Buffalo News Op-Ed: People’s Convention could bring about real reform

By Brian M. Kolb

Last summer, I shared with News readers my call for convening a People’s Convention to Reform New York, a nonpartisan, grass-roots-driven effort to empower citizens to take back their state government and deliver critical fiscal and governmental reforms. Since then, the arguments in support for a People’s Convention have only strengthened.

Taxpayers of all parties and from across all regions of New York believe their state government has stopped working for them. They are fed up, frustrated and angry-and they have every right to be: State government has grown too big, costly and removed from the everyday lives and real needs of the people it is supposed to serve.

Issues that could be considered during a People’s Convention include fiscal reforms, such as a property tax and state spending cap, debt reform, along with a ban on “back-door” borrowing and unfunded mandates. Governmental reforms, such as initiative and referendum, an independent legislative redistricting commission, term limits for legislative leaders, ethics reform and a succession plan for state offices, could also be taken up.

To make this reform a reality, we have introduced nonpartisan legislation, the People’s Convention to Reform New York Act, Assembly Bill A. 9157. This legislation does not point fingers or play the Albany “blame game.” Instead, it is a nonpartisan attempt to solve a major problem.

If enacted, the bill would put the question of whether New York should convene a People’s Convention on the 2010 ballot. By law, this question automatically goes before voters in 2017; our nonpartisan measure moves up the opportunity for reform by seven years.
This legislation is unique in that it specifically requires any elected official seeking to run as a delegate for, or serve in, the People’s Convention to resign his office. By keeping the politicians and lobbyists out, we can ensure the People’s Convention effort remains of, by and for the people.

Our initiative has been co-sponsored by 36 members of our Assembly Republican Conference, Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, a member of the Democratic majority, and more than 40 local municipalities. It also has support from more than 1,800 New Yorkers who visited www.reformny.org and signed our online petition calling for a People’s Convention. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Gov. Mario Cuomo and current Democratic Assemblyman Richard Brodsky all support the idea of a People’s Constitutional Convention.

If you support the cause of nonpartisan, grass-roots reform, then please join Assemblyman Jack Quinn, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Assemblywoman Jane Corwin and me for our People’s Convention to Reform New York Town Hall Meeting. The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p. m. on Feb. 18 in Union Pleasant Elementary School located at 150 Pleasant Ave. in Hamburg.

Brian M. Kolb is leader of the Assembly Republican Conference.

http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/942897.html