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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TODAY: 1/27/09
Contact: Suzanne Redmond (315) 255-3045
FINCH: TRANSPARENCY, TAX RELIEF NEEDED TO REFORM NEW YORK
Today Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I - Springport)
and his Assembly Republican colleagues proposed a comprehensive package
of rules
reforms that would force the Legislature to act more transparent, thus
providing the people of New York with greater, more equitable
representation.
"For far too long the Legislature has acted
irresponsibly, overspending and overtaxing with important decisions
being made under a shroud of secrecy," said Finch. "The people of our
state deserve much better. We need to reform the way that we work as a
governing body."
The package, composed of wide ranging procedural
changes, included a number of reforms that would ensure that members on
both side of the Assembly aisle are allowed equal opportunities to
affect change. They also focus on preventing costly, unsustainable
mandates on localities. The following are a few proposals:
a.. Require that each member of the Assembly be given
the chance to bring at least one statewide bill to the floor for a vote
during each term;
b.. Require that any bill which imposes an unfunded mandate or
creates additional taxes be specifically labeled. These would then
require a
super-majority (2/3) vote for final passage;
c.. Provide for equal funding for payroll allocations and
staffing of member's offices, regardless of seniority or party
affiliation;
d.. Require each bill to include a fiscal impact statement
provided by unbiased actuaries; and
e.. Require that all bills reported to the floor be accompanied
by reports showing all of the committee's work on the bill.
"It is obvious that we need a change. We've heard it
from people all across the state and it has become painfully obvious
that the way the Legislature
operates is not working," Finch stated. "The fact is we are proposing
common-sense changes. We want to bring bipartisan cooperation to the
Assembly so that we can work for the future of New York."
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