For Release: IMMEDIATELY, February 19, 2010
Contact: Joshua Fitzpatrick (518) 455-3751/(518) 542-2413, fitzpatrickj@assembly.state.ny.us

Read, Watch and Hear All About It!
Kolb's Call For A "People's Convention To Reform New York" Keeps Building Grassroots & Editorial Support

A collection of media coverage on Leader Brian Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) and the Assembly Minority Conference's Town Hall Meetings on the People's Convention to Reform New York. Last evening, a meeting in Hamburg attracted 200 taxpayers, as noted by the Buffalo News article below. The People's Convention to Reform New York is a grassroots, non-partisan reform effort to empower citizens so they can take back their state government and, in the process, chart a positive, new direction for New York.

'People's Convention' for state is pushed
Buffalo News - Harold McNeil

"http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/962114.html"
Ordinary citizens who are currently unelected to any public office may hold the keys to making state government run better, according to five Minority members of the Assembly who are pushing for "A People's Convention to Reform New York Act." To that end, they shared details of the legislation with about 200 local residents who came Thursday night to the auditorium of Union Pleasant Avenue Elementary School in Hamburg.

Constitutional convention in NY alluring, problematic
Times Herald Record - Terra Thompson

"http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100208/NEWS/2080319"
Fixing property taxes and education in New York is an uphill battle, but a constitutional convention might provide a solution - if citizens take the reins. "The people don't feel the legislators are working for them because [Albany] is so backlogged," Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb said Tuesday at the town community center.

Don't fear democracy
Daily Freeman Editorial

"http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/02/10/opinion/doc4b707f1e25436699712456.txt"
One participant in the forum was Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, who has been among the most prominent of current political leaders pushing for a constitutional convention. He argued last week that the state Legislature is incapable of reforming itself.

Assemblymen debate push for constitutional convention
Daily Freeman - William J. Kemble

"http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/02/03/news/doc4b6906516ca9a217566071.txt"
Opposing sides of a debate over a proposal for an early state constitutional convention met midway between their Assembly districts Tuesday to discuss a proposal to let voters decide the matter on the November ballot. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, came 70 miles south, seeking support for state Assembly bill A9157.

A People's Convention
Batavia Daily News Editorial

"http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2010/02/13/opinion/editorials/doc4b75b398f3ff3156475987.txt"
A cap on property tax. And a cap on state spending. Term limits for legislative leaders. An end to unfunded mandates. A ban on "back-door" borrowing. Initiative and referendum. Independent legislative redistricting. If these and other reforms sound good to you - and they should - you need to get yourself to a "Town Hall" meeting Feb. 18 in Hamburg and throw your support behind the People's Convention to Reform New York Act (Assembly Bill A.9157).

Kolb takes questions at town hall meeting in Canandaigua
Messenger Post - Philip Anselmo

"http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x295636266/Kolb-takes-questions-at-town-hall-meeting-in-Canandaigua"
"Obviously, there's no shortage of issues facing us in Albany," said Kolb, who took questions for about an hour on such issues as education, taxes, jobs and the assemblyman's own pet project, the People's Convention to Reform New York.

For more information about the "People's Convention to Reform New York," visit www.reformny.org


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