September 18, 2009

 

     The end to the budget struggle in Harrisburg got us thinking about the political turmoil in Albany earlier this year.
     One upstate New York Assemblyman says he has an idea that could stop the dysfunction from continuing in the capitol.
     Minority Leader Brian Kolb is pushing for a "people's constitutional convention."
     A convention isn't scheduled to happen again until 2017 but he says Albany needs reform, and it can't wait another eight years.
     “Right now the three leaders are all from New York City. That does not bode well for the interest in upstate New York,” said Southern Tier Assemblyman Tom O'Mara.
     O'Mara is co-sponsoring the bill first introduced by Canandaigua Assemblyman Brian Kolb.
     They want New Yorkers to look over the state's constitution and decide what needs to change.
     “Whether we have term limits, initiative and referendum, when we have state spending caps, property tax caps,” Kolb suggested.
     The convention would come with a price tag of between $12 and $15 million dollars.
     Critics say now's not the time to spend that kind of money.
     Kolb says it is.
     “When you're looking at a state budget of $132 billion dollars i think it's worth the investment, especially if the current way Albany operates is not delivering tax relief and good jobs and a good environment for our kids to grow up in,” Kolb added.
     Legislators will be discouraged from becoming a delegate.
     They'd have to choose between that or their representative position.
     Kolb says that's a way to keep it a fair bi-partisan discussion.
     The bill has been introduced in both the Senate and the Assembly.
     If the legislation passes by June 2010 it will be in the hands of voters next November.