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Albany Update
Volume 5 - January 7, 2005
Governor Pataki and the State of the State
Governor Pataki delivered his annual State of the State message this week. He touched on many topics, this newsletter will focus on REFORM ISSUES.
LOBBYING
- Calls for legislation "imposing a smart & effective ban of procurement lobbying";
- Proposes a ban on all gifts from lobbyists
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
- Will issue an Executive Order establishing a new Commission on Public Authority Reform to be comprised of the Governor, the Attorney General, Majority Leader, Speaker, both minority leaders and private-sector leaders. Its mission will be the promotion of openness and accountability.
STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT
- Proposes eliminating or consolidating hundreds of commissions, task forces, boards and authorities
LEGISLATIVE REFORM
- Prohibit "empty seat voting"
- Replace Rules Committee with Rules & Administrative Comm. that will give "rank and file" members a role in the administrative function of the legislature
- Require Legislature to remain in session each day during a new fiscal year until the budget has been enacted
- Require any legislative pay increase be considered prior to a general election
- Increase public disclosure of legislative information
- Provide equal allocation of resources and staffs for legislators
- Relax limits on debates and motions to petition a bill or resolution out of committee
BUDGET REFORM
- Proposes enactment of a budget reform bill that will open up the process, empower individual legislators and result in balanced, on-time budgets
Two major budget issues, renewal of Health Care Financing [HCRA] and Transportation funding were not mentioned in the Governor’s message, but will have to be dealt within the course of the legislative session. Two other major budget issues, Medicaid and CFE, were discussed. For Medicaid the Governor proposed capping costs while providing local relief for tax payers. No details were given. For CFE the Governor proposed changing the school aid formula state- wide. This proposal also had no details.
Upcoming Fundraisers
- Monday, January 10
- Senator Joseph Bruno [R] - Majority Leader - Albany, $1,000
- Assem Charles Nesbitt [R] - Minority Leader - Albany, $500
- Wednesday, January 12th
- Assem Michael Gianaris [R] - NYC, $5,000
- Tuesday, January 18th
- Sen George Winner [D] - Albany, $400
- Assem James Tedisco [R] - Rules, Banks, Racing Committee - Albany, $300
- Wednesday, January 19th
- Senator JEFF KLEIN [D] - Albany, $250
- Monday, January 24th
- Democratic Senate Campaign Committee - Albany, $600
- Assem Willis Stephens [D] - Ways & Means, Rules, Ethics Committee - Albany, $300
- Assem Harvey Weisenberg [D] Ass’t Speaker Pro Tempore - Albany, $300
If you have any questions about fundraisers, please call Sandy in the Albany office, 518 462-4620.
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