|
Comments on the
NYS Senate’s and Assembly’s January 6th Rule Reforms
1/6/05
The NYS Senate’s and Assembly’s
introspection and the steps outlined to improve the way they conduct the
people’s business are disappointing.
The senate deserves praise for its
proposed rule reforms allowing committee chairs to hire their own
staffs, allowing committee members to convene public hearings, expanding
the use of joint conference committees, ending the Majority Leader’s
ability to hold legislation from coming to the floor for a vote, and
taking steps to televise their proceedings.
The Assembly deserves praise for requiring
slow roll call on all bills and taking steps to televise their
proceedings.
Yet, these reforms fall far short of the
17 Brennan Center Rule Reforms that were so carefully researched,
formulated, and provided to them. Majority Leader Bruno and Speaker
Silver do not evidence understanding of what a truly competitive,
democratic, and transparent legislature can do for the citizens of this
state. They underestimate the people’s desire for rapid adoption of a
truly competitive, democratic, and transparent legislature. They do not
understand that limited reform limits their ability to solve the
Medicaid crisis, the inner-city school crisis, deliver on-time budgets,
create a climate attractive to businesses in the state, raise people’s
incomes, reign in reckless state spending, and stem the loss of capital
and youth from the state. They do not understand that the governor and
members of the majority parties of both houses will pay dearly in the
next election if they do not resolve these issues. The people of NY are
completely frustrated with their performance, and the people of NY will
fire many of them in the next election.
We are all citizens of
this state, and our individual prosperity is dependent upon our
collective prosperity. We must take time to understand each interest’s
needs, look for synergistic solutions to those needs, and democratically
decide on the solution. Respect, understanding, and creativity serve us
far more than insults, political calculation, or enacting policies that
harm one another. With proper leadership and a truly democratic
legislature, New York State can once again be the best place in the
country to reside.
|
