Issue Position: State Government Reform

Issue Position

We have 212 elected state legislators. Two of these legislators control which items make it to the floor for debate. The New York standard of three men in a room at budget time needs to come to an end. The rules for the Assembly and Senate need to be rewritten to allow for greater openness and transparency for our constituents.

The State Assembly needs to demonstrate real leadership with the following examples:

Pension -- Should be eliminated for legislators. I pledge not to accept the legislative state pension.

Term limit -- term limits for all elected officials should be enacted with no more than 10 years in each house and two four-year terms for statewide officials.

Budget -- enact a 2/3 vote for any tax increase; prohibit public authorities from issuing new debt without voter approval; if the budget is not adopted by April 1 then the legislature should not be receiving a per diem and travel expenses instead it should forfeit its salary during that period and no action should occur on other bills with a financial component until it is in place.

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