Albany is broken. As our state battles a fiscal crisis, growing unemployment and a budget that is now nearly two months overdue, meaningful change is now more crucial than ever. The People’s Convention to Reform New York just may be the way to deliver the positive change that New Yorkers from all areas of the state and all political parties are demanding.
To be fair, a Constitutional Convention is not necessarily a panacea. Some argue that we could walk away from such a convention with additional governmental regulations and restrictions on our lives.
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. Our state needs realistic and meaningful fiscal reforms like a cap on state spending, debt reform and bans on “backdoor” borrowing and unfunded mandates. We also need governmental reforms such as an independent Legislative Redistricting Commission to ensure that district lines are drawn equitably rather than in a way that favors either political party.
A non-partisan piece of legislation, titled “The People’s Convention to Reform New York Act,” is currently circulating in Albany. If enacted, the bill would put the question of whether New York should convene a People’s Convention on the 2010 ballot. The question of a convention is required by law to go before the electorate in 2017; however, this measure would move the opportunity for reform forward on the calendar by seven years, accelerating the state’s ability to enact much-needed reforms.
Unquestionably, Albany needs a fresh new approach to the way it does business. Many New Yorkers are struggling to pay their bills and more than 800,000 are unemployed. Our schools are being forced to adopt budgets without knowing how much state aid they will receive, while our small businesses are over-burdened with egregious taxes and fees. It is time for a change and a People’s Convention could be a perfect first step to bringing New York back on the road to fiscal solvency.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about The People’s Convention to Reform New York or any state issues, please don’t hesitate to contact me at either my Johnstown office at (518) 762-6486, or my Herkimer office at (315) 866-1632.