Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) joined his colleagues in an effort to pass reforms to Assembly Rules. The changes, rejected by the Assembly majority, would have brought greater transparency and accountability to the legislative process.

“With the public support of many good government advocacy groups, a need to bring about change within the Assembly’s legislative process, it was necessary to change the way we conduct business,” said McDonough. “The people of New York deserve a government that is open, transparent and accountable, but most of all a government that is willing to reform the rules of the house. It’s disappointing when there is so much public support, yet, that voice has gone unheard in the Assembly Chamber.”

Good government groups, such as Common Cause New York, the League of Women Voters of New York State and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), publicly voiced support for a slew of Assembly minority government reform proposals. Many of the reforms were cited in a report published by the Brennan Center for Justice citing the dysfunctional legislative process in Albany.

The rules change proposals included:

• All standing committee meetings shall be transcribed and the minutes made available on the Assembly web-site and in the Assembly Public Information Office;
• All legislators should receive equal resources and staff allotments;
• Requiring immediate convening of conference committees when bills addressing the same subject have been passed by both chambers; and
• Requiring a super-majority (2/3) vote for final passage of a bill imposing, continuing or reviving a tax.