Seddio Outlines Proposed “Meaningful” Albany Reforms

Assembly Member (D-Canarsie) Frank R. Seddio unveiled a comprehensive reform plan he supports that will fundamentally change for the better the way New York's government operates.

“It's no secret that serious reform is needed in Albany, and I'm sponsoring/supporting a plan to enact that change," Seddio said. “These proposals will make state government significantly more open, accountable and responsive to its people.”

The Brooklyn politician added that the Assembly is calling for conference committees to reach agreements with the Senate on the reform legislation. These committees will help iron out differences between the two houses, so the bills can be sent to the governor to be signed into law.

“For the 2005 legislative session, the Assembly - in a spirit of true bipartisanship with the house's minority - will adopt a series of internal rules changes that will dramatically improve the way the Assembly operates,” Seddio said. “These sweeping new reforms are designed to make the Assembly's proceedings more open and efficient.”

The new rules include: ending empty-seat voting by requiring slow roll calls on all bills; instituting Tuesday sessions to allow for greater review and debate of legislation; overhauling the Assembly's Rules Committee by clarifying the committee's function as a means for scheduling floor action and making its meetings, which will have published agendas, open and public; requiring the Assembly and Senate to each pass a concurrent budget resolution in early March setting out a timetable for key budget decisions, including immediately convening a joint conference committee to negotiate differences to achieve a more timely state budget; conducting annual budget hearings to ensure a consistent process for a public review of state agency compliance with the enacted budget; renewing the Assembly's efforts for a statewide public service cable TV channel to cover state government with the immediate goal of televising Assembly proceedings statewide, and restricting lobbyist access in the area at the rear of the Assembly Chamber.

To ensure that responsible annual state budgets are passed on time, the Assembly will seek a constitutional amendment to reform the budget process. The proposal would move the start of New York's fiscal year from April 1 to May 1 to allow for better revenue and spending projections and instituting provisions to instill greater accountability in the process. If no budget passes by May 1, a contingency budget equivalent to that of the proceeding year would take effect.

“The state's budget-crafting system — designed more than 70 years ago to deal with challenges in a different New York — has become chaotic and inefficient,” Seddio said.

The budget reform plan would require a two-year appropriation for education aid. This will help schools stay a step ahead by finally giving them the information they need, when they need it.

Another segment of the reform package would limit the influence of lobbying on the awarding of state agency contracts.

“Under current law, no one is accountable for the millions of dollars that are spent by special interests behind the scenes trying to influence how lucrative state government contracts are awarded,” said the assemblyman.

Lobbyists are currently required to disclose certain lobbying activities, but not procurement lobbying. The Assembly's measure would expand the definition of lobbying to include any effort to influence the action of any public official — state or municipal — regarding procurement of goods or services, construction and the sale or purchase of land. This includes efforts to influence the implementation of rules and regulations, as well as tribal state compacts, and executive orders.

Included in the Assembly's reform plan is a campaign finance reform measure designed to stem the influence of special interest money on elections.

“It's time to restore public confidence in the way elections are run in New York,” he said. “Placing limits on special interest money and publicly financing campaigns will rebuild faith in our democratic system by curtailing the influence of special interests.”

Among other things, the plan would provide public matching funds to candidates for state office that limit contributions and campaign spending. The legislation also creates an income tax check-off to help build a non-partisan, state-controlled campaign fund for eligible candidates.

“The message has been sent by the people of New York that reform is needed in Albany, and the Assembly has heard them - and acted,” Seddio said.

“I will do everything I can to ensure that these reforms become law. I strongly urge the Senate and governor to join us in making our state government more responsive to the public.”

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Golden City: Bought, Burned, Bought Again	1