People’s Convention is the way to get change in New York
October 8th, 2009
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Brian M. Kolb
Guest essayist
Are you fed up with Albany? Do you really want reform in state government? Are you tired of all the partisan bickering in our state capitol? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then consider joining a growing, non-partisan grassroots effort to convene a “People’s Convention to Reform New York” and take back your government.
New York’s challenges are huge: Our citizens and businesses pay some of the nation’s highest property and personal income taxes, energy, transportation, workers’ compensation, pension and regulatory costs. Public confidence in state government — and those serving in it — is at an all-time low, while anger with Albany is at an all-time high and rightly so.
A People’s Convention could be New York’s last, best hope for the real reforms and positive changes that have been talked about for years: from a state spending and property tax cap, to term limits for legislative leaders and non-partisan redistricting.
Currently, the question of whether New York should convene a People’s Convention will automatically appear on the 2017 ballot. Does anyone think New York can afford to wait another seven years for reform?
I introduced non-partisan legislation, the “People’s Convention to Reform New York Act,” to accelerate the reform process by seven years. My bill — which has 36 co-sponsors including Democrat Assemblyman Mark Schroeder — would let voters decide in 2010 if we should convene a People’s Convention.
When a similar effort was attempted in 1997, voters rejected it because nothing was done to ensure that the same politicians who made a mess of state government weren’t entrusted with its cleanup.
In fact, this was a primary reason cited by the Democrat and Chronicle in editorializing against the 1997 effort. My legislation addresses this concern: Under the bill, if any state legislators or other local elected officials seek to be a delegate and they are elected, they must resign their current office.
The initiative also provides for non-partisan election of delegates and prohibits them from accepting contributions from party campaign committees or political action committees.
These safeguards will ensure a convention of, by and for the people — not the special interests, lobbyists or politicians.
If you support real reform, go to www.reformny.org, sign my online petition and join an emerging grassroots movement of New Yorkers fed up with Albany’s status quo and ready to take their government back.
It’s now or never, New York.
Kolb of Canandaigua is Assembly minority leader.
