Leader Kolb, Assembly Minority Continue Pushing For A “People’s Convention To Reform New York”

Read, Watch and Hear All About It!

August 4, 2010

A collection of newspaper stories, pod-casts, videos and editorials on Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) and the Assembly Minority Conference’s continued push for a “People’s Convention to Reform New York.” 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 the Empire State.

During July and early August, Leader Kolb traveled to Patchogue; Canisteo; Elmira and Rotterdam to hold “People’s Convention” Town Hall meetings and hear direct feedback from taxpayers. Prior to July, Leader Kolb held and attended similar Town Hall meetings and forums in Queensbury; Plattsburgh; Hamburg; New Paltz; Huntington Station; Binghamton; Hudson; East Fishkill; Penn Yan; Hicksville and Verona. Future Town Hall meetings are planned for Owego, Mt. Kisco and Chester.

Constitutional Convention Push Hits Patchogue

Patchogue Patch – Jessie Biele

http://patchogue.patch.com/articles/constitutional-convention-push-hits-patchogue

The debate over government reform played out in Patchogue Monday as two state assemblymen tried to win over local support for a state bill mandating a Constitutional Convention be held next year.

Assemblyman Bacalles, Colleagues Push for Early People's Convention (W/Video)

WENY-TV – Jane Park

http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9154905

CANISTEO – Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-Canandaigua) and Assemblyman Jim Bacalles (R-Corning) urged voters Thursday night to support a bill that could bring drastic change to the state capital. Bacalles presented a bipartisan act to put a people's convention on the ballot this year. As it stands, voters can choose whether to have a constitutional convention every 20 years. The next time they would get that choice is 2017. Voters turned down the option in 1997.

Southern Tier politicians urge reform

Evening Tribute – Staff Reports

http://www.eveningtribune.com/newsnow/x522012989/Southern-Tier-politicians-urge-reform

Canisteo, N.Y. — “How many people think New York state government is working for you?” Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb asked the crowd gathered at the Canisteo-Greenwood High School auditorium Thursday night. No one raised a hand or said a word. That’s exactly what Kolb is trying to change, he said.

Constitutional convention plan receives support in Canisteo

Corning Leader – Joe Dunning

http://www.the-leader.com/features/x524160552/Constitutional-convention-plan-receives-support-in-Canisteo

Canisteo, N.Y. — Local state representatives eager to drum up support for a grassroots measure that could eventually change how Albany does business appealed to county residents in Canisteo Thursday night. Three assemblymen heard an assortment of comments on the prospect of calling for a constitutional convention that could lead to systematic changes in state government.

State constitutional reform pushed at Elmira town hall session

Elmira Star-Gazette

http://www.stargazette.com/article/20100727/NEWS01/7270372/State-constitutional-reform-pushed-at-Elmira-town-hall-session

An amended state constitution could bring real reform to Albany, Assembly members said at a town hall meeting Tuesday evening. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, joined local assembly members Tom O'Mara, R-Big Flats, and Jim Bacalles, R-Corning, to stump for a nonpartisan "people's convention to reform New York" at Elmira College's Hamilton Hall.

NY campaigns filled with talk of reform

A.P. – Mike Gormley

http://poststar.com/news/state-and-regional/article_42b85a7a-e0ed-5f54-811e-0ad07083d747.html

"Everyone talks a good game," said Assemblyman Brian Kolb, the Assembly's minority leader. "People say they want to reform Albany out of one side of their mouth, and then when it comes time to act, they don't." His idea is to hold a "people's constitutional convention" that could enact term limits, spending and tax caps, even merge the Senate and Assembly into one, less expensive chamber. Lawmakers and legislative leaders called it a good idea, editorial boards praised it. No one publicly trashed it.

WHCU Radio Podcast

Morning News Watch with host Dave Vieser

http://www.whcu870.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4827933

NY State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb discusses the special session of legislature, a Constitutional Convention, and more.

Overhaul Needed: Constitutional convention and voting can make Albany work

Syracuse Post-Standard – by Robert N. Wells, Munsil Professor of Government Emeritus at St. Lawrence University

http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2010/07/overhaul_needed_constitutional.html

Every 20 years, New York voters have the opportunity to vote on a ballot proposition to determine whether they support the holding of a constitutional convention. In 2017, the Constitution provides a ballot proposition asking the voters to approve or decline a constitutional convention.

No more time for ‘repair’

Dunkirk Observer – The Observer’s View

http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/543062.html?nav=5044

We know the state provides vital services and all of that, but at this exasperating point, state government seems an utter failure. It makes Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb's proposal for a constitutional convention to put an end to this nonsense seem a logical next step. Kolb, a legislator from Canandaigua, is peddling the idea of what he calls the People's Convention to Reform New York. It is, he says, a grassroots, non-partisan reform effort to empower citizens to take back their state government and chart a positive, new direction for New York.

Our View: State needs convention to stir reforms

Op/Ed - Utica Observer-Dispatch

http://www.uticaod.com/opinion/x1609346415/Our-view-State-needs-convention-to-stir-reforms

We need a constitutional convention to address specific reforms aimed at fixing this terribly broken government. And this needs to happen sooner rather than later. The option for a convention in New York comes up once every 20 years, and the next opportunity won’t come until 2017, but we can’t wait that long.

Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, want to put a convention on a faster track. Let’s do it.

Amedore joins Kolb in convention stump

Times Union – Lauren Stanforth

http://blog.timesunion.com/localpolitics/7191/amedore-joins-kolb-in-convention-stump/

State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb of Canandaigua will hold a Town Hall meeting tonight in Rotterdam to promote his bill that would call for a Constitutional Convention in hopes of adopting a property tax cap among other reforms. George Amedore, Rotterdam’s assemblyman, will join him.

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