Gary D. Finch

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY                                                                    CONTACT: MATT MOYSE (518) 455-5981

FINCH JOINS CALL FOR VOTE ON STATE COMPTROLLER
Also calls for amending of State Constitution

     Assemblyman Gary D Finch (R,C,I-Springport) today joined his colleagues and Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) in calling on legislative leaders to hold a vote tomorrow, January 30, to select a new state comptroller to fill the remainder of Alan Hevesi’s term.

     “We have been successful in passing an on time budget for two years in a row now,” said Finch. “It would be tragic if we were unable to do so this year because the state has no chief fiscal officer in office. With the governor set to release his Executive Budget on Wednesday, it is imperative that we have a comptroller in office in time for budget negotiations.”

     Finch also joined his colleagues in calling for an amendment to New York state’s Constitution, which would give voters the final say on who represents them as state comptroller or attorney general.

     Republican Leader Tedisco will introduce legislation to amend the State Constitution, Article V, section 1, to provide that the governor fill a vacancy of the office of the comptroller an attorney general.

     “The expert panel called by the governor proved to be a better alternative than the run of the mill back room politics that has happened in the past,” said Finch. “However, we need to put the most important decisions, such as a new comptroller or attorney general, back into the hands of the voters. It is their right to choose who represents them and we should afford them that right at every opportunity.”

     The amendment would require that in the case of a vacancy the governor would appoint an interim comptroller or attorney general who would only serve until the next general election. The person elected at such general election would then serve the remainder of the term. The office would then be up again in the same year as the next gubernatorial election.

     To amend the State Constitution, two separately elected State Legislatures need to approve the legislation, and voters then need to approve it in a referendum.

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                                                                                                                                                      1.29.07