be to spear-head reform in sections of state government.
Brian Kolb says, “Certainly, it’s up to the delegates of the convention to decide what to take up but some of the things we look for is a non-partisan legislative re-districting commission so it takes the forming of legislative districts out of the hands of the legislature and lets a non-partisan commission do that. We’d like to look at a property tax cap, spending cap, eliminating back door borrowing.”
April 20th, 2010
We need change in Albany.
That was the message from Assemblymen Brian Kolb and Cliff Crouch Friday.
The lawmakers revealed their plan in front of the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.
They’re proposing new legislation that could allow citizens, not lawmakers, to form a group called the People’s Convention to reform New York.
The group would address fiscal reforms and voter redistricting.
“We want a citizen approach to the People’s Convention, because we want to get the average New Yorker involved and not rely on political class or lobbyists or special interest groups and that’s why we’re trying to do it differently,” said Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb.
The measure will automatically come up on the ballot in 2017 , but Kolb and Crouch are pushing to see it on the 2010 ballot.
April 16th, 2010
Assembly Republican Leader Brian M. Kolb (Canandaigua) and fellow GOP Assemblymen Michael Fitzpatrick (Smithtown), David G. McDonough (Merrick), Tom McKevitt (East Meadow), Michael Montesano (Glen Head) and Andrew Raia (East Northport) will hold a “People’s Convention to Reform New York” town hall meeting on Thursday, April 29 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Hicksville Knights of Columbus, 45 Heitz Place.
March 15th, 2010
Legislative column from Assembly Republican Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua)
Since August of 2009, in my travels all across our state as Leader of the Assembly Republican Conference, I have been asking my fellow New Yorkers the following question: “Is state government working for you?” Nearly everywhere I go – from Western New York to New York City – the answer to that question is an overwhelming “No!” Now, according to findings from a new public opinion poll, it seems as if I may need to start asking a different question instead. That question is: “Are you embarrassed by New York State’s broken government?” If so, you are certainly not alone, as a recent Siena Research Institute Poll reported that a majority of residents are now “embarrassed” to call themselves New Yorkers, largely due to a broken, unresponsive state government.
February 19th, 2010
HAMBURG (wned) – State Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb brought his push for a state Constitutional Convention to Hamburg last night.
The goal is to pass legislation this year, elect delegates next year and hold the convention in 2012.
Read the rest of this entry »
February 19th, 2010
BUFFALO, NY – Some republican members of the state assembly say the only way to get real reform in Albany is through a constitutional convention.
That was the topic of conversation Thursday night at an open house in Hamburg.
February 19th, 2010
“Let the people decide — that’s all of us — and decide in November whether they want to have a convention or not to try to change their state government,” said Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb of Canandaigua. Joining him were Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin of Clarence and Assemblymen Jack F. Quinn III of Hamburg, Joseph M. Giglio of Gowanda and Stephen M. Hawley of Batavia.
February 17th, 2010
More than two dozen area residents came out for a town hall-style meeting with their state assemblyman Tuesday night, and the overriding message was clear — Albany needs fixing.
Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, asked for a show of hands: “How many people think New York State government is working for you?”
No one raised a hand.
