Remarks by Speaker Sheldon Silver

Reform Press Conference

Speaker's Conference Room, Albany, NY
Monday, January 10, 2005

I am joined today by a number of my Assembly Majority colleagues, including several of our committee chairs. We're here this afternoon to talk about an issue that is quite popular with you, our friends in the media, and that issue is "reform."

As we announced on Friday, the Assembly - Majority and Minority - will adopt changes to the rules of the House; changes that are being sponsored by Minority Leader Nesbitt and I, changes that will improve the operations of the House and make this government more open and accountable.

Assemblyman Jack McEneny, the Chair of our Steering Committee will briefly discuss the rule changes with you in a few moments.

Building on these significant rule changes, the Assembly Majority is today announcing a major package of reforms; most of which you will be familiar with, because they are reforms we advanced last year and in previous years.

Incorporated in this legislative package are measures pertaining to:

• Budget reform;

• Public authorities reform;

• Campaign finance reform, HAVA, and electoral reform;

• Lobbying reform;

• Judicial reform;

• Empire Zone Program reform;

• As well as continued reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

The committee chairs will discuss these reforms with you momentarily.

Before I call on the Chair of our Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Denny Farrell, who will discuss our budget reform proposal, let me make a few things clear.

First, we will act on this reform package quickly.

We are willing to negotiate these bills, but we will not tolerate delay.

Second, we are inviting Minority Leader Nesbitt and all of our colleagues to join us in strengthening and advancing these important measures which taken together provide for truly comprehensive reform of this government.

Finally, and most important of all, New Yorkers deserve and are entitled to a more efficient, accountable and honest government.

I am committed to working with every Member of this House to give the People the better government they deserve.

Before we discuss the reform package, let me acknowledge the presence of the President of the New York State League of Women Voters, Barbara Bartoletti.