As part of his ongoing efforts to reform the way state economic development funds are awarded, Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,I-Lockport) joined Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) and Assemblyman Bob Oaks (R,C-Macdeon) today calling on the state Legislature to pass meaningful reforms before the end of this year’s session.

“As the sponsor of the State Contracts Sunlight Act, I support any effort to bring transparency and accountability to the way taxpayers’ dollars are invested in economic development,” said Norris, who is also a sponsor of the omnibus economic development reform bill discussed at today’s press conference. “This is about making sure real jobs are created and that New Yorkers have better career opportunities for the billions of tax dollars being invested. Currently, that is not the case and this is very concerning to my colleagues and I. We hoped that real reforms would be included as part of this year’s budget, but they were not. However, there is still time for Albany to get serious about reform this year.”

Norris and his colleagues also called for enactment of legislative reforms, such as term limits for committee chairs and legislative leaders. Norris supports and sponsors the Public Officers Accountability Act, another omnibus reform bill that aims to bring greater transparency to the legislative process. All three bills are currently under review in various Assembly committees. Though with reports of Speaker Carl Heastie being open to considering some reforms before the end of this year’s session, particularly economic development reforms, Norris and his colleagues remain hopeful similar initiatives may come to a vote before the June 21 end of session deadline.